This year, we are recognizing the 23rd anniversary of the genocide in Srebrenica, during which thousands of men and boys were murdered simply because they were Muslim. As an organization dedicated to restoring a culture of peace and preventing violent conflict in the Western Balkans, we feel it is vital to commemorate Srebrenica to take a stand against hatred and discrimination that targets groups based on their religion, ethnicity, gender, sexuality or any type of difference.
The theme “Acts of Courage” is a reminder that hope and the common bonds of humanity can triumph in the darkest of times. We are all invited to draw strength and inspiration from those who, during the genocide and ethnic cleansing, were bold enough to resist an ideology of division, protect their neighbors, and speak out for truth and justice. The baton of courage has now been passed on and it is up to us learn the lessons from Srebrenica.
It is now more important than ever for us to come together as people, no matter what our background, to celebrate diversity and to stand together in solidarity against hatred and discrimination. We hope you will join us in mourning the loss of those who died at Srebrenica, and reflecting on how we as individuals, groups, and communities can come together to build a better future without hatred.
“Acts of Courage” is Remembering Srebrenica‘s theme for 2018 Srebrenica Commemoration to highlight ordinary people who undertook extraordinary acts of courage during the Bosnian genocide. PCRC was honored to share the story of one of its #OrdinaryHeroes, Zoran Mandlbaum, as part of this campaign. Read Zoran’s story here.
