Activities in 2025
The first Women's Court on the territory of Europe was held in Sarajevo, from May 7 to 10, 2015, organized by 10 women's groups from the territory of the former Yugoslavia (Movement of the 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's and Peace Education Anima, Kotor, Montenegro, Council for Gender Equality, Skopje, Macedonia, Women's Lobby, Ljubljana, Slovenia, Center for Women studies and Women in Black, Belgrade, Serbia). The women's court was attended by more than 500 people from all countries of the former Yugoslavia, but also from: Argentina, Algeria, Palestine, Israel, USA, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Austria, Belgium, Great Britain, etc.
In the continuation of the process of the Women's Court, Women in Black, Belgrade coordinate program and other activities, with the support of organizations: Anima, Kotor (Montenegro), Center for Women Victims of War, Zagreb (Croatia), "CURE" Foundation, Sarajevo).
In this reporting period following activities were organized:
I Regional meeting of Women's Court – a feminist approach to justice - Sarajevo, May 9, 10 and 11
31 women participated in the twenty-first (21) Regional meeting: witnesses, organizers, therapists, associates from Bosnia and Herzegovina (Đulići, Klisa, Foča/Sarajevo, Srebrenica, Tuzla); Montenegro (Pljevlja, Kotor, Herceg Novi, Nikšić, Bijelo Polje); Croatia (Zagreb); Serbia (Belgrade, Pančevo, Kruševac, Leskovac, Prijepolje) and Germany (Berlin).
Two historical events were marked at this Regional meeting:
Ten years since the historic event - the Women's Court - a feminist approach to justice held in Sarajevo (May 7-10, 2015).
Two years since the Women's Court - Foča Case - (Belgrade, June 26, 2023)
Among the activities at this meeting, we highlight:
About the activities of the Women's Court in the previous period (from the previous meeting - from December 2024 to May 2025
About transitional justice - trials, announcements, memorials...
Trials in BH - Foča, Sarajevo (Klisa, Đulići...)
Suvada Selimović reported on the trials before the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo for crimes committed on May 31 and June 1, 1992. At that time, several thousand Bosniak civilians were expelled from 13 villages in the area of the Zvornik municipality, and around 700 men were then killed in Gera's slaughterhouse. An investigation into that crime was launched five years ago. The indictment was launched and divided into three crimes: for the persecution of the Bosniak civilian population, for the detention of more than 700 men in the former concentration camp at the Technical School Center in Karakaj and the third case is Gera's slaughterhouse where people were executed. So far, 26 hearings have been held, 22 hearings were attended by the families of the murdered. Between 50 and 70 people were present at each hearing.
The court is a space for the perpetrators, (in)justice for the victims: 'Families organize themselves, from 50 to 70 people travel to the trials in Sarajevo. So far, 55 people (from the families of the murdered) have testified, and 30 were called by the prosecution. What is the most difficult for families? I was a witness in that court. Then a mother comes who testifies, they killed everyone, she is questioned by the prosecutor, the court, the defendant, the lawyer. That mother has no rights. All the defendants (of Serbian nationality) have lawyers, they ask pointless questions: what were the defendants wearing, how were they dressed, what did they look like? I don't know what I looked like...Despite everything, we are very happy that the trial was started,' said Suvada.
(Mis)use of memorials by states, but also by society...
Halida Konjo Uzunović referred to the attempt to build a monument/memorial in Sarajevo to Doctor Sekula Stanić from Foča. Since this is a very controversial figure (Stanić, as the director of the hospital, was responsible for the execution and liquidation of the wounded, patients and women, etc.), the Bosniak community reacted and the initiative was rejected.
Halida believes that the whole case is a 'provocation, deliberately humiliating the victims, falsifying events in order to make a hero out of someone who doesn't deserve it. The Bosniak victims in Foča do not have any memorial'.
