The Ulster Unionist Party leader Mr David Trimble said today the human rights industry is "one of the great curses of this world" saying activists justified terrorist acts.
He made his remarks after addressing delegates at the final day of the International Congress on Victims of Terrorism in Madrid.
The Nobel Peace Prize winner had told the 600 congress participants that greater political engagement was needed to drag the Northern Ireland peace process out of the doldrums.
"I'm sure we'll get there in the end, I'm just not sure how long it will take to get there," he said.
After his address he said: "One of the great curses of this world is the human rights industry. They justify terrorist acts and end up being complicit in the murder of innocent victims."
But Mr Trimble acknowledged the ambiguity of terms such as victims or terrorism.
"What about an activist who dies as a result of their own actions? You may not think of that individual as a victim, but they have a husband or a wife or children."
The congress gathered terrorism victims from at least seven countries - Spain, the United States, Colombia, Algeria, Israel, Northern Ireland and France - and representatives of several dozen countries.
Spanish Crown Prince Felipe inaugurated the congress telling victims that their speaking out was fundamental for the defeat of terrorism.
AP