Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism
@terrorismvictimsday
21 August have been declared by the UN General Assembly as International Day to highlight the important role of victims of terrorism in countering terrorism, promoting international solidarity, preventing violent extremism, recognizing and upholding their human rights, and supporting their distinct needs
From Emerging Tech to Responsible AI - The Present and Future of Law Enforcement and Counter-terrorism.
The objective of this event is to officially launch and promote the second phases of two EU-funded pivotal projects in the field of emerging
The objective of this event is to officially launch and promote the second phases of two EU-funded pivotal projects in the field of emerging technologies: The AI and Law Enforcement Programme implemented by UNICRI and INTERPOL and CT TECH + implemented by UNOCT and INTERPOL. The event aims to highlight the significance and transformative potential of these independent yet related initiatives to strengthen both public safety and global security.
Watch From Emerging Tech to Responsible AI: The Present and Future of Law Enforcement and Counter-terrorism!
Transnational Repression in the MENA Region: The Role of Regional Organizations Engaged in Counter-Terrorism.
The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is witnessing a troubling trend of transnational repression, with regional organizations ofte
The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is witnessing a troubling trend of transnational repression, with regional organizations often exacerbating human rights abuses. These abuses often target and silence activists, dissidents and human rights defenders under the guise of counterterrorism laws and other measures inconsistent with international human rights standards.
Watch the Transnational Repression in the NEMA Region: The Role of Regional Organizations Engaged in Counter-Terrorism!
Education as a Tool for Prevention, Peacebuilding and Empowerment of Victims of Terrorism.
Held under the theme “Education as a Tool for Prevention, Peacebuilding and Empowerment of Victims of Terrorism”, the Conference will explore the role of victims and survivors of terrorism as educators, peacebuilders and agents for change.
The Conference will include a High-Level Session and Call to Action from victims of terrorism on 8 October as well as four panels discussions with victims of terrorism, Member States, civil society and experts on the following topics:
- Voices of Resilience: Victims of Terrorism as Peace Advocates and Educators,
- Institutional Action to Ensure Victims and Survivors are Granted their Rights and Supported in their Needs,
- Nurturing Resilience and Social Cohesion in the Aftermath of Terrorism: The Role of Civil Society and Grassroots Initiatives, and
- Empowering Youth as Peace Advocates in the Struggle against Terrorism.
Watch the livestream!
2024 Event: The United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism and the Kingdom of Spain are pleased to announce they will co-host the Internatio
High-Level Segment - International Conference on Victims of Terrorism.
High-Level Segment of the conference
The High-Level Segment will open with remarks from the conference's organizers, the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) and the Kingdom of Spain as well as a call to action by victims and survivors of terrorism. Remarks from ministerial-level speakers and principals of international organizations and UN entities will follow.
Introductory Remarks: Mr. Mauro Miedico,Director, United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre, United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism
Opening Statement:
· Statement by H.E. Mr. Salih Husain Ali, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Iraq to Spain and Co-Chair of the Group of Friends of Victims of Terrorism, on behalf of H.E. Mr. Fuad Hussein, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the Republic of Iraq.
Ministerial Statements:
· H.E. Ms. Victoria Eugenia Villaruel,Vice-President of Argentina
· H.E. Mr. Javier Martínez-Acha Vásquez, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Panama
· H.E. Mr. Waleed bin Abdulkarim El-Khereiji, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
· H.E. Ms. Josefina Vidal Ferreiro, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cuba
· H.E Sevim Sayım Madak, Deputy Minister of Family and Social Services of the Republic of Türkiye
· H.E. Joan Antoni León Peso, Secretary of State, Ministry of Justice and Interior, Andorra
· H.E. Mr. Péter Sztáray, State Secretary for Security Policy of Hungary
Heads of UN Entities:
· Mr. Miguel Ángel Moratinos, High Representative, United Nations Alliance of Civilizations
· Mr. Volker Türk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (via pre-recorded video)
· Ms. Ghada Fathi Waly, Under-Secretary-General, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (via live video)
Eminent Speakers:
· H.E. Joan Antoni León Peso, Secretary of State, Ministry of Justice and Interior, Andorra
· H.E. Mr. Sos Avetisyan, Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to Spain
· H.E. Ms. Rosemary Morris-Castico, Ambassador of Australia to Spain
· H.E. Mr. Mohammad Sarwar Mahmood, Ambassador of the People's Republic of Bangladesh to Spain
· H.E. Mr. Yao Jing, Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Spain
· H.E. Mr. Dinesh Patnaik, Ambassador of India to Spain
· H.E. Mr. Zahoor Ahmed, Ambassador of Pakistan to Spain
· H. E. Mr. Robert Krmelj, Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia to Spain
· H.E. Mr. Hasan Alagla, Chief, Department of Human Rights, Presidency of State Security, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
· Ms. Alexandra Louis, Interministerial Delegate for Victim Support, France
· Hon. Rita Superman, Rapporteur on Counter-Terrorism, Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM)
· Statement by Mr. Ben Saul, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism (via pre-recorded video)
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 is hosted by the Kingdom of Spain in the city of Vitoria-Gasteiz on 8-9 October 2024. The conference brings together experts, practitioners, and stakeholders from diverse backgrounds. It aims 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 globally.