Ervina warned of the local community's resistance to memorials for crimes committed in our name: 'We have an army that guards the memorial plaque at the place where the Morinje camp (for Croatian prisoners) was. The army must not withdraw from there, because the local community will remove that plaque. Now on May 27, we’ll go again in front of the Herceg Novi Security Center. Maybe the Mayor will agree to put up a plaque'. (Ervina)
The concept of reconciliation without accountability - equating victims and executioners...
"They came up with the concept of reconciliation without accountability - elites conspire to equate victims and executioners." Reconciliation between whom, in what way and in whose capacity? An example of that is Vučić's trip to Srebrenica on the 20th anniversary of the genocide in Srebrenica (2015),' believes Staša.
'The worst is the religious concept of forgiveness: I have not forgiven anyone whom I consider responsible. I cannot forgive specific perpetrators and I will never forgive them in my life. Never in my life have I felt that an entire collective had done that to me. That story of reconciliation also came with international organizations' (Rada).
"Perhaps it can be forgiven when the entire process of criminal responsibility is completed" (Ljupka).
"I'm not talking about reconciliation or forgiveness." I want us to work on creating trust so that future generations can perhaps work on reconciliation. It is possible to forgive someone who stole something from you, but I can never forgive someone who left me with this life I live today. We should work on peace, on a better future for young people. Our life is as it is.' (Šehida).
'Who asks for forgiveness from us? I don't want to forgive anyone while I'm alive. I can be at peace with good people. We don't need to put everything in one basket. When you leave Foča, where hell broke loose, you only listen to your friends about what they survived, and I have no contact with the woman who is Serbian, I don't know what happened to her. When you meet these women, when they hug you, when they give you their hand, then you understand...' (a woman from Foča/Sarajevo).
Several participants spoke about the lack of institutional support for victims: 'The victim is a means of evidence in court proceedings, an instrument. We need women feminists to support victims in systems and court proceedings. The state uses civil organizations that provide assistance to victims, often without any funds' (Marijana).
'As victims and witnesses, we cannot expect any help from our state. If we, the families, had not gotten involved to find the witness, to provide the Prosecutor with his phone number, to go to the witness and talk to him, there would have been no trial. That's what we do, a group of women and a couple of men who survived. We spend our time and our money and follow the trial, get up at 2 in the morning and go to Sarajevo' (Suvada).
The international community in the function of the regime, activists in the function of peace and justice...
"The mothers of Srebrenica initiated criminal proceedings against the state of the Netherlands regarding financial compensation, because they are responsible. That process lasted more than 12 years. They had a list of 230 men who were in the battery factory. There were over 3,000 men there, and the Dutch only recognized that number' (Šehida).
'A month ago in New York I was at the UN. There I could not talk about the W’C, nor about the thirty years of the Dayton Peace Agreement, nor about the genocide in Srebrenica, nor about the Forgotten Children of War, nor about Gaza. I promised myself that I wouldn't stop talking about being censored. We must not stop talking. Maybe we don't have time, maybe there is no one to replace us, but there are those who want to hear us. We have a responsibility to ourselves and to the women who are currently suffering violence. We fought and we will fight. Don't stop talking and sharing' (Selma, Sarajevo).
Transitional Justice in Serbia – Special Court for War Crimes, Belgrade (Staša):
The number of indictments filed is continuously decreasing - according to the data of the War Crimes Prosecutor's Office/WCPO, there are over 1,700 cases in the pre-investigation phase;
The indictments are selective - they do not deal with the responsibility of superior, middle and high-ranking officers (but mere perpetrators).
Trials for sexual violence in war - only 13 out of a total of 106 indictments for war crimes include acts of sexual violence. Serbia does not recognize the war crime of rape, etc.
Glorification of war, war crimes and criminals - at the level of the state and society, etc.
