This conference aims to present and discuss findings from the EuroWARCHILD project, funded European Research Council (ERC), Consolidator grant, 2021–2026.
The project has explored the experiences and needs of three generations of children born of war (CBOW) in Europe, in Norway, Denmark, Germany, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo. The research team has gathered data by interviewing children born by WWII as well as the Balkan conflict of the 1990s and mapped the media coverage of the repatriation of children born by European foreign fighters to ISIS. The project has analyzed relevant international normative frameworks which encompass or omit the plight of CBOWs.
During the span of the project, Russia went to a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. An intensification of a new European conflict means new CBOWs being born. A central aim of the EuroWARCHILD project is to learn from the past, to improve the future for new groups of CBOWs. This backdrop makes the discussions at the final conference of the EuroWARCHILD project increasingly urgent and important in a new security and geopolitical landscape in Europe.
Contact
Andrea Cocciarelli, andrea.cocciarelli@stk.uio.no / Lina Stotz, lina.stotz@stk.uio.no
Programme
| 09:00 – 09:15 | Welcome by Nina Græger, PRIO director Welcome from Rebecca Lund, director at the Center for Gender Research at the University of Oslo Short presentation by Inger Skjelsbæk, leader of the EuroWARCHILD project |
|---|---|
| 09:15 – 09:45 | Keynote address: The Rights of the Child in Situations of Armed Conflict Fionnuala Ní Aoláin, Professor University of Minnesota Law School and Queen’s University Belfast Law School. UN Special Rapporteur on counter-terrorism and human rights 2017 – 2023 |
| 09:45 – 10:30 | Panel conversation with the members of the EuroWARCHILD team Inger Skjelsbæk, Ingvill C. Ødegaard, Torunn L. Tryggestad, Lina Stotz, Johanne Rokke Elvebakken, and Lisa Govasli Nilsen |
| 10:30 – 11:00 | Coffee Break |
| 11:00 – 12:00 | Learning from the past: The impact of official apologies and legal recognition Short presentation of EuroWARCHILD publication on recognition by PhD Lina Stotz and Professor Inger Skjelsbæk Conversation about official processes of recognition with Former Prime Minister of Norway Kjell Magne Bondevik; Norwegian activist Svein Vogel Ødegaard; German activist Winfried Behlau; board member Sabine Lee |
| 12:00 – 13:00 | Lunch |
| 13:00 – 14:00 | Across generations: Children born of war from WWII supporting younger generations Short presentation of EuroWARCHILD publication on generational experiences PhD Johanne Rokke Elvebakken and Professor Ingvill C. Ødegaard Conversation about learning and support across generations and contexts with Bosnian-British activist Lejla Damon; Danish activist Arne Øland; board member Amra Delic |
| 14:15 – 14:30 | Coffee Break |
| 14:30 – 14:45 | Video message from CBOW participants |
| 14:45 – 15:45 | Moving forward: Policy frameworks for the future Short presentation of EuroWARCHILD publication on normative policy frameworks and planned study on implementation for young CBOWs today. Senior Researcher Torunn L. Tryggestad and Postdoc Lisa Govasli Nilsen Conversation about future pathways with State Secretary Andreas M. Kravik (tbc); activist Ajna Jusic; board member Kim Thuy Seelinger; board member Annick Wibben |
| 15:45 – 16:00 | Closing remarks and reflections by Fionnuala Ní Aoláin and Inger Skjelsbæk |
| 16:00 – 18:00 | Reception at PRIO |
