[Name of place] comes together to unite against hatred

In a powerful display of unity between people of different backgrounds, faiths, political beliefs and ages, [event or institution] is bringing communities together on [date] to mark Srebrenica Memorial Week.

[Please include any unique details about the event, for example prominent keynote speakers, attendees or performers]

The charity Remembering Srebrenica, who are organising events all over the country, saythat parallels between the anti-Islamic rhetoric in the Balkans in the 1990s and in the UK today are striking. Hate crime in the UK, particularly religious hate crime, has risen dramatically, with Tell MAMA reporting a 326% increase in Islamophobic incidents and reports of a 57% increase in hate crime in the immediate aftermath of the EU Referendum.

[Place] is one of many towns and cities across the country putting on community events to challenge the stereotypes and prejudices that feed hatred.[Insert name of Community Champion/ event organiser] said:

[Quote from event organiser. You may wish to include a comment on the issues faced in your town/ city, the purpose behind holding the event, and what you hope the impact of the event will be].

July 11th marks the 21st anniversary of the genocide of 8,372 Bosnian Muslim men and boys in Srebrenica, – murdered on account of their Islamic faith. The event in [Name of place] runs in parallel with events organised throughout the country by Remembering Srebrenica’s network of Community Champions, which will bring thousands of people of different communities, ages and faiths together to unite against hatred.

Dr WaqarAzmi OBE, Chairman of Remembering Srebrenica said:

“21 years after the genocide, we are determined not only to remember the victims of Srebrenica, but to honour their memories by taking positive action to build better communities. Srebrenica teaches us that prejudice and hatred left unchecked can have catastrophic consequences, not only for the generation that suffers the violence, but for the following generations whose futures are also irreversibly altered.

“Remembering Srebrenica’s dedicated Community Champions are leading a grassroots movement to challenge the stereotyping and dehumanising language that has become prevalent in our country, and to bring communities together through acts of commemoration around Memorial Week”.

Remembering Srebrenica also organises the national commemorations for Srebrenica, with official Srebrenica Commemorations to be held this year at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office in London and in Belfast, Glasgow and Cardiff. Hundreds will gather at these commemorations to hear the testimony of genocide survivors NedžadAvdić, one of only 11 men to survive Bosnian Serb firing squads, and HajrudinMesić, who lost all four brothers aged 21, and make a pledge that this time, ‘Never Again’ really will mean ‘Never Again’.

-ENDS-

Notes to Editors:

The genocide in Srebrenica

  • On 11 July 1995 General Ratko Mladić and his Bosnian Serb forces marched into the town of Srebrenica and systematically murdered 8372 Bosnian Muslim men and boys.
  • In 1993, Srebrenica had been declared a UN Safe Area, under the watch of the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR). In July 1995, Serbian paramilitary units overran and captured the town, despite its designation as an area 'free from any armed attack or any other hostile act’.

The Charity Remembering Srebrenica & Memorial Week

  • Remembering Srebrenica is the UK organiser of the EU-designated Srebrenica Memorial Day on 11 July. The charity is part-funded by the Department for Communities and Local Government, and is supported by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Prime Minister who held a reception for their Community Champions and survivors at Downing Street in 2015.
  • It is committed to sending 600 individuals on its Lessons from Srebrenica over a three-year period. Each delegate pledges to carry out an activity on their return to the UK. These are designed to raise awareness of the risks of hatred, racism and intolerance, using Srebrenica as an example of an integrated society that disintegrated.
  • Over 800 leaders and key figures have gone on the‘Lessons from Srebrenica’programme to Bosnia who have all then gone on to become Community Champions organising memorial events, giving talks and educating people about genocide, as well as promoting community cohesion. The charity has also developed education packs on the lessons of the Srebrenica genocide for use in secondary schools in the UK which have reached over 21, 000 children so far.
  • Memorial Week for the 21st anniversary of the genocide runs from 10-17 July 2016.It will both honour the victims of this tragedy as well as foster stronger community relations in Britain. The theme of this year’s memorial events is “21: Coming of Age – Time to Act” focusing on the role of young people and reflecting on the generation that was denied the opportunity to enjoy the passage into adulthood in Bosnia.

For further information on the work of the charity please visit: Website: @SrebrenicaUK

You can also contact Joe Peacock, Communications and Engagement Manager on 0121 454 3343 or email: