The Srebrenica Genocide – History, Remembrance and Responsibility
The genocide committed in Srebrenica in July 1995 represents the gravest crime against humanity in Europe since the end of the Second World War. In the enclave of Srebrenica, which had been declared a United Nations–protected area, 8,372 Bosniak men and boys were murdered within just a few days. At the same time, approximately 30,000 women, children and elderly people were forcibly displaced.
These events constitute a systematic act of ethnic cleansing and have left profound human, social and historical consequences. The impact of the genocide is still felt today—above all by survivors and the families of the victims, but also within the wider regional and European context.
The crimes committed in Srebrenica were thoroughly investigated and legally prosecuted by international courts. Both the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and the International Court of Justice established that the events of July 1995 constitute genocide. Despite decades of efforts, the mortal remains of many victims have still not been found or identified.
The Austrian Parliamentary Resolution on Srebrenica
On 6 July 2022, the National Council of the Republic of Austria unanimously adopted a resolution commemorating the genocide in Srebrenica. Through this resolution, Austria clearly reaffirmed its historical responsibility, acknowledged the suffering of the victims, and emphasized the importance of an active culture of remembrance.
The initiative for the resolution was launched by the Association of Bosnian-Herzegovinian Associations in Austria – Consilium Bosniacum, which advocated for its adoption over an extended period. The resolution received broad political support and represents a strong stand against forgetting and against any form of relativization of the most serious human rights violations.
Furthermore, the resolution calls on Austrian institutions to continue actively supporting international remembrance efforts and to work together with the member states of the European Union to ensure dignified commemoration of the Srebrenica genocide. In this context, 11 July is highlighted as the European Day of Remembrance for the victims of the Srebrenica genocide.
The “Srebrenica Flower” Memorial in Vienna
Building on the adopted resolution, Consilium Bosniacum initiated the construction of the “Srebrenica Flower”memorial, located in front of the United Nations building in Vienna. The memorial serves as a permanent place of remembrance, education and reflection.
The artwork is designed as a walk-in pavilion and consists of three central architectural elements. At its core stands a dome shaped like a stylized flower with eleven petals—an internationally recognized symbol of peace, remembrance and the call for justice. The dome is supported by eleven abstract female figures symbolically representing survivors and the families of the victims, alongside a prism displaying historical information and a universal message of peace.
In its design, the memorial combines a contemporary, minimalist architectural language with elements inspired by Austrian pavilion and garden traditions, thereby consciously embedding the memory of Srebrenica within a European and Austrian public space.
Remembrance Culture and Education for the Future
Engaging with the genocide in Srebrenica is a fundamental component of a responsible European culture of remembrance. Education, historical knowledge and public commemoration help to identify mechanisms of exclusion, hatred and violence at an early stage and to counteract them effectively.
The commitment of Consilium Bosniacum—from political advocacy to the realization of a memorial—represents a contribution to an open and pluralistic society that confronts its past and derives responsibility for the future from it.
Remembrance is not a look back into the past, but a foundation for peace, justice and dignified coexistence.
Only by remembering can history be prevented from repeating itself.