The fifth International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism was commemorated on 21 August 2022. It took place as the world struggles to transition out of the public health emergency triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic and confronted the social transformations it has created or accelerated. At the same time, victims of terrorism continued to experience uncertainty and anxiety as armed conflicts, violent attacks, and terrorist acts around the world continued to make headlines and perhaps exacerbate or trigger their traumas.

Remembrance of and paying tribute to victims of terrorism plays a central role in demonstrating that their status as victims is respected and recognized. The International Day serves to commemorate and uphold the dignity of victims and highlights the importance of global solidarity in ensuring that victims are not forgotten.

The theme was “Memories” and was selected following consultation with victims and victims’ associations. Memories bind us together as if connected by a red thread, a fil rouge: a thread that signifies our common humanity and solidarity with those who have suffered irreparable losses in the most heinous of circumstances.

To mark the fifth commemoration of the International Day, the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) organized a high-level pre-recorded event entitled ‘Surviving Terrorism: The Power of Memories’ to be broadcast on Sunday, 21 August 2022, on UN Web TV. The pre-recorded event was opened by the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. António Guterres, and featured the participation of the co-Chairs of the Group of Friends of Victims of Terrorism, the Republic of Iraq, and the Kingdom of Spain, testimonies from four victims of terrorism, and closing remarks by Under-Secretary-General for Counter-Terrorism, Mr. Vladimir Voronkov.

The cornerstone of 2022’s virtual observance was the “Memories”Opens a new window campaign, launched by UNOCT’s United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre (UNCCT) earlier this year. Through film, photography, and carefully crafted captions, the “Memories” campaign tells the stories of victims of terrorism from across the globe who share their memories, emotions and the meaning that they attach to a personal object.