Commemorating Srebrenica: A Living Memory of Genocide
Remembering the Srebrenica genocide – The United Nations observed a solemn moment on Wednesday to honor the memory of over 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys who perished in Srebrenica during July 1995. The commemoration also recognized the women and survivors who have spent decades rebuilding their existence following one of Europe’s most devastating tragedies.
A Dark Chapter in Balkan History
What occurred in eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina stands as the continent’s largest massacre since the Holocaust. This event represents one of the most somber periods within the Balkan conflicts that emerged after the dissolution of Yugoslavia. The Bosnian Serb military forces captured Srebrenica, a location that had been designated as a protected zone through UN Security Council Resolution 819, adopted in 1993.
Countless victims had gathered at the United Nations facility in Potočari seeking refuge. Instead of finding safety, they were torn from their loved ones, put to death, and interred in communal burial sites.
Survivor’s Journey Through Terror
Hasan Hasanović was merely nineteen years old when Srebrenica fell on July 11, 1995. Together with his father and twin brother Husein, he became part of a group of men and boys trying to flee through dense woodland.
Within a matter of hours, Hasanović found himself alone, traversing for days without sleep, food, or security while facing ambushes, killings, and artillery bombardments.
“Fear was all that kept me moving,” said Mr. Hasanović, head of the oral history programme at the Srebrenica Memorial Center, speaking in the UN General Assembly Hall.
He continued, reflecting on the painful years that followed: “Years later, after their remains were recovered from mass graves, I buried my father and my twin brother with my own hands. Nothing could prepare me for those moments.”
International Recognition and Reflection
This marks the second consecutive year that the United Nations has observed the International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica on July 11. Chaloka Beyani, serving as the UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, emphasized the lasting impact of these events.
The massacre “will forever lay heavily on the collective conscience of the international community, the United Nations, and the modern history of our world,” said Chaloka Beyani.
He requested a moment of silence to honor both the victims and the women and girls who suffered forced displacement and torture in the aftermath. Two premier international judicial bodies—the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia—both concluded that the actions committed constituted genocide.
Warnings for the Present
The UN Secretary-General, through remarks delivered by his Chef de Cabinet Earle Courtenay Rattray, noted that Srebrenica prompted the world to declare “Never again.” However, contemporary challenges remain significant.
“Yet, as we know, hate speech is on the rise – fueling discrimination, extremism and division. Convicted war criminals are glorified,” he said.
He stressed that early action is essential: “We cannot turn away from these warning signs. We must act early – for prevention is our shared duty, and our surest protection.”
Defending Truth and Justice
Denis Bećirović, Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, highlighted the importance of protecting international law and institutional authority. He warned against allowing judicial findings to become tools for political maneuvering.
“The denial of the genocide against Bosniaks is an anti-civilisational act. It is an insult to the dead and a new threat to the living,” he said.
Annalena Baerbock, the General Assembly President, explained that genocide originates not with mass graves but with hatred, discrimination, and policies that diminish human dignity. In a video message, she called upon the international community to ensure that “never again” remains a commitment rather than empty words.
A Personal Legacy of Loss
Emina Sinanović, who was just five years old during the genocide, lost her father, grandfather, and uncle. She described Srebrenica not as distant history but as a constant presence in her daily existence.
“For many people, Srebrenica is history. For me, it’s every day of my life. It is an invisible wall that stands between me and my father – a wall built by hatred and inhumanity,” she said.
Her father Muriz, aged 32, was killed on July 13, 1995, in a Kravica warehouse where thousands of lives were extinguished. Emina possesses only one tangible connection to him—a small cigarette case discovered near his remains.
“It steals the future. It steals the embraces you will never receive. It steals the words you will never hear. It steals the memories you will never have the chance to create,” she said.
She concluded with a powerful plea: “I call for the world to stop looking away whenever genocide is denied, because genocide denial is the continuation of genocide.”