Trauma and recovery – about the experience of working with families of mass murders in Cetinje (Montenegro): On August 12, 2022, in Medovina, near Cetinje, one man killed ten people and on January 1, 2025, a man killed 12 people. The main problems faced by Montenegro: militarization of society (add illegal carrying of weapons), absence of an adequate response from the state; demonization of crime victims by the media - silence of the media about the protests of victims' families and citizens, etc. "Anima" works with the families of the victims: it provides psychological assistance to the families, puts pressure on institutions to establish a trauma institute, demands demilitarization, etc. This was discussed by Ljupka Kovačević and Ervina Dabidžinović Anima, (Kotor)
We celebrate women's courage and resistance...
They left their mark on us - witnesses, activists, associates of the Women's Court who are no longer with us: Nevena Nena Kostić, Zumra Šehomerović, Nada Dabić, Borka Pavićević - documentaries produced by the Group for Video Activism of WiB (33 min.)
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.
Saturday, May 10
Brief summary of the activities of the Women's Court - quantitative report (Staša)
Where did we come from, where are we going? - workshop, group work
What are the greatest effects, results of W’sC?
The participants of the working groups confirmed: The Women's Court has historical significance (Sarajevo 2015, Foča 2023); the holding of W’sC was preceded by a long and tiring period of preparation in order to create a safe space for women to speak loudly and publicly, with the solidarity of nursing support from psychologists, joint learning is of great importance and the process of W’sC continues...
Then they presented concrete effects and achievements...
Empowerment of survivors - witnesses at the center of the entire process of W’sC; solidarity network among women from the area of the former Yugoslavia; release from trauma through testimony; abolition of hierarchy - equality of pain and trauma:
A woman survivor – in the center of the process (the process was led by a woman); a strong help and support system; women got rid of fear, stigma and spoke publicly, this had a positive effect on our psyche and liberation from trauma; self-esteem and confidence; acknowledging one's own pain and that of others - every experience is equally valuable; breaking prejudices (not everyone is the same); creating a network among the women of the former Yugoslavia - understanding and supporting each other, regardless of the type and severity of the injustice we bear - lifelong friendships; healing the victim through various forms of support, for example going on a joint vacation; the building of mutual trust, solidarity and compassion contributed to the strengthening and empowerment of women; joint reflection regarding the continuation of joint activities...
Effects at the institutional level: testifying at the W’sC enabled the initiation of court proceedings, obtaining reparations: recognition of the status of civilian victims of war; some women's testimony on the W’sC was recognized as evidence in the court process they led against the perpetrator; some women testifying at the W’sC managed to get reparations (mostly women from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia).
Kemalemir Frašto, a witness at the W’sC - Foča case, came online: 'I managed to get the status of a civilian victim of war. It's part of recovery. I didn't believe that it would be easier, that I would get some satisfaction. I feel like I'm not a loser'.
Contribution to transitional justice: documenting - archive of W’sC, monitoring court processes; support from experts from the region and abroad; contribution to reconciliation; values for new generations; W’sC supported actions against crime denial;
What are the biggest shortcomings, unfulfilled expectations from W’sC?
Very limited impact on institutional justice; forced mobilization is a crime that is not recognized even at the international level; insufficient impact on society and raising awareness and responsibility; lack of financial resources: many criminals have not been tried in the International Court nor in the national courts; there was no recognition from the authorities - ignoring the W’sC by official institutions; the lack of understanding of people from the environment about W’sC remained in a small circle - it had no influence to change the opinion of a large number of people, to make more layers of society aware; for a wider circle of people to find out what happened in the areas ex YU; limited financial resources; lack of funds for even wider support for women victims of war.
In the following, the women spoke about institutional injustices towards the victims: about the failure of justice at the criminal-legal level, about reparations (symbolic, material), about the consequences of not facing the past.
