Women's Court - a feminist approach to justice
We bring a brief report on the activities of Women in Black regarding the organization of the Women's Court - a feminist approach to justice in this period. Should you be interested in more information, you can find it on our website www.zeneucrnom.org and www.zenskisud.org or contact us by mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The first Women's Court in the territory of Europe was held in Sarajevo, May 7 to May 10, 2015, organized by 10 women's groups from the territory of the former Yugoslavia (Mothers of the Srebrenica and Žepa Enclaves, Cure Foundation, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Center for Women Victims of War, Center for Women's Studies, Zagreb, Croatia, Center for Women and Peace Education Anima, Kotor, Montenegro, Gender Equality Council, Skopje, Macedonia, Women's Lobby, Ljubljana, Slovenia, Center for Women's Studies and Women in Black, Belgrade, Serbia). The Women's Court was attended by more than 500 people from all the countries of the former Yugoslavia, but also from Argentina, Algeria, Palestine, Israel, the United States, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Austria, Belgium, Great Britain, etc.
The final event in Sarajevo was not the end of the process, but on the contrary, an incentive to continue from the feminist perspective towards the creation of new models of justice. It is an obligation first of all to the witnesses, but also the expression of our responsibility towards the enormous burden of the recent past.
In continuation of the Women's Court, Women in Black, Belgrade coordinates the program and other activities, with the support of organizations: Anima, Kotor (Montenegro), Center forWomen Victims of War, Zagreb (Croatia), The Foundation CURE, Sarajevo (Bosnia & Herzegovina), and some members of the former Organizing Committee of the Women's Court continue to participate sporadically (Council for Equality, Skopje, Macedonia), while the other members support the process without active participation.
During this reporting period, the following activities were organized:
In this reporting period WiB organized two (2) Regional Meetings.
Regional meeting of the Women's Court - a feminist approach to justice, April 20, 21 and 22, 2024
At the nineteenth (19) regional meeting, held in Radmilovac near Belgrade, 25 women participated: witnesses, organizers, therapists, associates from Bosnia and Herzegovina (Bratunac, Đulići, Klisa, Foča/Sarajevo, Srebrenica, Tuzla); Montenegro (Pljevlja); Croatia (Novska and Zagreb); Serbia (Belgrade, Kraljevo, Kruševac, Leskovac) and Poland (Krakow). The program consisted of workshops, dynamic exercises, screening of documentaries, etc.
Here is a selection from the program:
About activities in the previous period (from the previous meeting in December 2022 to April 2024 (reported by: Staša Zajović, Mira Vilušić...)
The following women spoke about important developments in the field of justice:
Marica Šeatović, Novska/Croatia: 'At the end of 2023, the Republic of Croatia made the decision to write off court costs for family members of murdered and missing civilians. However, the decision also refers to the write-off of court costs for convicted perpetrators of war crimes. Marica believes that this form of 'justice' is mainly aimed at compensating those convicted of war crimes, while civilian victims are secondary: 'The focus is on war criminals, not victims. I paid court costs in the amount of my pension, and now the money I will receive (as compensation) means nothing to me. Nevertheless, the state has thereby admitted that I suffered an injustice'.
Suvada Selimović, Đulići/BH informed about new indictments for war crimes in Zvornik - at the end of 2023, the Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina filed an indictment against 11 persons of Serbian nationality for war crimes in the area of Zvornik. They have been accused of participating in the illegal imprisonment and inhumane treatment of 700 Bosniak men and boys in late May and early June 1992.
Halida Konjo Uzunović, Foča/Sarajevo: On February 27, the main trial in the criminal case of the accused Milutin Đilas and Rajko Vojvodić for a crime qualified as 'War crime against the civilian population - war crime of rape' was held at the District Court in Trebinje/BH. At this hearing, Halida Konjo Uzunović from Foča (otherwise a witness at the Women's Court-Foča case) was heard as a witness, as well as Ema Kuprešanin from Foča. Both live in Sarajevo. WiB activists from Belgrade (Violeta Đikanović, Staša Zajović and Daša Ranković), from Kotor and Herceg Novi (Ljupka Kovačević and Ervina Dabižinović) and Amela from Mostar were not allowed to watch the trial because of the 'protection of morals and the democratic system', as stated the judge. Halida also said ‘none of the associations of war victims from BH supported me at the trial and women's NGOs that address the issue of sexual violence in the war have no relations with the witnesses', and thanked WiB for their solidarity support. It was concluded that women's groups in the entire region, with some exceptions, do insufficient work on sexual violence both in war and in peace, and that violence against women is mainly confined to the family context.
