Srebrenica Heroines is a multimedia, educational, and artistic initiative dedicated to documenting and amplifying the stories of women survivors of the Srebrenica genocide, as well as their decades-long struggle for truth, justice, and accountability. Launched in 2022 to mark the 27th anniversary of the genocide, the project is implemented by the Association “Movement of Mothers of Srebrenica and Žepa Enclaves” in partnership with the Post-Conflict Research Center (PCRC) and the Srebrenica Memorial Center. Through a combination of artistic production, public dialogue, and international engagement, Srebrenica Heroines creates a space in which the experiences of women – mothers, wives, daughters, and survivors – are recognized as central to preserving the memory of the genocide and confronting its ongoing denial.

The project was inaugurated at the Srebrenica Memorial Center in July 2022 through a series of interconnected program elements that together marked the 27th commemoration. At its core was the art installation Mother’s Scarf, unveiled on July 10, which brought together more than 2,500 headscarves and shawls donated by women from over 20 countries and 50 cities. The installation symbolically represents both everyday life and mourning practices, transforming personal objects into a collective expression of grief, dignity, and resilience. Alongside the installation, the project included an international conference held on July 10, 2022, which gathered women survivors of the genocide, activists, academics, and representatives of victims’ associations and civil society organizations. Complementing these discussions, the photography exhibition Scarves of Remembrance, opened on July 9, documented the creation and development of the Mother’s Scarf installation while presenting intimate visual narratives about the lives of women in Srebrenica during and after the war, as well as the challenges they continue to face in their pursuit of justice. As part of the broader initiative, the portrait exhibition MAJKE | MOTHERS presented a series of 25 specially commissioned graphite and charcoal drawings portraying some of the most prominent Mothers of Srebrenica, including those who are no longer alive.

In the years following its launch, Srebrenica Heroines expanded beyond Bosnia and Herzegovina, transforming Mother’s Scarf into a global, traveling installation accompanied by exhibitions and solidarity actions. The installation and the Scarves of Remembrance exhibition were presented internationally, including in Istanbul, while a global solidarity campaign connected activists and communities from countries such as Cambodia, Jordan, Ukraine, Lebanon, Palestine/Israel, Germany, Kosovo, Serbia, North Macedonia, and Iraq.

In 2025, marking the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica Heroines reached a new level of visibility and international engagement. The Mother’s Scarf installation and accompanying exhibitions were presented in Sarajevo and New York, bringing the stories of Srebrenica’s women into both local and global public spaces. The Sarajevo exhibition, opened on July 7, 2025, welcomed thousands of visitors during the commemoration week and gathered a wide range of participants, including international representatives, civil society actors, artists, and youth.

Through its continued evolution, Srebrenica Heroines has become a living and expanding platform that bridges art, education, and activism. As a nomadic and participatory initiative, it demonstrates that remembrance is not confined to a single place or moment, but is an ongoing process sustained by communities across the world.