Agenda item

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Notes that 2022 marks the twenty seventh anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which saw over 8,000 mostly Muslim men and boys killed by Bosnian Serb nationalist forces; and subsequently labelled by the United Nations as the worst atrocity on European soil since the second World War.

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Notes that the European Parliament resolved to recognise the 11^th July as the day of commemoration of the Srebrenica genocide. This date, or a date within ‘Srebrenica Memorial Week^[1]’, has been commemorated in Cardiff since 2014 in order that we should remember the victims of this horrific genocide and raise awareness of the need to nurture peace and to promote human rights and interreligious tolerance.

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Applauds the work of those involved in the pursuit of justice for the victims and their surviving relatives including the Mothers of Srebrenica and representatives of the victim’s associations who have addressed audiences in Cardiff over the years to bravely share their stories. Their courage and humility in the face of unthinkable horror is an inspiration to us all.

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Commends the work of Remembering Srebrenica Wales, based in Cardiff, who are working tirelessly in a voluntary capacity to raise awareness of this tragic genocide and to bring together communities in Cardiff to help them learn about the consequences of hatred and where unchallenged hatred could lead to.

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Recognises that hate speech and discrimination are the early enablers of genocide, and notes with concern the continued examples of violence and discrimination endured by members of the Muslim community in this country, including attacks on Mosques in Cardiff in recent weeks.

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Commend those from Cardiff who have travelled to Bosnia with Remembering Srebrenica to learn about the genocide on the ‘Lessons from Srebrenica’ education programme; including young people, Faith Leaders from Wales, and politicians.

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Support Srebrenica memorial events in July each year throughout Cardiff as part of the UK-wide ‘Srebrenica Memorial Week’ by:

1. promoting the events organised by the Wales board, community champions and interfaith networks in Cardiff
2. sending a delegation of Councillors to support the national Wales memorial event in Cardiff
3. holding a minute’s silence across Cardiff Council offices at 11am on the day of the national Wales memorial event in Cardiff to mark the anniversary of the genocide
4. raising a Srebrenica flag to mark the anniversary of the genocide

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Support the work of the Wales board, where possible, in taking the lessons from Srebrenica into schools and education providers in Cardiff by promoting the bi-lingual Welsh Education Pack in order to bring the lessons of Srebrenica to young people across Cardiff and help to build a safer and more cohesive society for everyone. 

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Encourage collaborative events between the Community Cohesion Co-ordinators and Officers in Cardiff with the Remembering Srebrenica Wales board.

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Vigorously challenge any and all examples of  extremism, discrimination and hate speech, and stands in solidarity with all affected communities and individuals.