Blackburn with Darwen’s Mayor and council leader have marked Srebrenica Memorial Week by pledging to learn from history and back a borough where difference and diversity are celebrated.
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Srebrenica Memorial Day falls on 11 July each year and marks the anniversary of the massacre that saw more than 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys killed during the Bosnian War.
Saturday 11 July 2026 marks 31 years since the killings in Srebrenica, in what the UN has described as the worst atrocity on European soil since the Second World War.
The wider Bosnian War saw over 100,000 killed, thousands of women tortured, and more than two million people forced from their homes between 1992 and 1995.
The national theme this year is We Are Here, which focuses on hearing the voices of survivors who endured unimaginable loss yet stand today with dignity, courage and strength.
Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, Councillor Phil Riley, and Mayor Councillor Mahfooz Hussain are supporting Remembering Srebrenica and saying they are committed to tolerance, understanding and peace.
Mayor Councillor Hussain said: “What happened in Srebrenica, Bosnia in July 1995 was horrific – the worst atrocity in Europe since the Second World War.
“In remembrance of the victims of Srebrenica, we reflect on what this anniversary means for today’s increasingly polarised world, our society, and how we can act today.
“We stand together against those who try to divide us and recommit ourselves to opposing hatred, discrimination, and prejudice whenever they rear their head.”
The article says many survivors of the murders in 1995 were forced to flee their homes and start new lives across the globe, including around 10,000 Bosnians who settled in the UK. Some settled in the borough.
Councillor Riley said: “Blackburn with Darwen is a welcoming place where diversity is valued and celebrated.
“What happened in Srebrenica over 30 years ago was appalling and we must continue to tackle hatred and prejudice wherever we see it.
“The murders in Srebrenica is one example of what can happen when hatred and intolerance go unchallenged.”
Residents, schools and community groups are being encouraged to learn more about the killings in Srebrenica and take part in commemorations by visiting https://srebrenica.org.uk/learn.
