WARNING: Unprotected Genocide Museum in Srebrenica!

Early warning is a prerequisite to protect people against crimes against humanity. In a world where perpetrators are backed by states and boosted with weapons and all kinds of other resources, being quick and getting solid and determined support within a country and from abroad is often the only chance for victims to survive. 

On a much less dramatic scale, memorials and museums can be at risk. On Sunday, August 27th, 2023, a small group from JCRS visited SrebrenicaExternal link. The memorial site consists of the cemetery and a museum on the other side of the road. The museum is located in the ensemble of hangars where Dutch UN soldiers were stationed, victims gathered, and many murdered nearby. Those hangars host an exhibition with photos, personal remains, such as shoes from the victims, and the reproductions of official documents. Even at the cemetery, we were struck by the absence of a single guard, which created an unsettling feeling during our visit. 

There was no entrance fee, no one who took care of it, and even the tiny souvenir shop on the street was closed during the daytime. Everything was open, but within the museum, in most places the lights did not function. We were the only visitors who entered the site, where machines presented footage of some construction work. 

Nevertheless, we all know that the interpretation of Srebrenica as genocide is contested in the Republica Srpska, where Srebrenica is situated. We should not wait until the museum is vandalized or destroyed, but we call everyone who can have some influence to exercise it to give this museum better protection and to encourage more visitors to see this important place.

Prof. Martin Leiner 

P.S. This message will be sent to different authorities in Europe.