Joint reflection on important points, lessons from the presentation of Carlos M. Beristain (Regional meeting of the Women's Court, December 2024)
Marijana suggested that we discuss the important lesson of Carlos 'so that our pain was not in vain', and here are some statements: 'We are here, we survived to testify and that is a very important item' (Halida); 'What keeps me in activism is that we don't give up. We have some results every day. We leave a lot to young people. These are processes that cannot be completed. Our pain is heard every day' (Šehida); "We must fight so that our pain is not forgotten" (Šehida); 'Our pain was not in vain, when I see us here' (Suvada); ' Only that pain is in vain that is felt somewhere at home in solitude, in silence, in captivity. Pain that is spoken, that produces action, pain that is not trapped, is not in vain' (Sabina); "No one will blackmail me, because I carry my pain with my head held high" (Reiha); "The pain has been present for 35 years, but I am fighting for peace, for truth and justice." I love you all' (Mother Mejra); "Through these years of cooperation and fellowship with you, both personal and common, I want to thank you for sharing your pain with us, and we with you" (Violeta).
Celebrating the Women's Court - Notes from Belgrade, December 2024 - by Carlos M. Beristain; awarding of recognition; a surprise concert (Minka) and a feminist party.
Sunday, May 11
Final session: Agreements on activities in the following period and evaluation
Marijana asked the women to say one word with which they leave the circle:
Love, joy, solidarity, trust, faith, peace, contentment, patience, serenity, perseverance, empathy, companionship, remembrance, togetherness, sincerity, strength, sisterhood, progress, strength, hope, courage, life, success, steadfastness, growth, happiness, dignity, gratitude, defiance, nobility, learning, pumping up...
II Women's court – Foča case – On June 26, 2023, Women in Black and the Autonomous Women's Center from Belgrade, with the support of feminist groups from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Croatia, organized the Women's Court – Foča case in Belgrade.
The Women's Court – the case of Foča was devoted to sexual crimes because during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina (1992-1995), Foča was a place of systematic sexual violence and rape during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The International Criminal Court for the former Yugoslavia established for the first time in the Foča case that sexual slavery is considered a crime against humanity. Nevertheless, despite this historically significant verdict, some of the sexual crimes against the women and men of Foča, unfortunately, were not disclosed or acknowledged, but were silenced and forgotten... The Women's Court – the case of Foča is a continuation of the fight, together with the women and men of Foča, for justice for the victims of sexual crimes in Foča and beyond. At the Women's Court - Foča case, the following testified: Ilvana Konjo, Zenija Hajdarević, Halida Konjo Uzunović and Kemalemir Frašto, while W’sC associates interpreted the political context based on the testimony.
In this reporting period, the following activities were organized three (3) public presentations:
Ljubljana, January 24, 2025 – organized by PLAC (Participative Ljubljana Autonomous Zone) and Women in Black, Belgrade was held in PLAC premises in the presence of 35 people. Nela Pamuković, Center for Women Victims of War, Zagreb and Staša Zajović, Women in Black, Belgrade, spoke about the Women's Court, the feminist approach to justice, history, the process of organizing the Women's Courts (Sarajevo, 2015), as well as the Women's Court – Foča.
Then a documentary film was shown: Women's Court – a feminist approach to justice: the case of Foča - screening of a documentary film (42 min.) directed by Marija Aranđelović, produced by Women in Black. The film is about the Women's Court-Case of Foca, held in Belgrade (June 26, 2023)
After the screening of the film, Kemalemir Frašto addressed the audience via Zoom, who, among other things, said:
'The testimony did a lot of good and meant a lot to me. I thought I would never speak, that I would take it to the grave with me. I hesitated whether to testify or not. I'm glad I didn't retire. This had to be done. We are building history together. It is up to us whether we will talk about it or not, it is up to humanity whether they will understand the message or not from our testimonies. And the message is unique: we absolutely do not want what happened to us to ever happen to anyone again. We testified for that. Witnessing helped me a lot to put all that in order inside me.
The testimony is for my brother to be present with me, in my soul, to be present in the universe. He was with me. He lives in my heart.
