To Make Room for Changes

To make room for changes

– Peace strategies from women organisations in Bosnia and Herzegovina To make room for changes

– Peace strategies from women organisations in Bosnia and Herzegovina The Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation addresses the needs of women in areas affected by war and armed conflict. The Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation cooperates with women’s organisations in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Georgia, Israel/Palestine, Jordan, Kosovo, Lebanon, Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro and in Syria.

To Make room for changes – Peace strategies from women organisations in Bosnia and Herzegovina Author: Ristin Thomasson Editor: Annika Flensburg Reference group: Åsa Carlman, Katarina Olsson and Eva Zillén

©The Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation Slakthusplan 3 S-121 62 Johanneshov Sweden Phone: +46 8 588 891 00 Fax: +46 8 588 891 01 E-mail: [email protected] www.iktk.se

ISBN 91-974999-7-8 Design: AB Typoform Printed by: Bulls tryckeri, Halmstad 2006 Contents

5 Preface

6 Introduction

10 Background

14 Organising for Peace

18 Making Room for Change 19 Challenging national identities 21 Freedom from fear 22 Creating space for return and reconciliation

26 Crossing Borders 28 Room for conversation

32 Opening Doors for Activism 32 Strengthening civil society and raising rights awareness 33 Strengthen economic independence 35 Taking back control over women’s body and sexuality 36 Marginalisation by the international community

38 Building up Legal Security 42 Fight against corruption and organised crime

44 Challenging Violence in Society 49 Fighting slavery

52 Participation in Decision-making and Agenda-setting 57 Setting the agenda

60 Conclusion

64 Recommendations

66 Appendices 66 Organisations that were interviewed for this report 66 Bibliography 67 Notes The Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation would like to express our deepest and warmest gratitude to everyone who has participated in the realisation of this report, especially to the women’s organisations and the individuals that agreed to be interviewed. They have generously shared their experiences and their opinions and have patiently answered numerous calls for additional information. We would also like to convey our gratitude to past and present partners in Bosnia and Herzegovina who were not interviewed for this particular report but who throughout the years have informed and in- spired us with their knowledge and work. till Kvinna Foundation was for us and the Room for change – women who had just witnessed the horrors of war in former Yugoslavia to break these a Room of One’s Own patriarchal patterns. The Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation’s contribution to women on the Balkans would provide them with the resources to create room to assemble and organise. After ten years of cooperation with the FOR A PERSON to become an active and women in Bosnia and Herzegovina we now responsible citizen they require both know wish to highlight the strategies they are ledge and time for reflection. They also using to win back a normal life and prevent need access to forums; places where people a new war from breaking out. It is striking meet to discuss experiences and values and that the key element in their work is access places where they can test their arguments. to their own space. Having that – they can form strategies. Shortly after the end of the war, women Throughout the centuries men have always from all over the country assembled to what created such places for themselves. They they called Room for Conversations. There have everything from cafés and squares to and then they formulated what was required universities and sports clubs. If women are for the country to avoid another war. to become active citizens they must acquire Women must have the opportunity to the same “privileges”. shape the future on their own conditions. In her novel A Room of One’s Own, They are entitled to be respected and taken Virginia Woolf strived to show the lim seriously. For this they require a room of ited opportunities for women to develop their own. Women in Bosnia and Herze and express themselves as intellectuals and govina have shown that Virginia Woolf authors. She saw a room of one’s own as was right: within the rooms lies the will a prerequisite for becoming a thinking per power to change. The purpose of this son. But reality is somewhat different: Many report is to show how changes in Bosnia women have no room of their own or own and Herzegovina have taken place. We time and are thus prevented from pursuing hope, with their patience and knowledge, intellectual and political activities. they succeed in making Bosnia and Herze Women’s capacity is questioned and govina, one of the new countries in Former they are prevented from taking part in and Yugoslavia, into a society where everybody shaping the agendas that determine how can live in peace and gender equality. society is organised. In particular, they are omitted from the core issues such as war and peace, security policies, traditionally Kerstin Grebäck regarded as the man’s domain. One of the secretary general core concepts when founding the Kvinna the kvinna till kvinna foundation

PREFACE in December 1995 not one woman from Introduction Bosnia and Herzegovina was present in the room. No women were involved in decid ing the future of the country. This failure becomes even greater bearing in mind that just a few months earlier in September the UN Conference on Women’s Rights was “Women’s empowerment In many armed conflicts around the held in Beijing, China. At the conference, world women are taking initiatives towards governments adopted the Beijing Platform and their full participation peace. Many times the initiatives are based for Action. This document was a forward- on the basis of equality on solving problems, keeping contact with looking strategy on what was required to people across conflict lines and creating strengthen the role of women and wom in all spheres of society, meeting places. This was certainly the case en’s rights. One of the areas identified was including participation in the with the women the Kvinna till Kvinna Women and Armed Conflicts. The declara Foundation began supporting during the tion itself states: “Women’s empowerment decision-making process and war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. After the and their full participation on the basis of access to power, are funda- war, women’s organisations started to take equality in all spheres of society, including shape and women have since organised participation in the decision-making pro mental for the achievement themselves for the development of society, cess and access to power, are fundamental of equality, development democracy, human rights and peace in many for the achievement of equality, develop- different ways. The women’s organisations ment and peace”.1 and peace”. are today a strong part of civil society in The exclusion of women is the same all over

