To mark International Children’s Day, Europe House in Bosnia and Herzegovina hosted an art competition for primary school students from across Bosnia and Herzegovina focusing on the importance of protecting children's rights. The competition highlighted the 35th anniversary of the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child and the continued commitment of the European Union to the protection and promotion of children’s rights.

The award ceremony, held today at Europe House, brought together winning schools and individual students chosen from over 130 submissions by elementary schools from all over Bosnia and Herzegovina. The five winning schools include Elementary school “Dositej Obradović” from Doboj, “Jovan Dučić” from Banja Luka, “Malta” from Sarajevo, “fra Miroslava Džaje” from Kupres and “Umihana Čuvidina” from Sarajevo while five best individual works come from students from schools in Bihać, Ilijaš, Ilidža and Sarajevo. Following the award ceremony, the guests also had the opportunity to visit the exhibition of the winning and selected works and attend workshop on the importance of children’s rights. This event provided a platform for students to creatively express their thoughts and visions on the critical issue of child protection.

Head of Communications and Spokesperson at the EU in Bosnia and Herzegovina Ferdinand Koenig, awarded the winners of the competition on behalf of the EU Office in Bosnia and Herzegovina and spoke about the importance of this occasion. “International Children’s Day is no ordinary day. It reminds us that children are our biggest responsibility and that we must create better conditions in which children can grow up feeling safe and be able to reach their full potential. As Bosnia and Herzegovina continues on its EU integration path, protection of children’s rights remains one of the key priorities. It is vital that the country aligns its policies, institutions and values with EU standards, especially when it comes to protection and promotion of children’s rights,” highlighted Koenig. 

This country-wide competition “Our Rights, Our Vision: A Creative Journey Through Children’s Rights” emphasized not only the importance of safeguarding the rights of children but also the pivotal role the European Union plays in ensuring these rights are respected and upheld. With the EU commitment to supporting children's welfare, the event showcased how collaborative efforts can make a difference in promoting a safe and just environment for children in Bosnia and Herzegovina and beyond.

This event is one of many organized by the Europe House to promote human and children’s rights in Bosnia and Hercegovina. The European Union continues to fund numerous projects across Bosnia and Herzegovina aimed at promotion of children’s rights and ensuring their well-being. By engaging young voices, these initiatives underline the collective responsibility to build a society where every child will grow in a healthy and safe environment and feel valued and protected.