The United Nations has launched a survivor-led initiative aimed at protecting victims of terrorism from online abuse, manipulated media and the repeated trauma that can follow an attack long after the immediate violence ends.
The programme was introduced during events marking the International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism. It is being advanced through the Victims of Terrorism Associations Network, created by the UN Counter-Terrorism Office to coordinate support for survivors and strengthen attention to their rights.
Protecting memory in the digital age
Survivors told the UN that false videos, distorted information and hostile online narratives can erase or reshape public memory of attacks. The initiative seeks to place victims at the centre of efforts to preserve accurate accounts and prevent their experiences from being exploited to spread further hatred.
The discussions included testimony connected to the 2023 attack at Israel’s Nova Music Festival and the 2010 suicide bombings at a World Cup final viewing party in Uganda, where more than 70 people were killed. Ugandan survivor Hassan Ndugwa later helped establish a youth-development organisation that offers job skills and community support as alternatives to extremist recruitment.
Other participants emphasised that remembrance should support recovery rather than deepen division. UN Secretary-General António Guterres said survivor stories must not be manipulated to promote hate, including on digital platforms, and called for continuing solidarity with victims around the world.
The initiative reflects a wider concern that extremist groups and misinformation networks are adapting quickly to online spaces, while survivors often lack the resources or influence needed to challenge harmful content.