Tackling hatred and intolerance: ground-breaking event in Gloucester to

explore lessons of war

LOCAL LUMINARIES & DIVERSE COMMUNITIES WILL MEET TO EXPLORE MASCULIINITY AND VIOLENCE AT ‘BREAKING THE SILENCE: BOSNIA AND BEYOND.'

On 26^th July the charity Remembering Srebrenica and the feminist group Chelt Fems will join together at Gloucester Guilhall to commemorate the genocide in Srebrenica 21 years ago. Introduced by Cheltenham MP Alex Chalk, the free event will explore the increase in hate crime and the continuing rise of violence against women in post-Brexit Britain.

Organisers hope that diverse communities will be brought together to ask pertinent and sometimes painful questions about masculinity, nationalism and violence. The event will be attended by Lord Lieutenant of Gloucestershire, Dame Janet Trotter and Bishop Rachel of Gloucester.

South West Chair of Remembering Srebrenica,Anousheh Haghdadisaid:

"In Srebrenica, as in the rest of the war, women and girls were subjected to widespread and systematic sexual violence, with an estimated 20,000 - 50,000 survivors of rape. 21 years later, we ask the question - what lessons can we learn from Srebrenica?"

Chair of Chelt Fems, Jo Bartosch added:

"Nottinghamshire Police announced last week that crimes against women and girls would be categorised as hate crimes, the potential for Gloucestershire Police to follow suit is intriguing and will be one of the possibilities discussed at ‘Breaking the Silence.'"

" There are striking parallels between the situation in the Balkans prior to the conflict and the current nationalistic rhetoric here in the UK. We must never be so arrogant as to assume that ‘it couldn't happen here.' It is imperative that we learn lessons about the conflict so that we can promote healthy and respectful relationships, be that interpersonal or between communities."

The event is free but places limited, those interested in attending are asked to reserve seats at http://bit.ly/29wewMx

The event at Gloucester Guildhall will run from 6.30 until 8pm. It is open to all.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

The genocide in Srebrenica

• On 11 July 1995 General Ratko Mladić and his Bosnian Serb forces marched into the town of Srebrenica and systematically murdered 8372 Bosnian Muslim men and boys.

• In 1993, Srebrenica had been declared a UN Safe Area, under the watch of the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR). In July 1995, Serbian paramilitary units overran and captured the town, despite its designation as an area 'free from any armed attack or any other hostile act'.

The Charity Remembering Srebrenica

• It is committed to sending 600 individuals on its Lessons from Srebrenica over a three-year period. Each delegate pledges to carry out an activity on their return to the UK. These are designed to raise awareness of the risks of hatred, racism and intolerance, using Srebrenica as an example of an integrated society that disintegrated.

• Gloucestershire Police & Crime Commissioner Martin Surl was one of 800 leaders and key figures to have gone on the ‘Lessons from Srebrenica' programme to Bosnia.

Contact:

Jo Bartosch at cheltfems-1@yahoo.co.uk or 07764724772