Combating terrorism

This visit was supposed to take place last week. Unfortunately, I had to go to Moscow and Kyiv, as you know.

It was a visit of solidarity, especially with the victims of terrorism, in the holy month of Ramadan. The fact that I came to Borno State is symbolic of our priority to the world to fight terrorism and to create solutions for the victims of terrorism.

Now, the Borno State I have heard about in many circumstances around my life as High Commissioner for Refugees and then as Secretary-General was a Borno State of terrorism, of violence, of displacement, of despair.

Thank you very much Mr. President for your warm and generous welcome.

I am profoundly grateful to the government of Nigeria and to all those who helped make this visit possible at the end of the period linked to the Eid, and for allowing me to share in this special time.

This is a visit of solidarity with all Nigerians, but particularly with the victims of terrorism that I yesterday met in Borno.

I had also hoped that it would be part of my annual solidarity visit for Ramadan in which I would join the fast.

Dear Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen, honoured guests and family members.

August 26, 2011 is a date that is burned into the collective memory of our UN family.

On that tragic day, an appalling terrorist attack on UN House left 23 UN employees and civilians dead, and more than 60 injured.

Those staff members who lost their lives were unsung heroes who proudly served Nigerians through our organization’s work.

Clerks, receptionists and drivers.

A national professional officer and an associate expert.

A monitoring and evaluation specialist.

Mr. President, Excellencies,

Six months after the takeover by the Taliban, Afghanistan is hanging by a thread.

For Afghans, daily life has become a frozen hell.

They’re in the grips of another brutal winter of blistering wind, cold and snow.  

Families huddle in makeshift tents under plastic sheets – even burning their possessions to keep warm.

Clinics are overcrowded – and under-resourced.

Ambulances and hospital power generators are running dry because of skyrocketing fuel prices.

[All-English version; scroll down for bilingual, as delivered version]

In 1946, in the great burst of hope and activity that followed the creation of the United Nations, this Assembly reached its first resolution.

In part, the resolution called for the creation of a commission to eliminate atomic weapons and other weapons of mass destruction.

Your predecessors in this Assembly understood the fatal flaw behind the use of these weapons.

That the only inheritance for the victor would be a broken and barren world.

I am pleased to join you for the fourth International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism.

On this day, we remember and honour the individuals, families, communities and societies that have been traumatized by terrorist acts.

This year we focus on “connections” and their importance to victims – especially in the current pandemic environment.

Next month marks 20 years since terrorists attacked the Pentagon in Washington, crashed a plane in Pennsylvania and destroyed the World Trade Center towers here in New York.

I am pleased to welcome you to the Second High-level Conference of Heads of Counter-Terrorism Agencies of Member States.

The fight against terrorism has seen important advances. Attacks have been thwarted across the world, and hundreds of terrorists have been brought to justice.

Yet the threat has persisted and diversified.

And the fight against terrorism has itself caused damage.

Al-Qaida and ISIL have continued to exploit social grievances and gender stereotypes to inspire lone actors and co-opt other groups.

Today, we commemorate the third International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism. 
 
We stand in solidarity with the families who have lost loved ones, the wounded survivors, and those whose lives have been forever changed by acts of terrorism. 
 
We pay tribute to their courage, resilience and fortitude. 
 
And we commit to raising their voices and seeking truth and justice. 
 
We cannot undo the damage done, but we can defend their human rights and dignity. 
 

Welcome to this United Nations Counter-Terrorism week.  Today’s event kicks off a series of discussions over the coming days. 

It is a great pleasure to attend this high-level event that brings together the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the United Nations. I thank the Russian Chairmanship of the SCO for co-hosting this event.