This yr marks the eighth commemoration of the International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism. It serves to honour victims and survivors, elevate their voices, increase consciousness, and spotlight world solidarity.
“This Worldwide Day shouldn’t be solely one in every of remembrance; it’s a reaffirmation of our collective dedication to uphold the rights, dignity and voices of victims in all places,” stated Vladimir Voronkov, head of the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) throughout remarks to the excessive stage commemoration.
Bear in mind and pay tribute
“We pay tribute to these whose lives had been stolen by terrorism, and we stand in solidarity with those that proceed to dwell with the ache, loss, and trauma,” he added.
The occasion featured testimonies from survivors and kin of these killed: “Help shouldn’t be a privilege; it’s a proper. And worldwide solidarity have to be matched by motion,” he stated.
United by hope
“I may now not maintain hiding my ache, I selected to rework it into objective,” stated Khalifah Mwarangi, whose father was killed in a terrorist assault in Kenya in November 2014.
This previous April, UNOCT launched the Victims of Terrorism Associations Community (VoTAN), a worldwide initiative that displays a strong fact: victims of terrorism shouldn’t be seen as passive topics of compassion and help.
Survivors’ voices “are integral to shaping coverage and driving change to forestall related assaults,” stated Mr. Voronkov.
“Whereas terror tries to interrupt us aside, coming collectively as victims construct energy”, stated Nanda Daniel, a survivor of the 2004 assault on Australia’s embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia.