I would like to send a message to the audience, to ask every individual who has seen the film to pass it on to at least one person. The more it is transmitted, the less chance there will be of it happening again. If we pass on these heinous events from generation to generation, I think that we will prevent it from happening again'.
We convey some of the impressions from the exchanges with the audience:
'I was interested in the attention with which you watched the film, your attention and interest. The message about violence against women in peacetime conditions in Serbia is also important. I am happy to be here with you and thank you for establishing these connections' (Slobodan Sadžakov, Novi Sad).
'I am very glad that you came. I am grateful to you. Ljubljana is the right address. You are the greatest treasure that the former Yugoslavia has' (Biljana Žikić, Ljubljana).
This part of the conversation was moderated by Marijana Senjak, a feminist therapist at the Women's Court.
Belgrade, June 25 – The Youth Initiative/YIHR organized an educational cycle on sexual violence in war, and within this program the Women's Court - the case of Foča was presented. Staša Zajović, WIB, spoke about the Women's Court, its history, and the feminist approach to justice. This event was attended by twenty (20) young people from all over Serbia, and during the screening, as well as after the screening, the young people present, who mostly did not know anything about wartime rapes in Foča, were deeply distressed...
After that, Kemalemir Frašto, a witness at W’sC Foča, addressed the young people via Zoom, who, among other things, said:
"I don't consider myself a victim, but a hero. There were young people at the presentation in Podgorica (June 2024), just like here. I was 18 years old when it happened to me. Testifying at W’sC was difficult for me, but I felt an obligation to testify. Thanks to WIB, we got a wind at our back. For me, W’sC was a historical event, which meant a lot to me.
I came to the USA in 2003. I had a big crisis in 2010. I hit rock bottom; I didn't tell anyone about what I was going through. I didn't have the courage to open that Pandora's box. In 2011, I told the psychiatrist for the first time. In the USA, I started meeting women who were victims of rape, mostly refugees from Bosnia and Herzegovina, because I worked as a Bosnian-English translator. That's why I founded a group of Bosnian refugees consisting of thirteen women. They helped each other, I helped them in English.
I have returned to Foča many times, but I cannot stay there for even one hour. When I enter Foča, as soon as I cross the bridge over the Drina, all those buildings fall on me, I just want to leave. I tried in 2024 to enter the Lepa Brena building , I failed, but maybe one day... It's not easy to get to Foča, my city disappeared in 1992, my city was destroyed in 1992. It means a lot to me that young people want to deal with this topic. You will continue to talk. Please convey what happened to me and my people. Talk, share...' said Kemalemir.
October 24, Novi Pazar - Women's Court - Foča case
The public presentation was held in the Bosniak National Council in the presence of 72 people from Serbia: Novi Pazar, Sjenica, Prijepolje, Priboj na Limu, Nova Varoš, Kraljevo, Pančevo, Novi Sad, Belgrade; Kosovo (Pristina); Montenegro (Herceg Novi, Kotor and Podgorica).
After the introductory remarks by Fahrudin Kladničanin, Academic Association 'Forum 10' from Novi Pazar (co-organizers of this event) and Staša Zajović, Women in Black, Belgrade, the documentary film Women's court - feminist approach to justice: the case of Foča - screening of the documentary film (42 min.) directed by Marija Aranđelović, produced by Women in Black, was shown. The film is about the Women's Court-Case of Foča, held in Belgrade (June 26, 2023).
Witnesses at the Women's Court - Foča case, Halida Konjo Uzunović and Ilvana Konjo, expressed their gratitude to the people of Novi Pazar who provided them with shelter and hospitality after the persecution from Foča. "Novi Pazar is my second hometown. I was reborn from the hell of Foča. I was born in Foča on June 28, 1964. My new birth was when I arrived here, on June 28, 1992. I can never forget those scenes of warmth and friendship of people in Novi Pazar" (Halida). "More than thirty years have passed. We are grateful that you provided for us after the exile from Foča. We would have ended up in the camps, if it hadn't been for you. We have no words to thank you." (Ilvana).
