SCARS Monuments to child victims of the war in Mostar and Banja Luka

The memory of children and babies who died carries a universal message that tragedies must not be forgotten, but also that such memories can lead us towards reconciliation and lasting peace.

In the heart of Mostar, in front of the monument dedicated to children killed in the war, Marijofil Šarić evokes memories that do not fade even after 30 years. He says he still relives every detail of the tragedy from his childhood.

"I can't say that I remember it, because I live it every day," admits Marijofil, remembering the day when a grenade took the lives of the children he was playing with.

The grenade did not choose, and the pain remains present in every corner of Mostar...

Ilija Kožulj, the initiator of the construction of the monument, did not lose anyone in the war or in that place, but he felt a deep need to leave some trace for future generations.

His engagement is not limited by national borders. "As a Croat, I am building a monument to the children who died, regardless of their nationality," he emphasizes, stressing the importance of common memory in the fight for peace.

The artistic stamp of the monument was given by Dalibor Nikolić, whose mosaic interweaves memories and symbolism.

"Ceramics, mirrors, everyday objects... symbolize the moments when children played carefree", says Nikolić and adds that his goal was to create a work that carries the dignity of memory, but also reminds of the fragility of life.

The special weight of the monument was added at the end by Marijofil Šarić. Even though he is in pain, he decided to lend a hand to whoever is responsible.
"If you ever meet whoever is responsible, tell them I forgave them on my behalf," he says.

A similar story unfolds in Banja Luka, where people gather every year to honor 12 babies who lost their lives due to lack of oxygen during the war.
The monument to the babies has become a symbol of universal sadness and a reminder of the fragility of life.

"This baby was neither a Serb, nor a Croat, nor a Bosniak - she was just a baby," says one of the interlocutors, stressing that the tragedies of war know no borders.

Through these stories, the monuments in Mostar and Banja Luka serve as a permanent reminder of suffering, but also of the importance of building a common future based on memory and hope. The memory of children and babies who died carries a universal message that tragedies must not be forgotten, but also that such memories can lead us towards reconciliation and lasting peace.

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