Lord Ahmad underlines UK’s strong commitment to peace and stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina, December 2021

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Like my good friend and colleague Baroness Goldie, it is good to be here in Sarajevo today. This is not my first visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina and it is unlikely to be the last.

As the Good Baroness says, the UK’s ties to this country and its diverse and resilient people are deep, important and enduring; as is the case with many Balkan countries.

We have seen good evidence of these links in the recent debate on Bosnia in the British Parliament and in the upcoming debate on the importance of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the House on December 2.

My colleague the Minister of Foreign Affairs has spoken clearly and forcefully this week at the meetings of the OSCE and NATO foreign ministers of the importance of joint action to protect the hard-won gains in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Herzegovina for the past 26 years.

There is no doubt that the UK and our allies remain committed to helping Bosnia and Herzegovina prosper as a democratic state free from malicious influences – as we reaffirmed to President Komsic this morning.

Baroness Goldie touched on issues that are rightfully close to her heart, including the issue of women, peace and security. I would like to talk about a subject that has touched me for several years.

In addition to my ministerial role, I am also the Prime Minister’s Special Representative for the Prevention of Sexual Violence in Conflict. It’s a role that is very important to me. Addressing sexual violence, ensuring perpetrators are held accountable and supporting survivors are essential. And I’m proud to lead the UK’s work on this.

For nearly a decade, the UK has shown global leadership in preventing and responding to the scourge of sexual violence in conflict.

Globally, we’ve committed over £ 50million to support survivors and children born of sexual violence since 2012, funding projects in 29 countries to prevent and respond to conflict-related sexual violence, including in the Balkan countries.

We have been active in Bosnia and Herzegovina for several years. Our work with TRIAL International has resulted in historic legal decisions. And our work with religious leaders has helped fight the stigma that follows this heinous crime.

We are currently funding training to eliminate judicial stigma and provide support to survivors through local networks of shelters; and fund important projects to combat sexual harassment in higher education.

We continue to prioritize this work here, and I was able to visit two of our projects during this visit. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the government, our implementers and our global partners for the continued collaboration that allows this important work to take place.

Conflict-related sexual violence is a brutal war tactic, which leaves deep and lasting scars on survivors, children born as a result and their communities. As members of military and civilian security experts, I am sure you agree with me that such tactics have no place in conflicts and that the culprits must be brought to justice.

In my work on this issue, children born of such violence are at the forefront of my mind. Tens of thousands of children who, because of the circumstances of their conception, are marginalized and stigmatized by their communities, by bureaucracies and sometimes by their own families.

Two weeks ago in London, I launched our Call to Action to Guarantee the Rights and Well-Being of Children Born of Sexual Violence in Conflict, where I shared a scene with a young Bosnian woman born of rape during the conflict here. Its story and the stories of countless others underscore our collective responsibility to act.

This call to action is a first step galvanizing international action on behalf of this vulnerable group of children around the world.

It has been approved by the offices of the Special Representatives of the United Nations Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict and Children and Armed Conflict, the United States, Norway, South Sudan, Mexico and Guatemala.

And I am delighted that during our meeting yesterday my colleague Foreign Minister Turkovic agreed to join the UK in formally endorsing the Call to Action. We will work together to develop individual commitments and truly change the situation of these children.

Like all good ideas, our call to action is actually pretty straightforward.

All over the world, we must:

speak out about the challenges faced by children born of sexual violence in conflict and their role in building peaceful and prosperous societies provide a space for children born of sexual violence and the survivors who have bored them to share their knowledge in safely and meaningfully in discussions and debates concerning them strengthen legal and policy frameworks to remove barriers and proactively support the rights and well-being of children born of sexual violence in conflict encourage developmental approaches sustainable child-friendly recognizing children born of sexual violence among the most vulnerable and at risk of being left behind

By taking this approach, we can make a difference in the lives of children born of sexual violence in conflict. Together, we can help them find their place in the world and enjoy a better future.

The UK will continue to show leadership on this issue by all means at our disposal, including through a global defense engagement at events like this one today. We are therefore examining all options for stepping up our ambition, including the potential for a new International Convention. A convention could help strengthen states’ commitments to support survivors and hold perpetrators to account.

It is important that the good work we have done so far and be sustained. On September 16, the Foreign Secretary announced that the UK will host an international conference in 2022 to mark the tenth anniversary of the launch of the UK Initiative to Prevent Sexual Violence in Conflict. It will be an important opportunity to review progress, identify challenges and agree on new measures regarding sexual violence in conflict as well as broader gender equality issues.

And now I have a separate call for you. When you return to your units, ministries or departments, I hope you take these messages with you, and I hope you engage and support organizations like the excellent War Childhood Museum here in Sarajevo and the Association of children forgotten by war.

Thank you for your time.

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