Related Sites and Documents
More information and latest programme
Watch the High-Level Segment - International Conference on Victims of Terrorism!
Young People Challenging Violent Extremism Online: Insights from Asia.
The Global Network on Extremism and Technology (GNET) invites you to attend an online report launch for Primitivo III Cabanes Ragandang’s new GNET Report ‘Young People Challenging Violent Extremism Online: Insights from Asia.’
The event will comprise a 30-minute presentation of the report findings, followed by a 30-minute moderated Q&A.
This report examines online youth-led initiatives involved in challenging violent extremism (CVE). It focuses on the 2013–2023 online presence of 13 youth organisations. Based on data scraped from more than 130 social media posts, the report highlights the dynamics of youth-led CVE efforts online, and discusses strategic planning, content creation and organisational challenges. The study identifies the dual approach of young people in CVE work across both online and offline spaces. This report recommends that CVE youth organisations be given more training in online content creation and social media literacy. It suggests prioritising and supporting offline activities to improve sustainability and proposes collaborative online spaces to boost engagement. The report also recommends that tech companies broaden their existing community systems to amplify and lend credibility to CVE-related content on social media platforms.
Extremism Online: Insights from Asia
Where: Online, via Zoom
When: Tuesday 27 August, 16:00 BST/ 11:00 EST
What: 30-minute presentation of report findings, followed by 30-minute moderated Q&A
The Global Network on Extremism and Technology (GNET) invites you to attend an online report launch for Prof. Primitivo III Cabanes Raganda
Working to prevent and respond to the exploitation of digital platforms by terrorists and violent extremists.
Terrorist and violent extremist (TVE) groups are no longer necessarily organized in terms of identifiable organizations, but are increasingly diffused, decentralized – and, in some cases, even absent, as we see more individuals radicalize and mobilize without formal group or ideological affiliations.
The total number of active terrorist groups has fallen 51 per cent since 2007.
Terrorist groups that disband are not being replaced with new groups
at the same rate. The total number of active terrorist groups has fallen 51 per cent since 2007.
Stand in solidarity with victims of terrorism and honor the legacy of those who lost their lives in terrorist attacks.
Let's works with local communities, civil society, and state institutions to address threats related to radicalization and violent extremism as well as to understand their impacts on societies, and in particular, vulnerable groups.
Just 11 terrorist groups were responsible for 80% of all deaths from terrorism since 2007.
Deaths from terrorism at the group level are even more unevenly distributed. Just 11 terrorist groups were responsible for
80 per cent of all deaths from terrorism since 2007.
80% of deaths from terrorism occurred from the top 18% of attacks.
Deaths from terrorism are not evenly distributed across attacks. Eighty per cent of deaths from terrorism occurred from the top 18 per cent of attacks.
Of the 139 groups that were active in 2007, just 25 were still active in 2023.
Most terrorist groups do not last very long. Of the 139 groups that were active in 2007, just 25 were still active in 2023. Over
44 per cent of groups last two years or less
Sub-Saharan Africa has had the most deaths of any region every year since 2017.
Although MENA has had the highest overall number of deaths
from terrorism since 2007, the region has recorded a substantial
decline in the five years prior 2023. MENA is no longer the region with the highest number of deaths from terrorism and saw a sustained drop between 2016 and 2022. As a result, sub-Saharan Africa became the region with the most deaths from terrorism, overtaking MENA and South Asia. Figure 2.7 shows the trend in terrorism deaths for these three regions since 2007. Collectively they accounted for 94 per cent of deaths from terrorism in 2023.
Attacks and deaths from terrorism by region, 2007–2023.
South Asia continues to be the most impacted region globally by
terrorism, a position it has held since 2007. Similarly, Central
America and the Caribbean remained the least impacted region
for terrorism in 2023 for the eleventh consecutive year.
A total of 33 terrorism deaths have been recorded in the Central
America and the Caribbean since 2007, with 24 per cent of those
occurring in 2009. The region recorded one attack in 2023 but
had not experienced any attacks or deaths in the four years prior
to 2023.
Sub-Saharan Africa experienced the most significant regional
deterioration over the past decade, with terrorist incidents and
casualties rising by 239 per cent since 2013.
By contrast, the trends in MENA and Europe improved over the
past decade, with attacks in MENA declining by 74 per cent, and
fatalities decreasing by 63 per cent.
In Europe, there was an 88 per cent decline in fatalities from
terrorism and a 63 per cent decline in terrorist attacks over the
past ten years.
Figure 2.6 shows the total number of attacks and deaths from
terrorism since 2007. Between 2007 and 2023, the largest
number of deaths from terrorism was recorded in the MENA
region, at 53,798 deaths. Just over 40,000 deaths were recorded
in sub-Saharan Africa, with a further 40,000 in South Asia.
