As we have done in the past, we are providing you with a brief report regarding our actions for this period, if you are interested in more detailed information you can find it on web site www.zeneucrnom.org or by contacting us by mail at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
We would like to thank you in advance, in solidarity.
Street actions: from January to May 2009 we organized eleven (11) street actions (protests, performances, marches), which we can classify in the following way:
Commemorations of very important dates when crimes were committed in our names: 11th February, Tuzla, (Bosnia and Herzegovina), 27th Prijepolje (Serbia),
25th April, Vlasenica (Bosnia and Herzegovina).
Campaigns for proclamation of 11th of July - Day To Remember Genocide In Srebrenica : 11th of March and 11th of April in Belgrade and 4th of April in Leskovac.
International solidarity against the aggression on Gaza -
8th and 20th of January, Belgrade – Stop siege of Gaza! – International solidarity peace action with peace movement of Israel and Palestine, against Israeli aggression on Gaza.
Women Peace March for 8th of March in Belgrade - 101st Years of Women’s Solidarity
Solidarity with threatened Gypsy populations in Belgrade: ` Stop racism `, 8th of April in Belgrade.
Protest against Church laws and religious communities: 24th of April in Belgrade
Those actions will be explained with more details in the part regarding these kinds of actions.
Facing the past/transitional justice – feminist approach
This is one of the most important Women in Black actions. It consists of various actions, such as: street actions, workshops, lecturing, different models of transitional justice from a feminist approach, in cooperation with similar organizations and within similar actions (campaign, consulting meetings):
Attending places where crimes in our names were committed: street actions in the form of commemoration, with the purpose of giving importance to those dates when crimes were committed in our names:
11th of February: Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina: taking part in a peace protest and march - ` Seeking missing persons – do not forget Srebrenica `, which is organized by the organization ` Women of Srebrenica `, from Tuzla, the eleventh of every month.
27th of February, Prijepolje, Serbia: sixteen years since the crime in Štrpci, kidnapping of eighteen passengers of Bosnian nationality and one passenger of Croatian nationality, from the train Belgrade – Bar, 27th of February 1993, by the group of soldiers, belonging to Republic Srpska Army. In the public appeal we turned to competent officials of the Serbian state, knowing that crime occurred with the knowledge and cooperation of the official institutions of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
In Prijepolje there was a protest and commemoration, the unveiling of the monument for the victims, by the municipal of Prijepolje, twelve activists attended representing Humanitarian Law Fund from Belgrade and activists of the Network of Women in Black in Serbia - Belgrade, Pančevo, Leskovac. We laid a wreath with the inscription – `We will never forget the crime in Štrpci ` – Women in Black Network from Serbia, Belgrade, Pančevo, Leskovac. After the commemoration we met members of victims’ families.
25th of April, Vlasenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina: invited by the Association of victims families from Vlasenica 1992 – 1995, eight activists of Women in Black Network in Serbia from Belgrade and Leskovac attended the commemoration of seventeen years since the war crime by the Serbian armed formations under civilians of Bosnian nationality during 1992 in the Sušica war camp, was committed, in which there were 8000 Bosnian civilians, captured, of which 1100 were killed. On 25th of April 2009, 29 identified bodies were buried. We laid the wreath with the inscription – ` With compassion and solidarity – Serbian Women in Black Network `. On that occasion we met relatives of victims, primarily all female family members of those who were killed.
Campaign – 11th of July, Day To Remember Genocide In Srebrenica – Proclaim it!
The campaign started in February 2009, after the European Parliament accepted the Resolution on 11th of July – Day To Remember Genocide In Srebrenica. Women in Black initiated this campaign, together with similar organizations belonging to the civil society in Belgrade, (Humanitarian Law Fund, Committee of Attorneys for Human Rights, Center of Advanced Law Studies, Youth Initiative for Human Rights). This Campaign is addressed to institutions in Serbia, so that the 11th of July will be proclaimed as a ` Day To Remember Genocide In Srebrenica `, as well as toward citizens of Serbia to induce their sensibility and compassion, to awaken respect and solidarity for the victims of the genocide in Srebrenica. So far we have held the following actions:
9th of March, Belgrade – during the street march, in which a couple of hundred activists took part, from throughout Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, the main demand was to pressure the institutions of Serbia to deport Ratko Mladić, accused of the genocide in Srebrenica, to the Hague Tribunal and to proclaim 11th of July as the Day To Remember Genocide in Srebrenica.