Afterwards, the witnesses spoke about the importance of testifying at the Women's Court - exoneration from guilt, overcoming fear, gaining self-confidence: 'I was reborn with what we did in W’sC'; "Not for a second did I say to myself that I shouldn't have testified." The witnesses spoke about their personal experience, which represents the experiences of a large number of women: "Our stories all match." And of course, they talked about the duty to convey the truth: "So that what happened to us should never happen again to anyone. I would ask you to pass it on so that it doesn't happen again."
Here are the words of the witnesses:
Halida Konjo Uzunović: "Being a witness at W’sC freed me as a person from all the shackles of injustice, sadness, misery and hell that fell on our shoulders. Until 2018, when I met WiB and Staša for the first time, I remained cowardly silent and thought that I would never have enough strength to express everything that happened to me. However, through acquaintance with them, through socializing, they instilled enormous strength and trust in me and I realized that everything that happened was not my shame, but someone else's shame. I was so encouraged and liberated that in the end the book (Orient) was published. I am very proud and grateful to all the people who helped me.
Ilvana Konjo: "When the W'sC process started, I thought I would never speak out because of upbringing, shame. It is not easy when a woman comes forward and speaks publicly. It is not a simple thing - how it will affect my mother who is 86 years old, who is a believer, how it will affect my child, the company I work for. However, I never told myself for a second that I should not have testified."
Zenija Hajdarević: "At W’sC, we got the opportunity, with the help of WiB, to tell the truth. Our stories all match."
Kemalemir Frašto: "I tried to speak in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2011, but I encountered misunderstanding. Halida encouraged me, so I met Staša. She gave me the opportunity to do something that I didn't know I needed. I was freed from the shackles. After this testimony, I no longer feel guilty for not being able to help my mother. I feel that something will remain behind me, for generations to read and learn. That what happened to us will never happen to anyone again." I would ask you to pass it on so it doesn't happen again."
The witnesses spoke about suppressed, unrecognized crimes against the Bosniak people during World War II, when Bosniak civilians were exposed to ethnic cleansing, torture, and rape by Serbian armed formations (Chetniks). The silenced unpunished crimes left deep transgenerational traumas.
"In the Second World War, the same thing happened, but it was not allowed to talk about it. We experienced the same thing fifty years later" (Ilvana); "In Bosnia and Herzegovina, Foča is a place of suffering for Bosniaks. I heard that from my mother-in-law, we experienced the same. We Bosniaks in Bosnia and Herzegovina, whenever there was a war, we suffered the most. No one was ever prosecuted and convicted for all that" (Zenija); "Our parents and our grandfathers were not allowed to talk about what happened to them in the Second World War, so it happened to us in the 1990’s ". (Kemalemir).
From the exchanges with the audience, we highlight some of the impressions of those present:
"The tragedy that you went through cannot be described. Your testimony is a guide to the young generations. You are always welcome in Novi Pazar"; "We want to give you support, to thank you for the courage to tell us. All the Bosniaks of this town lived your pain and they all tried to ease your pain"; "You have given a speech here tonight to the world. For the last thirty years what you have carried with you is a tear in your eye, and that is the most powerful thing in the world. You have kept the humanity within you. You do not hate, but love"; "People from Pazar did what they knew and could. We survived it all together with you. Thank you for speaking. If what happened in the Second World War had been talked about, it would not have happened again the 1990s."
III Feminist ethics of care and responsibility – visits of WiB activists to female witnesses (W’sC Sarajevo), peace meetings - support for victims:
April 26, Bečej – solidarity visit to Julia Teleki, anti-war activist, participant in the process of organizing the W’sC .
