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Srebrenica Memorial Week
04 July 2023
Lead MP
Yasmin Qureshi
Bolton South and Walkden
Lab
Responding Minister
Anne-Marie Trevelyan
Tags
Crime & Law EnforcementDefenceDemocracy & Elections
Word Count: 12090
Other Contributors: 9
At a Glance
Yasmin Qureshi raised concerns about srebrenica memorial week in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
The speaker asks for more funding from the Foreign Office and DLUHC for Remembering Srebrenica, which educates nearly 150,000 young people annually about the genocide. The Member asks the Government to take a more even-handed approach towards Kosovo by expanding KFOR's mandate, allowing it to operate more proactively against weapon smuggling and militias. She urges the UK to rejoin EUFOR, commit NATO peacekeepers to Brčko district, and transition to a NATO-led peacekeeping mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
The speaker is concerned about the lessons of the Srebrenica genocide, including the systematic murder of over 8,000 people and displacement of 2 million. They highlight rising hate crimes in England and Wales and the importance of commemorating Srebrenica to combat divisive rhetoric. The Member is concerned about the trauma experienced by those who survived the Srebrenica genocide, highlighting the ongoing impact on families. She expresses worry over the lack of funding for Remembering Srebrenica and the potential risks to peace in Bosnia due to recent actions by Milorad Dodik, including his rejection of the Office of the High Representative and the Constitutional Court. The Member also criticises Serbia's foreign interference in Kosovo's domestic affairs, including armed attacks on KFOR troops.
Afzal Khan
Lab
Manchester Rusholme
He noted the annual reflection on the horrors of Srebrenica and highlighted current issues like ethnic cleansing in Xinjiang and persecution in Kashmir, questioning if Islamophobia is being taken seriously enough to prevent another Srebrenica.
Alicia Kearns
Con
Rutland and Stamford
The hon. Member thanked her for bringing up the debate and agreed that it is important to remember Srebrenica's lessons. Before my election, I lobbied the Government to create an atrocity prevention centre. The current conflict centre is doing interesting work but needs full activation so that desk officers can receive guidance on preventing atrocities like genocide or ethnic cleansing. The MP noted the UK's continued challenges in Bosnia and Herzegovina, despite previous investments. She questioned the effectiveness of current programmes to deter Belgrade and called for more clarity on what steps are being taken to address this issue.
Anthony Mangnall
Con
Fylde
He thanked the hon. Lady for securing this debate and stressed the importance of upgrading resources in Bosnia through NATO and using Magnitsky sanctions on those perpetrating crimes. He also mentioned that funding to Remembering Srebrenica group has been cut by 50%. He noted that funding for the Srebrenica memorial has been cut from £200,000 to £100,000 and questioned why this reduction happened alongside a £1 million renovation of the Secretary of State's office. He asked the Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee to ensure that Parliament unequivocally opposes any undermining of the Dayton agreement or redrawing of Bosnia and Herzegovina's borders, highlighting the importance of such a stance.
Dominic Raab
Con
Esher and Walton
Discussed the need for strategic patience in Ukraine, referencing his experience negotiating a UN-UK sentence enforcement agreement for the Balkans which took years to come to fruition.
Fleur Anderson
Lab
Putney
She welcomed the debate and highlighted her work experience in Bosnia during and after the war. She asked if the hon. Member agreed that when we say 'Never again', we must commit to keeping peace, opposing genocide denial, and supporting local organisations for peace.
Hannah Bardell
SNP
Livingston
As a young person during Srebrenica, I witnessed the horrors of war. The debate is about bearing witness and remembering to prevent future genocides. We need proper funding for grassroots charities like Remembering Srebrenica which has educated 180,000 people. We should reflect on past actions such as evacuating Bosnian refugees in Scotland. I thank the hon. Gentleman for his powerful contribution and express pride in being a member of the Council of Europe, where Mothers of Srebrenica shared their experiences.
