Expert roundtable and launch of the Gap Analysis…

This expert roundtable will bring together industry, academia, and civil society to mark the launch of the "Gap Analysis of Digital Tools to Support Victims of Terrorism" alongside key stakeholders including members of the Victims of Terrorism Associations Network (VoTAN), Member States and representatives from across the United Nations, academia, and industry. New and emerging technologies are among the most profound drivers of global change. When used responsibly, they offer the potential to enhance how Member States, international organizations, and civil society provide assistance to victims and survivors of terrorism. From training enhanced by Artificial Intelligence (AI) for first responders to digital platforms that connect survivors to essential care, these tools provide new opportunities to strengthen victim support systems, improve coordination and bridge longstanding access gaps across the globe, including in underserved contexts or in a crisis situation following a terrorist attack. This "Gap Analysis of Digital Tools to Support Victims of Terrorism," published by the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), identifies the most critical gaps in victims support and survivor care that can be addressed through digital innovation. The findings are rooted in extensive research, including interviews with the private sector and academia, a global mapping of digital tools, and a peer-review process involving experts and members of UNOCT's Victims of Terrorism Associations Network (VoTAN), which brings together the critical lived experience of over 120 victims of terrorism and victims' associations from 40 countries worldwide.  The report represents the first deliverable of a new "Tech for Victims of Terrorism" initiative, implemented by UNOCT through its United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre (UNCCT) Global Victims of Terrorism Support Programme, with the support of the German Federal Foreign Office. The project seeks to align new technologies with the needs of victims and survivors of terrorism to establish a clear path for safe, responsible, and victim-centric digital innovation.