Remarks by the President of the General Assembly,
Mr. Dennis Francis,
at the High-level Commemorative Event on the occasion of the International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica
11 July 2024
[As Delivered]
His Excellency, Elmedin Konaković, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I thank the Permanent Mission of Bosnia and Herzegovina for their invitation to this solemn gathering.
In April 1993, the United Nations Security Council declared Srebrenica a safe area.
Yet, in July 1995, this supposed sanctuary became the site of the largest massacre in the territory of the former Yugoslavia.
Over 8,372 lives were lost, thousands were displaced – and entire families and communities were devastated.
Nearly three decades after this horrific chapter of History, survivors and their families continue to draw strength from their pursuit of justice and reconciliation.
Both the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and the International Court of Justice have recognized this massacre as an act of genocide.
The lessons of Srebrenica are clear: intolerance and bigotry – when allowed to flourish – culminate in atrocities beyond comprehension.
We must always remain vigilant and guard against rhetoric that dehumanizes, degrades, and discriminates against a particular group.
Because such rhetoric is always rooted in hate, and – left unchecked – always leads to unspeakable evil.
While it is essential to prosecute the remaining perpetrators of the Srebrenica genocide, we cannot accept any attempt to simply forget or deny the enormity of what transpired.
We simply cannot allow this to happen.
The United Nations General Assembly’s designation of 11 July as the International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica is therefore a timely act – to not only recognize the victims and their families; but also pay tribute to survivors who have tirelessly fought to keep the memory of Srebrenica alive and ensure that such atrocities never happen again.
Upholding this responsibility is fundamental to the mission of the United Nations.
Genocide denial will neither lead to justice nor peace, and every nation – regardless of its distance to Bosnia-Herzegovina, or its own history – has a responsibility to uphold international court decisions that bring justice to survivors and prevent genocide within its own borders.
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Today, this commemoration is more relevant than ever – as divisive rhetoric and attempts to create divisions run wider, louder, and deeper than ever before, around the world.
It offers a chance for significant societal transformation.
From Europe to the Middle East, this period of global upheaval prompts essential questions about our way of life, our shared future – and how we treat one another.
As we approach the thirtieth anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide in 2025, let us reflect on and learn from this darkest chapter in our history, to help prevent its tragic repetition.
This commitment demands that we acknowledge the profound suffering of survivors and the families of victims.
It requires unwavering opposition to any denial, distortion, or falsification of incontrovertible facts.
And above all, it calls on us to relentlessly pursue justice and truth – for that is the only path to fostering sustainable peace and genuine reconciliation.
Let us use this new International Day to honour those lost, educate [future] generations, unite communities, and combat hate in all its forms – I repeat: in all its forms..
This is essential to ensure that everyone – regardless of race, faith, or nationality – feels safe in their communities.
I leave you with the wise words of Maya Angelou, the famed African American writer:
“History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again.”
To write a brighter future acknowledging the truth about the Srebrenica genocide is essential — not only as a matter of justice for its victims, but as a cornerstone for lasting peace.
I thank you.
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