Ajna Jusić, founder and activist, one of the best BiH ambassadors, winner of international awards for female courage – for Dnevnik 2 she spoke about the achievements and struggle of the Forgotten Children of War Association.
Bosnia and Herzegovina was the first in the world to recognize the status of a civilian victim of war to a child born from the crime of wartime rape. It took us thirty years to take this step, as well as to adopt the Law on the Protection of Civilian Victims of War, the implementation of which began at the beginning of this year. The system decided, but the credit for what was achieved still belongs to the Forgotten Children of War Association.
It was the hardest for the mothers, said Jusić – they survived wartime sexual violence, gave birth to children who were not legally recognized, shame was placed on their backs.
“We are not children of the enemy, but children of Bosnia and Herzegovina – and that is a huge change for me. The most important thing is that we built a space for understanding, from which interethnic dialogue was born – we carry out our activities in Sarajevo, Zagreb and Belgrade, as well as in certain parts of the RS”, Jusić pointed out, and at the end she added: “I am no longer asked about my father’s name when I go to the municipality – I’m really happy about that”.
