The tragic events of July 11, 1995, had repercussions that were felt around the world. The slaughter of more than 8,000 men and boys in Srebrenica – which had previously been designated a United Nations “safe area” in Bosnia and Herzegovina – was one of the Balkan War’s final breaking points.

Just over a month later, 5,000 troops from 15 nations carried out Operation Deliberate Force, a NATO-led air campaign designed to force a resolution to the conflict. Many Mississippians had a role in peacekeeping operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the years that followed. Members of the National Guard’s 155th Infantry Battalion who were deployed there in 2001 represented more than 40 communities in our state.

Earlier this month, I was part of an official U.S. delegation led by former President Bill Clinton to participate in Srebrenica’s 20th anniversary ceremony. This small delegation also consisted of Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.), and former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.

In Congress, I currently serve as co-chair of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, which oversees security, human rights, and conflict prevention in Europe. As Europe’s worst massacre since the Holocaust, Srebrenica remains a powerful reminder of how regional instability and ethnic hatred can escalate in horrific ways.

Rising Threat of Russian Aggression

Americans have a practical stake in the future of the Balkans and the power of freedom and democracy there. The area has long been a hot spot for violence, as was witnessed during both World War I and World War II. Now, Russia seems intent on expanding its influence in the region. If another outbreak of extremism were to occur, Americans would again be called on to defend our national security and economic interests.

Emotions are still raw, and ethnicity remains a source of deep division, but reconciliation continues in significant ways. International courts have clearly labeled the Srebrenica massacre as a genocide, and some of its perpetrators have been imprisoned for their crimes. Bosnia and Herzegovina, once home to suffering and violence, is now seeking membership in the European Union.

Truly honoring the victims of Srebrenica means recommitting to the region’s future success. We owe it to the victims’ families, who still grieve for their loved ones. We owe it to the willpower of U.S. leaders like President Clinton and House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who helped facilitate the peace agreement in Dayton, Ohio, that brought a formal end to the war. We owe it to the Americans whose military service paved the way for peace.

Two Decades of Progress Helped Along by Americans

We are faced with crises around the world, but letting history repeat itself should not be one of them. There will no doubt be roadblocks to a sustainable peace in the Balkans. The true test of reconciliation will be whether there is a willingness to rise above these obstacles.

For example, the decision of a few protesters to throw rocks at the Serbian prime minister should not eclipse the respect shown by thousands in attendance at Srebrenica’s anniversary ceremony. Likewise, Russia’s veto earlier this month of a UN Security Council resolution calling the massacre a “genocide” does not change the conclusion of multiple international courts, including the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. There is a strong international consensus for accountability when innocent lives are taken because of ethnicity or religion. This means facing history’s hard truths rather than trying to rewrite them.

Srebrenica is one of these hard truths, but it is also a story of progress helped along by Americans. Recognizing the courage and sacrifices that have been made on behalf of unity and freedom is important to moving forward. Peace has been maintained in Bosnia and Herzegovina for 20 years. We all have an interest in seeing it continue.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., today issued the following statement regarding the Supreme Court’s decision on Obergefell v. Hodges:

“I have always believed that marriage should be between a man and a woman, a belief shared by many Americans. There are people who hold strong views on both sides of this issue, and reasonable people can respectfully disagree. I will continue to work to protect the First Amendment rights of those who, based on their religious convictions, oppose same-sex marriage.”

Wicker is a cosponsor of the “First Amendment Defense Act,” which would prevent the federal government from discriminating against any individual or institution that defines marriage as a union of one man and one woman. It would also bar the government from denying any federal grants, contracts, licenses, or tax exemptions from individuals or groups based on their beliefs.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., today voted in favor of landmark legislation to combat human trafficking in the United States. The bill, “Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act,” S. 178, would broaden protections for victims and hold traffickers and purchasers equally accountable for their crimes. The legislation passed the Senate by a vote of 99-0.

“This measure is an important step forward in empowering the victims of a horrific crime – the buying and selling of humans for sex or labor,” Wicker said. “These efforts would strengthen the enforcement of current laws and develop effective strategies to support victims – many of whom are young women and children. America is a beacon of freedom and prosperity. The fact that traffickers still find and transit victims here is a crime in itself that deserves our full attention and swift action.”

The legislation includes a Wicker amendment that would extend the statute of limitations to allow child victims to file civil suits against perpetrators up to 10 years after they reach the age of 18.  Under current law, the statute of limitations expires 10 years after the cause of action arises.

Wicker’s amendment would also create a Department of Justice database for education and outreach.  The database would assist survivors, families, law enforcement, crisis hotline personnel, and advocates, providing valuable resources on counseling, housing, legal assistance, and other services.

The underlying bill also includes a provision championed by Wicker to treat trafficking victims as victims and not as criminals. The provision would establish trafficking survivors’ courts with specialized court dockets and judicial supervision that would put the well-being of victims first.  Often, these juveniles are charged with a delinquency offense and detained when they need counseling and support.

Mississippi recently launched a new human trafficking task force with the expertise of officials from government, law enforcement, education, the judicial system, and social services. The task force is responsible for conducting research, reviewing Mississippi’s anti-trafficking laws, and submitting recommendations by July of this year.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., today expressed support for landmark legislation to combat human trafficking in the United States. The bill, “Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act,” S. 178, would broaden protections for victims and hold traffickers and purchasers equally accountable for their crimes.

“Trafficking does not discriminate by background or race, but women and children are especially at risk,” Wicker said. “This is the ‘War on Women’ that should be in news headlines. As policymakers, our energy would be well-spent on fighting sex trafficking – a daily war fought by young women robbed of their freedom, their dignity, their childhoods, and often their very lives.

“The United States can take a leading role in the fight against trafficking. This starts with targeted, practical legislation like the ‘Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act.’ Our efforts should strengthen the enforcement of current laws and develop effective strategies to support victims.  America is a beacon of freedom and prosperity.  The fact that traffickers still find and transit victims here is a crime that deserves our full attention and swift action.”

The “Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act” follows in a long line of bipartisan efforts to punish the perpetrators of trafficking and support the rehabilitation of its victims.  Broad federal action began in 2000, when Democrats and Republicans overwhelmingly passed the “Trafficking Victims Protection Act.”

Wicker has filed three amendments to S.178, inspired by the “End Trafficking Act,” which he introduced in 2014. 

• The first amendment would create a Department of Justice database for education and outreach.  The database would assist survivors, families, law enforcement, crisis hotline personnel, and advocates, providing valuable resources on counseling, housing, legal assistance, and other services.

• The second amendment would extend the statute of limitations to allow child victims to file civil suits against perpetrators up to 10 years after they reach the age of 18.  Under current law, the statute of limitations expires 10 years after the cause of action arises. 

• The final amendment would expand the definition of “child abuse and neglect” in the “Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act.”  This new definition recognizes the serious role that commercial sexual exploitation plays in abuse and neglect by ensuring that the minimum standards for defining child abuse include the commercial exploitation of children.

The underlying bill also includes a provision championed by Wicker to treat trafficking victims as victims and not as criminals. The provision would establish trafficking survivors’ courts with specialized court dockets and judicial supervision that would put the well-being of victims first.  Often, these juveniles are charged with a delinquency offense and detained when they need counseling and support.

S. 178 is endorsed by 200 advocacy groups, including the NAACP, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Rights 4 Girls, National Association to Protect Children, Fraternal Order of Police, and the National Conference of State Legislatures.