STREET ACTIONS (protests, performances, and campaigns)
In this period our actions were quite varied. They can be classified into the following categories:
Confronting the Past—Against the Denial of the Criminal Past and Crimes Committed in Our Name—Against the Fascist State
July 10: So That We Do Not Forget the Genocide in Srebrenica: a protest vigil on Republic Square in Belgrade to mark the eleventh anniversary of the genocide in Srebrenica.
July 11: attendance at the commemoration in Potocari (Bosnia-Herzegovina) on the eleventh anniversary of the genocide in Srebrenica. On this occasion, we paid our respect to the victims of genocide by laying down a wreath on which was written “Forgive Us—Women in Black.” Forty-four activists of the Women in Black Network—Serbia attended the commemoration, including people from Belgrade, Kraljevo, Leskovac, Nis, Novi Sad, Novi Pazar, Pirot, Velika Planina, Vlasotince, and Zajecar, as well as from Pljevalja (Montenegro), the USA, Portugal, and Germany.
May 9: Meeting on Republic Square in Belgrade on the Day of Victory over Fascism (The Day of Europe): we used the slogan “For Serbia in Europe—a protest for a modern, democratic Serbia—against the new Milosevic, Vojislav Kostunica.” The meeting was organized by the Liberal Democratic Party, Citizens’ Consciousness of Serbia, the Social Democratic Party, and nine NGOs, including Women in Black.
Actions against the Clericalization of the State and Against the Law on Churches and Religious Communities
April 29: “We Want Democracy—Not Theocracy”: a protest and performance in Republic Square in Belgrade against the adoption of the Law on Churches and Religious Communities. Attending the action were activists from the Women in Black Network from all of Serbia.
June 21: “Neither Whores Nor Saints—But Women”: a women’s performance organized by Dah Theatre and Women in Black against the Law on Churches and Religious Communities, against the misuse of religion for political purposes, and for a secular state (total separation of church and state) and women’s human rights.
Actions of International Solidarity against War and Violence
June 9: “Stop the Occupation”: a day of global solidarity with the women of Israel and Palestine on the occasion of the 31st anniversary of the occupation of Palestine by the Israeli army. The protest in Belgrade took place on Republic Square.
July 23: “Stop the War in Lebanon:” an action against the war in Lebanon, in international solidarity with the victims of the war in Lebanon. This protest and performance on Republic Square in Belgrade was prompted by a call to action by Women in Black—Israel and the Women’s Coalition for Peace in Israel.
Feminist and Antimilitarist Actions
May 27: “Everything for Peace, Health, and Knowledge—Nothing for Armament:” a performance on the main square in Novi Sad organized by Women in Black—Belgrade and the peace group Esperanca from Novi Sad to commemorate May 24, the International Day of Women’s Action for Peace and Disarmament, and May 28, the International Day of Action for Women’s Health and Reproductive Rights. On the same day, a press conference was held in Novi Sad.
“We Give Birth If We Want, When We Want, and With Whom We Want” - this action involved the distribution of leaflets quoting data on child-bearing that was collected by the Women in Black Network in twenty towns in Serbia. Simultaneously, we conducted a survey about abortion and reproductive rights. The action was also focused against the clericalization of the state, the propaganda of clerico-nationalist institutions, and clerico-fascist forces, which work towards the prohibition of abortion and the promotion of pro-natalist policies in Serbia.
CONFRONTING THE PAST—A FEMINIST APPROACH
As a continuation of this educational project, started in early 2005, we focused on issues related to a feminist approach to transitional justice.
Criminal Punishment—the Path to a Just Peace: monitoring the trials at the Special Court at the Council for War Crimes in Belgrade. Activists from the Women in Black Network—Serbia observed the trials of members of the Scorpions paramilitary unit for genocide committed in Srebrenica in July, 1995, against civilians of primarily Bosniak ethnicity in Trnov. Activists from the Women in Black Network—Serbia have followed the trials since they began in December 2005. In this reporting period. the following judicial sessions were held:
May 11-12: The trial was attended by ten activists from the Women in Black Network—Serbia from Belgrade, Pirot, and Zajecar.
June 19-22: The trial was attended by eight activists from the Women in Black Network—Serbia from Belgrade, Pirot, and Zajecar.
July 3-4: The trial was attended by seven activists from the Women in Black Network—Serbia from Belgrade, Leskovac, and Pirot.
In addition to monitoring the trials and sending daily reports from the court to local, regional, and international networks, activists from the Women in Black Network maintained contact with the relatives of the victims of the genocide in Srebrenica, who where also present at the trial. The activists offered them emotional and moral support, solidarity, and sympathy.
