About Us

The Bosnian American Genocide Institute and Education Center (BAGI) is a not-for profit charitable and educational organization. BAGI is dedicated to scientific research pertaining to the genocide that occurred in Bosnia and Herzegovina from 1992-1995 and to educate others about the holocaust, genocide and other forms of crimes against humanity.

The purpose of the mission is reconciliation by teaching universal lessons that combat hatred, prejudice and indifference.

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Since 2010, the Bosnian American Genocide Institute has organized and participated in over 55 events worldwide, including commemoration events for Srebrenica remembrance, Dan Bijelih Traka, educational conferences and lectures and museum exhibitions. These events have informed thousands fo people about the genocide in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

As we step into the second decade of our work, we would like to grow our capacity even further to be able to provide more educational content in an effort to fight genocide denial.
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We are asking our community to make a commitment to support this ongoing work. Join today as a member to help us continue this necessary work.

Become a member today.

NEWS:

The passing of Honorary Board Member, Mensur Seferovic is an immense loss for our community

It is with absolute sadness and grief that we are regrettably announcing the passing of Mr. Mensur Seferovic, an Honorary Board Member of the Bosnian-American Genocide Institute.

He was born in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina on November 25th, 1925. Mr. Seferovic was a concentration camp survivor, he was interned at a camp in Southern Italy during World War II. He was an anti-fascist fighter who carried on his beliefs of anti-fascism through his research and writing. From 1955 until 2014 he published 24 books. These books are records of his research and untold stories that span the Balkans.

​Mr. Seferovic was a prolific writer, a detailed record keeper and an empathic storyteller. This is an immense loss for our community and we want to ask everyone to keep Mr. Seferovic’s family in mind during this difficult time. The Board of Directors sends their condolences to the former President of the Board, Sanja Drnovsek and her siblings, children and family during this time.

For more information about his work please visit:https://www.booksbyseferovic.com/.

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UPCOMING EVENTS:

Voices from Srebrenica: An Online Book Panel
March 25, 2021
12pm CT

Co-hosted by Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center and the Bosnian-American Genocide Institute and Education Center.

Community Partners: War Childhood Museum, Educator’s Institute for Human Rights, #Togetherweremember, Yale University Genocide Studies Program, Advisory Council for Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Voices from Srebrenica: Survivor Narratives of the Bosnian Genocide tells the story of fourteen survivors of the Bosnian Genocide. Through their individual narratives, the book forges personal connections with the reader, ensuring that "never forget" and "never again" are more than just catchphrases. This moving book and these stories assure that remembrance and prevention live in the hearts of all those who encounter these harrowing descriptions of trauma and resilience.
Join us for a panel discussion of Voices from Srebrenica with its authors, Ann Petrila and Hasan Hasanović, as well as Emir Suljagić, Director of the Srebrenica Memorial Center. They will be joined by Jessica Hulten, Education Outreach Coordinator, Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center; Ida Sefer, President, Bosnian-American Genocide Institute Chicago; and David Pettigrew, Professor, Southern Connecticut State University, and Board Member, Bosnian-American Genocide Institute. Following the discussion, we will open the floor for live questions from the audience.
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Free to the public, but a donation is suggested.

Register

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25th Anniversary Commemoration of the Srebrenica Genocide
July 14, 2020
​Hosted by Ajla Delkic, President, Advisory Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina

25th Anniversary Commemoration of the Srebrenica Genocide
Please join us in commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide and stand in solidarity with the victims and survivors of the worst crime committed on European soil since World War II. After the Holocaust, the world vowed "Never Again," but the fall of the United Nations "safe area" of Srebrenica to Bosnian Serb and Serbian forces in July of 1995 stands out as the international community's most egregious failure to intervene during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It led to genocide, forced displacement, and a legacy of loss. To commemorate 25 years since the genocide at Srebrenica, the Advisory Council for Bosnia and Herzegovina will be joined by a panel of distinguished speakers who will offer their perspective on the actions we all must undertake to ensure that justice prevails, and that the lessons of Srebrenica are not forgotten.

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Memory in the Face of Denial:
Srebrenica 25 Years Later
July 9, 2020
Online Event

Denial is the final stage of genocide. Denial by perpetrators, whether by words or by taking steps to cover their acts, or even refusing to recognize atrocities years later, impacts the memory of genocide.

