Croatia to introduce Memorial Day for children killed in Homeland War

Under a proposal to amend the Public Holidays, Memorial Days and Non-Working Days Act, which underwent a public consultation this week and is set to be fast-tracked for adoption, Croatia will introduce a new memorial day "Remembrance Day for Children Killed in the Homeland War" to be observed on 3 May.

The proposal states that designating 3 May as a memorial day ensures a lasting remembrance of all children who perished in the 1991-1995 Homeland War. This serves to preserve the memory of their sacrifice, of childhoods cut short and lives lost, of children who today could have been adults, cherished by their families and their homeland, Croatia, CE Report quotes HINA.

According to the proposal, more than 400 children were killed during the Greater Serbian aggression against Croatia, 28 of them in Slavonski Brod, the largest number in a single local government unit in the country.

Memorial to children killed in Slavonski Brod

"3 May 1992 is remembered as the bloodiest day in the history of Slavonski Brod, as it was the single day with the largest number of child casualties during the Homeland War – six children were killed. This day and this city have become symbols of the suffering of children in the war," the proposal says, noting that Slavonski Brod is home to a memorial dedicated to the fallen children, titled "Interrupted Childhood".

The Ministry of Justice, Public Administration and Digital Transformation submitted the proposed amendments for public consultation, which lasted five days and concluded on Wednesday, following a proposal from the Ministry of Croatian Veterans.

The proposal emphasises that, given that every human life is sacred, especially that of a child, who should have a future filled with joy, play and learning, it is necessary to designate 3 May as a memorial day. This would serve as a warning to future generations about the importance of protecting children's lives and ensuring they grow up free from fear, loss, weapons and war.

This memorial day is also intended to honour the grief of countless mothers in Croatia, whose loss should never be repeated, and to commemorate the most innocent victims – children whose happiness and laughter were stolen by war.

"The significance of designating 3 May as a memorial day in Croatia is immense – not only as a form of recognition for the families of the children who perished and a remembrance of their greatest loss, but also as a wake-up call for society about the devastating impact of war on families and the crucial importance of ensuring that no child ever again has to make the ultimate sacrifice," the proposal states.

Currently, Croatia has 13 public holidays and non-working days and 11 memorial days.

The justice ministry is pushing for the amendments to be adopted under a fast-track procedure, so that this twelfth memorial day can be officially observed as early as this year.