11th of March and 11th of April, in Belgrade: in front of the Presidency of Serbia, and the Parliament of the city of Belgrade, public protests ` 11th of July – Day To Remember Genocide In Srebrenica – Proclaim it!
4th of April, Leskovac: Women in Black, Belgrade and Women for Peace, Leskovac organized - ` Women action for peace and justice ` - 11th of July – Day To Remember Genocide In Srebrenica – Proclaim it! In this action 50 women took part, activists from Serbian Women in Black Network, from Leskovac, Vlasotince, Niš, Pirot, Kraljevo, Belgrade, Kruševac. Additionally, within the same campaign,
Serbian Women in Black Network, organized actions for awaking the sensibility of public opinion for this very important event by showing a film about Srebrenica, organizing workshops and lectures, and distributing leaflets.
Punishment of crime – a way to just peace: attending the trials within the Special Court – in front of the War Crime Council in Belgrade.
Trial for Suva Reka crime:
Members of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Serbia, on the 26th of March 1999, killed 50 Albanian civilians, of which were 48 members of the Berisha family. Since October 2, 2006, activists of Women in Black, have attended all the court dates to date:
January : 12,13, 14 and 15.
March : 2, 3.
April : 6, 7, 8 and 23 – verdict. The verdict was attended by ten activists from Women in Black and at the end we gave a statement of our disagreement with the verdict, especially with the fact that the accused Radoslav Mitrovic was released.
Trials for war crimes in Podujevo: on the 28th of March 1999 in Podujevo (Kosovo), members of the Scorpion unit (Djukić Željko, Medić Dragan and Šolaja Miodrag), which was active as a reserve unit within the structure of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, in Rahmana Morine number 7 street, in the yard of Haljim Gashi`s house, killed and severely wounded 19 civilians of Albanian nationality.
For this war crime in Podujevo, there has been one verdict, until now and it is for
Saša Cvjetan, a member of ` Scorpions `, who was convicted with a sentence of twenty years in prison.
The trial started on September the 8th, 2008, and activists of Women in Black are
following the trial. In this reporting period, we attended summons on:
January : 21, 22, 23, 26 and 27.
March : 11, 12 and 13.
April : 13, 14 and 15.
Trial for war crime in Zvornik : during the Serb`s agression on Bosnia and Herzegovina, in May and June of 1992, in the territory of the Zvornik municipallity, the acussed Grujić Branko from Mali Zvornik (President of the temporary government, President of war headquarter and War secretariat) and Branko Popović (known as well under the name Marko Pavlović) from Sombor (the commander of Territorial Deffence headquarters, member of headquarters) tortured around 700 Muslim civilians (according to the accusation of Serbian Special Court on war crimes), women, children and men from the villages – Klis, Djulići, Grbavci, Kučić Kule, Grebe, Šetići and then they were killed in Gerina klanica place.
The trial started on 10th of November 2008. In this period we had summons on :
March : 23 and 24.
April : 21 and 22.
Trial for war crimes in Lovas : members of the Yugoslav National Army and the
paramilitary formation ` Dušan The Great `, killed 70 Croatian civilians
in October 1991. From the very beggining of the trial, in April 2008,
Women in Black Network, has followed the trial. During the
mentioned period this report is reffering to, there were summons on the following
dates :
January: 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30.
February: 23, 24, 25, 26 and 27.
March: 25, 26, 27, 30 and 31.
April: 23, 27, 28 and 29.
Vehabia Trial: started on the 14th of January 2008, in front of the Special Court Organized Crime Council, in Belgrade. Fifteen individuals were accused: Senad Ramović, Jasmin Smajlović, Adnan Hot, Memić Nedžad, Fuad Hodžić, Mirsad Prentić, Erhan Smailović, Senad Vejselović, Vahid Vejselović, Mehmedin Koljši, Husein Čuljak, Aldin Puljić, Memić Bekta, Safet Bećirović, Berbo Damir.
According to the accusation on the 14th of September 2007, they are charged with a crime which is in opposition to the constitution, connected to the war crime of terrorism and owning fire arms and explosives, illegally. They were arrested during the police action in which Ismail Prentić was killed. We attended the following summons:
April: 22, 23 and 24.
In this reporting period, we followed 47 summonses in front of the Special Court.
