Victims of Terrorism

Mandate of the Programme

The UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy highlights the importance of protecting the rights and addressing the needs of victims of terrorism. This Strategy, in addition to other United Nations resolutions, strategies, plans of action and other normative frameworks, provides the basis of the Programme.  

The General Assembly has passed two milestone resolutions focusing on victims of terrorism: 

• A/RES72/165, which establishes the International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism
• A/RES73/305 on the “Enhancement of international cooperation to assist victims of terrorism”, which emphasized the need to strengthen the international community’s commitment to victims and survivors of terrorism, particularly by calling on the United Nations to assist Member States to develop comprehensive assistance plans for victims of terrorism to address their immediate, short-term, and long-term relief and rehabilitation needs.

 International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism, 21 August

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.

On 21 August 2024, the seventh commemoration of the International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism was held under the theme “Voices for Peace: Victims of Terrorism as Peace Advocates and Educators”. The virtual commemoration event paid tribute to victims and survivors of terrorism across the world and to their efforts to transform their personal tragedies into collective strengths, emphasizing the importance of heeding their voices when they advocate for peacebuilding initiatives while also fostering dialogue and promoting understanding among diverse communities. These efforts are critical components of peaceful and open societies, in which victims and survivors of terrorism play a pivotal role.

Supporting the international victims of terrorism agenda

A first of its kind for the United Nations, the first United Nations Global Congress of Victims of Terrorism, held in 2022 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, marked a key milestone towards strengthened global solidarity and unity in support of victims and survivors of terrorism. Drawing together over 400 attendees, the event provided an opportunity to promote dialogue and engagement between Member States, victims of terrorism, civil society, academics, experts, and the private sector on the rights and needs of victims of terrorism. The outcomes of the Global Congress, published in a Chair’s Summary, charted a way forward for renewed national and international efforts to promote and protect the rights of victims of terrorism and enhance support for their needs. 

Building on the momentum created by the first United Nations Global Congress of Victims of Terrorism in 2022, the United Nations International Conference on Victims of Terrorism: Education as a Tool for Prevention, Peacebuilding and Empowerment of Victims of Terrorism, is being hosted by the Kingdom of Spain in the city of Vitoria-Gasteiz on 8-9 October 2024. The conference will bring together Member States, victims of terrorism, experts, practitioners, and other stakeholders from diverse backgrounds to foster collaboration, inspire innovative solutions, and advocate for a holistic approach to addressing the needs of victims of terrorism while striving to build more peaceful and resilient societies. 

Capacity-building and technical assistance to Member States, civil society and victims of terrorism

Through its capacity building activities, the VoT Programme seeks to strengthen the knowledge, skills and understanding of Member States and civil society organizations, including victims’ associations, to enable them to support victims and survivors of terrorism more efficiently and comprehensively. The capacity-building activities implemented by the VoT Programme range from developing and implementing national assistance packages tailored to Member States needs and priorities in the area of victims of terrorism to delivering strategic communications trainings to help victims and survivors strengthen their key messages and tailor them to global audiences.

In addition, the VoT Programme has published handbooks:

• Good Practices to Support Victims Associations in Africa and the Middle East (2018)
• Guidelines and Principles for Civil Society Organizations to Assist, Protect and Support Victims of Terrorism in Asia-Pacific (2020)
• The ‘Model Legislative Provisions to Support the Needs and Protect the Rights of Victims of Terrorism’ (2022). 

Co-developed by the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the ‘Model Legislative Provisions to Support the Needs and Protect the Rights of Victims of Terrorism’ are intended to assist Member States to strengthen their efforts on victims of terrorism in two ways:

• By serving as a model for the review and enhancement of existing legislation and procedures related to victims of terrorism at the national level
• By promoting the harmonization of legislation to support the needs and protect the rights of victims of terrorism within international legal frameworks

Based on this knowledge product, the VoT Programme also implements a project aimed at providing Member States with technical assistance for the development, review or harmonization of national legislation, and assisting them to develop national comprehensive assistance plans designed to support victims of terrorism in line with international good practices.

Victims of Terrorism Support Portal

General Assembly Resolution 73/305 on the “Enhancement of international cooperation to assist victims of terrorism” urges the United Nations to provide relevant information for victims, their families and communities, including but not limited to, psychosocial support and access to national criminal justice systems and rehabilitation opportunities offered by Member States. The United Nations Victims of Terrorism Support Portal responds to this need, by:

• Serving as a resource hub that provides comprehensive information on issues related to victims of terrorism, including their rights, available support services, and relevant legal frameworks.
• Contributing to rehabilitation, offering resources to assist victims and their families in their healing and recovery process, including access to psychological support, medical services, and social support programs.
• Expressing global solidarity with victims, promoting their inclusion in policymaking and implementation processes to ensure their voices are heard and their needs are met.
• Raising awareness of national and international efforts to support victims of terrorism and highlight the importance of including them in all areas of counter-terrorism work.

The Portal is currently offline for maintenance but will be back online soon.

Support to the Group of Friends of Victims of Terrorism

In 2019, a group of Member States came together to continue advancing the international victims of terrorism agenda through the establishment of the Group of Friends of Victims of Terrorism.

Currently co-chaired by Spain and Iraq, the Group of Friends has been instrumental in strengthening provisions and policy direction on victims of terrorism during subsequent reviews of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and has collaborated closely with UNOCT on a number of initiatives, including the commemoration of the International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism and the unveiling of the United Nations Victims of Terrorism Solidarity Tree at the United Nations Headquarters.

As an observer to the Group of Friends of Victims of Terrorism, UNOCT provides support and assistance when required. Examples of the VoT Programme’s support to the Group include co-hosting of the first and second Ministerial Meeting of the Group of Friends of Victims of Terrorism during the 74th and 75th meeting of the UN General Assembly, supporting the introduction of General Assembly resolutions for consideration, and collaborating in the organization of thematic events and memorialization activities.

UN System coordination

The VoT Programme plays a pivotal role in helping coordinate the delivery of UN system support to victims and survivors of terrorism, particularly through the Global Compact Working Group on Promoting and Protecting Human Rights and the Rule of Law while Countering Terrorism and Supporting Victims of Terrorism. As vice-chair of the Working Group, UNOCT leads on work and activities focused on victims of terrorism, coordinating and implementing the Working Group’s workplan on victims and advocating for UN system support for victims and survivors through the implementation of relevant initiatives.

The critical work of the VoT Programme, would not be possible without the valuable support of partners. To enable this work to continue, financial contributions are encouraged from Member States, the private sector, foundations, philanthropies, or individuals. Please reach out to [email protected] for information on how to contribute.