Commemoration of Victims of Srebrenica Genocide & Movie Screening in Islamabad / Islamabad : The intellectuals, educationists, civil society, the youth and the media community observed the first International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica after the UN declared it in 2024 when a resolution was passed at General Assembly and Pakistan supported it. The day also marks the 30th Anniversary of the Genocide of Bosnian citizens committed by the the Bosnian Serbs Military Forces on 11 July 1995. the participants remembered and honored the victims, the survivors, and their families.
A special event was organized in this regard at Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology SZABIST in collaboration with Shaheed Bhutto Foundation Islamabad, The Embassy of Bosnia Herzegovina and International Magazine “Pakistan in the World” on 10 July 2025. The main session of the event was screening of the movie ” Quo Vadis Aida” (Aida ! Where are you going?). An Oscar nominee and EU award winning movie on the ordeal , the Bosnian mothers and sisters were subjected to.
The speakers included Ambassador H.E Emin Cohodarevic, CEO of Shaheed Bhutto Foundation, Mr. Asif Khan, Head of Social Sciences at SZABIST , Dr Tariq Waheed, Chairperson Center of Pakistan and International Relations, Ms Amna Munawwar Awan and Editor, Mr. Tazeen Akhtar.
Mr. Asif Khan shed light on the supportive role of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed in Bosnian struggle for survival and soverignty as she visited Bosnia in Feb 1995 as PM of Pakistan and expressed solidarity. He shared that when President Bosnia sought help from President Zardari on UN resolution to declare the International Day last year, he responded to Bosnia as a brother. Pakistan voted in favor of the resolution.
Ambassador Cohodarevic, in his keynote address, said, in our remembrance, we reflect on what this anniversary means for today’s increasingly polarized world, our society, and how we can act today. We stand together against those who try to divide us and recommit ourselves to opposing hatred, discrimination, and prejudice wherever they rear their head. Only then can our communities and the world be safer, stronger, and more cohesive.
H.E expressed his gratitude to Gov of Pakistan for its great assistance in adopting the Resolution on the International Day of Remembrance and Commemoration of the Srebrenica Genocide at the United Nations General Assembly in May 2024. “The adopted resolution has planetary significance. It represents a moral, historical and civilizational act of the United Nations, Ambassador noted.
He mentioned , In times of complex global relations, it is important to know that the truth has its guardians. Therefore, it is important that we together strengthen the culture of peace, encourage advocates of justice, institutionally protect the legacy of the United Nations courts, affirm dialogue, condemn the policy of glorifying war criminals and strengthen education systems in the function of genocide prevention.
Regarding the movie, he shared , It is not coincidence that we chose this moment to screen the film “Quo Vadis Aida?” as we mark the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide. The film is not only a cinematic masterpiece, but a painful reminder of the Srebrenica genocide.
He invited the participants to take away the feelings and questions the film raises. How many thing would have been different if we had more empathy and solidarity? Did this tragedy have to have such a terrible outcome?
The participants watched the movie with keen interest to absorb how the things were unfolding during this massacre at the hands of serb military. They unanimously condemned the atrocities against the Bosnian citizens during their independence struggle.
