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Rebuilding trust begins with remembrance, says USG DiCarlo at Srebrenica commemoration

Remarks by Rosemary A. DiCarlo,

United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs

at the Srebrenica Genocide Commemoration

Potočari, 11 July 2025

 

Survivors, families of victims and distinguished guests,

It is an honour to join you today, on behalf of the United Nations Secretary-General, in solemn remembrance of the victims of the genocide in Srebrenica.

As we mark the United Nations International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica, we stand in grief with survivors and families. We pay tribute to their strength, dignity and enduring pursuit of justice.

The genocide in Srebrenica remains one of the darkest chapters in Europe’s recent history – a stark reminder of the consequences of hatred, division and the failure to protect civilians.

As the Secretary-General stated at the General Assembly commemoration on 8 July:  “We acknowledge hard truths. Thirty years ago, the United Nations and the world failed the people of Srebrenica. This collective failure was not an accident of history. It was the result of policies, propaganda and international indifference.”

The pain of Srebrenica is still deeply felt. Recognition of the facts as established by courts of law, acknowledgment of victims’ suffering, and accountability for the crimes committed are essential for building mutual understanding, trust, and lasting peace – and for preventing future atrocity crimes.

Denial of genocide and historical revisionism harm survivors and erode the foundations of peace and justice.

As we commemorate the victims, we also acknowledge the suffering of all innocent civilians during the conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Rebuilding trust is a long road – one that begins with remembrance.

We urge all political leaders to seize this moment to address the legacy of the past with dialogue, responsibility and a commitment to fostering an environment of respect and inclusion, laying the foundations for a stable and democratic society for everyone in this beautiful country.

The United Nations remains steadfast in its support for the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina in their efforts to build a peaceful, just and inclusive society.

The legacy of Srebrenica must be a world that never again turns away in the face of atrocity.

Thank you.