The use of the Visual Archive of Serbian Suffering of the Memorial Center of Republika Srpska (MCRS), which includes video interviews, collections, and accompanying documents, is primarily intended for scientific research, educational purposes, documentary production, media, and publishing activities. Legal and natural persons may access these materials provided that the use of the testimonies and other materials complies with the applicable legal framework and does not violate the competencies and interests of the Memorial Center of Republika Srpska.
Ethical Standards and Protection of Dignity
The user undertakes to use the material in a manner that does not offend the dignity of the victims or endanger the privacy of the survivors and their families. When working with the Visual Archive of Serbian Suffering, researchers are particularly warned that certain materials contain traumatic testimonies and content with strong emotional charge. Access to and use of this type of material is subject to a special regime, which implies heightened ethical responsibility, caution in interpretation, and strict respect for the dignity of the victims and the privacy of survivors and third parties.
Researchers are obliged to use such content exclusively for scientific and educational purposes, while avoiding sensationalism, selective or contextually inaccurate presentation. The Memorial Center reserves the right, in accordance with the nature and sensitivity of the material, to restrict access or set special conditions for its use.
Copyright and Source Citation
When using any data or parts of the material, the user is obliged to clearly cite the Visual Archive of Serbian Suffering MCRS as the source of the material, while adhering to the established rules on use, citation, referencing, and reproduction. The holder of the rights over the testimonies is MCRS, to which the witnesses have given consent for recording, archiving, preservation, and use of the material in accordance with the established conditions.
Testimonies from the Memorial Center of the Republic of Srpska, that is, from the Visual Archive of Serbian Suffering or the Visual Archive – World War II, should be cited according to the following model: Institution name, Archive or Collection name, Legacy or Fonds name, Testimony – First and Last Name of the Witness (date of access, internet address if it is an openly accessible testimony).
Example:
Memorijalni centar Republike Srpske, Vizuelni arhiv – Drugi svjetski rat, Legat Nade Ljubić, svjedočenje Gojka Kneževića (pristupljeno 7. aprila 2026, https://memorijalnicentarrs.com/svjedocanstva-ww2/gojko-knezevic/).
In subsequent citations, abbreviations or shortened forms may be used:
MCRS, VADSR, LNLJ, svjedočenje Gojka Kneževića (7. 4. 2026, https://memorijalnicentarrs.com/svjedocanstva-ww2/gojko-knezevic/).
Researchers may, if necessary, include additional citation elements after the basic archival and bibliographic information, such as the time interval in the testimony, the page number of the transcript (if available), keywords, and other relevant elements. The detailed citation method depends on the citation style used and the editorial requirements of the paper, publication, or monograph. It is essential to consistently and precisely cite the institution, the archival collection, the internal organization of the material, as well as the testimony itself.
In addition to legal regulations, the material is used in accordance with established academic and research practices.
A special form of use of the Visual Archive of Serbian Suffering is enabled for domestic educational institutions.
Procedure for Submitting and Approving Requests
Every interested researcher is required to register and enroll in the user registry before beginning work. This is done by filling out a special electronic form or an official application on the MCRS web platform or in the premises of the Memorial Center. Along with the registration, a standard request must be submitted in which the following is precisely stated: the topic of the research, the title of the work, the author’s details, the duration of the research, any interest in a specific collection, and other relevant information.In cases where the user is not conducting research for personal needs, but on behalf of another organization or institution, they are obliged to attach an official authorization or recommendation from the institution they represent together with the request.
Along with the request, the applicant is obliged to submit a short biography (CV) with a selective bibliography relevant to the subject of the research.
Validity Period of Approvals and Work in the Reading Room
Every received request undergoes a review process, after which a decision is made on approval or possible rejection of the request.
The obtained approval for research is valid for the entire duration of work on the registered topic, but it is time-limited to a maximum period of six months. If the work lasts longer, the researcher is obliged to submit a new request upon expiry of that period. The same rule applies in the case of a change in the research topic or the need to use collections that were not covered by the original request, in which case the previously issued approval ceases to be valid. Extensive archival video material, including complete fonds, collections and recordings, may be used exclusively within the MCRS reading room or in other designated premises with technical conditions provided by the MCRS, and only with the explicit written approval of the Director of the Center.
Prohibitions, Misuse and Legal Liability
In the event of violation of the provisions of this Rulebook, the Memorial Center of Republika Srpska reserves the right to temporarily or permanently revoke the user’s access to the Visual Archive, as well as to revoke their right to further use of archival material, with the violation being recorded in the official documentation of the Center. The Memorial Center reserves the right to suspend access without prior notice if there is reasonable suspicion of misuse.
It is strictly prohibited to make any unauthorized audio-visual recordings of screens or to copy any material while in the premises of the MCRS, as well as to unauthorizedly transfer or reproduce parts or entire statements from the MCRS web platform. In cases of unauthorized copying, public publication, misuse of content, violation of the dignity of victims, or infringement of the rights of third parties, the Memorial Center of Republika Srpska reserves the right to initiate appropriate legal proceedings, including claims for compensation of material and non-material damages. The user bears full legal and material liability for any misuse of archival material.
It is strictly prohibited to download, re-upload, or distribute video testimonies to other private channels, social networks, or digital platforms without the explicit written consent of the MCRS. This is to prevent the extraction of statements out of context and to protect the integrity of the witnesses.
Access to the Archive for Domestic and Foreign Citizens
All domestic natural and legal persons have the right to access and free use of archival material (subject to an approved request) under equal conditions, while fees are charged only for specific technical services, if such services exist.
Foreign citizens who wish to conduct research within the MCRS must submit a special request. If a foreign researcher is affiliated with a scientific institution in Republika Srpska, the request may be submitted directly or through that institution, after which the decision on the request is made by the Director of the Center or an authorized person. For foreign citizens, the same basic rules of use and ethical standards apply as for domestic users.
Obligations After Research
The final obligation of every user is to deliver two copies of each published publication, offprint, audio-visual project, or any other form of work or output created using the material of this Center.
Non-Standard Use
It is important to emphasize that any public presentation, exhibition, or use of archival material for commercial or other non-scientific/non-educational purposes requires prior written consent from the MCRS.
By accepting these terms, the user undertakes to handle the material responsibly, since it preserves memory and contributes to the objective understanding of historical facts.
Application Form for Access to Archival Materials
The Application Form for Access to Archival Materials is attached and should be downloaded, completed, signed, scanned, and sent to the following email address: kontakt@mcrs.vladars.rs.