Associations of victims sent a request to the Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees of Bosnia and Herzegovina to launch an initiative to the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina to declare July 11 as the Day of Mourning in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
They also request that a day-long program to mark the International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the Genocide in Srebrenica be organized and supported, that the active participation of the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the commemorative activities that will be organized on the occasion of the 31st anniversary of the genocide be ensured, and that educational, memorial and public activities aimed at preserving the culture of memory, the fight against genocide denial and the promotion of truth and justice be supported.
“We believe that the commemoration of the 31st anniversary of the genocide in Srebrenica must represent more than a formal statement and that the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina have the responsibility to, in accordance with the Resolution of the UN General Assembly and their own legal obligations, show full respect for the victims and their families,” the association points out.
The request was sent by the associations “Victims and Witnesses of Genocide”, the Movement “Mothers of the Srebrenica and Žepa Enclaves”, “Women of Podrinje”, “Mothers of Srebrenica” and “Women of Srebrenica”.
They expressed concern over the fact that the 2026 commemoration program by the Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees of Bosnia and Herzegovina was reduced to issuing a statement, bearing in mind the Resolution of the United Nations General Assembly declaring July 11 the International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the Srebrenica Genocide committed in 1995, as well as the obligation of UN member states to mark that date in a dignified manner within their institutions.
They believe that such an approach is not in accordance with the significance of the UN General Assembly Resolution, nor with the legal and moral obligations of the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina towards the victims of genocide, their families and all citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
They particularly point out that the Ministry, in accordance with its competences and obligations arising from the Law on Missing Persons of Bosnia and Herzegovina, is obliged to mark dates of special importance for the victims’ families and society as a whole in an adequate and dignified manner.