“To See, To Know, To Change”: a video project of testimonies and documentary material about war crimes (primarily from the area of former Yugoslavia) and suffering in war, but also dealing with ways to overcome grief and pain. Male and female authors from the former Yugoslavia gave their works to Women in Black, with the permission to show them. After the screenings, held in various parts of Serbia by Women in Black, discussion groups and workshops about confronting the past, a feminist approach to transitional justice and related topics were organized.
Within the Women in Black Network—Serbia, women’s autonomous groups organized, together with activists from Women in Black—Belgrade, video projections, discussions, and workshops in the following cities:
– May 20, Leskovac (Women’s Center): a screening of the film “Lora,” by Nenad Puhovski (Croatia) and “Smoke Circles,” testimonies of women from Srebrenica.
– May 21, Tutin (Impuls): a screening of the film “Death and the Maiden,” directed by Roman Polanski, followed by a discussion of the play “Death and the Maiden” by the Chilean playwright Ariel Dorfman.
– May 26, Velika Plana (Women in Action): a screening of the film “Smoke Circles.”
– May 30, Leskovac (Women’s Center): a screening of the film “Smoke Circles.”
– May 30, Zajecar (Neda, a peace group): a discussion of feminist approaches to confronting the past.
– July 7, Velika Plana (Women in Action): a discussion of ‘responsibility and me.’
In addition to the aforementioned activities, activists from Women in Black, together with Belgrade’s Fund for Humanitarian Law. attended a conference and testimonies of the victims of crimes in Prijedor, Bosnia-Herzegovina (where, over the course of 1992, more that 700 civilians, mostly Bosniaks, were imprisoned and tortured in the Omarska, Keraterm, and Trnopolje camps), on June 24, 2006 and other conferences on this subject held in Belgrade during this period.
WARNING SIGNS OF FUNDAMENTALISM—FEMINIST RESPONSES
April 28-30: the second phase of seminars and training sessions of the educational project of the same name was held
The first phase was carried out over April 7-9, also in Belgrade. In the these training sessions, the following workshops and lectures were held:
– Fundamentalism—the Abolition of the Secular State and Secular Society
– The Fundamentalism of the Serbian Orthodox Church and Feminist Alternatives
– Women Between Patriarchy and Religion—the Use of Religion for Political Goals
– Patriarchy, Fundamentalism, and War in Italy—Many Steps in a Short Time
– workshops on fundamentalism
– The Religious Left—an Alternative to Fundamentalism
– Women and Fundamentalism—the Abuse of the Law in Elections and Against Outsiders to Feminist Alternatives to Fundamentalism
These workshops and lectures were led by experts and activists from the Women in Black Network in Serbia, Italy, USA, and Croatia. Over the course of the seminars, 57 women participated from 14 cities in Serbia (Belgrade, Dimitrovgrad, Kikinda, Kraljevo, Krusevac, Leskovac, Novi Sad, Novi Pazar, Tutin, Velika Plana, Vlasotince, Vrbas, Zajecar, Zrenjanin), Montenegro (Kotor and Pljevlja), Bosnia-Herzegovina (Sarajevo), and Italy (Avila, Milan, Naples, Piacenza, Rome, and Turin).
June 2-4, Sirijanska Banja, Southern Serbia: Warning Signs of Fundamentalism—Feminist Responses
This is the first in a series of regional seminars in which the knowledge and experience gained during the first two phases of instruction are put into practice. As part of this seminar, the following lectures and workshops were held:
– Fundamentalism—the Abolition of the Secular State and Secular Society
– The Serbian Orthodox Church and the Dissolution of the Former Yugoslavia: a presentation of a film of the same name by the Helsinki Commission for Human Rights of Serbia, followed by a discussion on the same topic.
– Identities: Assigned and/or Chosen?
– Fundamentalism—an Attack on Women’s Human Rights and Repression of Reproductive and Sexual Rights
– Feminist Alternatives to Fundamentalism:
In addition to these workshops, the film “The Road to Kabul,” by Women in Black—Milan, was shown. Thirty-four women from eight towns (Leskovac, Lebane, Kraljevo, Vlasotince, Vranje, Vrbas, and Belgrade) attended this seminar.
The Coalition for a Secular State: as part of the activities of this coalition, formed to work against the adoption of the Law on Churches and Religious Communities, activities and consultations were continued to the end of April, 2006 about demanding an evaluation of the constitutionality of this law.
