Milton Keynes students take part in Human Rights Conference
Students from eight schools across Milton Keynes took part in a Human Rights Conference earlier this month.
Hosted by Denbigh School, the conference took place on July 8 and marked the 35th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide.
The genocide was the killing of more than 8,000 Bosniak men and boys in and around the town of Srebrenica during the Bosnian war.
The genocide happened between July 11 and July 22, 1995, and is the first legally recognised genocide in Europe since the Second World War.
Learning the lessons of genocides around the world was one of the themes of the conference, which was hosted in association with the Holocaust Educational Trust and Remembering Srebrenica, and involved students from eight secondary schools across the city.
Students also heard about the impact the war in Ukraine is having around the world.
Speakers at the event included the recently appointed Mayor of Milton Keynes Paul Trendall, survivor of the Bosnian genocide Edina Crnkic, Vicktoriya Shtanko and Melania Borysenko from Ukraine, and Anouar Kassim, who delivered a presentation entitled The Essence of Creativity in Remembrance.
Anouar told the Citizen: “Throughout my talk, I referred to the students as our future pioneers - young people who can shape a more just and compassionate society.
“Their curiosity, thoughtful questions, and willingness to engage demonstrated that remembrance is not simply about learning history - it is about understanding how the lessons of the past can influence the choices we make today.”
Anouar used Pablo Picasso’s painting Guernica, which was painted in 1937 after the Spanish town was bombed during the Spanish Civil War, to show how art can be what he calls ‘a universal language of remembrance.’
“The students were fascinated by how works of art survive long after conflicts have ended, preserving stories for future generations,” Anouar said.
“Together, we explored how creativity provides a safe space for conversation, reflection, and respectful debate - encouraging young people to ask difficult questions, listen to different perspectives, and develop empathy through dialogue.”
Denbigh School’s Sixth Form student holocaust educational trust ambassadors shared what they learned in their ambassadorial roles, including from their visit to Auschwitz.
Following the conference, the audience, which featured students, as well as educators, survivors and community leaders, were invited to decorate the Tree of Kindness with messages of kindness or reflections.
Mr Steed from Denbigh School said: “We are proud to have hosted this conference for the young people of Milton Keynes which delivered the message that all social, cultural and racial groups need to stand against racism and intolerance through knowledge and understanding of the holocaust and other genocides.”