UN Launches Initiative to Protect Terrorism Victims from Online Harm

New york: The UN has launched a new initiative to protect victims of terrorist attacks from online harm and re-traumatisation, drawing on harrowing survivor accounts from various incidents, including the Nova Music Festival in Israel and an attack on a FIFA World Cup final viewing party in Uganda. The initiative was unveiled at an event marking the International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism.According to United Nations, the initiative aims to address the online harm reported by survivors globally and is led by the Victims of Terrorism Associations Network, established by the UN Counter-Terrorism Office last year. Saynab Warsame, a survivor of a terrorist attack in Somalia, highlighted the fragility of memories in today's digital world, where fake videos and information can easily distort the truth.Rachel Goldberg-Polin, whose son was a victim of the 2023 Hamas attack at the Nova Music Festival in Israel, spoke about the dual human instincts of love and destruction. She emph asized the need for civilization to rise to the challenge of containing tendencies towards war rather than succumbing to selfish interests.In Uganda, Hassan Ndugwa survived a 2010 terrorist attack during a FIFA World Cup finals watch party. The incident spurred him to co-found the Uganda Muslim Youth Development Forum, focusing on providing alternatives to youth through job skills programs and promoting peace.UN Secretary-General António Guterres paid tribute to victims and survivors, emphasizing that remembrance is a pathway to recovery and renewal. He urged that victims' stories should not be exploited to sow more hate, especially on digital platforms, and called for unity against terror to build a future free from violence and fear.