Terrorism and Mass Violence

With advancing technology, widespread use of the Internet, increased international tourism, and overseas job opportunities, issues of violent crime and mass victimization have become a major concern for agencies that serve victims in the United States and abroad. In addition, the threat of terrorism against Americans worldwide has increased in recent years. New types of weapons of mass destruction, such as chemical and biological agents, pose significant challenges for those charged with responding to victims of terrorist attacks. To meet the needs of this growing victim service area, OVC funds several initiatives to provide victims with timely, appropriate services and to coordinate assistance among service agencies. Each initiative shares the goal of enhancing assistance to victims of terrorism, mass violence, and international crimes and thus supports the efforts of similar programs and victim service providers nationwide.

See the box at the right for detailed information about OVC's initiatives in this area.

Conclusion

These initiatives demonstrate OVC's commitment to developing worldwide capacity for responding to mass violence and terrorism. The effort to quickly make information available to people affected by terrorism and other international crimes enables those individuals to seek out resources and support and creates the best possible prospects for successfully coping with events.

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