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Home Primary Lessons from Srebrenica Dr Aidan Stonehouse

Dr Aidan Stonehouse

Dr Aidan Stonehouse (back row, centre), Outreach Manager at Remembering Srebrenica, reflects on his visit to Srebrenica.

In April I participated in a short, but powerful Lessons from Srebrenica visit, in my new role as Remembering Srebrenica’s Outreach Manager. Minister for Communities and Local Government, Stephen Williams MP (front row, second from the right), led the delegation, which brought together future leaders from across the UK.

I knew of the terrible events that had occurred at Srebrenica and given my professional expertise in ethno-religious conflict, I was keen to hear more from survivors and relatives about the impact of the violence and its continued effects. I was very aware of both my professional and personal commitment to listen to these voices, and to raise awareness in the UK of the Srebrenica Genocide. As such, I felt a powerful urge to take in every possible detail of our journey.

In the end, and despite feverish preparations, I was unprepared for the sheer scale of the atrocities committed. The recollections of an elderly returnee to Srebrenica drove this home starkly. He began a moving discussion of his own experiences by noting that it had been many years since he had seen so many men in one place. There was a quiet anger and sadness in his voice, which has left a lasting impression.

Our charity undertakes its Lessons from Srebrenica visits to ensure that personal stories such as these are not forgotten. In doing so we raise awareness of the need to tackle intolerance wherever it is found, to avoid a terrible repetition of past crimes.

Motivation to achieve this also came from another quarter, namely the difficult but vital work of the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP). The ICMP locates Bosnia’s missing, and returns identities to those buried in mass graves, or more accurately, those often buried across a number of mass graves. Its harrowing, complex, but ultimately successful work highlighted the impact that a committed programme can make in fighting injustice, even in the worst of circumstances.

As we work hard to move forward with our programme, the words of the Reis, Grand Mufti of Bosnia (front row, centre), will be foremost in my mind. Speaking eloquently and calmly on the necessary, but difficult process of reconciliation, he underlined Bosnia and Herzegovina’s prior history of integration and urged our own delegation of young leaders to be both vigilant against hatred in all forms and to work hard to promote co-operation and understanding.

As an organisation it is essential that we do all we can to assist UK leaders of all faiths and backgrounds to do just that. As outreach manager, I intend to facilitate this in any way that I can.

Nov 17, 2014Remembering Srebrenica
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November 17, 2014 Bearing Witness, Lessons from Srebrenica
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SrebrenicaUKRemembering Srebrenica@SrebrenicaUK·
18h

As part of #GenocidePreventionDay our partners @FoundIshami have created a powerful video featuring survivors who were persecuted because of their identities. Please watch and share to raise awareness & to ensure we learn the lessons of such atrocities https://t.co/cfOSbnPy5O.

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SrebrenicaUKRemembering Srebrenica@SrebrenicaUK·
18h

Today marks #GenocidePreventionDay, yet the sad reality is that 71 years after the adoption of the convention, genocide has taken place in different decades on different continents. We must therefore continue to work hard to raise awareness, educate others and challenge denial.

1431Twitter
SrebrenicaUKRemembering Srebrenica@SrebrenicaUK·
7 Dec

When asked whether he accepted the genocide at Srebrenica happened, Peter Handke dismissed the question as 'empty & ignorant'. This is yet another example of the crass & deplorable conduct that reinforces how disgraceful it is to award him the Nobel prize. https://t.co/ID7y5btI4M

3374Twitter
SrebrenicaUKRemembering Srebrenica@SrebrenicaUK·
6 Dec

'He did not calculate self-preservation into his decisions & sacrificed his work & life to do what was right. The least we can do is to remember him & honour his memory'. @hikmet_karcic on Dervis Korkut who helped save the Sarajevo Haggadah from the Nazis. https://t.co/nzhTUO8hvR

1331Twitter
SrebrenicaUKRemembering Srebrenica@SrebrenicaUK·
5 Dec

In the lead up to the holidays, we are suggesting books for people looking for something Bosnia related to read over the Christmas period. Our first book is @edvulliamy's "The War is Dead: Long Live The War" - an excellent introduction to what happened in Prijedor and Srebrenica.

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