11 September 2026 – Commemorating twenty-five years since the 9/11 attacks, the Security Council met today to reaffirm that acts of international terrorism constitute one of the most serious threats to international peace and security. The Council adopted a Presidential Statement in which it noted that, “countering this threat requires collective efforts on national, regional and international levels on the basis of respect for international law and the Charter of the United Nations.”
In her briefing to the Council, Assistant Secretary-General Gherman stated that, “Since 2001, Member States have made real progress in implementing the resolutions of the Security Council. And yet, much remains to be done. As terrorism evolves, States’ responses must adapt.”
Highlighting a number of trends that are challenging Member States, Assistant Secretary-General Gherman noted that, “Terrorism has become more fragmented and diffuse. Terrorist groups adapt their structures, decentralise operations, and take advantage of instability to sustain their influence.”
Another observation is that technology is having an accelerating impact on the threat environment.
Assistant Secretary-General Gherman alerted the Council that terrorists are recruiting and exploiting children and young people. She stated that, “Terrorist and violent extremist actors are exploiting social media platforms, gaming environments, and other virtual spaces to identify vulnerabilities and recruit individuals, especially young people.”
Terrorists are also diversifying their funding streams. “Financing networks are becoming more decentralised and difficult to detect...At the same time, terrorist actors are increasingly exploiting online payment services, crowdfunding platforms, mobile money systems, and virtual assets.”
Calling for stronger international cooperation to keep pace with terrorists’ rapidly evolving methods, Assistant Secretary-General Gherman noted that, “On this day when we remember the victims of 9/11 and of all terrorist attacks, we owe them our continued commitment to prevention and preparedness, and to international cooperation and solidarity in the fight against terrorism, firmly grounded in human rights and the rule of law.”
The presidential statement adopted by the Council stressed the importance of further discussions on the risks posed by new technologies being misused for terrorist purposes. The Council expressed its intention to address these challenges, as well as the opportunities offered by these technologies.
Assistant Secretary-General Gherman’s statement can be found here.
Watch the Security Council briefing .