Thurrock Council is commemorating the anniversary of the tragic events of the 1995 Srebrenica genocide, which saw more than 8,000 people killed and countless acts of barbarity committed against women, forcing thousands of people to flee their homes to escape what the United Nations had called this worst atrocity on European soil since the Second World War.
On Tuesday 11 July Thurrock Council will hold a one-minute silence to mark the anniversary of the genocide. The Remember Srebrenica flag was raised outside the Town Hall in a special ceremony held on Tuesday 4 July. The flag is flying for the entire week as part of Thurrock Council's commitment to remember the genocide and mark its anniversary on 11 July every year.
Cllr Sue Little, Mayor of Thurrock, said: "Some of the families that were forced to flee following these terrible events found a new home here in Thurrock and are now a vital part of the borough's community. It fills me with pride that we were able to become a new home to these families and that children of Srebrenica have grown-up here and are now starting their own families.
"By raising the flag and holding a one-minute silence to mark the anniversary next Tuesday we show that our borough stands with that community in making sure that we never forget the tragic events of that day in 1995.”
Cllr George Coxshall, Cabinet member for Health, Adult Social Care, Community and Public Protection, said: "This year we once again remember the horrific events that took place in Bosnia and Herzegovina 28 years ago. As we commemorate all the victims of the Srebrenica Genocide and honour all of the survivors, it is our duty to come together as a community to ensure that discrimination of one's religion or race should never be used as a weapon of hate."
Thurrock Council has committed to commemorate the anniversary of these tragic events following support for a motion at a meeting of Full Council in 2021. More information can be found at thurrock.gov.uk/srebrenica