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In the a statement marking the anniversary, António Guterres paid tribute to the victims, survivors and first aid workers who rushed to ground zero – the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York – just a few miles south of UN Headquarters.
“As we commemorate the sad events of September 11, we remember the nearly 3,000 victims – from the United States and more than 90 countries – and stand with their families and loved ones.,” said the UN Secretary General.
The UN continues to show solidarity with the people of New York City, the US and everyone whose lives were affected by the attack, he added.
Guterres noted that 2026 also marks 20 years since Member States adopted the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy – reminded that the fight against terrorism is a collective task that has not yet been completed.
“As we pay tribute to the victims, let’s renew our shared commitment to building a future free from terrorism.”
Harm to human rights
Indeed, many countries have made such commitments, strengthening security measures in the wake of deadly attacks that have roiled geopolitics around the world.
However, too many countries have taken unnecessary and disproportionate actions that have seriously undermined human rights, civil society, civic space, democracy and the rule of law, according to more than 30 independent UN experts, who began their statement released on Thursday by pay tribute to all victims of terrorism.
“’The war on terror has gone beyond the basic rules of international lawsaid the UN Human Rights Council– Appointed independent experts, who are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work.
Worldwide monitoring over the past quarter century has revealed the gravest violations of international law in the name of eradicating terrorism, including wars of aggression, unlawful occupation, “countless” war crimes and crimes against humanity as well as plausible accusations of genocide, they said.
They also highlighted killings disguised as “targeted killings”, torture disguised as “interrogations”, secret detentions, enforced disappearances and unfair military trials and special tribunals, including at the US-operated Guantanamo Bay facility.
To address these concerns, experts urge countries to review their counter-terrorism laws and practices to comply with international human rights, humanitarian and refugee laws.
Peace Bell remained silent
On September 11, 2001, UN Headquarters was set to host the annual Secretary-General’s ceremony to commemorate Peace Bellbut when news of the severity of the attack spread, UN staff reacted in the same way as tens of thousands of other New Yorkers heading to the office.
“I saw the smoke, but I still went to the train station because I had to go to work,” said Victor Evans-Harvey, now editor-in-chief UN News.
Tributes are paid to the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks at a memorial site in downtown Manhattan.
‘No, you can’t go today’
“A UN security guard stopped me and said, ‘Where are you going?’” Evans-Harvey recalled. “I said, ‘I’m going to work.’ He said, ‘No, you can’t go today.’”
On the 37th floor of the UN Secretariat building, then-Director of Election Assistance, Michelle Griffin, had seen the first World Trade Center tower burn before even reaching her booth.
“As I was leaving for work, I heard my neighbor shout, ‘That’s my office!’” he said. “I came out and saw a big gap in the first building.”
Unity and solidarity
As the severity of the attack became apparent, UN staff began evacuating via stairwells. There must be no ceremonial bell ringing on that day International Day of Peace.
“As we were evacuating, we could hear the news coming from down the stairs,” Griffin said. “I remember hearing the Secretary-General’s Chief of Staff and the Secretary-General’s scheduler discussing whether to proceed with the Secretary-General’s activities that day as planned, including ringing the Peace Bell.”
UN spokesman Stéphane Dujarric also recalled a “sense of panic” in the building.
“There are credible reports that other planes may be targeting the UN,” he said, adding that a decision had been taken to detain then-Secretary-General Kofi Annan at his nearby residence.
In the days following the attack, unusual unity emerged within the UN, incl Security Council.
‘The shock waves are still felt today’
For Dujarric, the seismic attack triggered a long chain reaction, both inside and outside the UN.
“It felt like an explosion, and the shock waves are still felt today,” he said.
