Thirty years on, the UN urges the world to amplify the voices of survivors of the Srebrenica genocide 

The UN General Assembly on Tuesday marked the International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica. 

The massacre of over 8,300 Bosnian Muslim men and boys was one of the darkest episodes of the war that followed the breakup of the former Yugoslavia. Thousands more were displaced, and entire communities destroyed, when Bosnian Serb forces overran the town. 

A lightly armed Dutch peacekeeping unit, deployed under the UN flag, was unable to resist the large force. 

International courts later recognised the killings as an act of genocide. 

The trauma continues to affect survivors, victims’ families, and the society at large, complicating reconciliation among ethnic groups. 

In a message to the commemoration, UN Secretary-General António Guterres called on the world to ensure the voices of survivors are not forgotten – and to confront genocide denial, distortion and revisionism. 

“Only by recognising the suffering of all victims can we build mutual understanding, trust, and lasting peace… let us confront denial with truth – and impunity with justice,” said Mr. Guterres, in remarks delivered by his Chef de Cabinet. 

At least 10 people dead in Kenya as protests turn deadly 

The UN human rights office, OHCHR, says it is “deeply troubled” by the killing of at least 10 people during violent protests in Kenya. 

Security forces reportedly used lethal ammunition, rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannons to disperse demonstrators in Nairobi and other areas. Public and private property were also looted and destroyed by unidentified individuals. 

OHCHR spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani noted that this violence comes just two weeks after 15 protesters were reportedly killed on 25 June, calling the situation “very concerning.” 

“UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk renews his call for calm and restraint, and full respect for the freedoms of expression, association and peaceful assembly. It is essential that legitimate grievances at the root of these protests are addressed,” she said. 

OHCHR also called for prompt, thorough, independent and transparent investigations into all alleged human rights violations and excessive use of force – and noted the police announcement of an investigation into the June incidents. 

AI for Good Summit pushes for safe and inclusive development of artificial intelligence 

And finally to Geneva, where the AI for Good Global Summit is now underway. 

Organised by the UN specialized agency for information and communication technologies – ITU – the Summit is the world’s leading platform to advance responsible AI for sustainable development. 

This year’s edition focuses on regulating emerging technologies like “agentic AI” and powerful, low-cost models, which are becoming cheaper and more energy-efficient – but also harder to govern. 

ITU chief Doreen Bogdan-Martin emphasized the urgency of collective action: 

“As AI development accelerates, so does the urgency to keep innovation aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals. AI for Good is where the world comes together to ensure these technologies are safe, responsible, and leave no one behind.” 

The four-day gathering will also highlight innovations in robotics, autonomous mobility, quantum computing, AI in space, and brain-computer interfaces. 

Emma Trager-Lewis, UN News.

Music composed and produced by Joachim Harris. All rights reserved.