UNIS/SGSM/1611
19 August 2026
Today, we pay tribute to the victims and survivors of terrorism.
We honour their courage;
Amplify their voices;
And reaffirm our commitment to their dignity and rights.
This year’s theme, “Healing through Memory,” reminds us that remembrance is a pathway to recovery and renewal.
But how we remember matters.
Victims’ stories must never be exploited or used to sow more hate, including on digital platforms.
When we commemorate responsibly, we protect victims from further trauma, and counter the harmful narratives terrorism seeks to spread.
Instead of letting terror divide us, we can and must stay united.
Today and every day, let us stand in solidarity with victims and survivors.
And build a future free from violence and fear.
Thank you.
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The thirteenth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) will be held from 19 to 23 October 2026 at the Vienna International Centre, Austria.
The Fifteenth United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice concluded today with more than 60 countries agreeing time-bound actions to strengthen criminal justice responses, expand access to justice and improve international cooperation to tackle global crime threats.
The Fifteenth United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice opened today with the adoption of the Abu Dhabi Declaration, a forward-looking global framework to strengthen international criminal justice cooperation against fast-evolving crime challenges and exploitation of digital technologies.
"It's time to choose dialogue over division, diplomacy over confrontation, and disarmament over destruction. States that possess nuclear weapons must honour their disarmament obligations and commit to the total elimination of nuclear weapons." — António Guterres