During the discussion about the fear of a new war in the Western Balkans, the women stated that they have lived in fear ever since the beginning of the war (1992):
Intimidation of the Bosniak population by the Republika Srpska police: 'After the terrorist attack in Moscow, the Republika Srpska/RS police increased their presence in our villages due to the alleged fear of 'terrorists' and it all reminds us of 1992" (Suvada); 'Everything reminds me of 92', as Bosniaks we feel threatened in the RS, even more threatened than 92' we will be a target again (Šehida).
Provocations and war-mongering propaganda ahead of the adoption of the General Assembly Resolution on the International Day of Remembrance of the Genocide in Srebrenica: 'If that resolution is passed, we are afraid of the separation of the RS from Bosnia and Herzegovina, and all that has revived the war traumas Šaha); "I have terrible nightmares again about what happened in Foča. I constantly dream of detention and I am afraid that we will be too late to escape, as happened in 92' (1992), I am terribly afraid and no one will dissuade me that there will be no war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Now is the second phase - the cancellation of the RS' (Halida); "In Serbia, it is never time for a resolution on the genocide in Srebrenica, the regime is constantly spreading the narrative about the Serbian people as victims of a world conspiracy, i.e., external but also internal enemies and that is why we from the Children's Center in Zaječar and related NGOs are the target of regime attacks' (Selena).
Against women's quotas - women who are in power positions do not represent women's interests, but are exclusively guided by party interests and the instructions of party leaders, and that is why the effects of women's participation in positions of power are "politically insignificant", they are only a decoration and serve to satisfy formal standards, and female politicians who are in favor of women's interests were punished by the parties as 'disobedient'.
Relaxation exercise, shared joy, getting to know each other better - during the Magic Shop exercise, women mentioned those behaviors they mostly want to get rid of/sell, namely: rashness, timidity, anger, care for others, lack of care for oneself, empathy for others, lack of self-esteem, obedience in the family, helplessness, trauma, extreme openness, all the years of war, endless sadness − the darkness of the nineties, etc.
Values they want to 'buy': patience, composure, trust, freedom, justice, self-confidence, peace (mostly women opted for it). In the conversation after this exercise, it was concluded that women's qualities (especially caring for others) are socially unrecognized and undervalued, that women yearn for freedom and justice because they live in an environment of constant fear of war, uncertainty, impunity...
Women's raffle and interactive exhibition - it unfolded in an extremely pleasant atmosphere...
Women's Court - Foča case - public presentations will be discussed later in this report.
"Little Danube" - after the film, a joint visit to a green oasis, an aquarium, a settlement from prehistoric times... (next to the Radmilovac motel) was organized.
Women's struggle for peace and justice - afternoon sessions
- “Žanka” – screening of the documentary film (25 min.); author: Lina Vušković; photos: Marija Vidić, Marija Arandjelović, Zoran Miljković; director of photography, editing and direction: Milan Nikolić; production Reconstruction Women's Fund (2016). This documentary is about Žanka Stojanović, the mother of an RTS worker killed in the NATO bombing in 1999; the film testifies to Žanka's fight for justice...
- "Solidarity mothers for peace" (32 min.): About regional meetings of mutual support of women - victims of the most serious war crimes from Srebrenica, Vukovar (Croatia), Bela Reka, Belgrade (Serbia). The film testifies to women who turned their tragedy and pain into a joint struggle for peace and justice. In this film, among other things, the participation of "Solidarity Mothers for Peace" in marking the anniversary of the murder of RTS workers in Belgrade is shown; the film was made by the WiB video activism group.
The women believe that the films showed "the greatness of mothers, the universality of mothers' pain, the mutual respect of mothers - this is the true path of reconciliation from below".
Celebrating women's resistance: How did women in Poland vote en masse against the clero-nationalist government? – Speaker: Magdalena Sztandara, Jagiellonian University, Krakow/Poland
Magdalena spoke about the elections in Poland, held in October 2023: "Women won in Poland, and otherwise a record turnout was achieved − 74% of the electorate." She spoke about the reasons for the mobilization of women: frustration and anger, the Law against abortion, high prices, etc. Then the organization. Women in small towns came out. The young generation went to the polls, mainly because of the ban on abortion'.
