FUNDACIÓN VÍCTIMAS DEL TERRORISMO 96 - ENGLISH

` Legal scholar and victim of terrorism Luis Heredero EDUCATION AND COEXISTENCE 20 cion and online sextortion. Its founder was a minor, and much of its activity takes place in digital spaces that are di- fficult to monitor. Other misogynistic and radical move- ments add to these threats, including certain communities associated with the incel phenomenon, whose activities have caused concern in several Western countries. Technological development also featured prominently in his address. Given the increasing use of artificial intelligence in security, Marín defended the principle known as human in the loop : no decision affecting fundamental rights should be left entirely to algorithms. Technology, he stated, must support human work, never replace professional judgement or the safeguards of the rule of law. THE SAHEL, THE MAIN FOCUS OF GLOBAL TERRORISM The international dimension of terrorism was addressed by Colonel Jesús Díez Alcalde , Head of Strategic Communica- tions at Eurocorps. His address focused on the Sahel, now the world’s main epicentre of extremist vio- lence. He explained that more than half of all deaths from terrorism currently re- corded worldwide occur in this African region. The contrast is particularly stri- king compared with just two decades ago, when the Sahel accounted for only a tiny share of global terrorist activity. Over the past decade, the region has re- corded around 150,000 deaths related to terrorist violence, and forecasts suggest the figure will continue to rise. Díez Alcalde stressed that the problem cannot be understood solely through the actions of jihadist groups. Much of the deterioration in security stems from the institutional weakness of numerous states and abuses committed against ci- vilians. One of the most striking findings presen- ted during the course indicated that a lar- ge proportion of violence against civilians is committed by state forces or associa- ted paramilitary groups. This produces a perverse effect: sections of the population end up seeking protection from extremist organisations themselves. After years of international interventions with limited results, the Colonel argued for stronger capabilities in the region’s more stable countries, especially Mau- ritania and Senegal, considered crucial to containing the spread of insecurity towards North Africa and, by extension, Europe. The conclusion was clear: European se- curity is closely linked to African stability. VICTIMS’ RIGHTS, AN UNFINISHED TASK Support for victims was another central theme of the course. Legal scholar Luis Heredero , who holds a doctorate in law and whose father, a Colonel, was murdered by ETA in 1992, examined both progress and continuing shortcomings in Spain’s system of recog- nition and protection. Among the problems he identified were differences between victims whose cases have resulted in a court judgment and those whose attacks remain unsolved. The latter may receive significantly lower compensation despite having suffered comparable harm. He also criticised inequalities arising from differences in regional legislation. While some autonomous communities supplement state assistance, others have no similar measures, creating disparities that undermine the principle of equality. ` General Javier Marín, Director of CITCO ` Colonel Jesús Díez Alcalde SUMMER COURSE IN SAN LORENZO DE EL ESCORIAL