International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism 2025; August 21st.

FORUM: “United by Hope: Collective Action for Victims of Terrorism.” International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism 2025.The Day is both a tribute and a call to action, honoring victims’ resilience and leadership, while reaffirming our shared responsibility to uphold their rights. Only through sustained collaboration can we build truly inclusive, victim-centered responses to terrorism. United by hope, we can make a lasting impact. Together, victims are transforming grief into purpose, building a global movement that demands inclusion, recognition, and lasting peace.The 2025 theme, inspired by members of the Victims of Terrorism Associations Network (VoTAN), emphasizes the hope that emerges when victims come together to transform pain into purpose. United across regions, cultures, and experiences, victims and survivors are offering mutual support, amplifying one another’s voices, and driving collective action to raise awareness, influence policy, and ensure their rights and needs are placed at the center of counter-terrorism efforts. Follow the conversation with the hashtags: #UNCCT, #VictimsofTerrorism, #21August, #FindingHope, #BuildingaPeacefulFuture, #UNiteforVictimsofTerrorism.

EVENTS: On August 21st, at 10:00 am EDT, at UN Headquarters, a high-level event will be held, organized by members of the Victims of Terrorism Associations Network (VoTAN), the event aims to emphasize the hope that emerges when victims come together to transform pain into purpose. To mark the eighth International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism, the United Nations will organize a pre-recorded high-level virtual event titled “United by Hope: Collective Action for Victims of Terrorism.” The High-Level Segment will feature the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres keynote message followed by opening remarks from the Under-Secretary-General for the Office of Counter-Terrorism, Vladimir Voronkov. The segment will also include a statement by the Co-Chairs of the Group of Friends of Victims of Terrorism, the screening of the Victims of Terrorism Association Network (VoTAN) film, and a Global Minute of Silence honouring victims worldwide. Following the high-level segment, a virtual panel discussion will gather victims and survivors of terrorism from diverse regional and personal backgrounds to explore how survivor leadership, peer-to-peer collaboration, and joint advocacy can strengthen global efforts to uphold victims’ rights and build more inclusive, resilient societies. Get the concept note and agenda programme and Register to participate!

Statement of the United Nations Secretary-General on the International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism 2025; August 21st.

On this solemn day, we honour the victims and survivors of terrorism everywhere – saluting their courage, acknowledging their pain, and reaffirming our enduring commitment to peace, justice, and human rights.

This year’s theme, “United by Hope,” reflects the strength of victims coming together to turn suffering into solidarity, and anguish into action.

Victims of terrorism are showing the way: supporting one another, speaking out, and championing the rights of all those affected.

I welcome the launch of the Victims of Terrorism Associations Network – supported by the United Nations – which fosters partnership, amplifies victims’ voices, and empowers them to shape decisions that affect their lives.

Governments, civil society, and the international community must match their courage – by upholding victims’ rights, delivering justice, and standing with them at every step of their healing journey.

United by hope, we can build a future free from terrorism, where all people live in dignity and without fear.

 United Nations Secretary-General.

 

LIVESTREAM: 2025 Commemoration of the International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to Victims of Terrorism (21 August).

This year will mark the eighth commemoration of the International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism. Amid the multiplicity of violent conflicts and terrorist attacks worldwide, this day continues to honour victims and survivors of terrorism, ensure their voices are elevated, raise awareness and highlight global solidarity. By amplifying the voices and experiences of victims, the International Day seeks to inspire collective action and empower individuals and communities to work towards a future defined by peace, solidarity, and resilience. This year's theme "United by Hope: Collective Action for Victims of Terrorism", is inspired by members of the Victims of Terrorism Associations Network (VoTAN) and emphasizes the hope that emerges when victims come together to transform pain into purpose. United by shared experiences across regions, cultures, and communities, victims and victims' associations are leading the way; offering mutual support, amplifying each other's voices, and advancing collective action that drives change for communities, countries, and at the international level.