Munira Subašić, the President of the Mothers of Srebrenica and Žepa Enclaves, the main organisation representing victims of the Srebrenica genocide, is visiting Derry City and Strabane in January as part of Holocaust Memorial Week.
Munira will be the special guest at a Holocaust Memorial event at 7pm on Tuesday 21st January 2025 at the Guildhall with a specific focus on Srebrenica.
Munira lost 22 members of her family during the genocide including her two sons and husband.
The visit is an initiative of Derry City and Strabane District Council, supported by The Executive Office, and organised with Remembering Srebrenica.
Speaking about the visit, Mayor Lilian Seenoi-Barr said: “We are honoured to host Munira and take a moment to reflect on the tragic events of July 1995, when 8,365 Muslim men and boys were brutally murdered in what the UN and the international community recognise as genocide.
“This atrocity was part of an effort to ethnically cleanse a region of Bosnia during the Bosnian War.
“The Srebrenica genocide reminds us of the devastating consequences of ethnic and religious hatred.
“It is a stark lesson to always stand firmly against racism and intolerance, especially when they are fuelled by prejudice and bigotry.
“Here in Derry City and Strabane, we pride ourselves on embracing diversity, celebrating differences, and fostering equality and cohesion.
“However, we also recognise that we have a long way to go to achieve true racial equality and respect for all differences. There is always room for growth and improvement.
“Hosting Munira and learning from her experiences is a significant opportunity, especially as we commemorate the Holocaust and other genocides around the world.
“When President Clinton addressed the Guildhall in 1995, just months after the Srebrenica genocide, he urged us to build a future that surpasses the pain of our past and to work together rather than drift apart.
“Nearly 30 years later, Munira will take to the same stage, sharing her story of loss and resilience, with a message of hope and unity. I am confident she will be warmly welcomed and made to feel like a true Derry Girl.”
Peter Osborne, from Remembering Srebrenica in Northern Ireland, said: “We are so grateful for the support of Council and The Executive Office in recognising what happened at Srebrenica and further spreading the message that diversity is good and racism is wrong.
“Munira’s visit will be reported in Bosnia where people are grateful that Srebrenica victims are acknowledged and that significant work continues to prevent genocide happening again there or elsewhere.
“Small steps towards understanding diversity are important, starting with exploring our own attitudes, being open to learning and building relationships with those who are different.”
As well as the event at 7pm on Tuesday 21st January at the Guildhall, Munira will have meetings and speak at events with local schools, the PSNI, Strabane Inter Ethnic Forum, peace barrier projects, and will speak with Council officers and elected members.
The visit is supported by the good relations section of Derry City and Strabane District Council.
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