Sefton Council will fly a memorial flag from Bootle Town Hall today, Thursday 11th July, to pay respects to victims of the 1995 Srebrenica massacre.

Today marks the 29th anniversary of the genocidal attack on Bosnian Muslims in 1995. More than 8,300 men and boys were murdered in the town of Srebrenica, with over two million people displaced as part of a brutal ultra-nationalist campaign of ethnic cleansing.

Remembrance ceremonies are being held around the world for the 2024 Srebrenica Memorial Day.

Cllr Liz Dowd, Cabinet Member for Communities and Partnership Engagement, said: “We take this opportunity to remember Srebrenica and the men and boys who were needlessly killed because of intolerance and hatred.

“It stands as a reminder that we must work as a community to reject prejudice and celebrate our differences, rather than use them to justify conflict.

“We are committed to encouraging peace, respect and mutual understanding across the Borough.”

Remembering Srebrenica, a charity partly funded by the UK government, has chosen “I Am Because You Are” as this year’s theme.

Taken from the Zulu term ‘Ubuntu’, the theme highlights the ongoing effort to stand up against division and encourage interconnected communities.

Visit the Remembering Srebrenica website to learn more about the event.