Women in Black activists Persa Vučić and Miloš Urošević attend all of the trials, and from time to time, the trials are attended by other activists of Women in Black Network Serbia, who report about the trials within this network and internationally.
Educational activities : workshops, lectures, showing documentary films – 19th to the 21st of March in Kotor, Crna Gora – specialized seminar ` Facing the past – feministic approach `, organized by Anima – Center for women and peace education, Women Studies program, within which there were six workshops and interactive lectures, as well as the projection of films regarding transitional justice : ` Enemies of happiness`, a documentary lasting 57 minutes, a 2006 production of the Danish Institute of Film. It was recorded in Afghanistan and follows the political actions of the candidate Malalaya Djoje, elected in the first parliamentary elections in Afghanistan (September 2005). It shows the efforts of this brave woman in her fight against fundamentalism and organized war mafia, threats she is faced with, constantly, but thanks to the votes of women she succeeded in entering Parliament.
` United dreams ` (Suenos compartidos) : directed by Edgardo Cabeza, (Edgardo Kabesa), a production of Fundacion de Madres da Plaza de mayo (2007), Ministerio de Derechos humanos y socials, Universidad popular de Madres de
Plaza de mayo, film lasts for 67 minutes. This documentary is about the 30 years of action of the Mothers from the May Square.
It shows mothers searching for their children during the army dictatorship in Argentina (1976 – 1983), the fight for punishment for these crimes, as well as their great efforts in the areas of education, social justice and human rights.
Film ` Srebrenica’s women are speaking `, a production of Women in Black, directed by Milica Tomić, lasts for 17minutes. Women related to those who were killed in Srebrenica, testify about genocide, referring to citizens of Belgrade and Serbia 13 years since the crime was committed. The film consists of the testimonies of the relatives of victims; all of the material was produced in Bosnia and Herzegovina, supported by the civic association ` Women of Srebrenica ` located in Tuzla, (B and H).
Štrpci – 15 years after : a documentary by Indian director Anberin Pasha, produced by Women in Black, lasting for 10 minutes, made for the anniversary of the war crime in Štrpci (2007) shows a peace action of Women in Black together with families related to victims on the spot where the war crime occured – at the railway station in Štrpci.
` Different power is possible ` by Luiza Morgantini : a documentary, lasting 28 minutes, directed by Jelena Čelebić, produced by Women in Black (2008), it is about Louiza Morgantini, a representative in the Europian Parliament, one of the initiators of the Women in Black International Network, it was made in Leskovac, at the Conference ` Different power is possible `, organized by Women in Black and shows the peace engagement of Louiza Morgantini. The seminar that was led by Staša Zajović, from Women in Black of Belgrade, was attended by twenty students of Women Studies from Kotor, Podgorica, Nikšić, Bijelo Polje, Pljevlja, Herceg Novi, Cetinje.
?On the 9th of March, Belgrade : a workshop organized by Women in Black and Women to Women, Sarajevo ` The truth in transitional period – feminist approach`, 35 women attended, members of the Serbian Network of Women in Black from the following cities: Kikinda, Velika Plana, Zrenjanin, Pančevo, Novi Sad, Subotica, Kruševac, Niš, Pirot, Vlasotince, Leskovac, Beograd, as well as activists from the women’s groups of Bosnia and Herzegovina, from the cities : Sarajevo, Mostar, Tuzla, Kravica, Bratunac, Milići, Sokolac, Bijeljina, Banja Luka, Modriča, Višegrad, Zenica and from Montenegro from Pljevlja. On this occasion, the `Srebrenica’s Women are speaking ` documentary was shown.
On the 10th of March, Belgrade: a lecture on transitional justice – challenges, obstacles to achieving transitional justice in the region, was given by Biljana Kovačević – Vučo, president of the Committee for Human Rights (YUCOM), it was attended by activists from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia.
April the 4th, Leskovac: a one day seminar was held - ` The truth in a transitional period – feministic approach `, within which there were workshops and lectures, coordinated by Nevena Kostić from Leskovac and Staša Zajović from Belgrade, there were documentary films projected, regarding transitional justice :
- ` Srebrenica`s women are speaking ` – all the details are already given in the previous part,
- ` Two memories ` – Belgrade and Sarajevo : a documentary film lasting for 17 minutes, directed by Boban Stojanović and Adam Puškar, produced by Women in Black (2008). The film shows two opposite receptions of Women in Black actions : from one side, attacks from clero – fascist organizations that Women in Black had to face within Belgrade, while they were commemorating nine years of genocide in Srebrenica and from the other side, positive reactions and acceptance of Women in Black in Sarajevo in September 2002.
