Why Recognition and Support Must Go Beyond Borders
At V-Europe, we see every day how complex and painful it can be for victims of terrorism when an attack happens outside their home country. Borders—just lines on a map in theory—can quickly become walls in practice: walls of bureaucracy, misunderstanding, and emotional distance.
One heartbreaking example is the story of Erik Dereymaeker and Cinta Fauville, the parents of Maïlys Dereymaeker. Maïlys was a 31-year-old Belgian psychologist and coordinator working for the Immigration Department (DVZ) under Belgium’s Federal Public Service for Home Affairs, supporting asylum centers in Sweden. On April 7, 2017, her life was tragically cut short when a truck deliberately plowed into pedestrians on a busy shopping street in Stockholm. Far from home, she lost her life—and her parents lost their beloved daughter.
Erik and Cinta are what we call cross-border victims: people who are directly impacted by terrorism, but whose path to recognition and support becomes even more difficult simply because the attack happened abroad. Their grief is universal, but the challenges they face are anything but.
Navigating the aftermath of such an event often means dealing with lengthy, legally complicated, and linguistically challenging procedures. In Sweden, their case was handled by Trafikskadenämnden, the Traffic Accident Board of the Swedish Insurance Federation. Meanwhile in Belgium, the Commission for Financial Aid to Victims can only step in once all foreign proceedings are fully completed. The result? Years of waiting, uncertainty, and repeated interaction with systems that are rarely designed for situations like theirs.
But beyond the paperwork and procedures, the hardest part is often the emotional distance—and the feeling of being forgotten. Years ago, Erik and Cinta were invited to a commemoration in Sweden, only to find there was still no physical memorial.
Today, eight years after the attack, that long-overdue recognition has finally arrived.
This morning, on April 7, 2025, V-Europe accompanied Erik and Cinta at the official remembrance ceremony in Stockholm, where a permanent monument was unveiled to honour the victims of the 2017 terrorist attack. Together, they laid flower wreaths in memory of Maïlys and all those who were affected. It was a moment of dignity, silence, and connection—one that marked both the end of a long wait and the beginning of a lasting place of remembrance.
The newly unveiled memorial is a metallic sculpture shaped like a blanket, symbolising warmth, protection, and remembrance. Poems are engraved along the seams of the blanket—verses from different voices woven into a collective memory. Most strikingly, the blanket is permanently heated, offering real, physical warmth when touched. It invites visitors to not only remember, but also to connect—through presence, touch, and emotion.
V-Europe’s resource coordinator, Mathias Van de Vijver, stood by their side throughout the day as their trusted point of contact and personal support. His presence reflects our commitment not just to legal and administrative assistance, but to standing with victims as people—offering continuity, empathy, and long-term support.
At V-Europe, our role goes far beyond legal guidance. We are, first and foremost, a human-centered organization. We help victims like Erik and Cinta navigate unfamiliar systems, provide clarity and calm, offer a listening ear, and remain present—not just in the beginning, but for as long as we’re needed.
Still, we cannot allow victims to depend solely on individual support and goodwill.
That’s why we continue to advocate for:
- Stronger European coordination in the recognition and support of terrorism victims
- Structured cooperation between EU member states, no matter where the attack took place
- A future in which victims are not left to rely on luck or perseverance, but can count on consistent, built-in protection and care
Because terrorism knows no borders. And the recognition, justice, and support that victims deserve should never stop at one either.
