News

We remember crimes in Kosovo

Statement on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of crimes against Albanian civilians in Kosovo

Women in Black of Belgrade have marked on 26th of March, at the Republic Square of Belgrade on the occasion of 15th anniversary of crimes over Albanian civilians in Kosovo a peace action-"We remember crimes in Kosovo".

Twenty placards with names of the villages were the crimes have occurred were exposed:
Podujevo - Podujevë, Suva Reka - Suharekë, Cuska - Qyshk, Ljubenic - Lubeniqë, Pavljan - Pavlan, Racak - Reçak, Rogovo - Rogovë, Meja - Meje, Korenica - Korenicë, Trnje - Terrne, Velika i Mala Krusa - Krushë e Madhe dhe Krushë e Vogël, Gornja i Donja Sudimlja - Studime e Epërme dhe Studime e Poshtme, Bela Crkva - Bellacërk, Izbica - Izbicë, Ljubižda –Lubizhdë, Pusto Selo- Pastasel, Rezala - Rrezallë, Poklek - Poklekë, Staro Cikatovo - Çikatovë e Vjetër, Dubrava - Dubravë

Besides, two more transparents were exposed:
- Peace depends of me, of you, of all of us -Paqja varet nga unë, nga ti, nga të gjithë ne
- The peace is not just the absence of conflict, but the presence of justice -Martin Luther King - Paqja nuk është vetëm mungesa e konflikteve, por edhe prania e drejtësisë.- Martin Luther King

The central placard was:
We remember crimes in Kosovo- Kujtojmë krimet në Kosovë

and as well, we have exposed the one on the floor:
- Women in Black against war

Beside the protest, there was a reconstruction of the crime scene, an action with the support of the art collective-Art Clinics from Novi Sad.

Approximately 40 people participated in the protest which was covered by the media and the whole event passed without incident, with police protection.

Due to 8ht of March-International Women`s Day, Women in Black and Reconstruction Women`s Fund have organized street marsh all over Republic Square, Slavija and Center for Cultural Decontamination.

The main slogan was- 'Women-work-hunger! Do not give flowers to us-give us back our enterprises'

Protesting marsh which have started on 8ht of March at 1PM, we indicated on threat to women's labor rights in Serbia (lower-paid, first-fired and double-loaded), as well as on devastating impact of patriarchy, church and certain laws on reproductive rights of women.

In front of procession were drummers and activists who were holding 4 kilometers long violet banner with inscription-main slogan, made of white letters. On the left and on the right were walking activists holding two paroles: `Women, mothers, workers-we do not even have day wages` and `We want to work, not poverty and hunger.`

Followed by other activists who held other slogans which were radical, provocative and subversive.

Among others were paroles: Neither whores nor saints - women only; Register pedophiles, not the women who aborte; No state, no master – just the labor and reproductive rights; Church and God - away from my ovaries; We dispose with our body, mind and money; My body, my mind, my work; I'm not going to give birth for slave labor; Poverty kills; Support for workers in BiH; Capitalism kills;Give us back our factories, For workers; Neither brush nor Borosane, the sunrise for us; Long live the paid work; Our labor law - the horror and terror; Against patriarchy and capitalism; Get rid of false promises, which will be good only for you; Do not discriminate but you employ; Capitalism kills; We walk for those who are prohibited – Women from Banja Luka.

Participants of the marsh were making noise with the help of drums, tambourine, rattles, whistles and cans.

During the marsh starting from the Republic Square, across Kolarčevea street, Terazije, King Milan`s street, to Slavija through megaphones were also heard the key slogans, which were then chanted.

The marsh was completed at the Centre for Cultural Decontamination in socializing and snacks.

Gay icon for 2013th year

As every year, GayEcho portal continues the tradition that declares the male and female gay icon for previous year. These are people whose work and dedication have contributed to greater visibility and better position of the LGBT community in Serbia, or are especially favorite among LGBT population.
The title of the male gay icon for 2013 got the winner of reality show Big Brother, Zarko Stojanovic, for his contribution to greater visibility of the LGBT community and improving the image of the LGBT community in Serbia.
The title of the female gay icon for 2013 received the Women in Black, Staša Zajović, for her many years of advocacy for LGBT rights, for her support of the LGBT community in Serbia and the region, despite the verbal attacks of certain activists, she didn't turn her back to LGBT community.
GayEcho portal is also declared the homophobes for 2013, and it's Zeljko Joksimovic, for his verbal attack on a transgender person Philip Janevski Fifi, participant of X factors Adria.

Ramiz's song

Women in Black

As colourful armies, diplomats and models
Walk the red carpet of the World
(Dressed according to the latest fashion),
And the smell of blood and perfume
Lingers in the air,
You are still wrapped in Antigona's black,
In the Virgin Mary's black, Anne Frank's black,
The black worn by the mothers of Jasenovac, the mothers of Bleiburg,
The mothers of Srebrenica...

I can see you Talking to the raped women of Trnopolje,
Reaching out to the war orphans of Kozara,
Bowing your heads before the detainees of Omarska...

Alas, the black you're wearing,
Is getting more black by the day.
Whereas I so long to see you
Wearing festive clothes in my lifetime.

Today, however,
Might and Arrogance
Shine brightly,
While Truth is wrapped in black.

But soon, young people
Will be talking about the time
When your blackness
On this black land
Was more beautiful than flowers.

Enes Kisevic

Visit the center for asylum seekers

BOGOVADJA

As activists of Women in black and I walked into a cafe in Bogovađa, I experienced shock people sometimes feel when they find themselves in huge multicultural cities where you can see people from all around the world, which is definitely not the case with Belgrade. All this seemed like a parallel world and I remembered how often I had a feeling of being in parallel universe while being in my own country: it also happened while I was volunteering in roma settlement in Karaburma. Getting this kind of feeling is possible because of tendency in Serbia to entirely separate certain minority groups from the society, until it stops being aware of their existence and ignores them till that last, critical point as it has happened here, in Bogovađa. The thing is that nobody made action or spoke about asylum seekers in time. Even in 2011. when it was discovered how there is not enough room in the asylum Center and that hundreds of people are out there in woods without regular supply of food, things were left as they were up to this winter.

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