On 6 March 2026, a joint event organized by TRIAL International – Office in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Association “Forgotten Children of War” was held in Sarajevo at the Ibis Styles Hotel. The event was dedicated to presenting publications on the implementation of the Law on the Protection of Civilian Victims of War in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The aim of the event was to present the results of monitoring the implementation of the Law, exchange experiences among relevant institutions and organizations, and identify challenges in the practical application of its provisions, as well as possible recommendations for improving its implementation.
The event gathered representatives of government institutions, social welfare centres, health insurance institutes, institutes for the provision of free legal aid, international organizations, as well as representatives of survivors’ associations and civil society organizations.
Opening remarks were delivered by Ajna Jusić from the Association “Forgotten Children of War” and Klaudia Kuljuh from TRIAL International. In their introductory addresses, they emphasized the importance of the Law on the Protection of Civilian Victims of War in the Federation of BiH, while also highlighting the challenges that still occur in its practical implementation.
During the event, two publications related to monitoring the implementation of this law were presented.
In the first part of the event, TRIAL International – Office in Bosnia and Herzegovina presented an analysis monitoring the implementation of the Law on the Protection of Civilian Victims of War in the Federation of BiH, focusing on the realization of rights of all categories of civilian victims of war. The presentation was followed by a discussion during which participants had the opportunity to share practical experiences, ask questions, and provide comments on the application of the Law.
In the second part of the event, the Association “Forgotten Children of War” presented the first monitoring report on the implementation of the Law on the Protection of Civilian Victims of War in the Federation of BiH, with a special focus on the realization of rights of children born as a result of wartime sexual violence as a new and particularly vulnerable category of civilian victims of war. The report provides an overview of the status of law implementation in the cantons, identified challenges in its application, as well as recommendations for improving institutional support and ensuring the rights of this category of beneficiaries.
Both publications were presented by Adnan Kadribašić, an expert in the field of human rights and gender equality.
During the discussion, participants highlighted the importance of continuous monitoring of the Law’s implementation, as well as the importance of cooperation between government institutions, international organizations, and civil society organizations in order to ensure the consistent realization of the rights of civilian victims of war in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Particular attention during the discussion was given to the right to priority housing, which was highlighted as one of the key rights for this category of civilian victims of war, given its significant impact on the long-term security and social stability of beneficiaries.
Positive examples of good practice included models developed by the City of Živinice and the City of Tuzla, where local policies and programs enabled solutions for priority housing for members of this category of civilian victims of war. These examples demonstrated that local self-government units can implement the federal law without waiting for the harmonization of cantonal regulations.
It was also highlighted that certain cantons have already been recognized as positive examples in this area. The Bosnian-Podrinje Canton and the Una-Sana Canton were mentioned as examples where certain progress has been observed and a willingness to improve the approach to this issue has been demonstrated.
The event was moderated by Emela Burdžović, a long-time journalist, editor, and host with extensive experience in moderating public events.
The conference was attended by representatives of numerous institutions and organizations, including cantonal ministries, health insurance institutes, social welfare centres, institutes for the provision of free legal aid, international organizations and diplomatic missions, as well as organizations and associations of war survivors.
