Government of Canada concerned about pressure on the Srebrenica Memorial Center.
The Government of Canada has seriously considered allegations of pressure being exerted on individuals associated with the Srebrenica Memorial Center and has forwarded the matter to Foreign Minister Anita Anand for further consideration and action within her mandate.
The Institute for Research of Genocide Canada (IGC) announced that it had received a response from the Office of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to a letter in which the Bosnian-Herzegovinian community in Canada and the IGC requested protection for the integrity of the Srebrenica Memorial Center and individuals associated with it.
The letter followed reports of police questioning of current and former employees, as well as associates of the Srebrenica Memorial Center. Canadian authorities were asked to use their international standing to respond to the pressure and contribute to protecting the work of an institution that plays a key role in preserving the memory of the victims of the genocide committed in Srebrenica.
The response from the Prime Minister’s Office states that the allegations contained in the letter were “taken very seriously into consideration.” At the same time, the IGC’s letter was forwarded to Foreign Minister Anita Anand “for information, consideration, and the taking of measures within her mandate.”
For the IGC, this response represents an important signal that Ottawa is closely monitoring the situation surrounding the Srebrenica Memorial Center and the position of its current and former employees.
Canada has for years played a prominent role in fostering a culture of remembrance of the Srebrenica genocide. According to the IGC, numerous Canadian cities have adopted resolutions and proclamations marking July 11 as a day of remembrance for the victims of the Srebrenica genocide.
Among the cities that have supported initiatives related to Srebrenica, the IGC lists Ottawa, Toronto, Hamilton, Mississauga, and Burnaby. These initiatives include naming streets after Srebrenica, constructing memorials to the victims of the genocide, and incorporating education about the Srebrenica genocide into educational programs.
In 2010, Canada also proclaimed July 11 as Canada’s Srebrenica Remembrance Day and was a co-sponsor of the United Nations General Assembly resolution on Srebrenica.
The IGC states that international support for preserving the memory of the genocide is particularly significant at a time when, as it points out, there is pressure on people who are professionally and publicly associated with the Srebrenica Memorial Center.
The Canadian government’s response can therefore be viewed publicly not only as a diplomatic reaction to a specific letter, but also as confirmation of Canada’s broader commitment to preserving the memory of the victims of the Srebrenica genocide and supporting institutions dedicated to documenting and commemorating these crimes.
The IGC announced that it will continue to monitor developments and advocate for the protection of the Srebrenica Memorial Center and the individuals who contribute to preserving the truth about the genocide.
