The planned adoption of a United Nations resolution on the Srebrenica genocide, scheduled for mid-May this year, represents a crucial step towards global recognition and commemoration of this tragic event from the still-recent past. Although the resolution itself does not carry direct legal consequences, it plays a fundamental role in the symbolic and declarative recognition of the crime and demonstrates the willingness of the international community to adequately preserve the memory of the victims of genocide. By adopting this resolution, the United Nations joins other significant international institutions such as the European Parliament and the United States Congress, which have already adopted similar resolutions. This kind of collective recognition sends a profound message about the need for permanent remembrance of the victims and the importance of learning from past mistakes to prevent the recurrence of similar crimes.
Judicially established facts
When it comes to Srebrenica, twenty-one individuals have been convicted of the crime of genocide by domestic and international courts to date. The verdicts contain extensive and detailed analyses of their participation in the genocide, supported by evidence providing insight into the organization, intent, mass executions, and concealment of evidence after the executions. The evidence was collected from the field, locations where Bosniaks were killed and their remains buried, from records and archives of local and higher (para)military and political structures, from witnesses who survived the shootings, but also from perpetrators who admitted their participation in the genocide, among other sources. The resolution before the UN General Assembly is based on these verdicts, and its adoption would mean summarizing the conclusions of the verdicts written in legal language while calling for the establishment of educational programs for various age groups that include content about the Srebrenica genocide. It is necessary to “translate” the legal language into content that is direct and understandable to readers to raise awareness of the facts about the genocide, which the resolution indirectly calls for.
What are examples of similar UN resolutions in the past?
Resolution A/RES/58/234 was adopted on December 23, 2003, declaring April 7 as the International Day of Reflection on the Genocide in Rwanda.[1] In Rwanda, for example, processes of memorialization and education about the 1994 genocide are crucial for national and international recognition of the genocide. The Rwandan model includes the construction of memorial centers and the development of educational programs about the genocide, which can serve as a model for similar initiatives following the possible adoption of the resolution on the Srebrenica genocide. Interestingly, Rwanda is one of the two main proposers of the resolution. Another similar example of such a resolution is the Holocaust Remembrance resolution, adopted on November 1, 2005, by the UN General Assembly, which declares January 27 as the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust.[2] The two resolutions mentioned emphasize the necessity of preserving the memory of the victims of the most severe crimes from modern history, communicating facts about the crimes established by judicial and historical evidence to prevent denial and revisionism, and the importance of learning about these crimes in educational systems. In this context, the resolution on the Srebrenica genocide can be seen as a continuation of the UN’s contribution to transitional justice concerning this and the past century’s most severe crimes. It confirms the continuous (declarative) commitment of the international community to learning from history and building a culture of peace and non-violence. All these resolutions, together with the one on Srebrenica, demonstrate a consistent international effort to ensure that the crimes of genocide are not forgotten. Just like Srebrenica, the recognition and memorialization of the genocide in Rwanda, and the global condemnation of Holocaust denial, are key steps in the global response to preventing future crimes against humanity. It is essential to emphasize that every crime begins with words, namely the creation of a narrative about the “other” and the dehumanization of the victim. Therefore, it is necessary to call for the prevention of denial of these crimes and raise awareness of the established facts through education.
The European Parliament and the US Congress, which have previously adopted similar resolutions, have significantly contributed to the global recognition of the Srebrenica genocide, reflecting a similar international response to the genocide in Rwanda. These resolutions have strengthened international efforts to confront genocides and crimes against humanity, at least in the territories of the countries where they were adopted.
These international initiatives, which include a wide range of educational and memorial activities, show how learning from the past and preserving the memory of tragedies can play a crucial role in building lasting peace and global stability. They remind us that every act of recognizing genocide, regardless of geographical or temporal distance from the event, is an important step in the fight against the denial of crimes and against historical revisionism. Just as every mass crime begins with words, crime prevention must start with words – not only by countering hate speech but also by dominating it and creating a narrative that promotes peace values.
What is achieved by the resolution, and what isn’t?
