Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
The Srebrenica massacre in eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina is recognized as genocide by the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. It occurred after the Bosnian Serb army captured the town, which had been declared a UN safe area under Security Council Resolution 819 in 1993. Many victims sought safety in the nearby UN compound at Potočari, but were separated from their families, executed, and buried in mass graves.
Hasan Hasanović, who was 19 at the time and now leads the oral history programme at the Srebrenica Memorial Center, described escaping alone through the forest, facing ambushes and attacks. Years later, after remains were recovered from mass graves, he buried his father and twin brother.
The United Nations officially commemorates the International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica each year on 11 July, urging remembrance for all victims, including women and girls who were forcibly displaced and tortured in the aftermath.
Chaloka Beyani, the UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, said the massacre remains a heavy burden on the world’s conscience. The UN Secretary-General, in remarks delivered on his behalf, noted ongoing challenges including rising hate speech, extremism, and the glorification of convicted war criminals, stressing the need to heed warning signs to prevent future atrocities.