On feminist ethics of care – Mira Vilušić facilitated the discussion about a joint women's active vacation at the Seka house on the island of Brač.
Incorrectly entered − an interactive theater performance designed and led by Selena Ristic, drama artist, activist "Children's Center", Zaječar was performed after dinner. In the play, ten participants of the meeting presented texts about violence against women in various contexts, but also about women's resistance, in an extraordinary way.
The final session was devoted to agreements on activities in the forthcoming period.
Regional meeting of the Women's Court - a feminist approach to justice – December 6, 7 and 8 held inRadmilovac near Belgrade. At the twentieth(20) regional meeting took part 28 persons (27 women and one men): witnesses, organizers, therapists, associates from Bosnia and Herzegovina (Sarajevo,Foča, Zvornik, Srebrenica); Montenegro (Pljevlja); Croatia (Novska and Zagreb); Serbia (Pančevo, Belgrade, Kraljevo, Kruševac, Leskovac, Sombor, Vlasotince) and Spain (Bask County/Bilbao) From the program we highlight:
About activities in the previous period (from the previous meeting from April to December 2024).
Transitional justice - Confession, repentance, a deliberate pragmatic gesture?
Discussion about the letter of Radoslav Krstić, former general of the Republika Srpska Army, the closest associate of the war criminal R. Mladić; he was the first person sentenced by the Hague Tribunal to 45 years in prison for participating in genocide and other crimes against humanity (2001), whose sentence was reduced in 2004 to 35 years. He wrote a letter to the UN after 26 years of imprisonment asking for his release, admitting to the genocide in Srebrenica, etc.
Reactions of participants at the meeting:
- Krstić's letter - an insult to the victims, who will not allow him to visit the Potočare Memorial Center:
"We the victims are hurt. The hardest thing for me was when he said that he would come to Potočare. I don't know if he could face any of the mothers? If he were to be released, he should not be allowed to come to Potočare. We are on the path of truth and justice and we will not give up on that' (Šehida, Srebrenica).
Admitting to genocide is important, it should encourage genocide deniers to do the same:
"We are encouraged by his act –admitting to genocide. We think that after him others should come forward and admit to the genocide. It will then be easier for us victims to fight with these monster politicians in the region' (Šehida).
'His confession that a crime was committed is important. Repentance causes him to relieve his soul, but we are not interested in that' (Suvada, Đulići).
'Can an individual, after facing his own misdeeds, really reintegrate into a society that still celebrates him, or will the weight of the past weigh down on him’? (Memnuna, Sarajevo).
"It is important to me that he owns up to genocide, and I am interested in how the institutions will now deny the genocide, since he owned up to it?" (Sabina).
"There was silence in Serbia about the recognition of Krstić, except in the daily newspaper Danas. The confession is a scam, but it is important that finally someone who was in the womb of evil confessed to the genocide in Srebrenica. Unfortunately, I am afraid that this will not lead to a change of attitude in Serbia'’(Staša).
Krstić's repentance is (un)important, a deliberate pragmatic gesture – what is important is his accountability:
This kind of repentance has two sides. On the one hand, she is very cynical, and on the other hand, she is very important to the victims. On the other hand, it shows that somewhere there is a little humanity, so he repents and apologizes to the victims' (Halida).
"For us, the most important issue is responsibility. There can be confession and repentance, but there must be responsibility. He should answer for what he committed. Many confess, and when they are released, they continue to deny it' (Suvada).
'It doesn't matter to me that he repented. I don't trust him' (Sabina).
'His goal is to get out of prison early' (Nela).
'God is in no hurry. Whatever one has earned, Allah will come for His own' (Refia).’
This kind of repentance has two sides. On the one hand, it is very cynical, and on the other hand, it is very important to the victims. On the other hand, it shows that somewhere there is a little humanity, so he repents and apologizes to the victims' (Halida).
"For us, the most important issue is accountability. There can be confession and repentance, but there must be accountability. He should answer for what he committed. Many confess, and when they are released, they continue to deny it' (Suvada).
'It doesn't matter to me that he repented. I don't trust him' (Sabina).
'His goal is to get out of prison early' (Nela).
'God is in no hurry. Whatever one has earned, Allah will come for His own' (Refia).
On transitional justice in Latin America (Colombia, Mexico...): on the Women's Commission for Truth, Justice, Reparations in Colombia - achievements, challenges; on the participation of women in peace negotiations; about experiences from Mexico, etc.
