15th Anniversary of the Srebrenica Genocide
Institute for the Research of Genocide Canada
Published: May 19, 2010
PHOTO: Forensic anthropologists Ewa Klonowski (right) and Piotr Drukier examine the partially preserved hands of a teenage boy, found in a mass grave of victims of the 1995 massacre of more than 8,000 Bosniak men and boys at the hands of Serb forces who overran the U.N. "safe haven" of Srebrenica. Click photo for higher resolution. /© Sara Terry.
Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada,
The Right Honourable Stephen Joseph Harper, Prime Minister of Canada,
The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs,
All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Prevention of Genocide and Other Crimes Against Humanity, chaired by MP Paul Dewar,
Honourable Brian Masse,
July 11, 2021 - Canadian – Bosniak Community commemorate the 15th Anniversary of Srebrenica Genocide
Excellencies,
As you hold one of the most prominent positions in Canada, we are proud that you both represent and demonstrate the tolerance, acceptance and respect for all Canadian citizens. In the interest of fifty thousand Bosnian-Canadians we ask you to help us make July 11th a day of remembrance in Canada for all victims of the Srebrenica genocide. The genocide that occurred in the town of Srebrenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina between July 11th and 18th, 1995 has been the largest crime against humanity in Europe post World War II. As you may know the verdict brought by the International Court of Justice has affirmed that the genocide in Srebrenica was planned and executed by the army and police of “Republika Srpska”. In five days over 8,000 innocent citizens of Srebrenica perished. With that in mind, the Bosnian-Canadian community has been hard at work lobbying to make July 11th Srebrenica Remembrance day for all the innocent individuals who lost their lives and for those still living with perpetual emotional and physical scars.
This year will be the fifteenth anniversary since the Srebrenica Genocide and many Bosnian-Canadians, and many victims of this genocide will mark this anniversary in sadness. That being said we kindly ask you to address the Canadian public about this genocide. For Bosnians who have made Canada their home, a public address would be vastly meaningful especially since the memories of the war and genocide are still very present to a majority of Bosnians living in Canada. Your message to the Canadian public regarding the fifteenth anniversary of Genocide in Srebrenica would demonstrate that Canada is still active in preventing future genocides worldwide. Moreover this gesture will show that Canada has an interest in catching the war criminals who have committed such senseless acts not only in Srebrenica but in many other Bosnian cities and towns. This initiative would help ease the scars many survivors and victims have been carrying around in the last fifteen years. That being said we kindly ask you to help us turn our dream into reality.
Respectfully,
For the Canadian – Bosnian Community
Professor Emir Ramic
President of the Congress of North American Bosniaks, Branch Canada and Chair of the Institute for the Research of Genocide Canada
