Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
Survivors of the 1995 Srebrenica genocide are actively involved as curators and archivists at the Srebrenica Memorial Centre, working to preserve the accurate history of the mass killings of Bosnian Muslim men and boys by Bosnian Serb forces in a UN-declared safe area. The memorial stands on grounds where thousands sought refuge under UN peacekeepers before the massacre. The UN later acknowledged its collective failure to prevent the genocide.
Almasa Salihovic, spokesperson for the Memorial Centre, recounted her experience as an eight-year-old survivor who lost close family members in the genocide, which claimed 8,372 victims. She emphasized that remembrance aids healing for individuals and families and expressed her dedication to memorialisation through her work at the centre.
Another survivor, Amra Begic Fazlic, described the challenges of returning to Srebrenica after fleeing during the conflict. She sought to live near loved ones and facilitate the identification and burial of victims at the Memorial Centre, providing a place for visitation and remembrance.
Curator Azir Osmanovic shared how the separation of men and boys at a checkpoint on the main road preceded their killings. He noted that his efforts to preserve and communicate the history are both personal and representative of the thousands affected by the siege. Personal items recovered from mass graves, such as a boot belonging to his 16-year-old cousin killed alongside his brothers, serve as poignant reminders of the tragedy.
Salihovic also expressed concern over ongoing denial of the genocide, noting that younger generations are increasingly exposed to false narratives rejecting the occurrence of these war crimes.