The head of the "Forgotten Children of War" Association, Ajna Jusic, is one of this year's 12 winners of the IWOC - International Women of Courage Award, which was presented to her on March 4 at the White House. The ceremony was hosted by Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and First Lady Jill Biden.
Ajna Jusic told the Fena news agency that she received the award thanks to the efforts of the Association ‘Forgotten Children of War’, which advocated for the legal and social visibility of children born from war.
“Through our work, we have become the leaders of changes in the area of human rights, for children born as a result of war. The most important results of our work and the most important effect of that award is the legal framework that we, by advocating, set up in Bosnia and Herzegovina”, she told Fena.
She pointed out the laws on civilian victims of war that were passed in the Brcko District and the Federation entity (FBiH) in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which granted legal recognition to children born as a result of wartime rape.
She noted that one of those children, Alen Muhic, spoke out about 20 years ago and started a heroic “path of truth and bravery”.
“Strength was born from the gathering of all of us. Each of us gave a part of ourselves for this. It wasn't easy, but fortunately for us, the people around us invested our capacities so we can tell our stories, bring us closer to you and give a part of our identities to all of you in the most beautiful way”, she said.
She pointed out that this was not easy for the families involved.
“Sometimes they were loud in their support, sometimes more quiet, but they always did support us. We were never alone”, she stressed.
Jusic also pointed out the importance of media, saying that it contributed to members of the organisation being able to have a voice in the White House.
“The society in Bosnia and Herzegovina did not remain immune to this or lethargic, you all took on this path together with us and today we enjoy the results of our work together. I use the opportunity to, once again, call for us to continue fighting, this is not the end of the road”, she said.
She noted that, in 2022, the Law on Civilian Victims of War was adopted in the Brcko District, and it has not been applied in the past 19 months because the local government has not yet put together a rulebook on the procedure for the legal recognition of the status of children born as a result of wartime sexual violence.
“Last year, the Law on Civilian Victims of War in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina was adopted, and on January 19 of this year, the Rulebook on the realization of status was adopted. One child, born from wartime sexual violence, has already submitted documentation for that status. Thus that person made history, all over the world, with their courage and the courage of their mother. I call on all cantons in the FBiH to harmonize the regulations with the FBiH law as soon as possible so that the granted rights become a reality. I call on the cantonal governments to adopt specific programs aimed at supporting children born as a result of the war as soon as possible. It is time for that, 30 years after the end of the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina”, she stressed.
“Let this be a message to the international community that we cannot run away from the truth for much longer. The truths that children of UN peacekeepers and children whose fathers are members of humanitarian organizations that operated in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the war carry with them. We promise that these categories will not and must not remain hidden in the shackles of the international community. We will speak out about this as long as we are alive”, Jusic stressed.
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