Victims of Terrorism First Global Congress, 8-9 September at New York Headquarters

NEW YORK, 7 September (United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism) — The first United Nations Global Congress of Victims of Terrorism, organized by the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism, will be held on 8 and 9 September at the United Nations Headquarters in New York under the theme of “Advancing the Rights and Needs of Victims of Terrorism”.  The Global Congress is expected to bring together more than 600 participants and will be the world’s largest and most diverse gathering of victims of terrorism, Member States, civil society, experts, academics and the private sector convened at this level.

The Global Congress will also be livestreamed on UN WebTV to ensure virtual participation and allow for a diverse audience of stakeholders with the aim of advancing the dialogue and engagement on a victim-centric approach, and is available at https://media.un.org/en/webtv.

“The Congress aims to encourage genuine interaction between victims of terrorism, associations of victims and Member States on key issues such as protection, remembrance and recognition, access to justice and support and assistance,” said Vladimir Voronkov, the Under-Secretary-General for Counter‑Terrorism, on the occasion of the International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism, which was commemorated on 21 August.  “An important objective for the Congress is to place issues faced by victims of terrorism high on the international community’s agenda, by providing information, good practices and inspiration with the goal of enshrining the rights of victims of terrorism in domestic frameworks.”

For victims and survivors attending the Global Congress, the event is, among other things, an opportunity to remind decision makers about the importance of remembering and recognizing victims of terrorism.

The Congress will include a high-level opening session in the General Assembly, with the participation of United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, along with six interactive thematic sessions spread throughout the two days that are expected to yield clear and concrete recommendations for action at all levels.  The Congress will produce a Chair’s summary and report that will effectively seek to develop a road map to chart the way forward.

The Global Congress will also feature the “Memories” campaign, which tells the stories of 22 victims of terrorism through films and a photographic exhibition.  The campaign allows the audience to relate to victims, to feel their loss and see their resilience, and to better understand the importance of remembering and paying tribute to victims of terrorism worldwide.

The Global Congress of Victims of Terrorism is a critical first milestone towards strengthened global solidarity and international unity in recognizing and highlighting the need for providing support to victims of terrorism.

Additional information can be found on the dedicated webpage for the 2022 Global Congress at:  www.un.org/counterterrorism/2022-un-global-congress-victims-terrorism.

For any questions, please contact Laurence Gerard, United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism at email:  gerardl@un.org.