Mothers of Srebrenica and Žepa

Mothers of Srebrenica and Žepa
Name	Mothers of Srebrenica and Žepa
Formation	1990s
Headquarters	Srebrenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Region	Bosnia and Herzegovina
Membership	Survivors and relatives of victims of the Srebrenica massacre and Žepa enclave
Purpose	Advocacy, remembrance, pursuit of justice

Mothers of Srebrenica and Žepa The Mothers of Srebrenica and Žepa are associations of women who lost family members during the Bosnian War and the Srebrenica massacre, and who organized in the aftermath of the Siege of Sarajevo and the fall of the UN Safe Areas to demand accountability, search for the missing, and shape public memory. Rooted in communities across Srebrenica, Žepa, and the broader Podrinje region, the groups have engaged with national institutions such as the Bosnian Presidency and international bodies including the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and the European Court of Human Rights.

Background and Origins

The origins trace to survivors of the 1992–1995 Bosnian War and the July 1995 fall of the UNPROFOR-protected enclaves, events intertwined with the actions of the Army of Republika Srpska and commanders like Ratko Mladić and political leaders such as Radovan Karadžić. In the immediate postwar period, families from Srebrenica and Žepa confronted mass graves, forensic challenges linked to the International Commission on Missing Persons, and broader processes of return overseen by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and the Office of the High Representative. Women who had lost fathers, sons, husbands and brothers mobilized in civic networks that connected to NGOs like Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and local initiatives in Tuzla and Bratunac.

Formation and Membership

Formal and informal chapters include relatives of those killed in events adjudicated by the ICTY and documented in reports by the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross. Membership comprises surviving mothers, wives, and sisters from municipalities such as Srebrenica, Bratunac, Žepa, and displaced communities in Sarajevo, Belgrade, and diaspora hubs like The Hague and Stockholm. Leadership has often rotated among prominent activists who coordinate with institutions including the Prosecutor of the ICTY, the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the European Court of Human Rights to pursue exhumation, identification, and reparations.

Advocacy and Activities

The groups have organized public commemorations at sites such as the Potočari Memorial and Cemetery for the Victims of the 1995 Genocide and engaged in campaigns referencing verdicts from the ICTY and rulings involving genocide claims adjudicated in bodies like the International Court of Justice. They have liaised with forensic platforms including the International Commission on Missing Persons and supported DNA identification efforts in coordination with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia Victims and Witnesses Unit. Activities include memorial marches, testimony-giving before panels such as the UN Human Rights Council, and collaboration with filmmakers and authors who documented events in works presented at festivals in Cannes, Berlin, and Venice.

Legal Actions and International Engagement

The Mothers have participated in strategic litigation, submitting evidence to the ICTY during trials of figures like Radovan Karadžić and Ratko Mladić, and filing applications in the European Court of Human Rights against states implicated in failures to prevent atrocities. They have engaged with the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court indirectly through advocacy networks alongside organizations such as ICMP and Human Rights Watch. International engagement has extended to testimony before delegations from the European Union, briefings to the NATO parliamentary assembly, and partnerships with academic bodies at universities like Harvard University, University of Oxford, and University of Sarajevo focused on transitional justice research.

Impact on Transitional Justice and Memory

Their persistent demands influenced judicial recognition of crimes in rulings by the ICTY and contributed to scholarship circulated through publishers like Cambridge University Press and Routledge. The Mothers’ advocacy helped spur exhumations overseen by forensic teams linked to the International Criminal Police Organization and encouraged legislative initiatives in the Parliament of Bosnia and Herzegovina addressing missing persons and reparations. Their role in memorialization has affected museum projects, including exhibits curated by institutions such as the Museum of Crimes Against Humanity and Genocide and international commemorative practices observed on International Holocaust Remembrance Day and other remembrance calendars.

Controversies and Challenges

Controversies have arisen over contested narratives involving political actors from Republika Srpska, the role of international actors like UNPROFOR and NATO, and debates around the legal characterization of events in decisions by the International Court of Justice. Internal challenges include resource constraints, tensions between civil society strategies promoted by groups such as Transparency International and local priorities, and security concerns when engaging in sites contested by nationalist movements based in Banja Luka and other centers of authority.

Legacy and Commemoration

The legacy includes ongoing contributions to identification of remains, shaping of national and transnational memory, and influencing postwar reconciliation efforts connected to programs funded by the European Commission and coordinated by the Council of Europe. Annual commemorations at sites like Potočari draw international delegations from the European Parliament, diplomats from missions in Sarajevo, and cultural figures who amplify the groups’ calls for truth and justice. Their work is memorialized in documentary films, academic studies, and permanent installations that inform debates on accountability in contexts such as post-conflict recovery in the Western Balkans.

Category:Bosnia and Herzegovina Category:Human rights organizations