About the Truth Commission in Colombia (Comision de la verdad) - established as a form of transitional justice (2017) and concerns the internal armed conflict that lasted in Colombia for almost 60 years and caused 9 million victims. Carlos M. Beristain spoke about his experience as a member of the said Commission.
The above issues were discussed by:Carlos Martin Beristain (Bilbao, Basque Country/Spain): doctor, mental health specialist, has been working continuously with victims of political violence and human rights groups in Latin America for more than 30 years. He also worked in the Women's Commission for Truth, Justice and Reparations in Colombia together with the feminist network Ruta pacifica/Women's Peace Path. Carlos is an associate of the Women's Court - Feminist Approach to Justice, working with witnesses, organizers and activists of W'sC.
Spinning - an essay in motion, Hleb Teatar
Sanja Krsmanović Tasić presented the story of her 25 years on stage using texts by Darko Suvin, Octavio Paz, Džemaludin Rumija and Sanja Krsmanović Tasić; concept, text, direction and performance: Sanja Krsmanović Tasić; video and music: Jugoslav Hadžić
Final session (evaluation, agreements on activities in the following period)
Feminist ethic of care and responsibility – visits of WiB activists to female witnesses (W'sC Sarajevo), peace meetings of exchange and cooperation in the region − support for victims:
− January 28 and 29; March 5th and 6th and April 16th and 17th – meetings with women from the association of victims of genocide in Srebrenica from Tuzla and Srebrenica, who together with WiB activists followed the trial for the crime in Kravica.
- February 11, Memorial Center Potočari/Srebrenica − joint visit to the Memorial Center, meeting with the women of Srebrenica housed in the Center for the Elderly 'Hatidža Mehmedović', opened with the intention that the mothers of Srebrenica, who are left without relatives, will be cared for in their old age. About forty (40) people participated in this meeting, mostly women: in addition to the women of Srebrenica (witnesses at the W’sC, etc.), WiB activists from Belgrade and Leskovac, women from the association 'Anima' Đulići/BH, as well as from Novi Pazar. Various activities were organized as part of the program: socializing, with a raffle in the Bosnian Room; presenting photo albums; joint reading of texts on women's solidarity; birthday celebration for Refia and Nura, etc.
- April 18 and 19 - meeting with Mother Mejra Dautović from Bihać (BH), who is following the trial for crimes in the Omarska concentration camp (the 'Case of Milorad Kotur') in which her children (daughter Edna and son Edvin) were detained in Omarska/BH concentration camp, and then killed; Mother Mejra monitors the trial together with WiB activists.
- April 26, Bečej - solidarity visit to Julia Teleki, anti-war activist, participant in the process of organizing the W’sC.
- Belgrade, May 13 and 14 – meetings with women from the association of victims of genocide in Srebrenica from Tuzla, Doboj and Srebrenica, who together with WiB activists followed the trial for the crime in Kravica.
- Belgrade, May 6 and 7 – meeting with Mother Mejra Dautović from Bihać (BH), who is following the trial for crimes in the Omarska concentration camp (the 'Case of Milorad Kotur') in which her children (daughter Edna and son Edvin) were detained in Omarska/BH concentration camp, and then killed; Mother Mejra monitors the trial together with WiB activists.
- Retreat/socializing – Eight (8) witnesses, organizers of the Women's Court from BH, Montenegro and Serbia were on July 25 and 26 on a joint short break in the village of Akmačići/Nova Varoš/Serbia.
- Active women’s holiday in the women’s house 'Seka' Brač/Croatia from July 27 to August 11. Eleven (11) women - witnesses, W’sC activists from BH, Croatia and Serbia:
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Reiha Avdić, Tuzla/Srebrenica, Suvada Selimović and Remiza from Đulići/Zvornik; Croatia: Marica Šeatović, Novska; Jovanka Carević and Milica Miladinović, Zagreb Serbia: Milka Rosić and Mirjana Mijailović, Leskovac, Snežana Obrenović, Kraljevo, Svetlana Šarić, Vlasotince and Nadežda Kostić, Kruševac, Tanja Marković, Belgrade.
