The commemorative event was organized by the Srebrenica Genocide and the United Nations Outreach Programme, which was established pursuant to United Nations General Assembly Resolution 78/282 and co-organized by the United Nations Department of Global Communications. The event once again reminded the international community of the importance of remembering the atrocities committed in July 1995, when more than 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys were systematically separated from their families, executed, and buried in mass graves, while thousands of women, children, and elderly people were forcibly displaced.
Mr.Maher Nasser（middle） is the Director of the Outreach Division in the United Nations Department of Global Communications
The event was moderated by Mr. Charka Beyani, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide. In his remarks, he described Srebrenica as one of the darkest chapters in modern history and the gravest atrocity committed on European soil since the Second World War. He stressed that commemoration must go beyond mourning and be linked to accountability, the prevention of future atrocities, and the defense of historical truth. He also noted that the International Court of Justice and other international judicial bodies have determined that the crimes committed in Srebrenica in 1995 constituted genocide.
Mr.Hans Grohmann,Senior Protocol Officer
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres delivered a message through Mr. Earle Courtenay Rattray, Chef de Cabinet and Head of the Executive Office of the Secretary-General. In his message, the Secretary-General called on the international community to confront denial with truth and impunity with justice. He warned that hate speech, discrimination, extremism, and the glorification of convicted war criminals are on the rise and represent dangerous warning signs that cannot be ignored. Preventing genocide, he emphasized, is a shared responsibility and the most effective way to protect humanity from repeating such tragedies.
Her Excellency Annalena Baerbock, President of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, also addressed the event. She emphasized that commemorating Srebrenica means honoring the promises made to survivors, especially the Mothers of Srebrenica, the families of the victims, and women and children affected by conflict-related sexual violence. She called on all countries to strengthen legal, institutional, and judicial mechanisms to protect victims' rights and uphold human dignity.
His Excellency Denis Bećirović, Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, delivered remarks in the United Nations General Assembly Hall. He stated that the General Assembly's adoption of the resolution establishing the International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Srebrenica Genocide marked an important step toward justice. He said the resolution not only encouraged Bosnia and Herzegovina but also reminded the world that memory, truth, and accountability must always be upheld.
A key segment of the event, titled "Guardians of the Memory of Srebrenica," featured testimonies from survivors and representatives of victims' associations. Their personal stories gave profound human meaning to the historical record. One survivor recalled spending a freezing night outside the United Nations compound, hearing people crying and running, and growing up without the presence of his father. These testimonies reminded the audience that genocide leaves behind not only death tolls but also generations of enduring pain and irreversible loss.
Many speakers emphasized that genocide does not begin with mass graves. It begins with hatred, discrimination, dehumanization, and the division of people into "us" and "them." Therefore, the commemoration was not only about remembering history but also about confronting the challenges of today's world. In the face of hate speech, ethnic division, and historical denial, the international community must recognize warning signs earlier and respond with greater determination.
The event also highlighted the important role of the Srebrenica Memorial Center in preserving historical records, promoting public education, and helping younger generations understand history. Through survivor testimonies, visual exhibitions, and international dialogue, the commemoration reaffirmed that memory belongs not only to the past but also serves as a vital safeguard against future atrocities.
The commemorative event concluded in a solemn atmosphere. Participants reaffirmed that the world must never forget Srebrenica, Rwanda, or any other place where mass atrocities have occurred. By honoring the victims and standing in solidarity with survivors and their families, the United Nations and the international community renewed their commitment to defending human dignity, upholding justice, preserving the truth, and taking action whenever warning signs of atrocities emerge to ensure that the promise of "Never Again" does not fail once more.
