On 2nd July 2025, the Wales board of Remembering Srebrenica proudly held a prestigious national event at the Senedd (Welsh Parliament), to mark the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica Genocide.
The event brought together the Llywydd (Presiding Officer), the First Minister of Wales, Party Leaders, and members of the ‘Senedd Friends of Srebrenica’ to stand in solidarity with survivors and honour the memory of the 8,372 victims.
A deeply moving witness testimony was shared by Ernesa Ibišević-Hajdarević, offering a powerful reminder of the enduring impact of genocide.
In a historic moment, the First Minister of Wales and His Excellency Osman Topčagić, Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the UK, jointly unveiled a replica Srebrenica gravestone, commissioned uniquely for this anniversary. This memorial will soon be permanently placed at Wales’s National Garden of Peace at the Temple of Peace and Health – the first of its kind in the UK – ensuring Wales remains a beacon of remembrance.
The event also featured the presentation of a specially created 3D-printed model of the memorial stone by the team at Lunia 3D. This model will serve as a lasting legacy of the commemoration and will be used as an educational resource across Wales to help future generations learn about the Srebrenica Genocide.
In a moving act of solidarity, The WI (National Federation of Women’s Institutes) groups from across Wales also created a beautiful memorial art piece made up of crocheted white flowers – symbolising remembrance and unity with the Mothers of Srebrenica.
The event included speeches from Dr Abdul Azim Ahmed (Secretary General, Muslim Council Wales – MCW) and David Melding CBE, with a poignant remembrance section delivered by Cabinet Secretary Jane Hutt MS, The Llywydd, The First Minister of Wales, Darren Millar MS, Rhun ap Iorwerth MS, Anes Cerić (CEO, Bosnia UK Network), and Prof Saleem Kidwai OBE (Co-Chair, Remembering Srebrenica Wales).
Poet Abeer Ameer shared a powerful poem commissioned for this anniversary, while musical performances from Elvir Solak and Ivan Šarić of the Sarajevo National Theatre Opera Chorus included haunting pieces composed by Elvir Solak – White Flower and Deafening Silence.
The event was hosted by Abi Carter, Co-Chair of Remembering Srebrenica Wales, with invaluable support from the Wales board members.
Photo credit & thanks: Aled Hopkins Photography and Matthew Horwood – Press, PR & Marketing Photography