Conference: “International Advocacy Network for the Rights and Needs of Children Born Due to War”

The “Forgotten Children of War” Association organized the conference titled “International Advocacy Network for the Rights and Needs of Children Born Due to War” from February 16 to 18, 2023. The conference aimed to establish the “International Network for Children Born Due to War.”

Organizations from the region and across the globe, working to improve the status and rights of children born due to war, attended the event. One of the strategic goals of the “Forgotten Children of War” Association was to organize this conference to create a platform for sharing experiences and best practices regarding the issue of “children born due to war.”

In November 2021, the UK Government took the first step in establishing an international platform to support tens of thousands of children who, due to the circumstances of their conception, have been marginalized and stigmatized by their families and communities.

The platform aims to highlight the challenges faced by children born as a result of war, categorize them by priority, offer potential solutions, and provide a framework for coordinated action. Through specific actions within this platform, global partners, governments, international organizations, and civil society can take necessary steps to support these children.

It is important to note that, in addition to advocacy successes in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the “Forgotten Children of War” Association also contributed to the creation of the War Victims Act in Brčko District, a historical milestone, and played a key role in the establishment of this international platform.

Given the global context and the success of the advocacy efforts in BiH, it was decided that the beginning of 2023 was the right time to implement this conference.

The ultimate goal of the conference was, in collaboration with related organizations and stakeholders from around the world, to ensure that children born due to war are included in the development of strategies, policies, and initiatives that affect their status. This will contribute to improving the situation of survivors and ensuring the equality of children born due to war on a global scale.

During the conference, various practices from Bosnia and Herzegovina, the region, and the world were presented and discussed. Emphasis was placed on the need to adapt strategies to the cultural, traditional, religious, and political contexts of different conflict and post-conflict countries. This approach provided valuable insights into methodologies, tools, and practices applicable in diverse environments.

The honorary guest of the conference was Gerd Fleischer, a child of World War II, who shared her life experience and her participation in the lawsuit filed by war children against the Norwegian state before the European Court of Human Rights in 2007.

The conference consisted of six segments: research aspects, legal recognition, the role of art and culture in healing trauma, networking and collaboration opportunities, international experiences, and experiences from the Western Balkans. More details on each aspect can be found below.

In addition to participants from around the world, regional representatives from the Western Balkans (Kosovo, Serbia, Croatia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina) attended and presented the significance of their countries’ experiences.