- Štrpci – 15 years after
The seminar was attended by 40 women – activists of Women in Black Network, as well as members of political parties, representatives of Leskovac institutions, Vlasotince, Belgrade, Niš, Pirot and Kruševac.
Facing the past/transitional justice - through art
During this period there has been continouty in the cooperation of national and international art associations, professional theaters, artists engaged in artistic expression of women resistance to war, war crimes, repression, violation of human rights, etc.
The 28th and 29th of April, Belgrade : The theater piece ` Crossing the line ` was performed by Dah Theater, this piece is based on the book ` Women`s Side of
War`, published by Women in Black, in Serbian (2007), Albanian (2008) and English (2009). It was directed by Dijana Milošević and main actresses were Sanja
Krsmanović – Tasić, Ivana Milenović and Maja Mitić.
The 28th of April, Belgrade : discussion ` About politically engaged art `, organised by Dah Theatre, which was attended by Women in Black activists from Belgrade.
United initiatives connected to transitional justice : consultations, conferences,
seminars...
Rekom actions : The Coalition for the Establishing of a Regional Comission on the strengthening of facts regarding commited war crimes and other severe violations of
human rights in the territory of the former Yugoslavia and for revealing these facts publicly. It is one of the most important initiatives Women in Black currently undertakes, gathering together 120 civic organisations from ex Yugoslavia.
2nd of February, Belgrade: working meeting with NGO`s who are in the Coordination group for Consultations in Serbia.
6th of March, Belgrade: Training for consultation leading.
8th of March, Belgrade: Coalition for establishing Regional Commission on strengthening facts regarding committed war crimes and other severe violations of human rights on the territory of former Yugoslavia and for revealing them publicly, Nataša Kandić spoke about Rekom as an executive director of Humanitarian Law Fund, from Belgrade and 75 activists from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina attended.
The lecture was organized by Women in Black and it was connected with actions regarding the 8th of March.
21st of March, Belgrade: training about commissions for the strengthening of facts regarding the past
21st of March, Kotor : About Coalition Rekom – for establishing of Regional Commission for strengthening facts regarding committed war crimes and other severe violations of human rights in the territory of former Yugoslavia and for revealing them publicly, Ervina Dabižanović and Ljupka Kovačević from Kotor and Staša Zajović from Belgrade, spoke about the Rekom Coalition.
Small librarys of transitional justice – knowledge as a civic responsability for peace:
after the first phase, which started in 2005, with the founding of a library on transitional justice within Women in Black in Serbia. The library means the distribution of domestic author`s editions, translated books, books of NGO`s from Belgrade and the region, which are dealing with transitional justice. In this period the distribution has consisted of civic organisations from Bosnia and Herzegovina, which stayed in Belgrade during March 2009, libraries belonging to groups within Women in Black network, and city librariess throughout Serbia.
Networking, coalitions – mutual suport and solidarity
Women in Black founded or are actively taking part in many regional networking, coalitions and unions, active in actions of similar organizations in order to make stronger mutual support, solidarity within civic society, starting united initiatives to deffend rights in Serbia and the whole region. In this period we held/produced many actions, of which we will emphasize the following:
Women in Black network in Serbia
29, 30 and 31 of January, Jastrebac, Central Serbia : meeting of Women in Black Network Serbia, 38 activists from the network took part from various cities : Belgrade, Niš, Novi Sad, Pančevo, Sremski Karlovci, Prijepolje, Leskovac, Kragujevac, Kraljevo, Kruševac, Pirot, Dimitrovgrad, Vlasotince, Novi Pazar, Pljevlja. Within the working meeting, there were the following workshops: an evaluation of the actions from the previous period, external possibilities and dangers in the work, overcoming diffuculties in the environment, internal strengths and weaknesses, a lecture– The power of movement /challenges of feminism today, ( lecturer Staša Zajović ), projection of documentary films against fundamentalism, ` Public Stadium ` (Iran), Barakat (Resistance of Algerian women), all the workshops were led by Snježana Mrše from Belgrade.
