Trees planted in Derry to remember Srebrenica genocide victims

Mayor of Derry and Strabane, Councillor Patricia Logue, has performed a tree planting in the garden of St Columb’s Park House in memory of all those who were killed in the 1995 genocide at Srebrenica.

It was part of a day of events to remember the event that claimed the lives of more than 8,000 people that included the screening of a short film in the Guildhall and the lighting of Council buildings in green.

"It was important that we show our solidarity with all those who suffered during the genocide in Bosnia and Herzegovina," said Mayor Logue.

"The memory of what was inflicted on the Bosnian community should be kept alive so that such an event never ever happens again."

The event also aims to highlight the work of the Mothers of Srebrenica in the years since, advocating justice, acknowledgement and reconciliation.

A group of community leaders and elected representatives from the Derry and Strabane Council area were hosted in Bosnia and Herzegovina by the Remembering Srebernica group in March of this year to learn about the genocide.

Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor Patricia Logue, with community leaders who visited Bosnia and Herzegovina in March as part of a Council programme to learn about the genocide from relatives of those murdered and from survivors.   

They visited Sarajevo and Srebrenica and heard first-hand harrowing accounts of the genocide of over 8,000 Bosnian boys and men that took place during a three day period.

The commemoration has been organised as a follow-up to the visit to show solidarity with the Mothers of Srebrenica.