Join Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center, Bosnian-American Genocide Institute and Education Center (BAGI), and Srebrenica Memorial Center for a thought-provoking discussion between eyewitnesses of the genocide in Srebrenica as they powerfully share their experiences during the genocide, and their fight to combat the state of denial 25 years later.

Registration: https://bit.ly/30pVxxz

Moderators:
Ida Sefer - President of the Board of Directors, Bosnian American Genocide Institute and Education Center

Dr. David Pettigrew - Professor of Philosophy and Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Southern CT State University; and Secretary of the Board of Directors, Bosnian American Genocide Institute and Education Center

Panelists will include:

Ron Haviv - Emmy-nominated, award-winning photojournalist and co-founder of VII Photo Agency. His work in the Balkans was used as evidence to indict and convict war criminals at the international tribunal in The Hague. His first photography book, “Blood and Honey: A Balkan War Journal,” was named “one of the best non-fiction books of the year,” by The Los Angeles Times.

Roy Gutman - Associate Fellow at The Washington Institute, Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter, former foreign correspondent for Newsday and McClatchy, and author of “A Witness to Genocide”

Hasan Hasanović - Survivor of the Srebrenica Genocide, author of "Surviving Srebrenica" (2016) and co-author of "Voices from Srebrenica" (2020), Srebrenica Memorial Center

Amra Begic - family member of Srebrenica genocide victims. Chief of Department, Srebrenica Memorial Center

Senada Pargan - Survivor of Srebrenica Genocide, President of Bosniaks Cultural Community Preporod of North America/Bzk Preporod SA, and author of "The Darkness of Silver Lights" (2015)

Presented in partnership with the Bosnian American Genocide Institute and Education Center and Srebrenica Memorial Center.

Community Partner: Educators Institute for Human Rights

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Lessons for the Future
25 years of Genocide Denialism
July 8, 2020
Online Event
Hosted by Arnesa Buljusmic, Remembering Srebrenica

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BiH Diasporic Conference 
​(Postponed to Spring of 2021)
June 5-7, 2020
Los Angeles, CA

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Bosnian Genocide:
Witnessing the Struggle for Justice 
January 10, 2019  6:30pm
Illinois Holocaust Museum
9603 Woods Drive   
Skokie, IL  60077

In a world still challenged by nationalistic violence, ethnic expulsion, genocide, and the response to the refugee crisis, join the Bosnian American Genocide Institute and Illinois Holocaust Museum for a captivating and important discussion on the challenges of international justice, truth, response, and prevention.

The event is FREE and open to the public. 

A Conversation With:

• Mr. Isak Gaši, Author, Eyewitness: My Journey to The Hague and Bosnian Genocide Survivor
• Mr. Shaun Koos, Co-Author, Eyewitness: My Journey to The Hague
• Mr. Adam Weber, Former Trial Attorney at the ICTY Office of the Prosecutor
• Dr. David Pettigrew, Professor of Philosophy, Southern Connecticut State University.

For more information visit our event page here.

Register for the event here.

Want to ask the speakers a question? Fill this form out and we'll address your question during the panel. 

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Stories of Survival
July 19, 2018 6:30pm
Illinois Holocaust Museum
9603 Woods Drive   
Skokie, IL  60077

Join us for the the opening exhibit of "Stories of Survival", an exhibit curated by the Illinois Holocaust Museum. 

Stories of Survival is a landmark exhibit that showcases more than 60 never-before-seen personal items brought to America by Survivors of the Holocaust and other genocides, including Armenia, Bosnia, Cambodia, Iraq, Rwanda, South Sudan, and Syria. 

Each artifact is dramatically showcased alongside oversized photographs by renowned documentarian Jim Lommasson. Survivors or their family members wrote directly on the photograph to reveal personal stories.

Meet the photographer and Museum Curator Arielle Weininger and enjoy the opportunity to speak with local Survivors whose stories are included in the exhibit, as well as their family members.

This gallery-style opening event will bring these incredible family heirlooms to life.

Free with Museum admission. Reservations required.

RESERVE YOUR TICKET.

