Podgorica, (MINA) – The Human Rights Action (HRA), the Center for Civic Education (CGO) and the Center for Women’s and Peace Education (ANIMA) have called on the Government and the Parliament to declare July 11 the Day of Remembrance for the Victims of the Srebrenica Genocide without further delay and ensure its regular institutional observance.

In a joint statement, the three NGOs stated that this year Montenegro had once again failed to officially establish July 11 as the Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Genocide in Srebrenica, which would ensure its regular institutional observance.

“Although the Parliament had previously in 2021, in the Resolution on the Genocide in Srebrenica, recognized the importance and need to establish July 11 as the Day of Remembrance for the Victims of the Srebrenica Genocide, and in 2024, Montenegro supported the UN Resolution declaring July 11 the International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the Genocide in Srebrenica, the state has not officially established this memorial”, says the press release provided by HRA to the media.

It is stated that on June 11, these NGOs addressed the President, the Parliament, the ministers of Foreign Affairs and Human and Minority Rights asking whether the country would observe July 11 this year.

So far, they have only received a response from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that they would organize a panel discussion with the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator in Montenegro, and unofficial information from the office of Parliament Vice-Speaker Mirsad Nurkovic about the preparation of an exhibition on Srebrenica in the Parliament building.

The NGOs stated that they welcome these activities as a contribution to fostering a culture of remembrance, but that the answer to their question has not been provided.

“We call on the Government and Parliament of Montenegro to declare July 11 the Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Genocide in Srebrenica without further delay and to ensure its regular observance, in line with Montenegro’s international and domestic obligations”, the press release said.