Srebrenica, January 27, 2025 – A powerful message from the Srebrenica Memorial Center: On Holocaust Remembrance Day, a seventh candle was lit for the victims of contemporary atrocities.

On the occasion of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the Srebrenica Memorial Center delivered a strong message of solidarity by lighting six candles in honor of the Jewish victims and others who perished during the Holocaust, with the seventh candle symbolically dedicated to the victims of present-day conflicts and war crimes.

 On this day, when the world pays tribute to the innocent victims of one of the darkest chapters in human history, the Srebrenica Memorial Center reminds us of the universal values that bind us – the right to life, dignity, and freedom from persecution and violence.

 “The Holocaust teaches us that silence is never the answer. Six candles are lit as a symbol of remembrance for the victims of the Holocaust, each carrying a distinct message. We must confront the responsibility we bear today – the responsibility to protect the lives and dignity of all those suffering from the consequences of conflict, war, and violence across the globe. Thirty years after the genocide in Srebrenica, we must understand that our words hold value only if we demonstrate what we have learned from the lessons of the past,” stated Emir Suljagić, Director of the Srebrenica Memorial Center.

 The seventh candle was lit as a symbol of remembrance and solidarity with civilian victims of today’s conflicts, including the suffering of innocent people in Gaza, Sudan, Ukraine, and many other parts of the world. This act carries the message that the fight against hatred, injustice, and dehumanization is far from over and that the universal values of humanity must be defended at all times and in all places. The Srebrenica Memorial Center, as a site of remembrance for the genocide committed in Bosnia and Herzegovina, emphasizes that solidarity with today’s conflict victims is a moral obligation. The historical lessons of the Holocaust and the Srebrenica genocide remind us that the fight against genocide, persecution, and human rights violations is a universal duty for all people.

 “The Holocaust is not solely a Jewish tragedy, just as Srebrenica is not solely a Bosniak tragedy. These are universal lessons that call on us to be better human beings, to not turn away from the suffering of the innocent, and to boldly say ‘never again,’ anywhere and at any time. Today, that is the most important message we send from all these places to those committing crimes and disregarding the lessons of history. Through the Memorial Center's Dialogue Committee, we have taken many important steps in interfaith dialogue within Bosnia and Herzegovina and beyond. In the hardest times, it is crucial to show the strength to give a voice to those who are voiceless,” Suljagić concluded.

 The Srebrenica Memorial Center continues its mission of education and remembrance, reminding us that memory is not just an act of the past but also a responsibility toward the present and the future.