21 August 2024
In a world relentlessly affected by terrorism and violent extremism, and with harmful ideologies spreading rapidly on social and traditional media, it is often easy to lose perspective on the most detrimental aspect of this phenomenon: the devastation terrorism leaves behind for those whose lives are forever and irreversibly altered.
Victims and survivors of terrorism bear a heavy burden in the wake of terrorist violence and destruction. Yet, in the face of unimaginable pain and trauma, victims and survivors emerge as strong advocates for community resilience, solidarity and peaceful coexistence.
Throughout the years, many victims and survivors have risen above their personal tragedies to advocate for their governments to recognize their trauma, emphasize greater recognition and strengthen prevention efforts. Many victims and survivors have taken this further at the regional and international levels, using their voices and sharing their stories, and showing how the power of human connections and empathy can immunize societies against the emergence and growth of violent extremism and terrorism.
Recognizing these vital contributions, the United Nations has remained steadfast in its support for victims and survivors, empowering them as critical engines in the rebuilding of terror-torn communities and enabling a transition towards peaceful and compassionate societies. Imparting valuable lessons on loss, healing and recovery, victims and survivors of terrorism have proved to be integral to the efforts of Member States, civil society and the United Nations system to develop strategies to counter terrorism and prevent and counter violent extremism.
To provide a sustainable framework to advance the rights and needs of victims and survivors of terrorism and empower them to become voices for peace, the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre of the Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNCCT/UNOCT) launched its Global Victims of Terrorism Support Programme in 2018. The Programme is dedicated to promoting the rights of victims of terrorism and advocating for the effective fulfilment of their needs. As a flagship initiative of UNOCT, the Programme strives to keep victims and survivors of terrorism high on the international community’s agenda, particularly at times when the multiplicity of crises, violent conflict and humanitarian grief compete for action, attention and resolution.
In its efforts to stand in solidarity with victims of terrorism, the General Assembly, in , established the International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism, which is marked every year on 21 August. The International Day honours and remembers victims of terrorism, stands in solidarity with them, and promotes and protects the full enjoyment of their human rights and fundamental freedoms.
This year’s seventh commemoration of the International Day will focus on "Voices for Peace: Victims of Terrorism as Peace Advocates and Educators", emphasizing the pivotal role of victims and survivors as agents of change and peace educators. The International Day will pay tribute to the efforts of victims and survivors to transform their personal tragedies into collective strengths, and to foster dialogue and understanding among diverse communities. These efforts are critical components of peaceful and open societies.
A number of activities will commemorate the International Day, including a high-level virtual event highlighting the transformative and impactful role that victims and survivors play in building societies that are more peaceful, tolerant and free from terrorism. The UNCCT/UNOCT "Memories" exhibition is currently displayed in the Visitor’s Lobby of the United Nations Secretariat Building to mark the occasion. It features life-sized images of victims and survivors of terrorism and showcases how objects meaningful to the victims have strengthened their resiliency and supported their recovery. Through the experiences of victims and survivors of terrorism, the exhibition also aims to raise the collective consciousness of its audience to create awareness about the importance of preventing terrorist attacks and the emergence of new victims when attacks do occur.
The exhibition also includes three films consisting of interviews with victims and survivors featured in the UNCCT/UNOCT Legacy Gallery on Instagram. Launched in 2023, the Legacy Project features the testimonies of victims and survivors of terrorism about their efforts to end terrorism and prevent and counter violent extremism. The Legacy Gallery has generated more than 7,000 direct interactions and attracted more than 3,500 followers across more than 60 countries since its launch.
Moving beyond solidarity into concrete actions, the UNCCT/UNOCT Global Victims of Terrorism Programme, together with its partners across the United Nations system and the Group of Friends of Victims of Terrorism, a like-minded group of Member States, works to support the rights and needs of victims through a holistic, whole-of-society approach that encompasses victim-centric policies.
The first Global Congress of Victims of Terrorism, held in 2022 at United Nations Headquarters, was a milestone in the international victims of terrorism agenda. Through its Chair’s Summary, the Global Congress charted a way forward on the rights and needs of victims and survivors at the global level—efforts that will be followed up by an international conference to be held in Spain in October 2024. The conference will ensure that victim-centric perspectives are included in national, regional and international efforts to counter terrorism and prevent violent extremism conducive to terrorism.
Member States, civil society, the United Nations and its partners must continue the momentum and focus on supporting victims and survivors of terrorism across the world. Upholding the rights and addressing the needs of victims of terrorism requires both short- and long-term support: it is not only a human rights imperative but also a solid investment in societal healing, prevention and peacebuilding. Victims and survivors of terrorism are not just numbers or statistics after an attack. They contribute to narratives of peacebuilding as advocates of peace and humanize the impact of terrorism. This is why we remain inspired, not only on the International Day but every day, by the courage and resilience of victims and survivors of terrorism to help us move towards the realization of a more just, peaceful and prosperous society.
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