Thirty Years Since the Genocide in Srebrenica: Remembrance as a moral imperative

Article by Head of the EU Delegation and EU Special Representative in BiH Luigi Soreca on marking the 30^th anniversary of the genocide in Srebrenica

This year, we mark the 30th anniversary of the genocide in Srebrenica when more than 8,000 mostly men and boys were killed in and around Srebrenica. Though three decades have passed, the grief of families and survivors remains deep and profound as ever but so does the determination to remember and honour individuals who lost their lives.

Remembering the genocide in Srebrenica is now more important than ever. It is a painful but necessary reminder of what can happen when hatred and intolerance are unopposed. This dark chapter in our history requires us to stand strongly for peace and justice and to learn from this past. Our collective responsibility is to honour the memory of those killed and still missing, and provide support to the survivors.

In a world increasingly marked by division, rising tensions, and violence against civilians, we must never forget our common humanity. It is our duty to remember the genocide in Srebrenica, not only because it's a moral imperative, but because by remembering we fight against denial, revisionism, and hatred. By remembering the depths that humans are capable of sinking to, we take steps to destroy the roots of atrocity.

Srebrenica is not a tragedy confined just to Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is a part of our shared European history. It was the biggest atrocity in Europe since WWII. For the EU, remembrance is a matter of principle and a fundamental value. This is why the EU will be represented on Friday at the official commemoration in Srebrenica by two of its highest-ranking officials - António Costa, President of the European Council, and Marta Kos, European Commissioner for Enlargement. Many EU member states will also send high-level representatives.

The European Union is steadfast in its dedication to a Europe built on peace, tolerance, and respect for diversity. We will remain committed to supporting Bosnia and Herzegovina in its journey toward reconciliation, lasting stability and EU membership, and will continue to provide support for remembrance and peacebuilding.

This Friday, seven more victims of the genocide will be laid to rest in the cemetery at Potočari. Each had a name, families that love and mourn them, and dreams that were never fulfilled. Each life lost represents a wound that can never fully heal. May their memory compel us to confront hatred wherever it appears-and to build a future in which such crimes have no place.