Srebrenica genocide: memorial for the victims unveiled in Vienna

30 years have passed since the most atrocious war crime in Europe since World War II: the massacre in the Bosnian town of Srebrenica, which was guarded by UN troops at the time. Several individuals responsible were convicted of genocide. On October 24, 2025, the "Flower of Srebrenica" memorial was unveiled in front of the UN building in Vienna to commemorate over 8,000 Bosnians who were systematically murdered by soldiers of the then army of the Republika Srpska.

Numerous high-ranking politicians attended the memorial ceremony on the square in front of Vienna's UN building, including Austrian Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger, her Bosnian counterpart Elmedin Konakovic, and the Prime Minister of the Canton of Sarajevo, Nihad Uk, as well as Željko Komšic, current Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina. They made statements of peace and warned against repeating the historic crime. Several speakers commended the friendly relations with Austria and Vienna, which has become home to many Bosnians displaced by the war. The Chairwoman of the Mothers of Srebrenica Association, who herself lost 22 family members, was present as a special guest.

The City of Vienna - a partner in remembrance

The memorial was erected on land owned by the City of Vienna but in the immediate vicinity of the UN building. Executive City Councillor Veronika Kaup-Hasler, who had already attended the laying of the memorial’s foundation stone, represented the City of Vienna at the ceremony together with two members of the Vienna City Council, Omar Al-Rawi and Aslihan Bozatemur. Ms Bozatemur had advocated for the creation of the memorial in 21 City Council meetings. The cause equally had the support of the Mayor of Vienna, Michael Ludwig. The First Chairman of the Vienna City Council, Thomas Reindl, praised the joint initiative in a message of greeting.

The project was initiated by the umbrella organisation of Bosnian Herzegovinian associations in Austria, Consilium Bosniacum, in cooperation with several Bosnian and Austrian institutions. The Consilium is made up of 21 associations and was founded in 2019 to promote dialogue and friendship between Austria and Bosnia-Herzegovina. The new monument consists of a circle of eleven white "blossoms" that resemble human figures whose outstretched arms form a protective roof over a memorial stone at the centre. The inscription on the stone calls for remembrance of the genocide.