The European Union in Bosnia and Herzegovina, together with Srebrenica Memorial Centre (SMC) and Balkan Investigative Network in BiH (BIRN) are organising a series of events entitled “Imagine a World in Which…” to honour the memory of the victims of the genocide in Srebrenica and challenge hatred, intolerance and injustice. The activities in particular focus on youth perspectives of the past, present and future and reflect the EU’s commitment to peacebuilding and reconciliation, which are also essential on Bosnia and Herzegovina’s path to the EU. 

On 2 July 2025, three events were organised - a panel discussion with young people, the opening of an exhibition, “Born After” in Europe House and the free public screening of the documentary “Samir Mehić Bowie- Letters from Srebrenica” in the open amphitheatre of the Sarajevo Memorial Centre Kovači.

The Head of the EU Delegation and EU Special Representative in BiH Luigi Soreca, who attended the exhibition opening and film screening emphasised that this joint initiative not only marks the painful 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide — but provides a platform to a new generation from Srebrenica and other parts of the country to speak, to create, and to be heard. “There is no place for genocide denial, historical revisionism or the glorification of war criminals in societies that value truth and justice. By using film, photography, and storytelling, young people are engaging with a traumatic past with courage and creativity. These are not only acts of remembrance—they are acts of resistance against forgetting. This new generation is not simply inheriting the memory of the past—they are giving it meaning for the future, and the EU will continue to stand with them.”

The director of the Srebrenica Memorial Center, Emir Suljagić said, "It is a great thing that Ambassador Luigi Soreca has recognized the importance of cooperation with the Srebrenica Memorial Center. This has resulted in a whole series of activities throughout this year. A few days ago, Mirela Osmanović spoke with Kaja Kallas in Brussels. This is significant – a new generation of young people from Srebrenica has the opportunity to speak at that level. Last month, we organized workshops for children from Sarajevo and Srebrenica. For the first time, we developed a methodology for working with younger children, from primary schools, thanks to cooperation with Europe House. Last night we opened the exhibition 'Born After' by photographer Ahmedin Đozić from Srebrenica, and screened the film 'Bowie', created in cooperation between the SMC and BIRN. We have learned to speak the language of a new generation. As an institution, we are proud to be able to send 20 children from Srebrenica to Sarajevo to be part of all this. Over the course of two days, they will talk to the EU and the UN representatives and give their perspective on what it means to live in Srebrenica today. This is also the message of the entire 30th anniversary. Our promise to those we have lost is that we will tell their story know how to tell further". 

Over 20 young people from Srebrenica came to Sarajevo to take part in the activities, offering their insight and understanding of the importance of young engagement in strengthening transitional justice and culture of memory. A panel discussion gave young participants from Srebrenica and Sarajevo the opportunity to discuss remembrance, reconciliation and youth empowerment and reflect on the use of modern multimedia tools including animated films for the purposes of peacebuilding. The discussion was followed by a screening of an animated film about Fahrudin Muminović.

The exhibition “Born After…” showcased 15 portraits of young people from Srebrenica, born after the genocide. They speak not only of pain, but also of hope, belonging and determination to rebuild what was destroyed. Their testimonials don’t just tell the story of past, but emphasise the voice of a new generation determined to build their future in Srebrenica.

The screening of the Bowie documentary brought together the authors from BIRN and Srebrenica Memorial Centre for a discussion following the projection, during which importance of sharing personal stories of individuals, in particular youth, from Srebrenica was highlighted. 

“BIRN BiH has the great honour and responsibility to act as a strategic partner of the Srebrenica Memorial Center this year in marking the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide. We are pleased that the European Union in BiH has recognized the importance of marking this anniversary, and that we are implementing part of the programme in cooperation with them and Europe House. The programme activities that we have developed in cooperation with these institutions include the screening of two BIRN BiH films, as well as conversations with young people from Srebrenica, Sarajevo, and with the film crew on the role of media and multimedia in peacebuilding processes. The first film, in a kind of working version, directed by Alen Drljević, is an animated, emotionally and carefully crafted film story about Fahrudin Muminović, who as a seven-year-old boy survived the shooting in Orahovac, which is one of the largest execution sites of the Srebrenica genocide. This story shows the cruelty and complexity of war from the perspective of a seven-year-old boy. The second film, Samir Mehić Bowie – Letters from Srebrenica, by Lamija Grebo, is a film story that is especially important for us to see by young people. This is a film told through the protagonist Samir Mehić, a Srebrenica rocker, who resisted the chaos of war with rock'n'roll music and playing the 90s in Srebrenica. These films aim to encourage open discussion and critical reflection on the war past, while also offering a factual, but human perspective on war events. We are grateful that the cooperation between BIRN BiH and the European Union in BiH will lead to these films being seen by young people, who have the opportunity to participate in the peace-building processes in Bosnia and Herzegovina,” noted Denis Džidić, director of BIRN.

In addition to the activites held in Sarajevo, the European Union has organised for the exhibition „MEMENTO: Fragments of Srebrenica Genocide“  by the Post Conflict Reserach Centre and Srebrenica Memorial Centre to be displated at the Headquarters of the European External Action Service in Brussels, as well as a public screening of the „Samir Mehic Bowie- Letters from Srebrenica“ film at at the Bozar Centre for Fine Arts.