- Belgrade, October 14 and November 28 - meeting with Mother Mejra Dautović from Bihać (B&H), who testified at the Special Court for War Crimes because of the torture and wartime rape of her daughter Edna Dautović, who was imprisoned together with her brother Edvin in the concentration camp Omarska/B&H;
- Vršac/Vojvodina, October 15 and December 30 - visit to Rosa Jakovljević, witness at W'sC, mother of the murdered soldier (October 5, 2004); in this visit were:Mother Mejra Dautović, Ljilja Spasić, Nadežda Kostić, Violeta Đikanović, Staša Zajović WiB Network activists from Belgrade, Pančevo and Kruševac.
II Women’s Court – Foča case – this event took place in Belgrade, June 26, 2023 in Miljenko Dereta Space and was organized by: Women in Black and Autonomous Women’s Center, Belgrade in cooperation with feminist groups from B&H, Montenegro, Croatia, associates of Women’s Court, as well as artistic-activist collectives: Škart, Dah Theater, Belgrade and Art Clinic, Novi Sad.
Women’s Court – Foča case – was dedicated to sexual crimes, because during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina (1992-1995), Foča was a place of systematic sexual violence and rape. Based on Foča case, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia stated that sexual slavery is to be considered a crime against humanity.
Nevertheless, despite this historically significant verdict, some of the sexual crimes against women and men of Foča, unfortunately, have not been disclosed or acknowledged, but have been silenced and forgotten...
Women’s Court – Foča case – is the continuation of struggle, together with the women and men from Foča to demand justice for victims of sexual crimes in Foča and beyond.
In Women’s Court – Foča case - the following persons testified: Ilvana Konjo, Zenija Hajdarević, Halida Konjo Uzunović and Kemalemir Frašto, while W'sC associates interpreted the political context based on the testimony.
This event was attended by more than seventy persons (70) from whole region as well as from european countries and Australia.
Public presentations Women's Court - Foča case: in this period eight (8) public presentations were held:
The presentation of W’sC − the case of Foča consists of several segments:
- What is the Women's Court/W’sC? What is a feminist approach to justice? History, process of organizing Women's Courts (Sarajevo, 2015); activities in the continuation of the process, effects of W’sC; Women's Court − Foča case, 2023.
- Women's court − Foča case − screening of a documentary film (42 min.) directed by Marija Aranđelović, produced by Women in Black. The film is about the Women's Court- the Case of Foča, held in Belgrade (June 26, 2023)
- Witnesses talk about their experience testifying at the Women's Court in Belgrade (What did testifying at the Women's Court mean to me?)
Here are the dates and the venues of the Public Presentations in chronological order:
Đulići/BH, February 1 – 17 women from a dozen villages in the Zvornik area watched the film. Here are some impressions after the screening: 'Of all war crimes, rape in war is the worst form of violence against women, 'Rape is the crime of crimes'; 'We admire the courage of women to speak about it − because if we remain silent, it will never be exposed.'
Then they spoke about sexual crimes during the war, especially in 1992 in the area of Zvornik: Sexual crimes were suppressed and silenced, victims of sexual crimes were stigmatized by the family, the community − out of fear, the women did not dare to speak about it, even though they knew that many Bosniak women in the area of Zvornik were raped.
Belgrade, February 23 − promotion of the documentary film Women's Court − the case of Foča in THE NGO HUB − premises of the Youth Initiative for Human Rights in the presence of 55 people.
The witness Halida Konjo Uzunović said, among other things: 'I decided to speak, instilled with some force and inspired with people like you, who listen to our story with heart, empathy and respect. I did not speak because I was afraid of not being accepted in such a way. I was afraid that I would be further hurt by people who would pity me, who would not fully understand me. For this reason, I remained silent. It is a crime to cover up a crime. I'm proud to have brought it out. That truth freed me a lot, changed me. Now I am lighter in terms of that huge burden of injustice and humiliation and remorse and everything that I bore. The truth liberates and is the right path to a healthier coexistence'.
Novi Sad, March 2 – the presentation was held in the premises of the NGO 'Iz Kruga - Vojvodina', organized by the Center for Women's Studies and Research, Novi Sad and Women in Black, Belgrade. 10 people from: Novi Sad, Subotica and Belgrade participated in the presentation.
The witness Kemalemir Frašto, Foča/USA, who joined us via Zoom, said, among other things:
It means a lot to me that you saw the film about our testimonies. After the age of 31, I decided to talk, to come to Belgrade to testify at the W’sC. We are not just victims but winners, precisely because of what we said in Belgrade. I have a feeling of sadness, but I'm happy because I started to put together the dice that were scattered. And I did that with the help of Staša and WiB'. Attendees also got involved with comments and impressions.
