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Victim Assistance and Advocacy Highlights

U.S. Government’s Hostage Policy Review Committee

On June 24, 2015, President Obama formally issued a new Presidential Policy Directive to improve how the United States works to bring home American hostages and how we support their families. President Obama also signed a new Executive Order to establish new operational bodies and a new diplomatic position to support that directive.

Support for Hostage Taking Trial in Philippines

OVT supported the travel of a U.S. citizen who was taken hostage to testify at the trial in the Philippines. The U.S citizen victims and family members also provided victim-impact statements for the sentencing. The three defendants were sentenced to life without parole.

Notification to the Victims of the 2013 Amenas BP Natural Gas Field Attack

OVT maintains a password-protected website for U.S. victims of the January 16, 2013 attack at the Amenas BP Natural Gas Field.

Notification/Updates to the Victims of Crimes Committed by the November 17 (N17) Terrorist Group in Greece

OVT maintains a password-protected website to provide U.S. victims of crimes committed by the Greek terrorist group November 17 (N17) with information about the group and the efforts to hold its members accountable for their crimes.

Victim Family Travel to Frankfurt, Germany

OVT assisted family members and victims during the German prosecution of Arid Uka for murdering two U.S. servicemen and injuring two others outside the Frankfurt, Germany airport. OVT funded travel expenses for six victim family members to travel to Germany to attend and participate in the German prosecution, provided information to the families concerning proceedings and sentencing options, and assisted in obtaining authorization from U.S. victims to include personal information in a memorandum to foreign prosecutors addressing sentencing aggravating factors. The German court ultimately sentenced the defendant to the maximum sentence available after finding aggravating factors supporting such a sentence.

OVT Accompaniment and Victim Family Travel to Israel

OVT funded travel expenses for a victim’s parents to attend several court proceedings in the Israeli prosecution of Iyad Fatafa and Kifah Ghneimat for the murder of an American citizen in Israel. OVT’s Attorney Advisor accompanied the parents to Israel and assisted during meetings with the Israeli prosecutors, a visit to the crime scene, development of a victim impact statement for presentation to the Israeli court, and a meeting with managers of the Israeli victim compensation program. The defendants were sentenced to life plus twenty years and two life sentences, respectively.

OVT Accompaniment and Victim Family Travel to West Bank

OVT funded travel expenses for a victim’s parent to attend several court proceedings in the West Bank-Judea Military Court for the murder of an American citizen in the West Bank. OVT’s Director and Attorney Advisor accompanied the parent to a court proceeding in the West Bank. One defendant was sentenced to two life sentences plus 58 years, while an individual convicted of an after-the-fact theft received 10 months.

Notification to the Victims of the 2009 Hotel bombings in Jakarta, Indonesia

OVT maintained a password-protected website for U.S. victims of the July 17, 2009 J.W. Marriott and Ritz Carlton Hotel bombings in Jakarta, Indonesia. The website provided regular updates on the ongoing prosecution of 17 defendants tried for their role in that crime.

Notification to the Victims of the 2010 bombings in Kampala, Uganda

OVT maintains a password-protected website for U.S. victims of the July 11, 2010 bombings in Kampala, Uganda. The website provides regular updates on the ongoing prosecution of the defendants being tried for their role in that crime.

Intensive Support for Bali Bombing Trial

OVT maintained a password-protected website for U.S. victims of the 2002 Bali, Indonesia bombings that provided regular updates on the prosecution of Umar Patek for his role in that crime. OVT also provided information on U.S. crime-victim rights to Indonesian officials and worked with ten U.S. citizen victims or their families to draft, notarize, and properly format victim-impact statements. OVT supported the travel of one U.S. citizen survivor of the bombings to testify at the trial in Jakarta. During his testimony, he provided photos, medical records, and the victim-impact statements from ten of the U.S. victims to the judges.

Information for Victims of Mumbai Attacks

OVT maintains a password-protected website for the U.S. victims of the November 2008 Mumbai, India attacks. The website monitors the prosecutions going on in both India and Pakistan. In the only U.S. prosecution based on the November 2008 Mumbai attacks, OVT used its password-protected website to notify victims of the indictment of American, David Headley, for his role in planning that crime.

Achille Lauro Support

OVT introduced the family of a U.S. citizen killed in the 1985 hijacking of the Achille Lauro cruise ship to those investigating and prosecuting an arms supplier suspected of having supplied the hijackers in a case involving unrelated charges being prosecuted in a U.S. District Court. Thereafter, Victim Witness Coordinator staff in the U.S. Attorney’s Office assisted the victims in connection with court proceedings.

Assistance for Victims of Al Qaeda Atacks

OVT assisted U.S. victims of overseas attacks attributed to al Qaeda in connection with Military Commission proceedings. OVT maintained a webpage for victims of al Qaeda attacks, supported victim access to proceedings being held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and coordinated meetings between government officials and victims. Al Qaeda-attributed overseas attacks include the bombing of the U.S.S. Cole in Yemen, the East Africa Embassy bombings, the 2002 Bali bombings, the 2003 Jakarta, Indonesia hotel bombings, and the kidnap and murder of a U.S. citizen journalist in Pakistan.

 

Updated August 4, 2017