Remembering Srebrenica
A University of York student is travelling to Bosnia to take part in events to commemorate the genocide at Srebrenica in 1995.
Fozia Parveen
Fozia Parveen, who is studying for an MA in Art History, is part of a three-day visit organised by the UK-based charity Remembering Srebrenica.
During her visit, she will also visit Sarajevo and Tuzla as well as the Srebrenica Memorial Centre, Mothers of Srebrenica and the International Commission for Missing Persons.
Fozia Parveen, who comes from Birmingham, said: “I have been involved in Muslim women's rights and revisionism for a number of years. The trauma from living through a conflict along ethnic lines can remain with its victims for generations. I am hoping to learn from the female experience and the effects of war on Bosnian women. On my return I hope to raise awareness of their plight through art.”
In July 1995, more than 8,000 Bosnian men and boys were massacred by Bosnian Serb forces commanded by General Ratko Mladic and Serbian paramilitaries. It was the greatest atrocity on European soil since the Second World War.
The European Court of Justice and the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia both ruled that the mass execution constituted genocide. In 2009, the European Parliament declared 11 July the official day of remembrance for the victims of the Srebrenica genocide.
Further information
Remembering Srebrenica is a charitable initiative which:
- Organises the United Kingdom’s Srebrenica Memorial Day each year
- Runs ‘Lessons from Srebrenica’ visits to Bosnia to learn first-hand about the genocide
- Leads year round public awareness campaigns and activities to teach the consequences of hatred