Chair of the PA BiH Delegation to PAM, Rejhana Dervišević, participated in the session of the Committee on Promoting Respect for International Humanitarian Law in Tashkent

Chair of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina (PA BiH) Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM), Rejhana Dervišević, took part in the session of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Committee on Promoting Respect for International Humanitarian Law, held within the framework of the 150th IPU Assembly in Tashkent (Republic of Uzbekistan).

The session of the Committee, which focused on the topic “The Role of Parliaments in Addressing the Impact of Armed Conflict on Children,” was chaired by Angelo Farrugia, Chair of the Committee and Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Parliament of the Republic of Malta. Participants discussed the increasingly difficult situation faced by children in conflict zones, where they are exposed to violence, recruitment, displacement, and serious violations of human rights.

In her address to the Committee, Dervišević highlighted the importance of establishing a strong institutional framework and fostering international cooperation in protecting children affected by armed conflicts. According to Dervišević, the role of parliaments in adopting better legislative measures, using international legal instruments, and strengthening cooperation with civil society is key to addressing the challenges and finding solutions to protect children in conflict areas.

She underlined that the needs of children in conflict zones go beyond urgent humanitarian aid, such as food and shelter, and also include long-term support from communities and families, trauma-related mental health care, and social services – including the building of permanent social infrastructure, such as stable living conditions and access to medical care essential to rebuilding their lives.

During the session, parliamentarians exchanged experiences on how to tackle impunity and support children in post-conflict situations, with a particular focus on education and psychosocial rehabilitation.

This session underscored the role of parliaments in developing sustainable solutions to protect children affected by armed conflicts, emphasising the urgency of international cooperation and humanitarian responsibility. (End)