Official Statement on the Occasion of the International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism
21 Aug 2026
Today, the International Diplomatic Union joins the international community in observing the International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism, proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly to honour the memory of those whose lives have been taken by acts of terrorism, to stand in solidarity with survivors and their families, and to reaffirm the collective determination of the international community to uphold their rights, dignity, and recovery.
Behind every act of terrorism stand human beings — men, women, and children whose lives were forever altered in a single moment. Long after the world’s attention has moved on, victims and survivors continue to carry physical injuries, psychological trauma, grief, and hardship. Remembrance is therefore not a symbolic gesture but a moral duty: to ensure that victims are never forgotten, that their voices are heard, and that their needs remain at the centre of national and international responses. Supporting victims — through recognition, justice, rehabilitation, and long-term assistance — is an essential measure of our shared humanity.
Terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the gravest threats to international peace and security, and an assault on the values upon which the international order rests: human dignity, tolerance, and the peaceful resolution of differences. No cause, grievance, or ideology can justify the deliberate targeting of innocent people. At the same time, the International Diplomatic Union underscores that all measures to prevent and counter terrorism must be conducted in full conformity with international law, including the Charter of the United Nations, international human rights law, international humanitarian law, and international refugee law — for security built upon the erosion of rights is neither just nor durable.
The International Diplomatic Union further affirms that lasting security cannot be achieved through counter-terrorism measures alone. It requires sustained investment in the conditions of peace: education, intercultural and interfaith dialogue, the empowerment of youth, respect for human rights, and the strengthening of just and inclusive institutions. In accordance with its mission and Statutes, the Union remains committed to advancing these foundations through its diplomatic, educational, and cultural programmes, and to fostering a culture of peace and mutual understanding among peoples.
On this solemn occasion, the International Diplomatic Union calls upon governments, international organizations, civil society, and all stakeholders to strengthen support for victims and survivors of terrorism, to ensure accountability and justice, to deepen international cooperation in preventing and combating terrorism in all its forms, and to work together in building societies where dialogue prevails over violence and where the dignity of every human being is protected.
In honouring the victims of terrorism, we renew our pledge: that their memory will endure, that their suffering will not be met with indifference, and that the international community will remain united in the pursuit of peace, justice, and human dignity for all.
Dr. Faisal Al-Mutairi
President
International Diplomatic Union
Brussels
