UN hosts powerful Srebrenica genocide exhibition marking 30th anniversary

Organised by the Srebrenica Memorial Centre and Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Permanent Mission to the UN, with UN support, the exhibition features eight powerful personal stories, from genocide survivors and those born after 1995. It combines video testimonies, photos, and quotes, including QR codes that lead to extended interviews.

At the heart of the display is “Mother of Srebrenica”, a monumental photograph by Almin Zrno depicting Suhra Malic, a mother who lost two sons in the genocide. Her anguished face has become a symbol of dignity in the face of unimaginable loss.

Bosnia’s UN Ambassador Zlatko Lagumdzija stated:

“These are not just exhibits, they are deeply personal journeys. Survivors carry the weight of history, but refuse to be defined by it. This is a tribute to courage, especially of the women who endured such loss, yet chose humanity over hate.”

The exhibition is part of a broader trilogy of remembrance events, including “From Words to Violence” and “Scarf of Remembrance”, co-organised with the Mothers of Srebrenica and Zepa Enclaves Association.

Amra Begic, Deputy Director of the Srebrenica Memorial Centre, emphasised that the exhibition is about what followed the genocide and what still persists:

“Genocide doesn’t begin with bullets. It begins with silence, denial, and looking away.”

The opening was attended by high-ranking Bosnian officials, including Denis Becirovic, Elmedin Konakovic, and Kada Hotic, along with diplomats and representatives of the international community.

The exhibition serves as both a memorial and a global call for truth, remembrance, and justice.