From July 1st to 3rd, 2025, the University of Sarajevo hosted an international conference “Genocide/Responsibility/Rememberance/Future” marking the upcoming 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide. The opening ceremony took place at Vijećnica and featured speeches by University Rector Tarik Zaimović, Director of the Institute for Research of Crimes Against Humanity and International Law Muamer Džananović, and Director of the Srebrenica Memorial Center Emir Suljagić.
Their addresses emphasized the importance of acknowledging survivors, recognizing their testimonies, and critically rethinking dominant narratives, such as the framing of Srebrenica as an isolated event.
The July 2nd conference day brought together numerous Bosnian and internationally recognized genocide scholars, including for example, Hikmet Karčić, Hariz Halilovich, and Dirk Moses. Panel topics ranged from rethinking the historiography of Srebrenica and legal definitions of genocide, to the use of genocide denial as a political tool in the Western Balkans, and the role of testimonies and photography in memorialization.
A powerful presentation by Ehlimana Memišević focused on sexual violence during the war, highlighting that while some cases have been prosecuted in Bosnian courts, patriarchal biases, such as arguments based on perpetrators being fathers or victim “non-resistance” continue to undermine justice. Onur Uraz critically analyzed the fragmentation between politics, academia, and NGOs, arguing that their lack of coordinated advocacy restraints progress in legal reform and recognition.
The conference day concluded with an open discussion on future strategies for memorialization, advocacy, and the importance of involving youth in shaping collective memory and change.
