International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica2026 · Date · History · Messages · Quotes
A/RES/78/282
About International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica
The International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica is observed on 11 July. The United Nations General Assembly established the Day to honour the victims, support survivors and families, preserve judicially established facts and strengthen education and prevention against genocide denial and future atrocity crimes.
The Day concerns events that international courts determined constituted genocide. Coverage should therefore rely on established judicial and United Nations records and should not reproduce denial, revisionism or collective blame against ethnic or religious communities.
Why International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica matters
The observance combines remembrance with prevention. It asks institutions and communities to preserve the historical record, reject denial and glorification of convicted war criminals, and learn from the consequences of hatred, dehumanization and international failure to protect civilians.
It also reinforces an important principle of international criminal law: responsibility for genocide and other crimes is individual and cannot be attributed collectively to an ethnic, religious or other community.
History of International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica
Germany and Rwanda sponsored the initiative that became revised draft resolution A/78/L.67/Rev.1, joined by a broad cross-regional group of co-sponsors.
On 23 May 2024, the United Nations General Assembly adopted A/RES/78/282 and designated 11 July as the annual International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica.
The first International Day was observed on 11 July 2024. The date is historically anchored to 11 July 1995, when Bosnian Serb forces captured Srebrenica; executions and mass killings followed over the ensuing days.
The resolution also requested a United Nations outreach programme titled “The Srebrenica Genocide and the United Nations” to support remembrance and education.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
Germany and Rwanda, with a broad cross-regional group of co-sponsors
The UN observance material identifies Germany and Rwanda as sponsors of the initiative; the UN Digital Library preserves the broader sponsor list on revised draft A/78/L.67/Rev.1.
United Nations General Assembly
A/RES/78/282
First documented observance
The UN Secretary-General and UN genocide-prevention material explicitly identify 11 July 2024 as the first International Day.
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
3 fields not established in reviewed sources
How to Observe International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica
Use UN, ICTY, IRMCT and ICJ materials to study the established historical and judicial record rather than unsourced social-media claims.
Centre victims, survivors and families in remembrance activities, using testimony with care and respecting dignity and consent.
Teach how hate speech, dehumanization, denial and glorification of atrocity crimes can undermine prevention and reconciliation.
Discuss individual criminal responsibility and avoid assigning collective guilt to peoples, religions or ethnic groups.
International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica Facts
The Day is observed on 11 July.
The General Assembly established it through A/RES/78/282 on 23 May 2024.
The initiative was sponsored by Germany and Rwanda and supported by a broad group of co-sponsors.
The first observance took place on 11 July 2024.
Srebrenica was captured on 11 July 1995, providing the historical anchor for the annual commemoration date.
International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica Messages
May International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica be marked with reflection, respect and a renewed commitment to protect human dignity.
Remembering on International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica means listening carefully, resisting distortion and carrying the lessons of history forward.
On International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica, may memory lead to responsibility, empathy and thoughtful action.
May this International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica honour those at its heart through sincere remembrance rather than empty words.
On International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica, we remember with dignity and make space for the people, families and communities whose experiences must not be forgotten.
International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica Quotes
“Remembering Srebrenica means safeguarding these truths against denial and revisionism, pursuing accountability, and recognizing the suffering of every victim.”
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
- Remembrance Civic Context Care.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
United Nations Digital Library — A/RES/78/282 (opens in a new tab)
United Nations Digital Library — revised draft A/78/L.67/Rev.1 and sponsors (opens in a new tab)
United Nations Secretary-General — first International Day message, 11 July 2024 (opens in a new tab)
United Nations — About the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica (opens in a new tab)
United Nations — List of International Days and Weeks (opens in a new tab)
United Nations — Observances: who chooses them and how (opens in a new tab)
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica?
11 July The documented recurrence rule is: 11 July.
Does International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica fall on the same date every year?
Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.
Is International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: United Nations / international observance. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica?
The reviewed sources identify United Nations General Assembly as the proclaiming or establishing body. The proposer or originator is recorded separately as Germany and Rwanda, with a broad cross-regional group of co-sponsors.
Is International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica international or country-specific?
The documented scope is international or global: United Nations / international observance. That does not mean every country treats the date as a public holiday or observes it in the same way.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-09-05.
When is the Srebrenica genocide international day?
It is observed every year on 11 July.
When did the United Nations establish the Day?
The General Assembly adopted A/RES/78/282 on 23 May 2024, and the first observance followed on 11 July 2024.
Why is the observance on 11 July?
Srebrenica fell to Bosnian Serb forces on 11 July 1995; the genocide and mass killings unfolded in the days that followed. The UN designated that anniversary date for annual reflection and commemoration.
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A/RES/79/291