What Was the Srebrenica Genocide?
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The Srebrenica genocide is one of the darkest chapters in modern European history. In July 1995, during the Bosnian War, more than 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys were systematically murdered by Bosnian Serb forces in and around the town of Srebrenica, in eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Despite Srebrenica being declared a UN “safe area”, it fell to Serb forces led by General Ratko Mladić. Over the course of several days, thousands of Muslim men and boys were separated from their families, executed, and buried in mass graves. Women and children were forcibly deported, many subjected to violence and abuse.
In 2025, we mark the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide, where 8,372 men and boys were systematically murdered in a single town. The United Nations has recognised this atrocity as “the worst on European soil since the Second World War.”
The Forced March from Srebrenica
When the town of Srebrenica fell on 11 July 1995, thousands of Bosnian Muslim civilians — mostly women, children, and the elderly fled in terror. The Bosnian Serb forces, under the command of General Ratko Mladić, began a campaign of mass execution and ethnic cleansing.
Separation and Betrayal
Upon entering the town, Serb soldiers separated men and boys (as young as 12) from their families under the pretext of “questioning.” In reality, they were taken to nearby fields, schools, warehouses, and forests — and systematically executed, sometimes over the course of days. Over 8,000 men and boys were killed in what would become Europe’s worst atrocity since World War II.
The Long Walk to Safety
Meanwhile, the women, children, and elderly were forcibly deported by bus but many were forced to walk for two or more days across rough, mountainous terrain to reach territory controlled by the Bosnian government. The journey was filled with horror, exhaustion, and trauma. Many women were subjected to violence and abuse, and some children died along the way due to harsh conditions.
Others, especially young boys who tried to escape with the men were hunted in the forests and killed.
Why This Must Never Be Forgotten
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The Srebrenica genocide wasn’t a spontaneous act of war. It was a planned and organised campaign of ethnic cleansing. Families were torn apart. Communities were destroyed. Survivors still carry the scars.
At Teebah Foundation, we remember the victims not only to honour them, but to ensure that the world never ignores such injustice again. Our annual Memorial March is a tribute to their strength and a call to conscience for us all.
Join us. Walk in remembrance. Speak for justice.