Srebrenica Now marks Holocaust Memorial Day (15/01/06)
An Open Discussion to mark Holocaust Memorial Day will bring together different refugee groups who have experienced violence in their countries with representatives from the police, Home Office and local authorities.
‘Living together in a violent world: What can communities need to heal the wounds?” takes place at 6pm on 17 January 2006 at Hammersmith Town Hall, King St, London W6. It will be hosted by Hammersmith and Fulham Refugee Forum.
Panel members include Zrinka Bralo (Migrant and Refugee Communities Forum); Stephen Burke (Leader, Hammersmith and Fulham Council); Jonathan Duke-Evans (Director of Social Policy, Home Office Immigration and Nationality Directorate); Mulat Haregot (Chair, Hammersmith and Fulham Refugee Forum); Ruth Musgrave (Conflict and Change); Heather Valentine (Borough Commander, Hammersmith and Fulham Metropolitan Police).
The Discussion will be closed by a performance by the London Sevdah Choir, which specialises in music from Bosnia, both solo voice and with accordion. Admission is free – as are refreshments afterwards.
“The way forward is not just to talk between ourselves, but to others,” said Mulat Haregot, chair of Hammersmith and Fulham Refugee Forum. “If we don’t see and understand the perspective and background of others, then there can’t be harmony within the wider community.”
Panel member and Council leader, Cllr Stephen Burke, added: “The message of peace that Holocaust Memorial Day promotes has even greater resonance in London following the bombings of 7 July 2005 and these events follow on from the Peace Week celebrations which took place in Lyric Square in September.
“For centuries people from all over the world have lived side-by-side in our borough, making it an exciting, multicultural community and a great place to live and work. Our strength is our diversity and those who seek to divide us will only succeed in making us stronger.”
The discussion launches a two week-show of Srebrenica Now, photographs taken by people living in Srebrenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The show, which marks the 10th anniversary of the genocide that took place there in 2005, will be on display from 17 – 30 January in the glass atrium at Hammersmith Town Hall and Hammersmith Library (in the library windows in Shepherds Bush Road) (see notes to editor).
The UK-based Refugees and the Arts Initiative will create a room, typical of Bosnia, in the glass atrium outside the entrance to Hammersmith Town Hall and display the photographs and their captions in it.
For more information, email susanroberts@bridging-arts.com, visit www.bridging-arts.com or call 020 7386 9060.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
• For the first time since 27 January was designated as the UK’s Holocaust Memorial Day, this date falls on a Friday which has implications for a number of faiths. Consequently the national event will take place on the evening of Thursday 26 January 2006. For more details visit www.hmd.org.uk
• Srebrenica Now opened at the Salon des Arts, London, on 8 July 2005 to mark the 10th anniversary of the genocide at Srebrenica. It was staged by Bridging Arts (www.bridging-arts.com) in partnership with the Salon des Arts and the Refugees in the Arts Initiative, with funding and support from the Srebrenica Justice Campaign, the refugee support group BH Community UK, Refugee Week 2005 and the Bosnian Institute.
• Srebrenica – declared a ‘safe area’ by the United Nations – was allowed to fall to besieging nationalist Serbs in July 1995. More than 7,000 men and boys were massacred. The women of Srebrenica were forcibly evacuated from the enclave, and today live as refugees in their own country. In Tuzla they have formed themselves into a campaigning group ‘Zene Srebrenice’ or ‘Women of Srebrenica’ to fight for justice. Following a tour of Britain by the pressure group, the Srebrenica Justice Campaign was launched to support their demands.
• bridging arts specialises in events, art installations and performances with a message so that people without a voice can speak out through the arts. For more details visit www.bridging-arts.com