Public Appeal
On the occasion of May 24th, the International Day of Women's Actions for Peace and Disarmament, and May 28th, the International Day of Actions for Women's Health, we, as activists from women's autonomous groups, are organizing numerous activities.
We denounce the following:
- During the last ten years of war, sanctions, and misery, women had to bear the biggest burden, and autonomous women's groups were forced to deal with the consequences of war while at the same time continuously caring for others.
- Autonomous women's groups created a network of mutual support and solidarity with activists from all countries of the former-Yugoslavia and throughout the world, in extremely difficult conditions of constant repression under the former regime.
- Autonomous women's groups, as an important element of civil society, made a huge contribution to the toppling of the former regime.
Nevertheless, the events of October 5th 2000 did not bring us the changes we expected: instead of economic recovery, the majority of the population has become poorer; clerical/nationalist tendencies are strengthening; most of the media are still using hate speech; there have been no reforms in the judicial system; and not all suspected war criminals have been arrested and sent to the Hague Tribunal, etc.
It is for this reason that we demand:
- The introduction of civilian control over the armed forces, as a first step towards the democratization of the country;
- That money directed for military causes be used for health, education, and culture. That money belongs to all citizens and we have the right to demand that this money be used for improving the economic situation and medical services;
- That instead of supporting laws such as the Law on Financial Support for Families with Children, which are attacking women's reproductive rights, the state should create conditions in which women decide for themselves if they will have children or not;
- That Serbian Members of Parliament work for the reproductive rights of women, and not vote for laws that treat women as children-delivering machines for the needs of the state, nation, church, or party;
- The introduction of sex education in schools, because it is more necessary than religious classes during which representatives of the church degrade women and instigate ethnic intolerance and hatred toward those who are different;
- A law on lustration, and the implementation of the Law against National Hatred and Religious Intolerance. We also demand sanctions on hate speech;
- The handing over of all the persons suspected for war crimes to the Hague Tribunal.
Belgrade, May 24th 2002
Women in Black
The following organizations and persons support this appeal:
Women are Coming, Cacak; Bona Fide, Pljevlje; SOS, Pljevlje; Azrael, Kraljevo; Iskra, Kraljevo; Women's Center Damad, Novi Pazar; Women's Center, Leskovac; A Woman, Nis
On May 25th 2002 the following paticipants of the conference joined this initiative:
Committee for the Right of Men (for women), Vranje; Women's Multiethnic Group, Seleus: Association of Citizens "Destinikon", Sjenica; Forum of Women, Prijepolje: Committee for Human Rights, Majdanpek: Women's Club "Princess Ksenija," Cetinje; Women's Center, Uzice; Women's Studies and Research, Novi Sad: Eva, Novi Sad; Women's Initiative, Priboj: Center for Women's Rights, Vrsac; Banat Women's Initiative, Pancevo; ZMIG Pancevo; Vera Vujosevic "Republic,” Belgrade; "Zinec", Kotor; Forum of Women, Kolasin; SOS Phone for Women and Children Victims of Violence, Niksic; Jelka Imsirovic: BZL, AZIN, Belgrade; Nada Kacanski, SDP, Belgrade; Mira Ivankovic, SDP, Belgrade: Impulse, Turin.
The initiative was joined by:
Center for Creative Affirmation of the Youth, Dimitrovgrad; Quarter, Kraljevo; ZAR, Kikinda; Women's Center for Democratisiation and Human Rights, Subotica.
