Exhibition “Speaking Out for the Legal Recognition of Children Born of War” Opens at City Hall

The “Forgotten Children of War” Association has launched the project “Speaking Out for the Legal Recognition of Children Born of War.” As part of this initiative, an exhibition titled Speaking Out was unveiled at Sarajevo City Hall on December 5, 2022. The exhibition, co-produced with women survivors of wartime sexual violence and children born of war, was created in collaboration with the War Childhood Museum. Through personal stories, artifacts, and video testimonies from survivors and children born of war, Speaking Out sheds light on the numerous challenges faced by this vulnerable group on daily basis.

The event was inaugurated by Ajna Jusić, President of the “Forgotten Children of War” Association, who addressed the women survivors of wartime sexual violence and children born of war, emphasizing their resilience in the face of invisibility and commending their bravery in fighting for their rights.

“This event is a call to the government representatives of the Federation of BiH to unite their resources and political interests to acknowledge and respect survivors and children born of war as strong and relevant partners in the decision-making process. We urge you to consider and adopt the Law on the Protection of Civil War Victims at the federal level with a united voice. Today, on December 5, 2022, the National and University Library of Bosnia and Herzegovina has the opportunity to document a truth we must no longer ignore. Today, we all have the chance to confront the consequences of wartime sexual violence – a reality we often fail to see but, unfortunately, continue to discriminate against,” said Ajna Jusić.

She continued, “all of us gathered here today want a solidaristic and inclusive society without violence, where the rule of law is respected”.

“Once again, we have reaffirmed that survivors of wartime sexual violence and children born from such acts are an undeniable truth – for Bosnia and Herzegovina, for the international community, and for the world. This is not just our fight. We are currently witnessing the war in Ukraine, which is familiar to people of this city and country. Everything we do today supports the establishment of an adequate system for Ukraine. Silence has been a major obstacle to this struggle. The time to speak out has come. We have spoken! Now, we invite representatives of national and international institutions, citizens, and the media to raise their voices too. It is time for institutions and society to break the silence about us”, Jusić concluded.

After years of advocacy, the issue of children born of war has finally gained the attention it has long deserves. In July 2022, for the first time, these children received legal recognition as civilian war victims when the Brčko District Assembly of BiH took a historic step by adopting the Law on Civil War Victims, which enabled the recognition of this status. This landmark decision affirmed that children born of war are not forgotten. While largely symbolic, this recognition sets a crucial precedent for Bosnia and Herzegovina and the broader region.

The Speaking Out for the Legal Recognition of Children Born of War event serves as a direct appeal to government representatives in the Federation of B&H to unite their efforts and political will to pass the draft Law on the Protection of Civil War Victims at the federal level.

Visitors to the exhibition had the opportunity to view the Red Dress, a piece by British artist Kristie Macleod. Over thirteen years, this dress traveled across the world, with 347 women and 7 men from 48 countries contributing their stitches. The final touches were added by survivors of wartime sexual violence from BiH, whose stories were represented in the Speaking Out exhibition.

The Speaking Out for the Legal Recognition of Children Born of War event was funded by the European Union in BiH.

Alongside the exhibition, the “Forgotten Children of War” Association presented a film from the event “Speaking Out for the Legal Recognition of Children Born of War”, further urging government representatives to unite their efforts and political interests and unanimously adopt the draft Law on the Protection of Civil War Victims at the federal level.

The event was attended by representatives from the European Union Delegation in BiH, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and the United Nations, as well as BiH government officials, civil society organizations, and numerous partners, friends, and citizens who came to show their support.