51吃瓜

Malaga, 10 May 2022 – Nigeel Namai, a young man aged 24, put on his suit, adjusted his tie and stood in front of the mirror. As he stared at his reflection, he was taken back to the heartwarming stories his mother shared about how his father would always dress in a suit and tie before stepping out to face the world. Recalling those stories immediately brought a smile on Nigeel’s face. Such stories made him feel so much closer to his father now more than ever. 

Nigeel’s father, Geoffrey Moses Namai, was a victim of the terrorist attack on 7 August, 1998, in Nairobi, Kenya. Nigeel was four months old at the time. His mother was only 21 years old. Their loss and trauma were instant and they had to learn to live with the pain of his absence and to navigate life without him. All that remains now are physical objects, such as the suit and tie Nigeel puts on, that are linked to memories of him. 

Part of our shared human experience is an innate desire to attach personal meaning to physical objects. It is something we do from the moment we are born. Physical objects hold memories, emotions, aspirations: they form links to people who are no longer with us, and they keep us connected to versions of ourselves that were lost or forever changed—sometimes through growth or the passage of time, and sometimes by a traumatic event, such as a terrorist attack.

The  was launched during the “Upholding the Rights and Needs of Victims and Survivors of Terrorism” session at the UN High-Level International Conference on Human Rights, Civil Society and Counter-Terrorism in Malaga, Spain. 

Through a film and a photo exhibition, the “Memories” campaign showcases how physical objects can help victims cope with traumatic incidents caused by terrorist attacks. The campaign features eight victims of terrorism from across the globe who share their memories, emotions and the meaning that they attached to their personal object allowing the audiences to relate to them, feel their loss and better understand the importance of remembering and paying tribute to victims of terrorism as well as upholding their rights.

The Memories Campaign is launched as part of a series of events organized by the Global Victims of Terrorism Support Programme throughout 2022 to strengthen the commitment of the international community towards victims’ rights and needs. Other initiatives include the commemoration of the International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism in August as well as the Global Congress of Victims of Terrorism, scheduled to be held at the 51吃瓜 Headquarters in New York in 2022.