The city council of Mississauga, Canada, has unanimously adopted a Resolution on the Srebrenica Genocide. The resolution preserves the memory of genocide victims, strengthens a shared commitment to truth, justice, a culture of remembrance, peace, and human dignity, announced the Canadian Institute for Genocide Research (CIGR).
On International Human Rights Day, December 10, marking 77 years since the adoption of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide and 77 years since the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Mississauga one of Canada’s largest cities unanimously passed a resolution declaring July 11 as Srebrenica Genocide Remembrance Day.
“The historic adoption of this Resolution is a civilized act, a victory for truth and justice, and a powerful impetus for institutionalizing a culture of remembrance. By adopting a resolution on the Srebrenica genocide, Mississauga offers future generations the opportunity to learn from the lessons of Srebrenica. The voices of those who suffered the atrocities as children many of whom now live in Mississauga and across Canada remind us that ending genocide denial is not only a political and legal duty but a collective moral responsibility. We must stand united in the fight for truth and justice. This historic moment confirms Mississauga’s commitment to the annual commemoration of the dignity of the Srebrenica genocide victims, which claimed at least 8,372 lives,” the CIGR statement said.
The resolution provides an opportunity for all socially responsible citizens in Mississauga to develop a renewed approach to understanding genocide.
“We congratulate the City of Mississauga, Mayor Carolyn Parrish, the city councilors, and especially the resolution’s sponsor, Deputy Mayor and Councilor John Kovač, for passing a resolution that sends a powerful and meaningful message both to the victims of the Srebrenica genocide and to Mississauga and Canada. We thank the Bosnian-Herzegovinian diaspora in Mississauga, who, together with the Canadian Institute for Genocide Research, worked diligently and expertly on this important project,” the CIGR statement added.
The institute emphasized that this resolution further cements Srebrenica on the Canadian stage as a symbol of the fight for justice, truth, reconciliation, learning, genocide prevention, and ultimately a stand against genocide denial and the glorification of convicted war criminals.
“Remembering this horrific crime can help future generations in Mississauga not only to be properly informed about this atrocity but also to better understand the world in which they live and realize they are part of a world that enabled and allowed such a crime. Following numerous Canadian contributions to institutionalizing a culture of remembrance, this is an important step taken by Canada to restore the trust of victims’ families in the international justice system. Court decisions cannot be erased from human history, no matter how much someone tries. This is a historic day for Mississauga—truth and justice have prevailed,” said the Canadian Institute for Genocide Research.