Belgrade, March 16 – 60 people from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, Serbia, Poland, Georgia, and the Russian Federation participated in the meeting of the WiB Network
Kemalemir Frašto, spoke as a witness via video link about his experience testifying at the Women's Court in Belgrade: 'The very beginning of testifying was difficult, but now I have my own vision and my own path, which is to help future generations so that it is preserved from oblivion and that what happened to us should never happen again to anyone.
Those pieces of terrible trauma were all around me. I was not able to collect them myself. I thought that an old wound should not be reopened. However, opening that old wound helped me.
My message would be that no matter what we are going through, through the economic situation, through the genocide in Gaza, that we should be united as a people.
I also thank you for allowing me to say what is on my heart and for allowing me to be a part of this great organization, in which we work together and try to show the world how it should be done'.
Halida Konjo Uzunović said in her letter: 'I would like to be a role model for other women, to open their souls and put in writing their living wounds. Because it will hurt them less... I know it myself...
I am with you and with the truth, a different ME...
Belgrade, April 22, Regional Meeting of the Women's Court - Feminist Approach to Justice with the participation of 25 women - witnesses, organizers, therapists, associates from Bosnia and Herzegovina (Bratunac, Đulići, Klisa, Foča/Sarajevo, Srebrenica, Tuzla); Montenegro (Pljevlja); Croatia (Novska and Zagreb); Serbia (Belgrade, Kraljevo, Kruševac, Leskovac) and Poland (Krakow).
Kemalemir Frašto via zoom: "Participating in the W’sC meant a lot to me: I'm glad that I came back for the sake of history, so that we leave this for posterity, so that younger generations can learn what happened before their eyes, which they knew nothing about." I wanted to give up testifying, and it's good that I didn't give up because I would have betrayed both myself and you. I want us to live with each other in BH, not next to each other. My mission is a peaceful message. That what we experienced should never happen again to anyone. Our peaceful message is a world without war' etc.
Halida Konjo Uzunović: 'The truth set us free and I became brighter and more beautiful because we broke the shackles. I had worn those shackles for thirty years, but with the support of WiB, we took them off. I was silent. I am extremely grateful that you helped me bear all that burden. I am a different person now. I know they did the right thing for the sake of those who stopped living before they died AND for the sake of future generations. And to be an encouragement to women who haven't done it yet'.
Zenija Hajdarević: 'If it wasn't for WiB, this would never have come to light. I am glad I did this and I would do the same thing again – to encourage others to speak up. I messed up my rhythm, but with this we can open someone else's eyes to get rid of the bitterness. I know that we will never free ourselves of the evil that they have inflicted on us '.
May 24, Kruševac – A presentation organized by the association 'Pesčanik' Kruševac, Women in Black and the Autonomous Women's Center Belgrade was held at the Alternative Cultural Center 'Gnezdo' in the presence of 22 people from: Kruševac, Trstenik, Kragujevac and Belgrade.
After the screening of the film, the witness, Kemalemir Frašto, who spoke via Zoom, said, among other things: "I don't want to live in the past, I don't want to feel sorry for myself, 'poor me'." The very beginning of this film and each new presentation gave me new impetus and strength. Only together can we alter evil and evil people. It doesn't matter that there is a minority of us who think like this. I know that we have to teach future generations so that this should not happen again. This is the wind in my sails. It helped me. I didn't know that there were so many people who share my views and people who distance themselves from what happened. I am glad to have so many like-minded people", etc.
Kemalemir's testimony left the deepest impression on the audience − admiration for his human approach, courage, dignity...
June 20, Podgorica/Montenegro – Public presentation organized by Cultural Center 021, Podgorica, Anima, Kotor and WiB, Belgrade. Organizer Slađana Kavarić Mandić, philosopher, feminist activist, Ljupka Kovačević and Staša Zajović spoke about the history, importance of the W’sC, etc.
The following spoke about the importance of testifying at the Women's Court:
Halida Konjo Uzunović: "I remained silent and suppressed the crimes committed for almost three decades. This happened to me because my granny and mother had kept quiet about it. They were not privileged to speak publicly like I was, they didn't have any sessions, they didn't have support, they weren't allowed to talk about war crimes, about everything that happened, about the terrible massacres in the Second World War. I am lucky that on that path of truth I met WiB, who helped and encouraged me to state it publicly, so that I feel neither shame nor embarrassment..."
