Monument:
Memorial to Children Killed in the Siege of Sarajevo 1992-1995

Location: Sarajevo, within Veliki Park, Centar Municipality

Entity: Federation of Bosnia and Hezegovina

Erected in year: 9 May 2009

Text on the monument:

Memorial to Children Killed in the Siege of Sarajevo 1992-1995

(names - last name, father‘s name, first name, year of birth and year of death of the killed children)

In memory of:

Children victims from the area of besieged Sarajevo

Ethnic group: -

Victims are from the area of: The besieged part of Sarajevo

Dimensions: Height 0.7 m, diameter 10 m. The glass sculpture has a circular base of 1.7 m in diameter and is composed of two parts. The height of the larger element is about 5 m, and of the smaller about 3 m.

Built by the means of:

The City Council formed an Organisation Committee for the memorial comprising representatives of the City, Cantonal ministers, the Mayors of municipalities in the Sarajevo Canton, representatives of the Association of Parents of Children Killed in the Siege of Sarajevo. Financed by the Sarajevo Canton, City and all municipalities.

Authorship: Mensud Kečo, academic sculptor

Interpretation of the idea:

"The monument has a clear and simple symbolism and message.
It is made of reinforced concrete in circular form, serving as the base for a bronze ring placed on the upper surface. The circular ring-like bronze structure bearing children‘s footprints speaks to the eternal presence of the killed children and the siege they lived under during the aggression. The glass sculpture in the middle of the fountain symbolises a crystal tower usually built by children playing in the sand. This form also represents a flame frozen in an instant and the light trapped inside. The water in the fountain that gently surfaces and washes over the footprints symbolises life and the movement of nature." Direct quotation from questionnaire. Source: A. Musić, City of Sarajevo, City Service for Urban Planning and Housing

Monument changes:

At the request of the Association of Parents of Children Killed in the Siege of Sarajevo, the City of Sarajevo and the Ministry for Veterans of the Sarajevo Canton undertook the construction of a plinth for the inscription of the names of the killed children as part of the Memorial. Seven cylinders of anodised aluminium bearing the names of 521 children victims are placed on a concrete plinth. The plinth was officially inaugurated on 9 May 2010.

Commemorations: 9 May, Victory over Fascism Day

Data source(s): City of Sarajevo, City Service for Urban Planning and Housing , Fieldwork

Photographed: 1 November 2012

Map: