Council of Europe Commissioner Mijatović: Authorities must remove all barriers to erecting a memorial to the murdered children of Prijedor

(Patria) - On the occasion of the Day of White Ribbons in Prijedor, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Dunja Mijatović emphasized the importance of ensuring rights for the families of thousands of victims of war crimes and grave human rights violations committed in this city between 1992 and 1995, including 102 children. She also stressed the obligation to remember the victims.

Since 2014, local authorities have not responded to the multiple requests from families, joined by activists behind the Day of White Ribbons, for the construction of a memorial to the murdered children of Prijedor, while the commemoration of the Day of White Ribbons has faced systematic obstruction for years, according to the office of the European Commissioner.

Mijatović has previously condemned the local authorities' ban on holding a peaceful march in honor of the victims and their continuous refusal to discuss the construction of a memorial to children killed in the war in the City Council.

"I call on the authorities in Prijedor to finally remove all legal and political barriers that stand in the way of erecting a memorial to the murdered children of Prijedor. I express solidarity with the families and pay tribute to their courage and persistence that their children not be forgotten victims of war. I express my readiness to work with local authorities, families, and civil society organizations to make this important initiative a reality as soon as possible," Mijatović stated.

As she emphasized, authorities should enable the implementation of commemoration initiatives that preserve the memory of the victims of crimes committed during the war. Honoring children is particularly important, she stated, as children are often overlooked in commemoration initiatives.

"Without remembering the past, especially the crimes committed against the most vulnerable members of society, there is no prospect for a better future. We must remember what happened and acknowledge and rectify the suffering of victims and survivors of war through proper and dignified commemoration. Failure to address the painful experience of committed crimes also has far-reaching consequences for society as a whole. Younger generations deserve to learn about the past from multiple perspectives, so that the prejudices, hatred, and animosities of the past are not perpetuated. Civil society organizations and activists should be given space and support in their work on commemoration initiatives, including public gatherings that acknowledge the suffering of victims, especially children, in war," the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights urged.