On 6 July 2025, Children of Srebrenica hosted the “Remembering Srebrenica” commemorative event at the Australian Bosnian Islamic Centre (ABIC) in Deer Park, marking 30 years since the Srebrenica Genocide.
The program opened with a Welcome to Country and remarks from Children of Srebrenica, followed by a commemorative video from the Srebrenica Memorial Centre and a series of survivor stories, reflections, poetry, and community contributions throughout the afternoon.
The commemorative program included a special video message from Dr Emir Suljagić, Director of the Srebrenica Memorial Centre, who provided historical context about the genocide and the events of July 1995.
Attendees also heard from Hafiz Nijaz Malagić, spiritual leader at the Deer Park mosque and a native of Srebrenica, as well as survivor stories shared by Selmo Suljić and through the story of Elvisa Avdić. A moving poem was also presented by Lejla Kojić, daughter of a Srebrenica survivor, reflecting on memory, grief, and resilience across generations.
A particularly meaningful moment of the event was the unveiling of a handmade Srebrenica Flower mosaic gifted to Children of Srebrenica by the Australian Federal Police Community Liaison Team. The mosaic was created after AFP representatives attended the 2024 commemorative event and wished to contribute a lasting symbol of remembrance, solidarity, and support for the Bosnian community.
The event concluded with wartime messages recorded in occupied Srebrenica between 1992 and 1995. These recordings captured the voices and messages of people living through the siege and uncertainty of war. Tragically, some of the individuals seen and heard in the footage did not survive the Srebrenica genocide. Their words remain a powerful testimony to the lives, memories, and humanity of those lost, ensuring their voices continue to be remembered by future generations.
Alongside the commemorative program, attendees were also able to walk through a remembrance exhibition featuring photographs, personal items, survivor stories, and historical displays connected to the Srebrenica Genocide. Building on the 2024 exhibition, the 2025 event introduced two new installations: “Letters Between Worlds” and “Last Whisper.” “Letters Between Worlds” displayed real wartime Red Cross letters exchanged between people trapped in Srebrenica and their loved ones outside the enclave, capturing the heartbreak of separation and the struggle to stay connected during the war. “Last Whisper” focused on final words, memories, and thoughts carried by survivors and families of victims providing a quiet reflection on loss and everything left unsaid.
Children of Srebrenica extends sincere gratitude to all survivors, speakers, volunteers, supporters, and attendees who helped ensure that the memory of Srebrenica continues to be preserved through remembrance and education.