Ian Blackford
SNP
Ross, Skye and Lochaber
He expressed gratitude towards the former Secretary of State for providing funding to Remembering Srebrenica last year when it was urgently needed and stressed the importance of maintaining support and timely provision of funds at previous levels. Expressed his pride in the work of Remembering Srebrenica charity, which has educated over 180,000 young people about the genocide in Bosnia since 2013. Emphasized the importance of supporting the charity to prevent prejudice and promote peace and reconciliation.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
He commended the hon. Lady for securing this debate and apologised for not being able to attend due to a committee meeting. He mentioned that the genocide convention obligates the UK Government to punish perpetrators of crimes but also to predict and prevent such atrocities, citing current issues in Sudan and Nigeria.
Stephen Doughty
Lab Co-op
Cardiff South and Penarth
Stressed the importance of unity in remembering the genocide, highlighted the need to prevent conflict and atrocities, and advocated for the defence of fundamental human rights. Emphasized visiting Srebrenica and meeting with survivors, recognizing the significance of the UK's role in securing stability in Bosnia. Raised concerns about Milorad Dodik's actions and Russian attempts to undermine the constitutional settlement, asking for details on support given to the High Representative, effectiveness of sanctions, discussions with western Balkan officials, and measures to combat disinformation.
Government Response
Anne-Marie Trevelyan
Government Response
I thank the hon. Member for Bolton South East (Yasmin Qureshi) for securing this debate and pay tribute to her work as co-chair of the APPG for Srebrenica. I reiterate our collective horror at genocide and our commitment to prevent it. Hon. Members highlighted the educational work of Remembering Srebrenica, which does important and effective work. FCDO officials are in contact with DLUHC on funding questions and will update colleagues when possible. My hon. Friend the Member for Rutland and Melton raised issues about export controls to Serbia and UK support to EUFOR; we will respond timely on those matters. The hon. Member for Cardiff South and Penarth asked about Lord Peach's activities, which I do not have answers to but ensure full answers will be provided. This week commemorates the Srebrenica genocide, where more than 8,000 people were murdered and over 20,000 driven from their homes. We honour those killed and pay tribute to survivors' families for their resilience and fight for justice. The UK is one of few countries commemorating this at national level due to the work of Remembering Srebrenica UK. I confirm that the Minister for the Armed Forces will host the national Srebrenica Memorial Day ceremony tonight. We consider the events of 28 years ago, turning our thoughts to the current situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina where real progress has been seen since 1995, with important institutions established and reforms recognised as necessary for economic benefits to all citizens. The EU's decision to award candidate status has given impetus to these efforts; we stand behind the Council of Ministers using diplomatic, defence, and economic tools to support their progress towards a strong, stable, and prosperous future. Regrettably, divisive nationalist rhetoric continues, threatening peace and stability. We welcome the High Representative's actions on 1 July which prevented legislation that represented a flagrant attack on Dayton and the constitutional order established by the agreement. The UK supports those who want to build an inclusive and cohesive society, leaving divisions of the past behind. We work in partnership with the Srebrenica Memorial Centre to develop its operational capacities; we support organisations in Mostar to bring citizens together and create public spaces that are accessible and welcoming to all; we assist in developing sustainable city development for long-term prosperity; we empower people to recognise and object to lies and divisive narratives fostering hatred, supporting independent media's fight against disinformation by developing fact-checking procedures. We work with political parties, media, and civil society organisations to decrease hate speech use in political discourse. The Prime Minister hopes to meet the President later today to reiterate UK sentiments and commitment to these important stages of progress. Denial of Srebrenica as genocide only punishes survivors and families; acknowledgment of facts and willingness to accept wounds caused are necessary for true reconciliation. The mass atrocity prevention hub was launched in September, developing into a central co-ordination point for Government on atrocity prevention with thematic and geographic teams across the FCDO and working with partners to understand best practices in atrocity prevention to support those teams and build capacity. As we reflect on Srebrenica, we must do all we can to ensure something so terrible never happens again, creating stable, inclusive, and cohesive societies fighting against prejudice, hatred, fear, and division wherever they are found.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.