The General Assembly, in its , proclaimed 21 August as the International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism. The focus of the International Day is to honour, remember, and pay tribute to the victims of terrorism by standing in solidarity and promoting and protecting their human rights and fundamental freedoms.
2026 Theme: Healing through Memory
To mark the ninth International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism, the United Nations will host a high-level virtual event under the theme "Healing through Memory."
Selected in consultation with the Victims of Terrorism Associations Network (VoTAN), this year¡¯s theme recognises that acts of remembrance and memorialisation are not merely about looking back, but are essential for the dignity, recognition and long-term healing of survivors. By preserving stories and fostering empathy, collective memory can strengthen social cohesion and contribute to the prevention of future violence. To achieve this, commemorations must be respectful, victim-centred, and trauma-informed, ensuring they honor survivors without causing further harm.
The International Day serves both as a tribute and a call to action. It honours the courage, resilience and leadership of victims and survivors while encouraging Member States, international organizations, civil society, educators, media professionals, and technology companies to promote responsible approaches to remembrance that uphold victims' rights and contribute to healing and prevention.
On 21 August 2026, the United Nations will host a High-Level Virtual Event from 10:00 a.m. to 11:20 a.m. EDT. The event will feature keynote remarks from Secretary-General Ant¨®nio Guterres and opening remarks from the Acting Under-Secretary-General for Counter-Terrorism, Mr. Alexandre Zouev. It will also include reflections from victims and survivors of terrorism on the role of remembrance in healing and recovery, and a Global Minute of Silence to honour victims and survivors worldwide.
The event will also mark the launch of a new victim-led initiative by members of the Victims of Terrorism Associations Network (VoTAN). Developed by victims and survivors worldwide, this project examines online harms experienced by victims of terrorism and presents recommendations for technology platforms to promote more victim-centred and trauma-informed digital spaces that prevent re-traumatisation.
The event will be broadcast live and on-demand on .
High-Level Commemoration Event Programme
21 August 2026 10.00- 11.15 am EDT (New York time)
| 10:00 a.m. | Welcome remarks and moderation of event
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| 10:03 a.m. | Keynote remarks |
| 10:05 a.m. | Opening remarks
United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵOCT) [Statement] |
| 10:10 a.m. | Victims¡¯ Voices - ¡°Healing through Memory¡± Four victims of terrorism share reflections on remembrance, memorialization, and the role of
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| 10:25 a.m. | Global Minute of Silence |
| 10:26 a.m. | Statement on behalf of the Group of Friends of Victims of Terrorism
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| 10:30 a.m. | End of High-Level Segment |
| 10:30 a.m. | Launch of "Building a Safer Internet for Victims of Terrorism¡± Panel discussion on VoTAN¡¯s recommendations for addressing online harms affecting victims and
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| 11.10 a.m. | VoTAN video: ¡°Healing Through Memory¡± Featuring reflections from VoTAN members on the role of memory and remembrance in healing and recovery |
| 11:15 a.m. | Music performed by the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Chamber Music Society Clarinet Concerto in A Major, K. 622, II. Adagio, by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart |
Useful Resources
- Press release
- Media Advisory
- Concept note & Programme
- Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Observance page: /en/observances/terrorism-victims-day
- Trello:
- Follow us on X/Twitter @Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ_OCT
- #Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵiteforVictimsofTerrorism #VictimsofTerrorism
- United Nations Victims of Terrorism Support Programme
About the Victims Of Terrorism Association Network (VoTAN)
The Victims of Terrorism Associations Network (VoTAN) is a global platform that connects victims and survivors of terrorism across regions to exchange experiences, strengthen peer support, and lead collective advocacy efforts. Through collaboration and solidarity, VoTAN empowers victims to transform personal pain into shared action.
Visit the VoTAN page to learn more
The VoTAN film brings together the voices of twelve victims of terrorism who reflect on the impact of uniting through the network. Their stories illustrate how connection, trust, and collaboration across borders are creating a growing movement for recognition, support, and lasting change.
Previous commemorations
Watch Commemoration Event:Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ WebTV
The Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵOCT/Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵCCT Victims of Terrorism Unit
The Unit aims to show solidarity with, raise awareness on, and contribute to protecting, promoting and respecting the rights and supporting the needs of victims of terrorism. The Unit also works towards building the capacity of Member States and civil society organizations to better support the rights and needs of victims of terrorism.
Learn more about the work of Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵOCT to Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵOCT to support victims of terrorism