Securing Truth and Justice for Srebrenica Genocide Victims

Strategic Insights -

The work of the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP) to identify and locate the victims of the 1995 Srebrenica Genocide continues to be crucial in securing truth and justice for the survivors and their families. The ICMP's Director-General, Kathryne Bomberger, recently previewed the "Geography of Genocide" exhibition, a permanent interactive map that explains the process of accounting for the majority of Srebrenica victims. The exhibition is supported by the European Union and will be officially opened on the International Day of the Disappeared.

Key Takeaways:

  • The ICMP has accounted for more than 90% of Srebrenica victims through the use of DNA profiling and customized database technology.
  • The "Geography of Genocide" exhibition, supported by the European Union, is a permanent and interactive map that explains the process of identifying and locating victims.
  • The exhibition allows visitors to search for victims by name and see the exact location of their remains, when they were exhumed, and when they were identified.
  • The ICMP has gathered DNA profiles from over 20,000 relatives of missing persons from Srebrenica, enabling the conclusive identification of over 7,000 genocide victims.
  • The process of identification is ongoing, with ICMP making new identifications as recently as the present day.
  • The "Geography of Genocide" project is a valuable tool in securing truth and justice for survivors and their families, as well as in the fight against genocide denial.

Statistics:

  • ICMP has accounted for more than 90% of Srebrenica victims.
  • More than 20,000 relatives of missing persons from Srebrenica have provided genetic samples and relevant information.
  • Over 7,000 genocide victims have been conclusively identified through ICMP's efforts.
  • ICMP has made the first match using DNA profiling in 2001, marking the beginning of a remarkable identification rate.
  • The "Geography of Genocide" exhibition is a result of the ICMP's work in collaboration with the European Union.

Sources:

  • International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP) - cited in the article as the organization of Kathryne Bomberger, Director-General.
  • Srebrenica Memorial Center - the conference organizer mentioned in the article.
  • European Union (EU) - the supporting organization of the "Geography of Genocide" project.
  • Prince Luigi Soreca, Head of the EU Delegation and EU Special Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina - quoted in the article.