Attendees honouring victims and survivors of terrorism, at the inauguration of an exhibit at the United Nations in New York on 17 August 2018.
Following a decision by the General Assembly, August 2018 marked the first time the International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to Victims of Terrorism was observed. Proclaimed to take place on 21 August every year, the International Day was instituted to honour and support the victims and survivors of terrorism and to promote and protect the full enjoyment of their human rights and fundamental freedoms.
On 17 August 2018, the Permanent Missions to the United Nations of Afghanistan, Belgium, Iraq, Nigeria, and the United States, along the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) and the Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), inaugurated a multimedia exhibit at the United Nations in New York. The exhibit, which features the voices of victims, experts, and civil society leaders who have been affected by a terrorist attack or have worked with victims, was opened by UN Secretary-General António Guterres. Other speakers included H.E. Mahmoud Saikal, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Afghanistan to the United Nations; Under-Secretary-General Vladimir Voronkov, UNOCT; Deputy Executive Director Weixiong Chen, CTED; and a number of victims of terrorism / representatives of civil society organizations.
“We must lift up the voices of victims and survivors of terrorist attacks, who consistently call for accountability and results. When we respect the human rights of victims and provide them with support and information, we reduce the lasting damage done by terrorists to individuals, communities, and societies,” said Secretary-General Guterres.
“The voices of victims of terrorism […] will ask not for revenge, but […] for justice. […] We must never neglect our duty to recognize, protect, and assist the victims; to seek justice on their behalf, and to guarantee their rights,” stressed CTED Deputy Executive Director Chen.
The webcast recording of the event on 17 August 2018 can be found here.
Photos from the event #SurvivingTerrorism are available on CTED’s dedicated Flickr page.
All statements delivered on 17 August 2018 can be found at the United Nations’ Victims of Terrorism Support Portal’s web page about the event.