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ELISHA WIESEL
Donald and Sue Pritzker Voices
of Conscience Lecture
November 19, 2017  1pm
Highland Park High School Auditorium
​433 Vine Avenue, Highland Park, IL

Join us for a powerful conversation with Elisha Wiesel, son of the late Holocaust survivor and Nobel Peace Prize winner Elie Wiesel, as he reflects on the indelible legacy his father left for him and the world, and how he works to advance his father’s message today.  Elisha will share his lessons for humanity’s present and future, and the imperative of helping the world remember, understand, and learn from the lessons of the Holocaust.  Don’t miss this incredible opportunity!

Moderated by J.B. Pritzker, Trustee, Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center and Son of Donald and Sue Pritzker.

$20, $10 Members, $5 students.  Reservations required. Reserve here.

Community Partners: America Jewish World Service, Archdiocese of Chicago Office of Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, Armenian National Committee of Illinois, Association of the Descendants of the Shoah-Illinois, Bosnian American Genocide Institute, Center for International Human Rights at Northwester Pritzker School of Law, Chicago South Sudanese Community Center, College of Lake County Center for Nonviolence, Heartland Alliance Marjorie Kovler Center, Highland Park High School, Holocaust Community Services/CJE Senior Life, L’Chaim Center, Midwest Center for Jewish Learning, Metro Chicago Hillel, The Hillels of Illinois, Pozen Family Center for Human Rights at the University of Chicago, Rochelle Zell Jewish High School, Roosevelt University’s History Program, Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago, Am Shalom and Sheerit HaPleitah of Metropolitan Chicago.

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The Syrian Crisis: Impact and Response
​Thursday, February 9, 2017
6:30 PM

The Bosnian-American Genocide Institute and Education Center invites you to Syrian Crisis: Impact and Response at the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center, on February 9th, 2017. 

As the situation in Syria intensifies, we as a community know that it is important for us to stand with those who are displaced by war and genocide. This expert panel will explore the conflict and how refugees are currently being impacted. 

How can we help the millions of Syrian refugees in Jordan, Turkey, Europe and elsewhere?

As the world faces the worst refugee crisis since World War II and the Holocaust, it is a reminder that we must speak out. We must offer compassion to the millions of innocent people who are fleeing brutality.

The cost of human life and loss in Syria is difficult to comprehend. Over 450,000 Syrians have been killed (approximately the population of Atlanta), 50,000 of those children. Another 4.8 million Syrians are refugees, with 6.1 million displaced within Syria. We must raise our voices.

Panelists will include:

Dr. Zaher Sahloul
Former President of the Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS), who has visited Syria to provide medical care in war-torn communities.

Whitney Cross (Moderator)
U.S. Fund for UNICEF

Suzanne Akhras Sahloul
Founder and Executive Director of the Syrian Community Network, which connects refugees with services and fosters relationships with the larger Chicago community.

Tickets can be reserved here: 
​https://www.ilholocaustmuseum.org/syria/.

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Screening of "I Came to Testify"   
January 8, 2017  2pm 
B&H Club  3442 W. Peterson Ave.  Chicago, IL

The Bosnian-American Genocide Institute and Education Center invites you on January 8th, 2017 to a screening of "I Came to Testify", a PBS documentary regarding 16 Bosnian women who were imprisoned in the town of Foča and how they testified against their perpetrators.
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Join us after the screening for a panel discussion with BAGI board members and community experts.
 
Danica Anderson, Ph.D., is an author, a Forensic Psychotherapist and a current Gender Victims Expert for the International Criminal Court. Dr. Anderson is the founder and CEO of The Kolo: Women's Cross Cultural Collaboration, an international initiative aimed at providing support, psychotherapy and life training for victims and survivors of war, war criminals and offenders of sexual assault.

David Pettigrew, Ph.D., is a Professor of Philosophy at Southern Connecticut State University and a member of the Yale University Genocide Studies Program steering committee. Dr. Pettigrew is a human rights activist who strives, through his research and advocacy, to preserve and honor the memory of the victims of the genocide in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as to resist genocide denial and the glorification of war criminals in Republika Srpska. 

Senada Cvrk Pargan, BSM, is the President of Bosniaks Cultural Community Preporod of North America. Ms. Pargan is also a well-known Bosnian poet and survivor of the genocide in Srebrenica. She is a tireless activist in the Bosnian community who is working towards cultural preservation and combatting genocide denial.
 
The event will be held in the English language and we strongly encourage students to attend. The event is free and open to the public. 
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We would like to thank our community collaborators: Preporod and B&H Club.