International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism

  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, me...

  Problem Statement  The broad reach and impact of any tool designed to support victims of terrorism depends on its multicultural fluency in grief and trauma as well as its availability in multiple languages. The under-representation of minority languages and communities in the Global South in the digital corpus used to train Large Language Models (LLMs) has knock-on effects on AI-enabled tools’ ability to serve these populations safely and effectively. This is a problem larger than translation alone, and points towards structural limitations in ways in which these tools capture cultural context, social norms and other sensitive cues. Addressing these gaps requires investment in the development and training of AI-enabled models that are better equipped to engage in with linguistic diversity and cultural nuance, particularly in contexts involving trauma, vulnerability and the specific needs of victims of terrorism from around the world.  The State of Multicultural AI-enabl...

 Problem Statement  Many tools for communities in crisis are built for survivors rather than with them. This misses an opportunity to benefit from the lived experiences and expertise of victims of terrorism to cocreate tools that are safe, used, and useful. Finding ways to co-design tools with the individuals and communities most affected by terrorism safely, respectfully, and effectively is essential to improving digital support services offered by governments, service providers, industry, and nongovernmental organizations.  Toward Community-Led Design  As discussed in the Gap Analysis of Digital Tools to Support Victims of Terrorism , both the humanitarian and the tech sectors are increasingly recognizing the need to move beyond simple "user testing" and toward Community-Led Design. This shift recognizes that participation is a prerequisite for success and a potential pathway to healing for beneficiaries. There is a spectrum of possible engagement, from user-center...

  – To mark the ninth International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism , the United Nations will convene a virtual high-level event on Friday, 21 August, from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. EDT under the theme “ Healing Through Memory .” Selected through consultations with the Victims of Terrorism Associations Network (VoTAN), the 2026 theme will explore the vital role that respectful, victim-centred, and trauma-informed remembrance plays in recovery, resilience, and social cohesion . While acts of collective memory and public solidarity offer powerful pathways to healing, the commemoration also highlights the critical need to protect victims and survivors from secondary harm, re-traumatization, and online abuse . The International Day serves as both a tribute to the resilience of victims and a call to action to ensure remembrance honours their dignity, respects their rights, and contributes to longterm recovery and healing . The high-level segment will feature...

   Modern approaches to protecting critical infrastructure and vulnerable targets: Resilience and security in an era of global threats (Counter-Terrorism Week Side Event) Watch the Modern approaches to protecting critical infrastructure and vulnerable targets: Resilience and security in an era of global threats (Counter-Terrorism Week Side Event)! Side Events

   Advancing Member States' leadership to strengthen prevention and response capacities in Eastern Africa. Watch Addressing the Growing Threat of Terrorist Use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS): International Cooperation and Implementation Priorities (Counter-Terrorism Week Side Event)! Side Events

 From Commitment to Impact: Scaling Joint Responses for Border Stability in West Africa (Counter-Terrorism Week Side Event). From Commitment to Impact: Scaling Joint Responses for Border Stability in West Africa (Counter-Terrorism Week Side Event) Side Events

Advancing Member States' leadership to strengthen prevention and response capacities in Eastern Africa. Watch strengthening multilateral cooperation to counter terrorist use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) (Counter-Terrorism Week Side Event)! Side Events

The event will discuss and identify strategic priorities for Member States in adapting counter-terrorism policies and cooperation frameworks to the opportunities and risks posed by Artificial Intelligence and will share successes and lesson learned from the UNOCT and UNICRI led initiatives, such as CT TECH+ and AI POL. Artificial Intelligence is increasingly an operational reality in the field of counter-terrorism, reshaping both the threat landscape and the operational practice of counter-terrorism. To examine how AI continues to reshape counter-terrorism institutions, decision making, and operational realities at the national and international level, including with regard to its responsible use, on 1 July 2006 the European Union, India, Japan and the United Arab Emirates in cooperation with the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism and the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute is organizing a side event "AI and the Future of Counter-Terrorism: ...

