Brussels-New York: Europe and the Arabs
On the occasion of the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Terrorism, which falls on August 21, the United Nations website quoted what the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, wrote on this occasion, in which he stated, "We are all committed to supporting the victims and survivors of terrorism, raising their voices, and working together in order to preserve the memory of those whose lives were lost Or their lives were changed because of it, and it will be remembered forever.”
"Thousands of innocent people continue to be harmed and killed every year as terrorist acts spread a wide range of ideologies of hate," the UN news website wrote.
Victims of terrorism Victims and survivors of terrorism often struggle to make their voices heard, to find someone who meets their needs, and upholds their rights. They often feel forgotten and neglected once the immediate impact of terrorist attacks wears off, with devastating consequences for them. Few Member States have the resources or capacity to meet the medium- and long-term needs of victims of terrorism for their full recovery, rehabilitation and reintegration into society. The recovery process for victims of terrorism requires multidimensional and long-term support, including physical, psychological, social and financial support, that will enable them to recover and live with dignity.

Member States have the primary responsibility to support victims of terrorism and uphold their rights. The United Nations plays an important role in supporting Member States in implementing the first and fourth components of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy through solidarity with and support for victims, assistance in capacity-building, the establishment and support of networks of civil society organizations, especially associations concerned with victims of terrorism, and encouragement of Member States to Promote, protect and respect the rights of victims. The United Nations is still working to make available the resources of the international community and mobilize its resources to meet the needs of victims of terrorism.
The United Nations General Assembly, by its resolution 72/165, adopted 21 August as the International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism, to honor and support victims and survivors of terrorism and to promote and protect their full enjoyment of their human rights and fundamental freedoms.
That resolution built on existing efforts by the General Assembly, the Commission on Human Rights and the Human Rights Council, all of which aim to promote and protect the rights of victims of terrorism.
By declaring this international day, the General Assembly affirms that the promotion and protection of human rights and the rule of law at the domestic and international levels are essential when it comes to preventing and combating terrorism.
In April 2020, the Secretary-General submitted to the General Assembly — as requested by the General Assembly in its resolution 73/305 — a report on the progress made by the United Nations system in supporting Member States in assisting victims of terrorism.
The United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, adopted in General Assembly resolution 60/288 of 8 September 2006, indicated that dehumanizing victims is one of the causes of the spread of terrorism, and that the most effective way to combat terrorism is to take measures to respect Human dignity and the rule of law.
The Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy emphasized the importance of the role played by victims in countering terrorism and combating violent extremism, as well as recognizing and upholding human rights.
Since the sixth review in 2018, developments at the international, regional and national levels have shown that support for victims has gone beyond symbolic solidarity to real participation in advancing their rights and needs. This is evident in the establishment of the Group of Friends of Victims of Terrorism in 2019, as well as in the General Assembly resolution on strengthening international relations to assist victims of terrorism.
The Eighth Review, adopted by the General Assembly on 22 June 2023, noted the importance of upholding the rights and needs of victims, particularly women and children, and those affected by sexual and gender-based violence perpetrated by terrorists. The resolution also encouraged all Member States to develop comprehensive national plans to assist victims of terrorism and their families in meeting the immediate, short and long-term needs of victims of terrorism.
The resolution welcomes the first United Nations Global Conference on Victims of Terrorism, which was held in September 2022 at United Nations Headquarters, and encourages the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism, through the Global Victims of Terrorism Support Program and the United Nations Victims of Terrorism Support Portal, to continue to raise awareness of victims of terrorism and promote their rights and protect them. This includes enhancing the capacity of Member States to assist victims of terrorism and strengthening their engagement with relevant civil society organizations and the private sector, which can play a valuable role in assisting and supporting victims of terrorism.