Newsletter `Solidarity is our strength`: since January 2009, Women in Black have been publishing a newsletter every month in Serbian (translated from English), it consists of news from around the world regarding violation of human and women’s human rights, campaigns of solidarity and mutual support and is distributed throughout the Women in Black network. The editor is Jennifer Carter from the USA.
The 23rd of January, Novi Sad : Spirituality as a search for peace, lecture held by Staša Zajović within the seminar Intercultural dialogue and spirituality, organised by Women Studies and research, University of Philosophy in Novi Sad.
Solidarity with Biljana Kovačević – Vučo : acussed of an `act of slander` by the director of the Radio Television of Serbia – Aleksandar Tijanić. With our presence at the trial on the 26th and 27th of January, (Regional Court in Belgrade), and from the beginning of 2006, we showed our support of the accused, a defender of human rights, as well as our protest against attempts to discredit this part of civic society, which is ready for a resolute dissolution with the criminal past.
25th of February, Belgrade: lecture by anthropologist Zagorka Golubović,
regarding Alen Turen`s book titled `New paradigm for comprehending paradigms`, it was held in the Women in Black office and was attended by twenty activists.
28th of March, Belgrade: Ivana Vitas’ lecture - ` Biotechnological challenges/ new ways of exploiting women’s bodies, held in the Women in Black offices, attended by 17 activists.
Solidarity with Croatian students : 29th of April, Belgrade : Women in Black from Belgrade gave a public appeal demanding free education at the University of Zagreb and in university centers throughout Croatia.
Women in Black network in Serbia – horizontal networking: an educational program which has been going on continuously, since January 2007 in order to spread the Women in Black network, strengthening cooperation between groups which are active inside the network, starting united initiatives, acquiring additional knowledge connected to certain questions according to the needs of activists. In this period we had actions:
8 , 9,10th of March in Belgrade, activities under the slogan ` 101` years of Women Solidarity ` for the anniversary of the 8th of March, organized by Women in Black, supported by the association Women to women from Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as many other groups from Belgrade. Some of the activities were already mentioned in previous parts of the report, so we are mentioning those which were not:
8th of March, Center for cultural decontamination: Women’s Thoughts And Actions Fair, the exhibition of symbols of activism ( t – shirts, banners, bags, flags etc. )
8th of March, CFCD, Belgrade: Activist documentary film projection - ` Let’s react before it’s too late ` (an action based on 16 days of activism, fighting against violence against women), produced by Women in action from Belgrade and ` Never slaves – always citizens `produced by Women in Black from Belgrade.
8th of March, CFCD, Belgrade: the promotion of the annual book of Women in Black number twelve, edited by Women in Black and some other editions of other groups as well.
9th of March, CFCD, Belgrade: the promotion of the proceedings ` Safety of defenders of human rights – protection of them within international and domestic documents` edited by the Anti Trafficking Center, Committee on Human Rights and Women in Black from Belgrade.
9th of March in Belgrade, street march - activities under the slogan ` 101 years of Women Solidarity ` for respect of women’s human rights, social justice, protection of defenders of human rights, the implementation of the UNSC 1325 Resolution, the implementation of a transitional justice law, the urgent adoption of a Law against discrimination, the separation of the state and church, etc. In this march, a couple hundred people, both from throughout Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina took part.
9th of March, CFCD, Belgrade: the promotion of the book `Consumption anthropology`by Ildiko Erdei, from the University of Philosophy of Belgrade and activist of Women peace group from Pančevo and a discussion on the topic ` how to be an activist within consumption`, explaining how globalization has influenced women, coordinated by Ildiko Erdei.
9th of March, CZKD, Belgrade: the visual presentation of `Cooker `, a deconstruction of cultural inheritance artistic project of Lenka Zelenović and Škart, and a night dedicated to feministic poetry of Radmila Lazić from Belgrade. In these actions 150 women, belonging to Serbian Women in Black network were involved, from various cities : Novi Bečej, Kikinda, Velika Plana, Zrenjanin, Pančevo, Novi Sad, Subotica, Kruševac, Kraljevo, Niš, Pirot, Vlasotince, Leskovac, Beograd, as well as activists from Bosnia and Herzegovina, from : Sarajevo, Mostar, Tuzla, Kravica, Bratunac, Milići, Sokolac, Bijeljina, Banja Luka, Modriča, Višegrad, Zenica, and from Montenegro from Pljevlja.
