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International Day for Victims of Terrorism Observed
What’s the News?
- The International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism is observed annually on August 21st.
- The day is dedicated to honoring and supporting the victims and survivors of terrorism across the globe.
- It serves as an occasion to promote and protect the full enjoyment of their human rights and fundamental freedoms.
- The observance aims to amplify the voices of victims and survivors, recognizing their crucial role in preventing terrorism and building stronger, more resilient societies.
International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism
- Establishment: The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), through its resolution 72/165, proclaimed August 21st as the International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism.
- Objective: The primary goal is to provide victims and survivors with long-term, multi-dimensional support, including physical, psychological, social, and financial assistance, to help them recover, rehabilitate, and reintegrate into society.
- Significance: The day acknowledges that victims of terrorism often feel forgotten once the immediate aftermath of an attack fades. It calls for international solidarity to ensure their needs are supported and their rights are upheld, transforming their experiences into a powerful force for positive change.
Additional Info
- United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT)
- Established by a UNGA resolution to lead and coordinate a unified "all-of-UN" approach to counter-terrorism efforts.
- Its mandate is derived from the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.
- Key Functions:
- Provide leadership on UN counter-terrorism mandates.
- Enhance coordination and coherence among entities.
- Strengthen the delivery of UN counter-terrorism capacity-building assistance to Member States.
- Improve visibility and resource mobilization for UN's counter-terrorism work.
- UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy
- A global instrument to enhance national, regional, and international efforts to counter terrorism.
- Adopted by the General Assembly by consensus.
- The strategy is based on four pillars:
- Addressing the conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism.
- Measures to prevent and combat terrorism.
- Building states' capacity to prevent and combat terrorism and to strengthen the role of the United Nations system.
- Ensuring respect for human rights for all and the rule of law as the fundamental basis of the fight against terrorism.