2:30 for 3 pm

On the Women’s Day public holiday, the Johannesburg Holocaust & Genocide Centre, Remembering Srebrenica, and the Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung invite you to a commemoration marking the 31st anniversary of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica. Held as part of the Centre’s Women’s Month programme, this year’s gathering honours the experiences of women in conflict and centres the testimony of those who carry its legacy.

About the commemoration

In July 1995, more than 8 000 Bosniak men and boys were murdered in and around Srebrenica – a crime recognised as genocide by both the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and the International Court of Justice. Thirty-one years on, we gather to remember the victims, to stand with the survivors who continue to seek truth and justice, and to confront the denial and distortion that persist today.

The theme for the 2026 commemoration is We Are Here. It affirms that, despite every attempt to erase a people, survivors remain – telling their stories, seeking justice, and preserving the memory of those who were murdered. It is also a call to each of us: to remember, to challenge prejudice, and to choose hope over hatred.

Falling on the public holiday for National Women’s Day, this commemoration gives particular attention to the experiences of women in conflict – from those who survived the genocide to the children born of war who live with its consequences. It is an afternoon of reflection, testimony and remembrance, and an invitation to consider what memory asks of each of us.

Guest speakers

Lejla Damon

Lejla Damon was born in Sarajevo in 1992 as a result of conflict-related sexual violence. Today she is an internationally recognised human-rights advocate, campaigning for the dignity, recognition and protection of children born of war and survivors of conflict-related sexual violence. Through sharing her deeply personal story, she has become a powerful voice for truth, justice, and the generations who continue to live with the consequences of war.

Aimée Mica Komorowsky

Aimée Mica Komorowsky is the South African Ambassador for Remembering Srebrenica, and the writer and lead actress of the acclaimed stage production Sarajevo – winner of four Naledi Theatre Awards, including Best Production, Best Director, Best Lead Actress and Best Emerging Performance. Sarajevo runs at Theatre on the Square, Sandton, from 5 to 22 August 2026, bringing the history and human cost of the Bosnian War to the Johannesburg stage.