Coalition for secular state: Women in Black initiated it in April 2006, supported by
numerous NGO`s, demanding total separation of religious and state institutions, in this period we had the following activities :
27th of January, Belgrade: a panel discussion `The scent of incense or critical point of view`. We spoke against the clericalisation of public life, especially against interfering in the educational sphere, health services, and institutions. During the discussion Vuk Stambolović, a doctor from Belgrade, Slobodan Sadžakov - University of Philosophy of Novi Sad, Slobodan Stojanović, Biljana Stojković - University of Biology of Belgrade, Miodrag Kapetanović - Mathematical Institute, Queeria -Center from Belgrade, Vera Vujošević - sociologist and teacher from Belgrade, Staša Zajović from Women in Black of Belgrade, spoke about the topic. The discussion was held in the Center for cultural decontamination and was attended by 30 individuals from Belgrade, Novi Sad and Leskovac.
Artistic engagement against clericalisation and fundamentalism:
27th of January, Belgrade, Center for cultural decontamination: a visual presentation of `Cooker` - deconstruction of cultural inheritance – artistic project of Lenka Zelenović and Škart group. We also printed anticlerical stickers and leaflets in cooperation with the group Škart for our anticlerical promotion.
24th of April : protest ` Stop clericalisation ` against the Law on churches and religious communities (passed in 2006, by which the secular character of the state has been devastated), law experts from the Coalition for secular state (Saša Gajin and Vesna Rakić – Vodinelić ) wrote a proposition from Coalition for secular state, in order to investigate the constitutionality of this accepted law; they gave the proposition to the Constitutional Court of Serbia, in April 2008. However, the Constitutional Court of Serbia has not consider the proposition, yet. The protest, held in front of the Constitutional Court of Serbia, was organized by Women in Black and the Center for Peace and Democracy Development with the support of other members of the Coalition.
24th of April, Belgrade: a panel discussion `Raising of clericalism of Serbian life and loosing secular character of the state` during which the following people spoke: Vesna Rakić – Vodinelić, dean of the Law University in Belgrade and activist from the Center of advanced law studies from Belgrade, Mirko Djordjević religion sociologist from Belgrade, Lino Veljak from University of Philosophy in Zagreb and activist of Protagora atheist association from Croatia, Staša Zajović from Women in Black from Belgrade.
The discussion was held at the Assembly of the Municipal of Stari Grad of Belgrade.
Solidarity with the coalition against discrimination : the Serbian Orthodox Church, demanded, supported by other religious communities, the withdrawal of the Law against discrimination from the consideration by the Assembly, though it was accepted in February, after wide public discussion. Religious communities, led by the Serbian Orthodox Church opposed those parts of the law referring to gender identity and sexual orientation. Many NGO`s and some political parties reacted against the withdrawal of this law. Women in Black took part in the campaign (through meetings, consultations, public actions etc.) for the urgent acceptance of this law. Thanks to this pressure, the law was passed nearly unchanged.
9th of March, Belgrade: A press conference was held in front of Serbian Presidency, demanding the Serbian Assembly pass the Law against discrimination, during which the following people spoken : Saša Gajin from the Center for advanced law studies, Goran Milić for Swedish Helsinki Board, Staša Zajović for Women in Black. On the same day and at the same place, we organised a protest. Thanks to the great pressure initiated by civic society and public opinion, the Law against discrimination was finally passed by the end of March 2009.
Solidarity with the Roma population: In the beggining April, by the order of municipal government of Belgrade, and firstly by the mayor, around fifty houses
situated in a Roma cardboard settlement, were demolished, in order to arrange the space for the building of a traffic artery needed for the sporting event – Universiade (University Olympics), which is taking place in July 2009. Knowing that this demolishion is a severe violation of human rights, there has been a demand for the mayor to resign.
Women in Black gave their solidarity help to the threatened Roma population, by visiting their settlements everyday during April 2009, writing reports on the violations of their human rights, organizing protests etc.
6th of April, Belgrade: a working meeting with Roma association representatives,
as well as representatives of other NGO`s in Women in Black offices, the meeting was attended by 31 activists.
8th of April, Belgrade: Women in Black organized a protest in front of the Belgrade Assembly, `Stop racism`, at which 200 people took part, among them Roma citizens whose houses were demolished, as well as many activists of various NGO`s.
Women, Peace, Security – Resolution 1325 and the Declaration OUN for defenders of human rights
In this period we held the following activities: the session – report from the terrain:
Safety of defenders of human rights, women’s human rights, activists for peace, engaged artists, journalists..
