At its meeting on 20 October 2026, the Srebrenica Memorial Management Board approved the proposal for the OpenMemorial Programme, scheduled to run from October 2026 to March 2029.

Srebrenica, 21 October 2026 – At its meeting held on 20 October 2026, the Management Board of the Srebrenica Memorial Centre approved the proposal for the OpenMemorial Programme, establishing a framework for the continuation and development of the Memorial Centre’s educational, cultural, research, media and international activities, as well as the further strengthening of its institutional capacities. The Programme does not encompass all activities undertaken by the Memorial Centre but focuses specifically on community engagement and cooperation with external stakeholders and partners.

The Programme is planned to run from October 2026 to March 2029, as part of efforts to ensure continued support for the work and institutional development of the Srebrenica Memorial Centre. The Management Board approved the activities plan, the proposed staffing arrangements and the programme priorities that will form the basis for the further preparation and implementation of this multi-year initiative.

Mirela Osmanović has been appointed Programme Coordinator, having previously managed the Srebrenica Outreach project. The selection of programme personnel was conducted in accordance with the Regulations on Project Management at the Srebrenica–Potočari Memorial Centre and Cemetery for the Victims of the 1995 Genocide. All members of the programme team submitted evidence of their qualifications and underwent assessments of their knowledge of the programme objectives, planned activities and implementation responsibilities. The selection process followed established procedures, including an assessment of candidates’ professional competencies and their preparedness to undertake the assigned programme responsibilities.

One of the Programme’s principal components concerns the continued development of media and documentary initiatives. The next Srebrenica Media Meetings, scheduled for December 2026, will bring together journalists, reporters and editors from Bosnia and Herzegovina, the wider region and the international community. The meetings will focus on professional reporting on genocide, war crimes and transitional justice, while fostering cooperation among media professionals and developing a network dedicated to responsible reporting on mass atrocities. Following its successful introduction last year, the event will become a permanent feature of the institution’s annual programme.

At the same time, the Memorial Centre will continue to develop SrebrenicaDocs, its documentary film programme dedicated to genocide, human rights and transitional justice. In addition to film screenings and educational opportunities for emerging filmmakers, the programme will introduce a special award recognising contributions to documentary filmmaking, the establishment of which has been approved by the Memorial Centre’s Management Board. This initiative seeks to further promote documentary film as a means of research, documentation and preserving memory.

Particular attention will be devoted to children and young people through the continued development of SrebrenicaKids, including summer educational and creative activities. This component aims to provide opportunities for learning, creative expression, building connections and encouraging younger generations to participate actively in community life and the work of the Memorial Centre.

The Programme also envisages strengthening the Memorial Centre’s audiovisual capacities through the further development of its video team and the organisation of specialised training for a wider group of associates and volunteers. Training will cover video production, field documentation, visual research and the responsible management of recorded materials, with the aim of strengthening the institution’s in-house capacity to document and communicate its activities.

Another important component concerns the protection, technical assessment, cleaning and preparation of four Memorial Centre sites: the Creative Space, Welcome Space, Reservoir and Cistern. These activities will build on the ideas and architectural concepts presented during the 2026 Srebrenica Architecture Meetings, while taking account of safety, technical and conservation requirements. The Programme will also provide resources for the 2027 and 2028 editions of the Srebrenica Architecture Meetings, continuing to engage architects, researchers and emerging professionals in exploring the Memorial Centre’s spaces and their future educational and community functions.

A substantial part of the Programme is dedicated to volunteering, research and youth participation. Plans include establishing a Volunteers Registry, further developing the Srebrenica Youth Network (SYN) and continuing the Srebrenica Fellowship programme, which enables young people, researchers and professionals to spend a period working and volunteering at the Memorial Centre. Particular emphasis will be placed on developing training programmes for guides and speakers on the Srebrenica genocide, focusing on victims’ family members, relatives and descendants of witnesses, as well as genocide witnesses themselves. The objective is to provide additional professional and methodological support to individuals whose personal experiences, family memories and knowledge of historical facts contribute to the Memorial Centre’s educational mission.

The Memorial Centre will also continue producing its podcast, alongside developing new research and communication content. Plans include redesigning the official website, strengthening communication through social media and developing new digital formats to make the Centre’s activities, archival materials and educational resources more accessible to wider audiences.

Strengthening institutional security and resilience is another Programme priority. Planned activities include a comprehensive security audit, improvements to cyber security, stronger protection of digital data and communications systems, and the development of new internal communication and operational protocols. These measures are intended to provide additional protection for sensitive information, documentation and institutional resources, while improving the Memorial Centre’s ability to conduct its activities securely and without interruption.

The Management Board also approved the development of pilot international cooperation activities with organisations and institutions in Kyiv and Damascus, including engagement with experts from Ukraine and Syria. This component will focus on exchanging experience in memorialisation, documentation of mass atrocities, education and transitional justice, alongside the development of joint training programmes, professional exchanges and research activities. Cooperation will build on previously established contacts, while taking account of the particular circumstances and needs of partner organisations in Ukraine and Syria. Through these activities, the Memorial Centre seeks to share the knowledge and experience accumulated over three decades of work documenting the Srebrenica genocide and developing memorialisation practices.

The approved OpenMemorial Programme proposal brings together established activities and new approaches to education, research, international cooperation and institutional development. Its objective is to strengthen the long-term sustainability of the Memorial Centre’s programmes, expand opportunities for young people and local communities to participate, and further reinforce the role of the Srebrenica Memorial Centre as a state institution of Bosnia and Herzegovina dedicated to preserving the memory of the genocide, documenting historical facts and educating future generations.

Following the completion of consultations and the process of agreeing the programme proposal with international partners, the Memorial Centre will inform the public of the next steps and the timetable for implementing the planned activities.