Healing through Memory.

 

The General Assembly, in its resolution A/RES/72/165, proclaimed 21 August as the International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism. The resolution “invites all Member States, organizations of the United Nations system, as well as other international organizations and civil society entities, including non-governmental organizations and individuals, to observe the International Day in an appropriate manner.” Its main focus is to honour, remember and pay tribute to the victims of terrorism, stand in solidarity with them and promote and protect their human rights and fundamental freedoms. Victims and survivors of terrorism continue to remind us that remembrance is not only about looking back. It is also about healing, dignity, recognition, education, and prevention. As the ninth commemoration of the International Day approaches, the ways in which societies choose to remember victims and mark anniversaries of terrorist attacks matter. Public narratives, media coverage, and online content all shape how victims' experiences are understood, preserved, and transmitted to future generations. Public solidarity and remembrance around memorials, anniversaries, and commemorative events can be an important source of healing. At the same time, remembrance must be carried out in ways that respect the dignity, agency, rights, wishes, and well-being of victims and survivors to avoid becoming a potential source of further re-traumatization and harm.

The theme of this year's commemoration, "Healing Through Memory", was selected through consultations with the Victims of Terrorism Associations Network (VoTAN). It recognizes the important role that remembrance, memorialization, solidarity, and collective memory can play in healing, resilience, recovery, and social cohesion. Acts of remembrance have the power to honour victims, preserve their stories, foster empathy, strengthen communities, and contribute to preventing future violence. However, commemorations can also become a potential source of further harm for victims of terrorism, particularly when increased visibility leads to online abuse or other forms of harassment. Commemorations that do not respect victims’ wishes, insensitive media coverage, unauthorized use of images or testimonies, and harmful online content can contribute to retraumatization and secondary victimization. The 2026 International Day will therefore explore how governments, international organizations, civil society, technology companies, educators, media professionals, and victims themselves can contribute to respectful, inclusive, victim-centred, trauma-informed and responsible forms of remembrance. Members of VoTAN will present work that they have led on protecting victims from online harms, and victim testimony will explore the role that remembrance and collective memory can play in healing, resilience, and recovery. The Day will serve both as a tribute and a call to action. It will honour the resilience and leadership of victims and survivors while encouraging greater collaboration to ensure that remembrance contributes to healing, recognition, prevention, and peace. 

Activities

 This year’s commemoration of the International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims ofTerrorism will include a high-level event on 21 August 2026, built around the theme “Healing ThroughMemory.” The event will feature a high-level segment, the launch of VoTAN’s first victim-led product, and victim testimony exploring the role of remembrance, memorialization, and collective memory in healing, resilience, and recovery. 

1. High-Level Segment 

On 21 August 2026, the event will open with remarks from senior United Nations officials and Member State representatives. A key focus will be on recognizing the role of remembrance in honoring victims and survivors of terrorism, preserving their stories, and fostering healing, solidarity, and resilience. The event will include remarks from the United Nations Secretary-General and from the Acting Under-Secretary-General for Counter-Terrorism; reflections on the theme of “Healing through Memory” from four victims of terrorism; a statement from the Group of Friends of Victims of Terrorism; and a Global Minute of Silence. The “Victims’ Voices” segment will feature four victims and survivors of terrorism from diverse regional and personal backgrounds who have engaged in remembrance, memorialization, education, advocacy, and peacebuilding efforts. In line with this year’s theme, “Healing Through Memory”, their reflections will explore how remembrance and collective memory can support healing, resilience, and recovery, while highlighting initiatives that preserve victims’ stories and promote recognition of the human impact of terrorism. Speakers will reflect on the role of remembrance in healing, resilience and recovery. They will share lessons learned from efforts to preserve victims' stories and promote recognition, while addressing challenges related to re-traumatization and the preservation of memory in an increasingly digital world. The discussion will highlight how remembrance can contribute to healing, prevention, peacebuilding, and a future free from terrorism.

2. Launch of "Building a Safer Internet for Victims of Terrorism” by VoTAN. As part of the commemoration, the event will mark the launch of a victim-led initiative on “Building a Safer Internet for Victims of Terrorism”, a victims-led initiative developed by VoTAN members from diverse regions and backgrounds. The briefing paper examines online harms and retraumatization experienced by victims and survivors of terrorism and offers recommendations to promote more victim-centred and trauma-informed approaches in digital spaces. 

3. VoTAN video: “Healing Through Memory”. The commemoration will conclude with a video featuring reflections from VoTAN members, showcasing diverse perspectives on healing and resilience from victims and survivors of terrorism and will also be shared on social media. Programme 21 August 2026 10:00- 11:20 am EDT (New York time) 

Media and Communications: Victims of terrorism, victims' associations, Member States, civil society organizations and United Nations partners are encouraged to create social media content to commemorate the International Day on their platforms, using the hashtag #UNiteforVictimsofTerrorism. A Trello board with communications assets will be provided by UNOCT. Communication activities will promote respectful, victim-centred, trauma-informed and responsible remembrance while highlighting the importance of preserving victims' stories and experiences for future generations. More information about the International Day will be available on the dedicated page on the UNOCT website and on the main UN Observances page. For more information, please contact Ms. Laurence Gerard, Public Information Officer, at gerardl@un.org.

Partnerships:The UNOCT/UNCCT Global Victims of Terrorism Support Programme leads the organization of all commemorative activities for International Day, in collaboration with the Group of Friends of Victims of Terrorism, and in partnership with the United Nations Department of Global Communications and the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact Working Group on Promoting and Protecting Human Rights and the Rule of Law while Countering Terrorism and Supporting Victims of Terrorism.