Communities in Action: Commitment and Collective Action for Every Child

Sarajevo, 20 November 2025 – UNICEF in Bosnia and Herzegovina marked World Children’s Day with a central event titled “Communities in Action: Commitment and Collective Action for Every Child”, held in Sarajevo. The event brought together representatives of institutions, international organizations, civil society, academia, as well as children and young people.

This year’s theme, “Growing Together: From Voices to Action,” placed a spotlight on meaningful participation of children and youth in decision-making processes and on strengthening collective commitment to realizing the rights of every child in Bosnia and Herzegovina. During the event, UNICEF presented key findings from the 2025 Situation Analysis of Children and Adolescents in BiH, along with priorities of the UNICEF Country Programme 2026–2030. Special attention was dedicated to the Youth Declaration “Our Vision for the Next Decade,” voiced through the perspectives of children and young people.

The programme included a musical and artistic performance by children from the Centre for Blind and Visually Impaired Children, an exhibition of children’s drawings and student projects, as well as stands showcasing results of local initiatives within the “Communities that Listen, Learn and Care” programme. The event provided space for dialogue, networking, and joint advocacy for children’s rights, emphasizing the importance of institutional and collective responsibility for a better future for the youngest.

“Today we are marking World Children’s Day and reminding ourselves that all children – girls, boys and adolescents – have the same rights, no matter where they live in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Our shared role, as institutions, and as representatives of the education, health, social and child protection sectors, UN agencies, the international community, the NGO sector and society as a whole, is to advocate for the realization of these rights: the right to education, health, identity, safety, and the development of every child to their full potential,” said Marc Lucet, UNICEF Representative in BiH, calling on authorities and decision-makers to act together:

“First, we need a strong coordination mechanism for child rights in BiH, and it is urgent to establish the Council for Children. Second, we must continue investing, particularly in early education, which only 42 percent of children have access to—an unacceptable figure. And third, for policies to truly become actions that change the lives of children and families, laws must be adopted to create the space for these changes and ensure that every girl and boy has access to quality services and family-based care—regardless of where they live.”

The Minister of Human Rights and Refugees of BiH, Sevlid Hurtić, emphasized the importance of children’s and young people’s voices in shaping decisions that affect them:

“We are aware of the challenges—from social exclusion to insufficiently developed support services. But we also know that solutions exist when we act together. It is precisely this joint action that connects us today. To the children and young people here, I want to say: your voice matters, your presence matters, your ideas are needed. This is your day, and for us it is a reminder that we must listen to you, include you and protect you—not only today, but every day. Children’s rights must not be a matter of goodwill, but a permanent and unquestionable duty of all of us—institutions, communities and individuals.”

Speaking on behalf of children and young people with hearing and speech difficulties, Lejla Trakić from the School for the Rehabilitation of Hearing and Speech addressed the audience:

“Today I speak on behalf of children and young people whom society often does not see or hear. We are not ‘less capable’, but we face prejudice, misunderstanding and closed doors every day—from education to employment. Inclusion is not just a word—it means equal rights, open opportunities and the possibility to work in professions we are qualified for. By adopting the Law on Professional Rehabilitation, the foundations have been set for persons with disabilities to have equal opportunities for education, employment and advancement, but it is now crucial that these rights do not remain just words on paper. Our voice—whether different, quieter or expressed through hands—deserves to be heard and respected.”

The event reaffirmed the commitment of all stakeholders to ensuring that children in Bosnia and Herzegovina grow up in a safe, supportive and inclusive environment where their voices are heard and their rights realized.