Zenija Hajdarević: "We testified as we did to encourage other women to talk, many of them did not survive, many children were orphaned and bereaved of both their mothers and fathers..."
Kemalemir Frašto: "My primary goal is to talk and find understanding. Thank you for coming to pass on knowledge of what you heard tonight to one person and then to another. This is the only way with which we will all fight so that history does not repeat itself and that this misery and this incomprehensible thing that happened to us is never repeated to anyone anywhere".
Ilvana Konjo: "It's been a year since the testimony and I still feel bad. It's not simple. You see, I mean, war, we didn't know what war was. We didn't know that someone was using weapons to kill, rape, slaughter us. I had no idea what it was. A year has passed and that trauma has only become more profound for me..."
On this occasion, both the male and female witnesses and the organizers spoke about the crimes committed in Foča by armed formations from Montenegro:
"The Montenegrin regime was in cooperation with the Serbian regime, warriors from Montenegro robbed, killed, raped in Foča" (Staša); "The Montenegrin authorities do not want to admit any crime. The suffering of the victims calls for a response from the state. Civil society supports the victims" (Ljupka).
This event was attended by over fifty (50) people – activists human rights, for LGBT rights, journalists, citizens...
Zagreb, October, 24 - organized by Center for Women’s Studies, Center for Women war victims from Zagreb and Women in Black, Belgrade. About W’sC spoke: Dorotea Šušak, Nela Pamuković, Renata Jambrešić Kirin, Zagreb, Jadranka Miličević, Sarajevo and Staša Zajović, Belgrade, witnesses: Halida Konjo Uzunović, Foča/Sarajevo and Kemalemir Frašto, Foča/USA (online). This public presentation was attended by 20 personsfrom Zagreb, Varaždin, Novska (Hrvatska), Foča, Sarajevo (BH) and Belgrade.
After the screening of the film, witness Halida Konjo Uzunović spoke, who, among other things, pointed out: 'I, like many women, was convinced that all the evil that happened to me in Foča would be buried deep somewhere. However, at the commemoration of the International Day of Remembrance for all victims of sexual violence in the conflict (June 19, 2018), I met the activists of the WiB Network, when I recognized and felt their strong support, emotions and empathy. We managed to come here to openly talk about such difficult and painful topics, even in Belgrade at W'sC. This truth was very liberating, it made me a different me. I don't care anymore if I have to carry some kind of stigma, some kind of shame... I think it's very important, in my case it was too heavy a burden, which I really couldn't carry anymore...'
Kemalemir Frašto spoke via Zoom: 'By testifying at W'sC, we did a historic act. It was a great success to come to Belgrade and witness. I was afraid of how we would be welcomed in Belgrade. We have seen from the very beginning that there are like-minded people, people who spread love and not hatred, in Belgrade I lost that feeling of fear... Witnessing at W'sC really makes me feel better, that I did something, something will be written down behind us. May what happened to us never happen to anyone,' Kemalemir said.
Publishing activities
In this reporting period, we published:
Women's Court - the case of Foča: a feminist approach to justice – about Women's Court held on June 26, 2023 in Belgrade. The book has four (4) chapters: Introduction; We remember crimes – testimonies; Associates of the Women's Court − analysis of the context of testimony, Appendices and Afterword. Edited by: Staša Zajović; associates: Maša Malešević, Sanja Pavlović and Miloš Urošević; reviewers: Svenka Savić and Rada Iveković; fold and design: Skart; print: Art print; the book has 159 pages.
Women’s court – the case of Foča – Feminist approach to Justice – version in English
Women’s court – the case of Foča – about Women's Court held on June 26, 2023 in Belgrade. The book has four (4) chapters: Introduction; We remember crimes – testimonies; Associates of the Women's Court − analysis of the context of testimony, Appendices and Afterword. Edited by: Staša Zajović; associates: Maša Malešević, Sanja Pavlović and Miloš Urošević; reviewers: Svenka Savić and Rada Iveković; fold and design: Skart; print: Art print; the book has 171 pages.
Video activism – documentaries
Women’s court – the case of Foča (42 min.) was translated and titled in English and Spanis preveden i titlovan na engleskom i španskom jeziku: 'Women's Court – the case of Foča' i 'Tribunal de mujeres – caso Foča.
(Prepared by: Staša Zajović)
Belgrade, January 2025
