Reflecting on Srebrenica Genocide: 30 Years On

To mark the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide, the European Parliament Office in Barcelona and the European Observatory on Memories (EUROM) of the University of Barcelona Solidaritat Foundation host a public conversation to reflect on the 1995 massacre through a contemporary lens and to discuss the future of the Western Balkans. The dialogue will feature MEP Davor Ivo Stier and the Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to Spain, Vesna Andree Zaimović. The session wil be moderated by Catalan journalist Teresa Turiera-Puigbò, and the closing remarks will be delivered by the Minister of Justice and Democratic Quality of Catalonia, Ramon Espadaler.

This timely discussion aims to offer a brief historical overview of the genocide, examine the international and EU responses at the time, and assess the current political and social landscape in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It will also draw parallels with other global human rights challenges and consider the role of memory, justice, and reconciliation in the region’s path toward EU integration.

Download the Catalan version ot the programme here.

About the Speakers

Vesna Andree Zaimović is the Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to Spain. With a distinguished career in diplomacy and international affairs, she has played a key role in strengthening bilateral relations between Bosnia and Herzegovina and several European countries. As part of her mission, she promotes dialogue, regional cooperation, and European values, with a particular focus on historical memory and reconciliation processes in the Western Balkans.

Davor Ivo Stier is a Member of the European Parliament from Croatia with the European People’s Party. Born in Buenos Aires in 1972, he served as Croatia’s Minister of Foreign and European Affairs from 2016 to 2017. He is currently Chair of the European Parliament’s Delegation for Relations with Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo and a member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs. His work centres on EU enlargement, democratic governance, human rights, and fostering regional stability in Southeastern Europe.

Moderator Teresa Turiera is a Catalan journalist with extensive experience in international reporting, particularly in the Balkans. She has collaborated with a range of media outlets and NGOs, contributing to greater public awareness of post-conflict societies and transitional justice processes. She is also the co-director of the documentary “Hay alguien en el bosque”, which explores the lasting impact of the Bosnian War on the 25th anniversary of the Dayton Peace Agreement.

A short report and more pictures of the event can be found here.

Historical Context

On 11 July 1995, at least 8,372 people—mostly Bosniak Muslim men and boys—were killed in Srebrenica by Bosnian Serb forces and paramilitary units. This crime, recognised as genocide by both the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and the International Court of Justice, is considered the worst war crime in Europe since World War II.

Thirty years on, the emotional scars remain deep among survivors, victims’ families, and Bosnian society at large, creating lasting barriers to reconciliation between the country’s different ethnic communities.

Srebrenica—declared a “safe area” by the United Nations and placed under the protection of Dutch peacekeepers—has become not only a symbol of atrocity and international failure but also of resilience, solidarity, and the enduring pursuit of truth and justice.

The United Nations Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Alice Wairimu Nderitu, has voiced concern over the persistent revisionism regarding crimes committed during the 1992–1995 conflict, including ongoing denial of the Srebrenica genocide and the glorification of convicted war criminals.

A Day of Reflection and Commemoration

In May 2024, the United Nations General Assembly, through a resolution sponsored by Germany and Rwanda, proclaimed 11 July as the International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica.

The Assembly also mandated the UN Secretary-General to establish an outreach and awareness programme on the Srebrenica genocide in preparation for its 30th anniversary.

Additionally, the resolution condemned any denial of the genocide as a historical fact and urged Member States to safeguard established facts, including through their educational systems, to prevent denial, distortion, and future occurrences of genocide.

For more information and commemorative resources, visit the official UN page on the Srebenica Genocide.