Expanding and Strengthening: Women in Black Network—Serbia
As one of the permanent areas of the work of Women in Black, in addition to the previously mentioned activities, we have also conducted activities that focus on the following:
Education (seminars and workshops, aimed at stimulating the Women in Black Network—Serbia, in keeping with the specific goals and need of women’s autonomous groups, took place as part of the network):
- June 24: a day-long seminar entitled “Women’s Peace Politics” in Leskovac, organized by the Women’s Center in Leskovac and Women in Black - Belgrade. Thirty-five activists attended the seminar from the following cities: Leskovac, Belgrade, Vlasotince, and Kraljevo.
-July 22, Pirot: a “Women’s Human Rights” workshop was held in cooperation with activists from the Women in Black Network from Leskovac and Vlasotince. This workshop also involved activities for the founding of a women’s group in Pirot called “Women for Peace.”
Always Disloyal: a film about Women in Black, directed by Jelena Markovic and finished at the end of July, 2006. Promotion of the film will occur in coordination with the fifteenth anniversary of Women in Black—Belgrade (in October of this year).
Meeting of the Women in Black Network - Serbia: July 9-10, in Belgrade. Our regular working and consulting meeting was attended by 27 activists of the network from all parts of Serbia. At this meeting we analyzed our activities since the previous meeting (February 2006), and arranged joint activities for the future. Additionally, we held discussions on current political questions. During this period other internal workshops took place in the office of Women in Black - Belgrade.
Horizontal Networking: visits to and consultations with groups that make up the network. Activists from the network from various parts of Serbia visited Women in Black—Belgrade for consultations, support, and planning of joint actions.
MUTUAL SUPPORT AND SOLIDARITY
The development of various forms of support and cooperation as well as the initiation of joint actions and coalitions:
The Coalition for a Secular State: (The Belgrade Center for Human Rights, The Center for the Development of Peace and Democracy, The Center for Advanced Studies, Voice of Difference, Women in Black, and dozens of other supportive NGOs): working-consulting meetings in the space of Women in Black throughout May, and the production of joint statements concerning the Law on Churches and Religious Communities.
G8 Group: this group of non-governmental organizations (Belgrade Circle, The Center for Culture Decontamination, Civic Initiative, The Fund for Humanitarian Law, The Helsinki Committee for Human Rights, Youth Initiative for Human Rights, The Lawyers’ Committee for Human Rights, and Women in Black) held further working-consulting meetings and planning sessions during this reporting period. A number of joint statements were published, mainly concerning responsibility for war and war crimes, and urging the enactment of transitional justice.
Attendance at the trial of Biljana Kovacevac-Vuco: from the Lawyers’ Committee for Human Right (YUCOM), who was accused of defamation by the director of RTS (the state television station). In addition to attending her appearance at the municipal court of Belgrade on June 1, we expressed support for this human rights defender. This trial, which began at the start of the year, is part of the current regime’s campaign against civil society, especially against those nongovernmental organizations that support a firm break from the criminal past.
The Feminist Coalition: Autonomous women’s groups from Belgrade (Astra, Autonomous Women’s Center, Voice of Difference, Incest Trauma Center, Roma Women’s Center, and Women in Black) prepared the joint document “A List of Critical Questions.” This document was prepared for a session of CEDAW (the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women). This document was sent to the CEDAW committee on July 24, 2006.
ANTIMILITARISM (seminars, workshops, publishing activities)
In this period, the antimilitarism program was, in addition to the previously-mentioned activities, concentrated on working with young people of both sexes.
OTHERS—From Patriarchal Constructions to Alternative Politics: a seminar held from April 14-18 in Banja Vrujci (Serbia), attended by 21 young people from Serbia from the following cities: Belgrade, Kraljevo, Leskovac, Nis, Novi Sad, Novi Pazar, Pozarevac, Zajecar. During the seminar, workshops on the following topics were held: the connection between masculine reproductive roles and militarism, an analysis of the consequences of the militarization of reproductive roles, homophobia as a result of the militarized state, and alternatives to militarism and militarization.
OTHERS—From Patriarchal Constructions to Alternative Politics: an anthology of works published by Querria and Women in Black—Belgrade. The anthology is in Serbian and concerns questions of gender, militarism, and homophobia. The anthology has 3 sections and 208 pages.
Youth Peace Camp: this camp took place in Divcibari (Serbia) from July 14-19, and was attended by young men and women between the ages of 18 and 25. Participants were from Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia, Kosovo, and Serbia (39 in total). The camp consisted of workshops and lectures on several themes:
Confronting the Past: Genocide in the 20th Century, The Responsibility of Civil Society for Peace and Transitional Justice, Me Today—the Burden of the Past and the Responsibility for the Future, Youth and the Burden of Crimes, the International Justice System—the Hague Tribunal, and Alternative Justice Systems—Women’s Justice.
