FUNDACIÓN VÍCTIMAS DEL TERRORISMO 96 - ENGLISH

8 NEWS FVT AWARDS PREVIEW Remembrance of the victims of terrorism, the defence of truth and commitment to human dignity will once again take cen- tre stage on 9 December 2026. On that day, Madrid’s Mutua Madrileña Audito- rium will host the Victims of Terrorism Foundation Awards ceremony. Now in their twenty-third year, the awards have become an established way of recognising those whose exemplary work has helped preserve victims’ memory and promote a culture founded on freedom, justice and human rights. This year, the jury has awarded wri- ter Fernando Aramburu Irigoyen the Adolfo Suárez Award for the Defence of Human Rights; journalist Jon Sistiaga Escudero the Fernando Delgado Jour- nalism Award; and the Memorial Cen- tre for the Victims of Terrorism Foun- dation the 2026 Special Mention. The winners of the Ana María Vidal Abarca school awards, A City Without Violen- ce , will also be recognised. This initiative seeks to involve students and teachers in building a society more committed to co- existence and respect. FERNANDO ARAMBURU: THE POWER OF LITERATURE IN THE SERVICE OF REMEMBRANCE The award of the Adolfo Suárez Award for the Defence of Human Rights to Fernan- do Aramburu recognises a literary career that has played a decisive role in bringing the realities of terrorism and its human consequences to a wider public. Although the Basque writer has an extensive body of fiction and poetry, his novel Patria in par- ticular marked a turning point in the way culture addresses the impact of terrorist violence in Spain. Published in 2016, Patria quickly beca- me a literary and social phenomenon. The novel brought the suffering of vic- tims and their families, and the divisions created by decades of violence in many communities, to a broad readership. Beyond its publishing success, it stood out for its ability to humanise the story and place the lives of those who directly suffered terrorism’s consequences at its heart. For the Victims of Terrorism Founda- tion, Aramburu’s contribution has been especially valuable in helping recover the memory of those who lived for years with pain, isolation or a lack of understanding. His work has encouraged greater public sensitivity towards victims and prompted collective reflection on the importance of preserving their memory as an essential part of Spain’s recent history. The jury considers that this cultural contribution has played a fundamental role in society’s recognition of victims and the defence of their dignity. It is work that has reached beyond literatu- re to become a means of remembrance and awareness. JON SISTIAGA, A CAREER COMMITTED TO THE TRUTH This year, Jon Sistiaga will be a leading figure in the informative and educatio- nal work of preserving victims’ memory. The renowned journalist will receive the FERNANDO ARAMBURU, JON SISTIAGA AND THE MEMORIAL CENTRE FOR THE VICTIMS OF TERRORISM, CHAMPIONS OF REMEMBRANCE AND DIGNITY Victims of Terrorism Foundation Awards 2026 The 23rd edition of the awards recognises the contribution of literature, journalism and ins- titutions to defending victims of terrorism’s memory and pas- sing democratic values on to new generations. ` Writer Fernando Aramburu