As part of the commemoration of 50 years of Amnesty International’s work in Italy, the festival “Voci per la Libertà – Una canzone per Amnesty” was held in the city of Rovigo from July 14 to 20. The festival brought together a week of music, art, and human rights advocacy. During this period, Rovigo became a space for dialogue, resistance, and freedom—values that closely align with the mission of the Association Forgotten Children of War.
Within the festival program, the exhibition “Breaking Free” was presented, introducing the public to the stories of children born as a result of wartime sexual violence in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as children of UN peacekeepers and humanitarian workers. The exhibition served as a powerful reminder of the global consequences of war and the responsibility of the international community toward those whose lives have been permanently shaped by violence.
Through a carefully designed audiovisual format, “Breaking Free” conveyed personal, emotional, and often silenced stories, opening space for empathy, understanding, and confrontation with the reality of sexual violence in war. Each story carried a clear message of peace, alongside a strong call for prevention and accountability.
The significance of this event was further strengthened by the fact that the voices of the Forgotten Children of War found their place within a festival dedicated to human rights, freedom of expression, and the fight against injustice. The presence of the exhibition in this context affirms that these stories are not merely local, but universal, and that listening to them is a moral responsibility shared by all of us.
The Association Forgotten Children of War continues to expand spaces where truth is heard, the boundaries of silence are challenged, and the dignity of survivors is placed at the center of public dialogue.
