A new submission to the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy Review is calling for greater recognition of the needs and rights of victims of terrorism, as global attacks and their impacts continue to evolve.
The document, submitted by the Victims of Terrorism Associations Network (VoTAN), points to a 22% increase in terrorism-related deaths in 2023, the highest level recorded since 2017. While such figures help track trends, the submission emphasizes that they do not capture the full human impact of terrorism, including those injured, traumatized, or indirectly affected through families and communities.
VoTAN’s submission underscores that the rights of victims are already recognized in multiple United Nations frameworks, including the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and subsequent reviews. It highlights that supporting victims is not only a humanitarian priority but also a key component of broader counterterrorism and prevention efforts, including countering violent extremism and rebuilding affected societies.
The submission also notes that, despite this recognition, victims’ perspectives are often underrepresented in policymaking. This gap, it argues, can lead to a lack of trauma-informed approaches and insufficient support mechanisms for those affected by attacks.
VoTAN, established with support from the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism, brings together victims, associations, and organizations working to advance victims’ rights. The group’s submission outlines the complex and long-term needs of victims and offers recommendations aimed at ensuring these considerations are reflected in future strategy reviews.
