UN establishes program dedicated to remembering the Srebrenica Genocide: Memorial ceremony set for November 17

In May 2024, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution A/RES/78/282, officially designating 11 July as the “International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica.”

Alongside this designation, UN member states called for the creation of a dedicated outreach and education program titled “The Srebrenica Genocide and the United Nations,” entrusted to the UN Secretary-General.

The program is jointly led by the Department of Global Communications (DGC) and the Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect (OSAPG). Its core objectives include:

• Organizing the annual commemoration of the International Day of Reflection and Remembrance;
• Developing educational and informational initiatives to preserve established facts about the genocide and counter denial and distortion;
• Collecting testimonies of survivors and promoting educational content that teaches the lessons of Srebrenica while countering hatred and intolerance;
• Preparing activities ahead of the 30th anniversary commemorations in 2025.

Permanent “Srebrenica Flower” Memorial at the UN HQ

As part of the Program, the UN has proposed the installation of the Srebrenica Flower as a permanent memorial inside the UN Headquarters in New York.

The symbol has become a globally recognized emblem of remembrance for the victims of the July 1995 genocide—representing grief, resilience, healing, and hope.

The eleven petals symbolize 11 July, the date the genocide began.

White represents the innocence of the victims.

Green signifies rebirth and hope.

The flower’s form and colors also evoke the burials of genocide victims.

The planned permanent memorial at the heart of the United Nations is intended to embody the message of Resolution 78/282: that Srebrenica must never be pushed to the margins of history, that the memory of the 8,372 victims must be preserved, and that the international community must uphold justice, accountability, and a shared commitment to preventing such atrocities from ever happening again.

By placing this memorial within its own headquarters, the United Nations also acknowledges its own painful but essential history - one that continues to carry lessons for future generations.