Today, on the International Day of Remembrance and Commemoration of the Genocide in Srebrenica in 1995, established by the United Nations, we thank the Birmingham City Council for lighting up the Birmingham Library, one of the symbols of the city, in green and white as a strong symbol of remembrance, respect and solidarity.
This act honors the more than 8,000 Bosniak men and boys who were killed in the Srebrenica genocide simply because they were Bosniaks. Remembering the victims, we reaffirm our commitment to truth, justice, the culture of memory and the shared responsibility to ensure that the genocide is never forgotten and never repeated.
Birmingham continues to lead the way in fostering a culture of remembrance for Srebrenica and a determined fight against hatred, discrimination and genocide. Last week, the construction project of the Permanent Memorial to the Genocide Victims in Srebrenica was officially launched, which will represent a permanent place of memory, reflection and education for future generations.
Birmingham is also home to Bosnian House, the heart of the Bosnian community in the United Kingdom. The Bosnian House houses the headquarters of the BH UK Network, the Remembering Srebrenica organization, as well as the Honorary Consulate of Bosnia and Herzegovina for the Midlands, making Birmingham one of the most important centers for memory care, education and community engagement.
Thanks, Birmingham. We remember. Together we stand with truth, justice and memory.
