On the occasion of the 29th anniversary of the genocide in Srebrenica, Women in Black organized a protest in mourning and silence on July 10, 2024, in Republic Square in Belgrade.
The following banners were displayed at the protest:
- We shall never forget the genocide in Srebrenica!
- Solidarity
- Responsibility
- Women in Black and Srebrenica
- Srebrenica 8372
- July 11 – Remembrance Day for the genocide in Srebrenica – Proclaim it!
More than fifty (51) activists from Belgrade participated in the protest, as well as activists from the Women in Black Network from Leskovac, Vlasotince, Kraljevo, Kruševac.
During the public action in mourning and silence, the stage action "We shall never forget the genocide in Srebrenica!" was performed with the support of the art collective "Škart". This action consisted of the following segments:
- We will never forget the genocide in Srebrenica! Solidarity and responsibility - installation of a symbolic/living memorial – continuation of the construction of the monument to the victims of the genocide, since our persistent requests for the approval of the construction of a permanent monument to the victims of the genocide in Srebrenica in Belgrade have been rejected.
- 8372 – displaying on the public stage (on the steps of the monument) the number of those killed in the genocide represents recognition of the facts established by the court. With this act, we symbolically inscribed into the collective memory what is being denied/falsified/downplayed in the majority of the Serbian public – the extent of the genocide in Srebrenica. Four female activists held the number 8372 in silver during the entire action.
- Srebrenica - silver foils – pasting silver foils with the inscription Srebrenica on the pavement of Trg Republike. All the activists participated in stamping/sticking the silver foils, who did it slowly and carefully until the Square was "filled" with silver foils. This act showed that the victims of Srebrenica left a deep mark on us, and by imprinting it in the public space we made the tragedy of Srebrenica visible, with a call to the entire public to make Srebrenica part of the collective memory. It is also a public act of compassion and respect for the victims of genocide.
- July 11 – Remembrance Day for the genocide in Srebrenica – Proclaim it! – in accordance with our persistent requests, as well as with the Resolution of the UN General Assembly (May 23, 2024). It is a sign of respect for the dignity of the victims, but also the beginning of freeing Serbia from the burden of its criminal past, as stated in the flyer of our action.
During the protest, a smaller group shouted slogans against the recognition of the genocide in Srebrenica, as well as other nationalist slogans. The protest was covered by the media, with police security.
