FUNDACIÓN VÍCTIMAS DEL TERRORISMO 96 - ENGLISH

13 NEWS that no society committed to freedom can afford to forget those who suffered terrorist barbarity. The head of the regional government insisted that victims’ memory must be kept alive through the principles of tru- th, justice and reparation. In his view, these pillars recognise those who su- ffered violence and also provide a safe- guard for future generations, who must learn what happened to prevent similar events from recurring. Accompanied by the Minister of Justice, Transparency and Participation, Nuria Martínez, Pérez Llorca also stressed the importance of valuing rights and freedo- ms now considered firmly established. Freedom, peaceful coexistence and se- curity, he noted, are among a democratic society’s greatest achievements, althou- gh their importance is sometimes only fully appreciated when threats place them in danger. The event also featured a strong defence of coexistence against every form of ex- tremism. In this regard, the President recalled that no political, ideological or social cause can justify using violence to impose its will. The statement was par- ticularly significant on a day conceived to focus on those who directly suffered terrorist action and the human conse- quences it left over decades. The establishment of Victims of Terro- rism Day also answers a demand main- tained for years by victims’ associations. It seeks to establish an official occasion for remembrance and recognition that helps keep collective memory alive and reinforce democratic values against in- tolerant rhetoric. One of the commemoration’s recurring messages concerned the exemplary role of victims. Institutional representatives highlighted their ability to face pain wi- thout abandoning the defence of free- dom, coexistence and the rule of law. Far from being reduced to a statistic or an episode in the past, victims were presented as an ethical reference for so- ciety and an example of dignity in the face of fear. This educational dimension was central to an event that recognised the active contribution of victims who share their testimony through the Project to Imple- ment Teaching Units on Remembrance and the Prevention of Terrorism The authorities stressed the collective responsibility to pass on to new gene- rations the truth about the years when terrorism shaped Spanish public life. Participants agreed that remembran- ce should be understood as a means of strengthening democratic culture and consolidating coexistence founded on respect for life and human rights, rather than a nostalgic gaze into the past. In this context, the tribute in Mutxamel went beyond remembering a particular attack to offer broader reflection on the importance of preserving the memory of all victims. It reiterated that terrorism left a profound mark on many families and communities, and that society has a duty to recognise that suffering and ensure it is never forgotten. The ceremony concluded with a re- newed expression of institutional com- mitment to victims and their relatives. The Generalitat reaffirmed its intention to continue promoting remembrance, recognition and support policies, con- vinced that defending democratic values requires keeping alive the history of tho- se who suffered terrorist violence. The first official observance of Victims of Terrorism Day in the Valencian Commu- nity was thus established with the inten- tion of becoming a lasting tradition. Its aim is to help ensure that names, stories and sacrifices form part of Valencian so- ciety’s moral heritage. As participants recalled, victims are not a secondary chapter in democratic history, but cen- tral figures in a remembrance that helps us understand the past and protect the future. ` Victims serving as educators were recognised at the Mutxamel event. Pictured with the President of the Generalitat