The Memorial Honouring Dubrovnik's Children Lost in War

Located in the Port of Gruž, the Memorial to the Children Killed in the Homeland War stands as one of Dubrovnik's most moving places of remembrance. Dedicated to the fifteen children from the Dubrovnik area who lost their lives during the Homeland War between 1991 and 1995, the monument is both a tribute to those young lives and a lasting reminder of the value of peace.
Designed by academic sculptor Dalibor Stošić in collaboration with architect and designer Hrvoje Bilandžić, the memorial takes the form of fifteen brightly coloured pencils. Rather than depicting the symbols of war, the artists chose objects closely associated with childhood, creativity and hope. Each pencil represents one of the children whose lives were cut tragically short. The pencils are intentionally broken, with polished steel marking the point of fracture. The contrast between vibrant colours and exposed metal symbolises interrupted childhoods, while the steel is designed to weather over time, leaving natural traces that evoke enduring memory and loss.
As only the second memorial in Croatia dedicated specifically to children killed during the Homeland War, following the memorial in Slavonski Brod, it holds national significance. More than a monument to the past, it serves as a place of reflection, remembrance and education, reminding future generations of the human cost of war and the precious value of freedom and peace.