Militarism and Alternatives: workshops on this topic included Constructions of the Past—Fascisization in Current History Textbooks, New Right-Wing Youth Movements and two sessions on The Influence of the Militarization of the State on the Sexual Exploitation of Women.
INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES
Out of numerous activities, we would like to highlight the following:
International Women’s Networks and Coalitions: conferences, working and consulting meetings, and actions in this period:
Women’s Peace Coalition: Women in Black—Serbia and the Kosova Women’s Network began this joint initiative in March 2006, formalizing it in May 2006. In order to build relationship and plan activities, the Coalition held two working and consulting meetings, on May 6-7 in Pristina and June 21-22 in Belgrade. As part of these joint activities, the Coalition also prepared documents and statements about the status of Kosovo (an announcement motivated by negotiations on the preservation and protection of cultural heritage). Otherwise, the Coalition focuses on the peace activities that women’s autonomous groups from Kosovo and the Women in Black Network have intensively worked on for more than ten years. Preparations for a conference of the Coalition that will take place September 1-3 in Struga (Macedonia) are underway.
International Network of Women in Black: We participated in a working meeting held in Madrid on May 21 in cooperation with Women in Black—Spain in preparation for the next meeting of the International Network (Spain, Summer 2007). We had very frequent contact (mostly via e-mail) with Women in Black networks from many countries, especially Italy, Spain, Israel, and the USA.
Women’s Lobby for Peace, Security, and Justice in South East Europe: founded in July 2006 at a conference in Zagreb and consisting of civil society activists and democratic political parties (13 in total) from Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Serbia (including three representative from Women in Black, the Fund for Humanitarian Law, and the Helsinki Commission for Human Rights in Serbia). The Lobby is focused on the promotion of peace and stability in South East Europe, as well as the implementation of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on ‘Women, Peace, and Security.’
Gender Equality and the Reform of the UN System: a document prepared by experts and activists from the global network: Center for Women’s Global Leadership and Women’s Environmental Development Organization (WEDO). This document was delivered on July 17, 2006 to the General Secretary of the UN. The Women in Black Network—Serbia was a part of the global network that supported and signed this significant document.
Participation in International Conferences and Seminars:
- FemFest—a feminist festival held in Zagreb on May 19-21. Nine activists from the Women in Black Network—Serbia from Belgrade, Babusnica, Novi Sad, and Leskovac attended.
- A day-long lecture on the activities of Women in Black—Madrid was held on May 19 at the Autonomous University in cooperation with an initiative of GAC (Grupo Apoyo Comunitario).
- Women in Black against Fundamentalism, an international conference held in Genoa May 26-29.
- Justice for the Victims—June 11, Potocari-Srebrenica, BiH, in cooperation with the “Mothers of Srebrenica and Zepa” movement.
- Groznjan, Croatia, June 12-17, Retreat 4, in cooperation with Quaker Peace and Social Witness. An organized retreat break for activists who work on issues related to confronting the past.
- A seminar on ‘The Women’s Peace Coalition and a Feminist Approach to Confronting the Past’ was held on June 16-18 in Kotor (Montenegro) in cooperation with the Anima Center for Women’s Peace Education.
- Zagreb Pride International was held in Zagreb on June 24to mark LGBT Pride Day. Eight activists from the Women in Black Network—Serbia attended.
- Post-conflict Conditions in the Balkans: Obstacles to a Just and Stable Peace—Barcelona, lectures by Women in Black activists, held June 29 in cooperation with the International Institute for Peace.
- The Role of Women in the Process of Transition in the Balkans—an international peace conference held in Tivat (Montenegro) July 7-9 in cooperation with the SOS Telephone for Women and Children Victims of Violence and women’s organizations from Albania and Italy.
- Women’s Security and Rights in Regions in Transition—Zagreb, July 16-19, in cooperation with UNIFEM.
International Visits to the Women in Black Network—Serbia: here is a selection out of many:
- Ten activists from the Women in Black Network—Italy (from Avila, Milan, Naples, Piacenza, Rome, and Turin) stayed in Belgrade and Novi Sad April 26-May 2. During that time they held numerous lectures and workshops on the regular exchanges and activities of the Women in Black Networks in Italy and Spain.
- Concha Martin, form the Women in Black Network—Spain, stayed in this region June 8-18, holding workshops and lectures, and participating with activists from Belgrade in a conference in Potocari-Srebrenica.
- Toni Liversage, an activist of the Women in Black Network—Denmark, visited Women in Black—Belgrade in May and arranged future joint activities.
In there period there were many other working visits, meetings with researchers, activists from our network, and media from the USA, Netherlands, Germany, Italy and other countries.
Belgrade, August 1, 2006
Report prepared by Stasa Zajovic