By adopting the resolution, the United Nations not only recognizes the suffering of the victims but also demonstrates a global commitment to preserving the memory of the Srebrenica genocide. This is not just a declarative gesture; it is a substantial obligation to ensure that crimes like those in Srebrenica and Rwanda are never forgotten and that lessons are learned from them for future generations. While, as previously mentioned, this resolution does not have legal force in terms of consequences, it is essential to understand other types of implications: symbolism, especially for survivors, and a foundation for the future global culture of memory regarding the Srebrenica genocide, which involves the fight against denial, raising awareness of the genocide facts, understanding its consequences, and developing mechanisms to prevent it. Along with all mentioned, it is necessary to develop advocacy and dedicated work of organizations and institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina and all those involved in the field of transitional justice. The resolution thus certainly provides them with an additional platform for their activities. The previous international practice of marking July 11 as the Day of Remembrance for the Srebrenica Genocide has been only on the state level, meaning that states made decisions about it within their legislative and executive bodies. By adopting the resolution, July 11 would be placed on the international calendar of remembrance for crimes committed in the past.
The resolution on the Srebrenica genocide also includes a part about affirming the fight against genocide denial. Its adoption would support amendments to the Criminal Code of Bosnia and Herzegovina that provide for penalties for those who deny genocide, crimes against humanity, and other war crimes adjudicated in domestic and/or international courts. At the time of writing this text, only one indictment has been issued in Bosnia and Herzegovina based on this law.
However, by adopting the resolution in other countries, awareness of the importance of fighting genocide denial in Srebrenica would be raised. Referencing this document, advocating for similar sanctions against spreading hate speech through genocide denial in Srebrenica would significantly improve.
Although numerous public and political figures from Serbia and the Bosnian entity Republika Srpska have claimed that the resolution on the Srebrenica genocide labels the entire Serbian people as “genocidal,” accompanied by many insults, denials of the genocide itself, and inappropriate attempts at thesis substitution, the resolution text does not mention the Serbian people, Republika Srpska, or Serbia. Members of military and police formations convicted of genocide did belong to the Army of Republika Srpska, units of the Ministry of the Interior of Republika Srpska, and other formations. Political officials convicted of genocide belonged to the governing structures of the self-proclaimed Republika Srpska at the time. However, these facts are part of the verdicts and court archives and are inseparable from the facts about the Srebrenica genocide. The courts dealt with the guilt of the perpetrators. The resolution on the Srebrenica genocide focuses on the victims, the lost human lives, and their dignified remembrance.
If adopted, the resolution on the Srebrenica genocide primarily achieves global recognition of the pain and suffering of the victims, their families, and all citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina who sympathize with them and/or have gone through similar suffering. It includes July 11 as the Day of Remembrance for the Srebrenica Genocide among other UN remembrance dates, which already include dates commemorating the genocide in Rwanda, the Holocaust, and other mass crimes from the past. After the efforts of women’s associations and mothers of Srebrenica, as well as other activists, to uncover the truth about the Srebrenica genocide and establish the Srebrenica Memorial Center, it is now time for a new generation to diligently work on further developing a culture of remembrance, raising awareness of the facts, and memorialization at the international level. The UN resolution on the Srebrenica genocide is an opportunity for this. On behalf of the mentioned new generation to which I belong, I accept this challenge.
Hikmet Karčić is a research associate at the Institute for Research of Crimes Against Humanity and International Law – University of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. He is the author of the book “Torture, Humiliate, Kill: Inside the Bosnian Serb Camp System,” published by the University of Michigan in 2022. He was a global fellow at the Auschwitz Institute-Keene State College in 2017. He is a frequent commentator on international media platforms. His articles cover extremism, the far right, and mass crimes and have been published in publications such as Haaretz, Newsweek, and Foreign Policy.
[1] Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 23 December 2003, General Assembly, United Nations. 23 Febuary 2004, https://documents.un.org/doc/undoc/gen/n03/508/56/pdf/n0350856.pdf?token=mBWjEdpznTZtMyV55l&fe=true
[2] Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 1 November 2005, General Assembly, United Nations, 21 November 2005, https://documents.un.org/doc/undoc/gen/n05/487/96/pdf/n0548796.pdf?token=QbiYhCOOJb41VL5fk2&fe=true
