More than three decades after the Srebrenica genocide shocked the world, Birmingham’s historic City Hall hosted a regional commemoration bringing together nearly 300 government officials, genocide survivors and members of the Bosnia and Herzegovina community from across the West Midlands to honor the victims, support survivors and reaffirm a shared commitment to combating hatred, discrimination and genocide.
The event, marking the 31st anniversary of the genocide in which more than 8,000 Bosniak men and boys were murdered in and around Srebrenica in July 1995, was organized by the Bosnia and Herzegovina UK Network in partnership with Birmingham City Council, Remembering Srebrenica and the Honorary Consulate of Bosnia and Herzegovina for the Midlands.
The commemoration was hosted by Emina Bolić, a Young Ambassador of the Bosnia and Herzegovina UK Network, and welcomed political leaders, representatives of religious and community organizations, members of the Bosnian diaspora and guests from across the region for an afternoon of remembrance, testimony, music and reflection.
The program opened with a screening of the documentary WE ARE HERE, which tells the stories of genocide survivors and their families while highlighting the resilience of the Bosnian community in the United Kingdom. The film follows the journey from survival to rebuilding lives and contributing to British society, while emphasizing the importance of preserving the memory of Srebrenica and educating future generations about the dangers of hatred and division.
Among those addressing the audience were Councillor Yvonne Mosquito, Deputy Mayor of Birmingham; Dr. Waqar Azmi OBE, Founder and Chair of Remembering Srebrenica and Chair of the Bosnia and Herzegovina UK Network; Roger Harmer, Leader of Birmingham City Council; and Simon Foster, West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner.
Speaking at the event, Simon Foster warned of the consequences of intolerance and division.
“These events show what happens when hatred, division and racism are encouraged, enabled, normalized and justified. We renew our commitment to a future based on mutual understanding and respect,” he said.
One of the most moving moments of the commemoration came with the testimony of Amra Dautović, a survivor of the genocide. Having arrived in the United Kingdom as a child after fleeing the war, she spoke about the pain of loss, the strength required to rebuild a life, and the responsibility of ensuring future generations understand what happened in Srebrenica.
Music and art formed an integral part of the remembrance program. Dr. Kim Sadique, Associate Professor for Genocide Prevention and Education at De Montfort University and President of the Academic Board of the Bosnia and Herzegovina UK Network, performed the Bosnian remembrance song Što te nema?, accompanied by a specially composed musical arrangement by Bosnian artist Leila Jusić.
The audience also witnessed a powerful sand animation performance by renowned artist Bilal Köse. Through live artwork, Köse portrayed Bosnia and Herzegovina’s journey from peace to war, the horrors of the Srebrenica genocide and the enduring message of remembrance, resilience and hope. The performance received a prolonged standing ovation.
Young Ambassadors Elma Bešić and Amna Bešić led a bilingual recitation of the Srebrenica Prayer in Bosnian and English before the event concluded with remarks from Dr. Anes Cerić, Honorary Consul of Bosnia and Herzegovina for the Midlands and Chief Executive Officer of the Bosnia and Herzegovina UK Network.
In his closing address, Dr. Cerić reminded attendees that community representatives had gathered earlier that day at Cannon Hill Park to symbolically mark the beginning of the construction of a Permanent Memorial to Srebrenica, which will become a lasting place of remembrance in one of Birmingham’s most visited public parks.
“Thirty-one years later, remembering Srebrenica is not just a look into the past. It speaks of the choices we make today and the society we want to build tomorrow. By building a permanent memorial in Birmingham, we want to create a place where people of all generations and backgrounds can reflect on the devastating consequences of hatred and the importance of protecting human dignity, human rights and peace for future generations,” Dr. Cerić said.
The organizers also noted that an invitation to attend the commemoration had been sent to Sevlid Hurtić, Minister for Human Rights and Refugees of Bosnia and Herzegovina. According to the organizers, no response had been received by the day of the event.
