Ms. Gerd Fleischer, 81, an activist and a child born of World War II in Norway, embarks on a journey through six post-war countries—Germany, Bosnia, Uganda, Vietnam, Iraq, and Ukraine.As she travels, Gerd shares her own life story, marked by experiences of abuse, stigma, struggles for justice, setbacks, and eventual triumphs. She also listens to the stories of other « enemy children »—those born from conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) in these war-torn regions.Struck by the haunting similarities in the fates of these forgotten children—spanning three generations and multiple continents—Gerd resolves to bring their voices to the Ukrainian Parliament. Carrying these testimonies as powerful human evidence, she urges lawmakers to establish permanent legal protections for Ukraine’s own war children.

Children born of conflict related sexual violence are among the most marginalized groups in post-war societies. Their lives remain shrouded in silence about their conception and they are subjected to stigma, discrimination and ostracization. Living at the margins of society makes the youngsters vulnerable to radicalisation and perpetuates cycles of violence. Building on 20 years of participatory research and film-making, listening to and working with affected individuals communities, we have developed a needs- and rights-based Impact Plan that intends to use The Other Side of Silence for · Global and local advocacy for equal rights and wellbeing · Grassroots engagement contributing to peacebuilding · Educational outreach informing today’s and tomorrow’s decision makers