Bosnian Serb forces slaughtered some 8,000 Muslim men and boys in the incident. Many of the 15,000 people who managed to escape were shelled and ambushed.
The United Nations later declared the incident to be the worst mass killing in Europe since the Holocaust
Survivors want the deaths to be formally recognised as genocide, but earlier this week Russia vetoed a UN resolution which would have done so.
A gathering at Sydney’s Town Hall commemorated the lives lost.
The son of Bosnian migrants, federal Labor MP, Ed Husic spoke at the event, describing it as an occasion for hope.
“Today is not about reliving that hate. Today is not about re-crying those tears. Today is about hope and remembrance.
“That we can work out how we can better reach those survivors who exist and find the common ground between people,” he said.
“And when I say that today is about hope, we know that hope is real because we see it in the survivors of the Srebrenica, who have become model citizens of Australia today. And who are committed to building better communities. “
Members of Sydney's Bosnian community commemorate the 20th anniversary of Srebrenica massacre. Source: SBS
One survivor told the crowd it is important to remember what happened to ensure it never happens again.
“Genocide occurring in the 21st century is simply not acceptable,” she said. “The crimes were committed were beyond imaginable when prevention was feasible.
“[We need to] educate the next generation about the burden and the effect of the aftermath.”
Similar events marking the anniversary are also being held in Melbourne and Adelaide.