The session motivated by the 10th anniversary of the UN Declaration on human rights defenders (Declaration on rights and responsibilities of persons, groups and society institutions in advancing and protection of universally confirmed human rights and elementary freedoms, passed by the UN General Assembly, on March 1999). The following people spoke : Nada Dabić NGO Esperanca from Novi Sad, Jovanka Brkić Women`s deed from Velika Plana, Katarina Jozić from the Comitee of lawyers on human rights YUCOM, Staša Zajović from Women in Black, Maja Savić from Labris, Aida Ćorović from Urban – in of Novi Pazar, Svetlana Lukić from Peščanik/B92, Dijana Milošević from Dah Theater, Marko Karadžić state secretary for Ministry for human rights and minority rights of Republic of Serbia, Nadežda Gaće of Serbian journalists independent association. The session moderater was Jelka Jovanović, agency Beta journalist. It was attended by 85 activists from Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro.
9th of March, Belgrade: on the women peace march, ` 101 years of women solidarity` on the streets of Belgrade in which a couple hundred activists from
throughout Serbia took part: (Novi Bečej, Kikinda, Velika Plana, Zrenjanin, Pančevo, Novi Sad, Subotica, Kruševac, Niš, Pirot, Vlasotince, Leskovac, Beograd)
and from Bosnia and Herzegovina (Sarajevo, Mostar, Tuzla, Kravica, Bratunac,
Milići, Sokolac, Bijeljina, Banja Luka, Modriča, Višegrad, Zenica) we demanded the protection of the defenders of human rights, the implementation of the UNSC Resolution 1325, a law on transitional justice etc.
Propaganda material on security: we printed dozens of leaflets regarding security from a feministic – pacifistic approach, as well as on the Declaration for defenders of human rights, motivated by the ten year anniversary of the adoption of certain declarations. In this period we took part in many conferences regarding human security, organised by many similar organisations, of which we emphasize the following: 28th of January, Belgrade : a round table regarding the proposition on national security strategy and the proposition on the strategy of the Republic of Serbian defence organised by the Civil – military relations Center.
25th of February, Belgrade: a UNDP meeting regarding defenders of human rights.
16th of April, Belgrade: a conference on `Standards of public life and on human rights defenders`, organised by the Committee on Human Rights from Belgrade, YUCOM.
Publishing activities : in this period we published:
Women for Peace: Women in Black’s annual book number twelve, consisted of six chapters (we are still on the streets: women street activism, Facing the past –a feminist approach, the international network of women’s solidarity against war –
Women in Black International network, International feministic antimilitary politics, Women, peace, security – Resolution 1325, Secularism is a women’s issue). The book consists of 294 pages and was edited by Staša Zajović.
Women’s Side of War: the English edition of book Women’s Side of War, was published at the beginning of 2008. The book consists of 440 pages, is divided into 14 chapters, with 120 testimonies, notes and memories of women regarding the wars since 1991 – 1999 in the former Yugoslavia. It was edited by Lina Vušković and Zorica Trifunović.
What every citizen needs to know about secular education: a leaflet connected to the edition of small conceptual guides on secularism, has 36 pages, the leaflet was edited by Biljana Stojković and was published by the Coalition for a Secular State.
Security of human rights defenders – their protection within international and domestic documents: this publication is 31 pages, published by Women in Black, Anti trafficking Center and the Committee on Human Rights from Belgrade.
International politics: active involvement at international conferences, global solidarity campaigns, mutual visits, etc. Includes the following activities:
15 – 18 of February, Umag, Croatia: Conference ` Facing the future – mutual anxieties ` organized by Quaker Peace and Social Witness and partner organizations in the former Yugoslavia.
27 – 30 of March Bangalore, India: an international round table – reflections on women tribunals
Visits from international activists, volunteers, investigators: from many European countries, the USA, etc.
And finally:
22nd of January, Belgrade: the Coalition against discrimination, consisting of
NGO`s from throughout the Serbian network, dedicated for the first time an annual award for the fight against discrimination to Women in Black (in the category of civic society) for 2008. A solemn ceremony during which this precious award was given was held in the Media Center. We consider the award very important for our solidarity activist efforts against any form of discrimination.
Belgrade, 8th of May 2009.
(Report prepared by Staša Zajović, in cooperation with Miloš Urošević and Ljiljana
Radovanović).
