Srebrenica survivors fight genocide denial, preserve memory of victims

Three survivors of the July 1995 Srebrenica genocide in Bosnia and Herzegovina have spoken to UN News about their efforts to preserve the memory of the more than 8,300 men and boys who were killed in the town. The survivors, who escaped the mass executions carried out by Bosnian Serb forces, say that bearing witness and sharing personal testimonies are central to their work, especially as denial of the massacre continues to surface in public discourse and political statements.

Since the end of the war, the survivors have taken part in annual commemorations, educational programs in schools, and outreach initiatives aimed at both local and international audiences. They collaborate with the Srebrenica Memorial Centre, contribute to documentary projects, and engage with media outlets to ensure that factual accounts of the events are widely disseminated. By documenting survivor stories and supporting forensic investigations that identify victims, they seek to counter revisionist narratives and reinforce the legal findings of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, which classified the killings as genocide.

The survivors emphasize that keeping the memory of Srebrenica alive is essential for preventing future atrocities and for honoring the victims. Their ongoing advocacy underscores the role of personal testimony in sustaining historical truth and in fostering a collective commitment to “never again” in the face of genocide denial.