Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
A new initiative has been launched to protect victims of terrorism from online harm, coinciding with the International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism. The day highlights the ongoing challenges survivors face, including the spread of false information online that can distort memories and truth, according to survivor Saynab Warsame.
The initiative was established by the Victims of Terrorism Associations Network, created by the UN Counter-Terrorism Office last year to unify support for victims' rights and needs worldwide.
At the UN commemorative event, Rachel Goldberg-Polin, whose son was killed after being held hostage during the 2023 Hamas attack in Israel, reflected on the experience of loss among families affected by terrorism globally. She discussed the human tensions between destruction and love, referencing a historical dialogue between Albert Einstein and Sigmund Freud.
Another survivor, Hassan Ndugwa, recounted surviving a 2010 suicide bombing in Uganda during a FIFA World Cup watch party. This experience inspired him to co-found the Uganda Muslim Youth Development Forum to counter violent extremism and support youth.