Press release July 3, 2006 - Mothers of Srebrenica

A total of 7,930 surviving relatives of the victims of the fall of the Srebrenica enclave in 1995, also known as the 'Mothers of Srebrenica', have begun legal proceedings against the State of the Netherlands.

In July 1995 the worst act of genocide in Europe since the Second World War took place during the Dutch military presence in the Bosnian enclave of Srebrenica, resulting in the death of between 8,000 and 10,000 persons. A group totalling 7,930 surviving relatives of the victims of the fall of the enclave and the subsequent mass murder have instructed Van Diepen Van der Kroef, Attorneys, one of the largest firms of attorneys in the Netherlands, to begin legal proceedings against the State of the Netherlands. The UN is held jointly responsible and will be joined in the proceedings.

Given the possibility of reaching a settlement on this issue the attorneys for the Mothers of Srebrenica have chosen, until now, not to involve the media. However, attempts at reaching a settlement have come to nothing. As early as 2004 discussions were held by the attorneys with a view to acceptance of jointly responsibility for the death of between 8,000 and 10,000 family members and the payment of compensation. More recently, attempts have been made to open private discussions on this subject with Prime Minister Balkenende, but without success.

As it has not been possible to reach any settlement the attorneys have been instructed to begin legal proceedings against the State of the Netherlands. The preparatory work for that is fully under way and the issue of a writ of summons is expected within a number of months. A team of 14 attorneys in the Netherlands and Bosnia-Herzegovina has been assembled to work this case, together with a group of advisors. This international team is led by attorneys Marco R. Gerritsen and Axel Hagedorn of Van Diepen Van der Kroef, Attorneys.