'Srebrenica Flower' unveiled in front of UN in Vienna: A monument of memory, truth, and a warning to humanity

One of the artists, Anita Zecic, originally from Prijedor, Bosnia, and now living in Austria, explained that the project had been kept secret until all the necessary permits were secured.

“For two years we ‘hid’ it from the public, to get permission from the City of Vienna. This is a public space, a square in front of the UN. We are gifting the monument to the City of Vienna, which we hope will take care of it forever", she said.

Describing the appearance and symbolism of the monument, Zecic said:

“It is essentially a pavilion — 11 silhouettes of the Mothers of Srebrenica holding the flower in their hands. It represents the burden of genocide they carried, leading to the recognition of Srebrenica as genocide in Bosnia and Herzegovina".

The symbolism goes beyond form and material — the monument now stands directly in front of the UN, where promises of protection once failed.

Damir Saracevic, president of the association behind the project, emphasized that it is not merely a sculpture of stone and steel, but a monument of conscience and hope.

“The idea was born out of a deep need to preserve the truth about the genocide in Srebrenica forever. We want Europe and the world never to forget what happened in July 1995", he underlined.

He highlighted the significance of the location:

“Vienna — a city of peace, diversity, and human dignity — today becomes a guardian of remembrance right in front of the UN building. We are sending a clear message: the world remembers, and such suffering must never happen to anyone again".

Saracevic expressed deep gratitude to Austrian authorities and supporters of the project, adding:

“Above all, my gratitude goes to the Mothers of Srebrenica, whose dignity and strength have become a universal voice of truth and justice. The monument we are unveiling depicts 11 figures of mothers raising a silver and white flower toward the sky — a symbol of innocence, pain, and remembrance”.

In a deeply emotional address, Munira Subasic, president of the Mothers of Srebrenica Association, shared her personal tragedy and message of perseverance.

“Twenty-two members of my immediate family were killed in the genocide. My husband and my youngest son were among them, the people I loved most in this world. This monument is not here by accident — our loved ones were killed under the UN flag. It will remind the world of our murdered children and give us hope that Srebrenica will never be forgotten or repeated", she noted.

She warned that Europe still hasn’t learned from its own history:

“Europe has learned nothing after the genocide and the Holocaust, otherwise children wouldn’t be dying today in Ukraine and Palestine while many of us watch silently, just as in 1995. This monument gives me hope that some nations are beginning to awaken".

And she reminded the world of the spirit that endures:

“They couldn’t kill the spirit of the Bosniak mother. We are not victims; we are heroes. We are searching for our children and showing the world, in the right way, where it continues to make mistakes".

Speaking at the ceremony, Elmedin Konaković, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, reminded that Srebrenica had been declared a UN-protected zone before the genocide:

“This place and this monument will forever remind the world that on April 16, 1993, the UN declared Srebrenica a safe area. How ‘safe’ it was is best testified by the valley of the martyrs in Potocari today".

Konakovic emphasized the collective moral responsibility:

“Genocide is not only Bosnia’s pain and wound, but also a burden and a stain on the face of the entire civilized world. It was a failure of humanity and of the international community that could have prevented it — the same one that once said ‘never again'".

Finally, Denis Becirovic, member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, underlined the importance of both the moment and the message.

“Today is an important day for the world as we unveil a monument to the victims of the Srebrenica genocide. It carries even greater symbolism because we are doing so on United Nations Square and on UN Day".

He sent a clear message of remembrance and resistance to denial:

“We are sending a message that the victims are not forgotten and that the deniers of truth will not succeed. This monument serves truth, justice, and the prevention of evil in the future. I extend special respect to the Mothers of Srebrenica, who have been fighting for truth and justice for decades. They are Bosnian and European heroines".

Becirovic concluded with a call to preserve truth as a foundation for peace:

“The monument we unveil today warns future generations never to accept lies instead of truth. Through the culture of remembrance, we fight for a democratic Europe. Thank you to Austria for safeguarding the truth about the genocide committed against Bosniaks".