As part of the 2026 Counter-Terrorism Week (CT Week) at the United Nations, the Fourth United Nations High-Level Conference of Heads of Counter-Terrorism Agencies of Member States will take place from Monday, 29 June to Tuesday, 30 June 2026 under the overarching theme " A Future Free from Terrorism: Consolidating the Global Commitment to Multi-Stakeholder Approaches to Counter Terrorism, notably through Member States' Leadership and Action. " Closing Session: Looking Ahead to the 9th Review and 20th Anniversary of the GCTS: Operationalizing Sustainable Counter Terrorism Outcomes . - Chair: Mr. Alexandre Zouev, Acting Under-Secretary-General for Counter Terrorism, United Nations - Eminent Guest: Ms. Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations Summary Conclusions and Closing Remarks: Mr. Alexandre Zouev, Acting Under-Secretary-General for Counter Terrorism, United Nations The Conference will provide a platform for Member States, United Nations entit...

   Good Practices in Countering Terrorism and its Financing in Low-Capacity and Exposed Contexts: Strengthening Capacity, Enhancing Operational Cooperation and Ensuring Balanced Implementation of International Standards (Counter-Terrorism Week Side Event) Watch the Good Practices in Countering Terrorism and its Financing in Low-Capacity and Exposed Contexts: Strengthening Capacity, Enhancing Operational Cooperation and Ensuring Balanced Implementation of International Standards (Counter-Terrorism Week Side Event)! Side Events

National and Regional Counter-Terrorism Strategies: Insights and Practical Lessons Learned, Including through Strengthening Prevention and PCVE (Counter-Terrorism Week Side Event) Watch the National and Regional Counter-Terrorism Strategies: Insights and Practical Lessons Learned, Including through Strengthening Prevention and PCVE (Counter-Terrorism Week Side Event)! Side Events

As part of the 2026 Counter-Terrorism Week (CT Week) at the United Nations, the Fourth United Nations High-Level Conference of Heads of Counter-Terrorism Agencies of Member States will take place from Monday, 29 June to Tuesday, 30 June 2026 under the overarching theme "A Future Free from Terrorism: Consolidating the Global Commitment to Multi-Stakeholder Approaches to Counter Terrorism, notably through Member States' Leadership and Action." SESSION 2: Strengthening Coordination and Coherence Through Networked Multilateralism. The Conference will provide a platform for Member States, United Nations entities, international and regional organizations, civil society organizations, and the private sector to exchange information, experiences, and good practices, as well as to explore further cooperation on key counter-terrorism priorities under the four pillars of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. As one of the first dedicated system-wide follow-up events a...

The event will examine emerging terrorism financing risks, identify priority gaps requiring international support, and promote coordinated implementation of international standards. Co-organized by the Permanent Missions of France and India, CTED, UNOCT and GIFCT. Watch joining Forces to Counter Terrorism Financing in the Context of Evolving Threats and Emerging Technologies (Counter-Terrorism Week Side Event)! Side Events

  The UN Office of Counter-Terrorism ( UNOCT ) launched the Victims of Terrorism Associations Network (VoTAN) . The network is a key outcome from the first UN Global Congress of Victims of Terrorism , held in September 2022. It brings together victims and survivors of terrorism, victims’ associations and civil society organizations from across the globe, The goal is to provide a safe space for victims and survivors to support each other, build resilience and engage as advocates, educators, and peacebuilders. Solidarity, advocacy and assistance Vladimir Voronkov, UN Under Secretary-General for Counter-Terrorism, expressed solidarity with all victims regardless of nationality, ethnicity, or religion, and paid tribute to their courage and resilience. “In the face of unimaginable personal tragedy, many have chosen to raise their voices, becoming powerful advocates for solidarity and tolerance,” he said, while also calling for greater support. “In many cases, the needs of victims and ...

 The Under-Secretary-General of the  UNOCT  Mr. Vladimir Voronkov called for sustained unity to address the threat posed by ISIL /Da’esh to international  peace  and  security , in line with the  Pact for the Future 's commitment to CounterTerrorism . Briefing the  United Nations  Security Council, Follow the conversations with the hashtags   #UNiteToCounterTerrorism .