Exhibition, commemoration in the City Hall, the city library lit up green, the adoption of the Proposal to use the lessons from Srebrenica in the fight against all forms of prejudice and discrimination….
An exhibition of paintings by a British artist depicting aspects of the Srebrenica genocide will be on display in Birmingham City Council on Srebrenica Remembrance Day (11 July 2023). The Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Cllr Chaman Lal, will view the exhibition on Tuesday before councillors take their seats in the City Hall, where Cllr Martin Brooks OBE will table an all-party motion.
The proposal asks the Council to:
-Support the work in city communities and schools that fight against hatred and intolerance by raising awareness about this genocide;
-Use the lessons from Srebrenica to combat all forms of prejudice and discrimination in the city;
-Praise the work of the Srebrenica Remembrance organization in commemorating the victims and educating people about what can happen if hatred is allowed to grow.
Remembering Srebrenica and the BH UK Network will exhibit material, including paintings by artist Robert McNeil MBE, a forensic scientist who worked for the United Nations in Bosnia collecting evidence of the genocide.
The paintings will remain on display for a commemoration to be held in the Council Chambers on Wednesday (July 12), which includes a memorial program between 1:45 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.
The Library of Birmingham will also be lit up green as part of the Council’s commemoration on 11 July in memory of the thousands who lost their lives in the worst atrocity on European soil since the Second World War.
This year marks the 28th anniversary of the genocide in Srebrenica, in which more than 8,000 men and boys were killed because of their Muslim faith.
Cllr Nicky Brennan, cabinet member for social justice, community safety and equality, said: “We must ensure that we never forget the Srebrenica genocide and reaffirm our commitment to standing up to all forms of hatred and prejudice – which have no place in our city.
“Our friends at Remembering Srebrenica and the Bosnia and Herzegovina UK Network, based in Birmingham, have made it possible for us to display these images that depict the trauma of the genocide and the wider Bosnian war in their communities – and we stand with them on Srebrenica Remembrance Day.
“This all-party motion demonstrates the strength of support across the Council in ensuring that the lessons learned from these horrific events can help raise awareness and educate future generations about what can happen if hatred is allowed to flourish, anywhere in the world.
“Now more than ever, it is vital that we come together as people, regardless of our backgrounds, to celebrate diversity and stand together in solidarity – to help build a better future with hate.”
BH UK Network
