Thousands Join Annual Peace March in Bosnia to Commemorate Srebrenica Genocide Victims
The march retraces the 110-kilometer route taken by thousands of Bosniak civilians—mainly Muslim men and boys—who fled through forests and mountains in an attempt to escape advancing Bosnian Serb forces in July 1995. The procession begins in the village of Nezuk, near the northeastern town of Tuzla, and ends at the Srebrenica-Potočari Memorial Center.
This year’s march culminates on July 11, when Bosnia marks the 30th anniversary of the massacre. A funeral ceremony will be held at the memorial center for seven victims whose remains were identified over the past year.
On July 11, 1995, Bosnian Serb troops entered Srebrenica, a town that had been declared a UN “safe area” for civilians during the Bosnian War. In the days that followed, over 8,000 Bosniak Muslim men and boys were systematically executed, and their bodies were buried in mass graves scattered across the surrounding area.
The Srebrenica massacre is the worst atrocity in Europe since World War II and has been officially recognized as genocide by both the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
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Since the end of the conflict, more than 50 individuals have been convicted of crimes related to the genocide, receiving a combined total of around 780 years in prison. Among them are key figures such as Radovan Karadžić, the wartime leader of Republika Srpska, and General Ratko Mladić, commander of its army. Both were sentenced to life imprisonment for their roles in the genocide and other crimes.
The Peace March, held annually since 2005, continues to draw growing numbers of participants from Bosnia and abroad. Organizers say the march is not only a tribute to the victims but also a call to preserve historical memory and promote peace and reconciliation.
Source: Agencies