April 27 – Vršac/Vojvodina - visit to Rosa Jakovljević, witness at the W’sC, mother of the murdered soldier (October 5, 2004); 4 WiB activists were visiting.
Retreat/socializing – Nine (9) witnesses, organizers of the Women's Court from Montenegro and Serbia, as well as activists from Israel and Palestine were on July 13, 14 and 15 on a joint short break in the village near Ivanjica (central Serbia).
July, Vršac/Vojvodina – four WiB activists visited Rosa Jakovljević, witness in Women’s Court, mother of soldier killed (5,10, 2004).
Active women’s holiday in the women’s house 'Seka' Brač/Croatia from July 28 to August 14. Thirteen (13) women - witnesses, W’sC activists from BH, Croatia and Serbia: BH: Suvada Selimović, Safeta and Ramiza, Đulići/Zvornik; Croatia: Marica Šeatović, Novska; Jovanka Carević i Milica Miladinović, Zagreb; Serbia: Nadežda Kostić, Kruševac, Milka Rosić and Mirjana Mijailović, Leskovac, Snežana Obrenović, Kraljevo and Svetlana Šarić, Vlasotince and Gordana Radosavljević, Belgrade.
September 25th – Ervina and I visited and stayed with Mother Mejra in Bihać. That visit was also part of the feminist ethics of care because Mother Mejra (Mejra Dautović), a woman whose two children (daughter and son) were tortured and killed in the Omarska camp in 1992.
Đulići, September 26, 27 and 28 – feminist ethics of care as a continuation of cooperation with witnesses at the Women's Court and support for women.
September 26 - the women's gathering organized by Lutvija at her aunt's house. The living room was filled with women (36 women), which pleasantly surprised us. It is increasingly difficult to gather women because the socio-political climate is too complex and unstimulating, but Suvada, in her calm and persistent way, manages to motivate women to participate in the fight for justice (they witness and attend war crimes trials in Sarajevo) and to live better lives - by organizing meetings, gatherings, joint trips and socializing. We were at the gathering at Lutvija's, who treated us to Bosnian specialties with her sisters. The women were cheerful.
September 27th : We worked in the Anima space, which was supplemented with new chairs and photographs and peace messages on the walls; 32 women from villages: Đulići, Klise, Radave, Dubrave, Grbavci, Živinice, Šetići attended this event.
The topic was Parenting
Voditeljka radionica: Ljupka Kovačević, jedna osnivačica Centra za žensko i mirovno obrazovanje 'Anima', feministička terapeutkinja Ženskog suda
Through an attempt to define parenthood (all emphasized care, hardship, and responsibility) and almost complete agreement (with the exception of two women) that parenthood is learned. We talked about parental messages and the lack of parenting education during schooling. They mostly assessed themselves as good parents and emphasized their position – as single parents (their husbands were killed in the war) and that they were forced to perform both roles and ensure the existence and development of their children. They emphasized that it is important for parenting that both parents participate in it. They emphasized that there was not much joy, except for rare moments, during the period of their children's growth, but that they are now satisfied with the achievements and lifestyle of their children, aware that the conditions in which the children grew and developed were difficult and left their mark.
In the interventions, we expressed recognition and support for their struggles and relativized their feelings of fear for the consequences of the absence of the second parent.
In the end, they all gave recognition to themselves as parents.
The atmosphere in the group was supportive, and humor and joy resulted after the workshop.
The continuation was a joint dinner in a pleasant restaurant.
Next day (September 28) we organized very short meeting and we (Ervina and Ljupka) return to Montenegro.
Vršac/Vojvodina, September 28 and November 22 - visit to Rosa Jakovljević, witness at W'sC, mother of the murdered soldier (October 5, 2004); in this visit were: Melanija Aleksić, Ljiljana Radovanović, Violeta Đikanović, Staša Zajović (WiB) and Suvada Selimović, association ’Anima’ Đulići/B&H.
(Prepared by: Staša Zajović)
Belgrade, January 2026
