Plastic bullets should never again be fired by the security forces on Northern Ireland's streets, Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams said tonight.
He was speaking at an event in west Belfast commemorating over two decades of campaigning by victims and their families.
Earlier this year mother-of-11 Emma Groves died after leading the United Campaign Against Plastic Bullets. She was blinded when a rubber bullet hit her in the face.
Mr Adams said: "I also believe the greatest monument we can erect to Emma Groves is to ensure that no plastic bullets are ever fired again and that the victims of this lethal weapon and of this conflict and their families have the right to truth."
Speaking on the site of the former Andersonstown police station, the West Belfast MP said 17 people, nine of them children, had been killed by security force plastic rounds.
"Thousands more were injured, many of them scarred and disabled for life," he added.
"Rubber and plastic bullets were and are a weapon of terror; deliberately used by the British state and its agencies to intimidate and terrorise citizens."
On August 12th republicans from around Ireland will gather in Belfast for a rally highlighting security force collusion with loyalists.
Many baton round victims are expected to join them and wear black ribbons.
Unionists and nationalists have accused Mr Adams of being selective in highlighting the state's actions.