Bosnia and Herzegovina is a beautiful nation with a richly diverse population and a complicated past. It is a nation that we three call home. And one in which we all wish for peace, success, and the prosperity of its people.
Bosnia and Herzegovina faces numerous obstacles, as do all nations. We are all concerned about the cost of living crisis, climate change, and issues such as education and public health. And tragically, Europe is experiencing war for the first time since the 1990s.
In these uncertain times, the past is never far from our collective consciousness, especially the wars that occurred in the former Yugoslavia. Despite the fact that this conflict ended nearly thirty years ago, its legacy is still felt today. Now, more than ever, people from all segments of society must collaborate to peacefully resolve their differences and protect the most vulnerable.
Conflict-related sexual violence survivors are among the most vulnerable members of society. Many continue to struggle to receive the necessary assistance. And the justice system can be inconsistent in its pursuit of accountability. Long-term physical, psychological, economic, and social consequences affect survivors, their families, and society at large. In addition, many survivors face social stigma that discourages them from seeking redress. All of these obstacles can prevent survivors from becoming fully involved members of their communities, thereby weakening society as a whole.
Female survivors face additional obstacles. They can became mothers to children that are born as a result of rape. These youngsters are frequently referred to as a “hidden population”. They, like their mothers, are viewed differently by portions of society for reasons wholly beyond their control. The Forgotten Children of War Association is attempting to support them. Their ground-breaking theatre performance (In the Name of the Father) takes real life-stories and provides these children an opportunity to tell an audience what happened to them. It can be a painful. However, it is also an essential healing process for both artists and audience members.
Bosnia and Herzegovina must support these youngsters more aggressively. The play and the subsequent legislative reforms in the Brko District (which recognize these youngsters as a category of civil war victims) are great and significant baby steps in the right direction.
TRIAL International does outstanding work to aid survivors in navigating the legal system. Their work has established key legal precedents, particularly in regard to the landmark judgement by the UN Committee Against Torture that emphasized Bosnia and Herzegovina’s commitment to provide victims with remedy. We urge lawmakers and government authorities to guarantee that this issue be resolved without delay.
The international community also plays an essential role. We must sustain momentum.
Since its inception in 2012, the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative has been a flagship British program.
Ten years later, on November 28-29, the United Kingdom will organize a second international conference in London to galvanize the world into greater action by promoting prevention, justice, and assistance for survivors, as well as to revitalize the international coalition on this crucial subject. The conference will increase the bar for conflict-related sexual violence prevention and response, and the conference declaration will convey a clear message that these horrible acts must cease and detail the measures to do so.
We are all thrilled that Bosnia and Herzegovina will participate in the PSVI summit and will use the occasion to highlight recent achievements, such as the new Brko District law. We are ecstatic that Bosnia and Herzegovina will sign the conference declaration.
In the future, we hope that Bosnia and Herzegovina will build upon the progress established thus far. Recognition of children born as a result of rape during war can and should be incorporated into national reparation frameworks. The Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees, which is responsible with developing a plan to execute the CAT decision of the United Nations, can and must resume its work and be permitted to make tangible recommendations to ensure survivors receive reparations. And the groundbreaking law that was agreed upon in the Brko District is just the beginning. Bosnia and Herzegovina must ensure that all children born as a result of a rape during warfare have access to complete and individualized rights. It is crucial that the authorities demonstrate leadership in the long-term challenge of eradicating stigmatisation from society and act decisively against GBV by investigating more crimes, prosecuting those responsible, and ensuring that local NGOs that provide essential services, such as safe houses, receive full funding.
Individually, these may be tiny steps, but together, we believe they can have a significant and good impact on society. As always, the decision about what to do with these suggestions rests with the people and their representatives.
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