The UN General Assembly voted to establish an annual day of remembrance for the 1995 Srebrenica genocide, despite opposition from Bosnian Serbs and Serbia. The resolution received 84 votes in favor, making July 11 “International Day of Remembrance of the Srebrenica Genocide.” German ambassador Antje Leendertse emphasized the resolution’s focus on reconciliation.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic expressed concerns about opening old wounds, but acknowledged the killings at Srebrenica. The Serbian Orthodox Church protested the resolution, while Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik denied the genocide. The massacre, where approximately 8,000 Muslim men and teenagers were killed, is considered Europe’s worst atrocity since WWII.
The Srebrenica Memorial Centre praised the resolution, while Human Rights Watch criticized the omission of UN peacekeepers’ failure to protect victims. EU nations showed mixed responses, with some abstaining. For relatives of victims, the memorial day was a crucial step towards acceptance and peace.