Director-General's remarks at the opening of the exhibition "Memories"

“Memories” exhibition

Monday, 23 March 2026, at 1.00 p.m.
Salle des Pas Perdus, Palais des Nations

Delivered on behalf of the Director-General by Ms. Lidiya Grigoreva, 
Cheffe de Cabinet, Office of the Director-General, United Nations Office at Geneva

Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,

It is a pleasure to welcome you to the Palais des Nations today for the opening of the exhibition “Memories” and to deliver the message of Ms. Tatiana Valovaya, Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva, who could not be with us today.

On her behalf, I would like to extend our appreciation to the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Serbia and its partners for bringing this exhibition to the Palais des Nations. Let me also acknowledge the presence of families’ associations involved in this initiative, whose dedication to preserving the memory of their loved ones lies at the heart of this exhibition.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The issue of missing and killed persons is, above all, a humanitarian issue. For many families — whether in the Western Balkans or in other regions affected by conflict — the search for answers, or the struggle to cope with loss, has lasted for decades. It transcends politics. It concerns human dignity, identity and the fundamental right to know the fate of one’s loved ones.

While rooted in the conflicts of the former Yugoslavia, this exhibition carries a universal message: across the world, conflicts leave not only physical destruction, but also absence, uncertainty, and unresolved grief.  At a time when many communities continue to endure the devastating consequences of war, this message carries particular resonance.

Art has a unique capacity to express what words alone cannot. It creates space for grief, reflection, and connection. It allows personal stories to be seen and acknowledged. And in doing so, it can contribute to healing.

This exhibition offers a deep human perspective on remembrance. Through paintings created in memory of missing or killed loved ones, it places the experiences and the voices of families at the centre of remembrance.

The artworks presented here evoke the bonds between parents and children, friends and loved ones — bonds that endure even in the face of loss. They reflect memory as a living presence: an act of love, an affirmation of identity, and a refusal to allow those who were lost to be forgotten.

As the UN Secretary-General has often emphasized, honouring the memory of victims is essential to building a future grounded in dignity, justice and peace.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Confronting the legacy of conflict is never easy. Yet remembrance is not about reopening divisions. It is about recognizing suffering with dignity and ensuring that the experiences of victims and their families are neither overlooked nor forgotten.

Initiatives such as this exhibition can contribute to reflection, dialogue, and understanding. By acknowledging the human cost of conflict, they help create space for empathy, for healing, and for reconciliation.

Here in Geneva — a centre of multilateral dialogue and human rights engagement — exhibitions such as this remind us of the importance of memory in advancing peace and reconciliation The exhibition invites us to understand, reflect, and commit. I wish you a meaningful viewing.

Thank you.