International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism

International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism

The International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism is observed to honor and support the victims and survivors of terrorism, as well as to raise awareness about ongoing challenges. This day seeks to not only remember those who have lost their lives due to terrorism, but also to demonstrate solidarity with survivors and families impacted by terrorist attacks.

South Africa faced terrorism during the Apartheid era, which lasted from 1948 until the early 1990s. During this period, a number of anti-Apartheid groups, including the African National Congress (ANC), were labeled as terrorist organizations by the government, and individuals associated with these groups were targeted by discriminatory laws and repressive actions.

In 2020, South Africa observed the Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism with a virtual event organized by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation. The day aimed to remember victims of terrorism and to raise awareness of ongoing global efforts to combat terrorism. The International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism is observed annually on August 21st.

Facts about Victims of Terrorism

• According to ourworldindata.org, 95% of the deaths from terrorism in 2017 occurred in the Middle East, Africa, or South Asia.
• Over the past decade, terrorists killed an average of 26,000 people worldwide each year.
• There are both direct victims (those who are physically hurt or killed) and indirect victims (those traumatized by the event such as witnesses or family members of the victims).
• South Africa has been identified as a recruiting ground for international terrorist organizations. ISIS has made efforts to recruit South Africans to join the organization, with several South African citizens known to have traveled to Syria to join ISIS.
• After apartheid ended and South Africa transitioned to democracy in 1994, incidents of terrorism have occasionally occurred. These include bomb attacks by right-wing extremists aimed at disrupting the country's first democratic elections and the Boipatong and Saint James Church massacres.

In the News and Trending in South Africa for International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism

Top things to do in South Africa for this observance

• Watch the UN's International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism video. It features survivors of terrorism speaking about remembrance on their own terms. They also share their individual journeys and experiences.
• Browse the UN's victim support portal. It is dedicated to the victims of terrorist attacks.
• Observe a minute of silence at 11:00 am local time on the International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism, to honor the memory of those who have suffered due to terrorism.
• Visit memorials or monuments dedicated to the victims of terrorism or political violence, such as the Hector Pieterson Memorial in Soweto or the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg.