Every July 11, the world pauses to remember the victims of the Srebrenica Genocide.
For the families of those who were murdered, however, remembrance is not confined to a single day. It is a lifelong journey marked by loss, perseverance, and an unwavering commitment to truth.
Today, ten newly identified victims of the Srebrenica Genocide were laid to rest at the Srebrenica Memorial Center in Potočari:
- Senad Jusić, 20
- Muriz Baraković, 22
- Hamed Musić, 22
- Ramo Alić, 30
- Muhidin Osmanović, 32
- Huso Ćerimović, 32
- Nuko Nukić, 38
- Ahmet Gušter, 41
- Asim Kunić, 42
- Ramo Dautović, 56
Their remains were recovered from mass graves in Bratunac, Vlasenica, Zvornik, Glogova, Kamenica, Budak, and other locations decades after they were murdered. In an attempt to conceal the genocide, perpetrators exhumed primary mass graves and scattered the remains across secondary and tertiary graves. For many families, the coffin lowered into the ground today did not contain the complete remains of their loved one, but only the bones that could be recovered and identified after decades of painstaking forensic work.
More than three decades after genocide was committed, mothers continue to bury their sons. Wives continue to bury their husbands. Children continue to bury fathers they scarcely knew. The passage of time has not diminished the consequences of genocide, nor has it diminished our obligation to remember.
Yet remembrance, by itself, is not enough.
If July 11 is the day we remember, then every other day of the year must be dedicated to ensuring that the truth endures.
Today, parliaments, governments, educational institutions, museums, faith communities, and local governments across the world are commemorating the Srebrenica Genocide. Their commemorations affirm a simple but essential principle: historical truth matters. They honor the victims, reject genocide denial, and remind us that preserving memory is a responsibility shared by all democratic societies.
The United States has long stood alongside the survivors of Srebrenica and has invested significantly in justice, accountability, forensic identification, and the preservation of historical truth. American leadership helped bring perpetrators to justice, supported the work of international institutions, and reaffirmed that genocide can never be met with indifference. That legacy is one worth preserving.
The next chapter of that commitment must be education.
At the Congress of Bosniaks of North America, we believe that teaching about the Srebrenica Genocide is not only important for Bosniaks. It is important for the United States.
Education about genocide strengthens the values upon which American democracy rests. It teaches respect for human dignity, the rule of law, pluralism, accountability, and the responsibility to confront hatred before it escalates into violence. It equips future generations to recognize the warning signs of dehumanization, propaganda, denial, and indifference – the very conditions that have preceded atrocities throughout history.
Educating about the past helps protect the future.
For that reason, CBNA remains committed to expanding genocide education throughout the United States by working with schools, universities, museums, educators, and policymakers. Our objective is not simply to commemorate Srebrenica each July. Our objective is to ensure that knowledge of the Srebrenica Genocide becomes a permanent part of the collective consciousness of the United States.
We also remain committed to advancing bipartisan support for remembrance and education. The truth about Srebrenica has never been a partisan issue, and it must never become one. Recognition of genocide, respect for victims, and the defense of historical truth are moral responsibilities that transcend political parties and presidential administrations. Our work is to continue building relationships with elected officials, educational leaders, and civic institutions so that America’s commitment to Srebrenica remains enduring, regardless of changes in political leadership.
That commitment includes continued advocacy for federal recognition of a Srebrenica Genocide Remembrance Day. Last year, we hosted a historic commemoration of the Srebrenica Genocide in the United States Senate, bringing together survivors, members of Congress, diplomats, scholars, faith leaders, and advocates in a powerful affirmation that remembrance has a rightful place within America’s democratic institutions. We view that moment not as a culmination, but as a foundation upon which to build lasting educational and legislative initiatives in the years ahead.
The phrase “Never Again” carries little meaning if it is spoken only once a year.
Its meaning is found in what we choose to teach, the institutions we choose to strengthen, and the values we choose to defend every day that follows.
As we honor those buried today and remember all who were murdered in July 1995, we reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that remembrance remains active – not only in ceremonies, but in classrooms, in public policy, in our communities, and in our national conscience.
Because remembrance is not an end in itself.
It is the beginning of our responsibility.