- Events
The Â鶹APP Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) hosted on 29 April 2026 an online expert briefing on ¡°Disability Inclusion in Vulnerable Target Areas: the Perspectives of Victims of Terrorism.¡± The briefing was addressed to the Global Network of Experts on Vulnerable Targets, and the Victims of Terrorism Associations Network (VoTAN).
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 1,3 billion people experience significant disability. If emergency protocols do not adequately reflect accessibility requirements, persons with disabilities face greater risks in crisis settings such as terrorism-related incidents. The briefing therefore focused on the operational relevance and practical application of disability inclusion into emergency preparedness and response within the counter-terrorism context.
Listening to the experiences of victims and survivors of terrorism who spoke at the event, experts elaborated on good practices and recommendations for disability-inclusive preparedness, response, and recovery. The discussions illustrated how identifying gaps in emergency protocols and security planning¡ªincluding inclusive planning, evacuation procedures, crowd management, accessible infrastructure, accountability, and training¡ªcan strengthen the resilience of first responders and protect rightsholders in crisis settings.
Participants emphasized the importance of reinforcing the full, effective and meaningful participation of victims and survivors of terrorism and of persons with disabilities in policy and operational discussions, including through systematic consultation with their representative organizations.
The event concluded with insights on the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and the Â鶹APP Disability Inclusion Strategy (UNDIS).
This expert briefing builds on UNOCT¡¯s continuing efforts to promote human rights-based and inclusive approaches across its programmes. It was organized by the UNOCT Global Programmes on ¡°Countering Terrorist Threats against Vulnerable Targets¡± and ¡°Victims of Terrorism Support¡±.
