Youth Association 'Denis Mrnjavac': 16 years after Denis's murder, everything is the same, violence is only reacted to once it happens

(Patria) - On 06.02.2024, it will be sixteen years since the murder of Denis Mrnjavac.

The Youth Association "Denis Mrnjavac" reminds that February 6 has been declared a day of struggle against peer violence in Sarajevo Canton, with the aim of remembering the tragically deceased boy Denis Mrnjavac, who became a symbol of peer violence against innocent children of our city.

On this occasion, a gathering will be held at the tram stop "Technical School" towards Ilidža (across from the American Embassy), and flowers will be laid in front of the photograph of Denis Mrnjavac at 11:00 AM.

Denis Mrnjavac was a boy, a 16-year-old high school student who, on his way home from school, was beaten and stabbed with a knife in a crowded tram, sustaining severe bodily injuries from which he died on 06.02.2008.

Even after sixteen years, nothing is being done to stop the violence that has become a daily occurrence on the streets of our city and country. Violence has no nation, no faith, and no religion. Violence has no age, years, gender, purpose, or goal! Violence defies understanding and common sense, is not suppressed by repression, and it seems that society, especially the authorities, completely forgets that the responsibility for violence lies precisely with them.

Unfortunately, it seems there is no end to violence... Every day, in all parts of our city and our country, the lives of innocent young people are threatened and extinguished as a result of some "new-old" violence.

Even after sixteen years of submitting initiatives and oral promises from the authorities, we have not managed to realize the idea of creating a memorial, a place where we could pay tribute to our Denis, as well as to all victims of post-war violence against children and youth. That memorial would be a constant reminder that violence must be responded to, that all the lost young lives on the streets of our City are not and will not be forgotten!

Unfortunately, we react to violence only when it happens, when it shows its ugly face and when we hear about yet another new victim. Then we worry again, talk about prevention, about reaction, bookish and academic platitudes, and everything is quickly forgotten, only for a new violent act to jolt us out of our immersion in everyday life and show us that nothing we talked about makes sense if something is not finally and decisively done.

The fight against violence is the duty of the state, society, authorities, family, schools, and it is also the greatest duty of every individual!

No one is spared, no one is safe, and no one is immune to violence! It is only a matter of time, opportunity, and circumstances.
Violent individuals are among us – they are waiting!