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"If everybody believed in each other, this place, this world would be a much, much better place." This was the testimony of Jasmin Dajić, a survivor of the Bosnian War, at a recent event hosted by ÃÛÌÒ´«Ãºmv to mark the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica Genocide.

The atrocity, which took place in July 1995, saw more than 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men systematically murdered in and around the town of Srebrenica. It was one of many horrific crimes committed during the Bosnian War of 1992-1995.

Held at The Venue, the event was organised by Remembering Srebrenica UK, a charitable initiative dedicated to tackling hatred and intolerance whilst promoting a more cohesive and compassionate society. This year's commemorative theme, 'Remember Yesterday, Act Today', calls for reflection on the lessons of the past and encourages individuals to take meaningful action in their own communities.

Hosted by Superintendent Paul Allen, the event began with a performance of Sto Te Nema (Why Are You Not Here?), a popular Bosnian song which in the context of the event represented the presence of absence which is common in genocide literature. The song was dedicated to all those who live with the presence of absence.

Following moving survivor testimony from Jasmin Dajić, he was joined by John Coster of Remembering Srebrenica East Midlands, and Šesma Mekić, a fellow survivor, to discuss their memories of the conflict and to take questions from the audience. A presentation of certificates to those guests who had recently completed the Building Stronger Communities programme was then delivered by Dr Kim Sadique and Anes Cerić, Honorary Consul of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the Midlands.

Guests were presented with gifts of Turkish delight and Bosnian biscuits and asked to share them with someone in a coffee conversation and to talk about what they had learned. Striking artworks by Robert McNeil and Lejla Kevrić were on display, as was the opportunity to explore the Virtual Bosnia Room, an educational tool developed in collaboration by Cardiff and Vale College, mXreality, and Dr Kim Sadique as part of the Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan.

Dr Sadique said of the event: "As we approach the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide, and with mass atrocities occurring the world over, it has never been more important to understand what it is like to live through and after genocide, which was why it was vital for us to put survivor testimony at the heart of the event."

She added: "We also wanted to ensure that attendees go on to share what they have learned and we directly asked them to do this through 'coffee conversations'. Sharing stories is a powerful way of helping others to understand the long-term human costs of identity-based violence such as genocide and mass atrocities, as well as hear first-hand of the courage and resilience of those who survived."

John Coster said: "Hosting the in-conversation with survivors Šesma Mekić and Jasmin Dajić at the Srebrenica 30th Commemorative Event was one of the most powerful, insightful, and humbling experiences of my professional life. Listening to their deeply personal accounts of survival, loss, and resilience brought the human reality of genocide into sharp focus. Their courage in sharing these stories not only honoured the memory of those lost, but also reminded everyone present of our collective responsibility to confront denial, challenge hatred, and uphold the truth. It was a profound privilege to help create a space where their voices could be heard."