beijing plattform the country. the world. But this does not prevent women for action When actors from the international com from acting and demanding to be included munity discuss the problems facing Bosnia and from presenting solutions for achieving and Herzegovina and how to solve them, peace. In Israel and Palestine women make they take hardly any account of women’s up the majority of peace organisations even reality and the work done by women’s or though they are seldom allowed to partici ganisations. With this report the Kvinna till pate in official negotiations. In Liberia wom Kvinna Foundation wishes to highlight the en gathered in their hundreds for the 15th in work that has been done and is still being a series of Peace Agreements demanding to carried out by women’s organisations. We participate, crying out for peace and justice want to show the political and social force in their homeland. Some of them managed to that emanates from women’s organisations actually attend the talks, but only as observ and the strategies used in their work. ers with no voting rights.2 In Kosovo women Women are deprived of the right to take are mobilising and demanding their right to part in peace negotiations and in form participate in the negotiations regarding the ing peace agreements. This was also the status of Kosovo (April 2006), at the time of case with Bosnia and Herzegovina. When writing only one woman is included in one of the Peace Accords were signed in Dayton the negotiating delegations.

INTRODUCTION As human beings women have the right With this report The Kvinna till Kvinna to participate in decisions on peace and Foundation is showing the example of democracy. It is also, as stated in the Bei Bosnia and Herzegovina. Since we have jing Platform for Action, a precondition supported women’s groups and women’s for building peace. This was confirmed yet organisations in former Yugoslavia since again in 2000 when the UN Security Coun 1993 we have both knowledge and good cil adopted Resolution 1325 on women, contact with several organisations in the peace and security and reaffirmed“[…] the area. In Bosnia and Herzegovina we have important role of women in the prevention supported organisations from the outset and resolution of conflicts and in peace- and we have seen them develop into what building, and stressing the importance of they are today. their equal participation and full involve- Another reason for us to focus on Bosnia ment in all efforts for the maintenance and Herzegovina when writing about wom and promotion of peace and security, and en’s organising is the strong presence of the the need to increase their role in decision- international community in the country. We making with regard to conflict prevention want to show the good and bad examples of and resolution”. According to Resolution 1325 the interaction between civil society, wom the international community should also en’s organisations and international actors. “support local women’s peace initiatives”.3 Without the presence of the international Another thing stated in the resolution, community in the country there would be which very much affects the possibilities small possibilities for a civil society to for local women’s participation, is the de develop. Upholding peace and democracy mand for a good gender balance within in is dependent on this presence. Having said ternational community actors. This report that, we want to problematicise the way in clearly shows the importance of this. which the international community is inter There will be no progress, for the inter acting with civil society. One problem is the national community efforts or for the sus neglect in seeing women, women’s activists tainable development of the war-affected and women’s organisations, as actors to be country itself without the participation of reckoned with. This means giving informa women. For women and women’s organi tion to women, collecting information from sations to be able to participate in building women, inviting women to meetings and peace and democracy they need not only making sure that they actually can partici moral and financial support, but also secu pate. Another problem is the short-term rity and visibility. The international com ways in which many democracy and peace munity has a great responsibility to provide activities are carried out by the international this. The first is to perceive women and community. The campaigns of international women’s organisations as actors, politically actors tend to compete with activities carried active agents who need to participate in all out by women’s organisations. This prob decision making. lem is multi-faceted. If campaigns are mainly

INTRODUCTION “[…] the important role carried out by the international organisa vote and to vote for non-nationalist candi tions with a lack of local ownership, the dates. They are holding politicians and of women in the prevention likelihood of a lasting result is minimal. decision-makers accountable, thus dimin and resolution of conflicts Another side of the problem is that women’s ishing the gap between “ordinary” people organisations will have difficulty in carry and decision-makers. Women’s organisa and in peace-building, and ing out their work and setting their own tions are promoting, using and testing the stressing the importance of agendas. Since international organisations limits of new laws and they are informing have much better resources they tend to people about their rights. They all empha their equal participation and dominate the public debate. And of course, sise the importance of reaching out into all full involvement in all efforts women’s organisations are dependent on parts of the country and they make great funding from international agencies and efforts to meet and empower women in ru for the maintenance and have to apply for money to carry out what ral areas. People from all groups and parts promotion of peace and the donors want to donate money towards. of the country have to participate in order A strong civil society and democracy is for peace to respect the rights of all. Non- security, and the need crucial for sustainable peace. Most of the discrimination against women has to reach to increase their role in peace and reconciliation work in Bosnia into every corner of society. and Herzegovina has been carried out by The report is based on interviews with decision-making with regard women’s organisations. The women’s meet women’s organisations in Bosnia and Herze to conflict prevention ing places created by women’s organisations govina, from both the Federation and have become very important. For many Republika Srpska. The interviews were and resolution”. women they were the only space where they mainly carried out during November and

UN security council could feel completely safe. The experiences December 2005. The organisations work resolution 1325 of violations – be it in the private or the politically on the issues of peace, democracy public sphere – increases the general sense of and human rights. Many of them started insecurity among women and prevents them just after the war ended and several of them from participating in the reconstruction are the ones that the Kvinna till Kvinna process. These safe meeting places, wom Foundation has had most contact with over en’s centres, also deal with matters of hatred the years: Buducnost in Modrica, Centar za and distrust between the ethnic groups. In Pravnu Pomoc Zenama (Center of Legal this environment women manage to deal Assistance for Women) in Zenica, Duvanjke with difficult matters, their fears, and the in Tomislavgrad, Forum Zena in Bratunac, possibility of coming to these places breaks Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly (hCa) in Banja the isolation many women face. The psy Luka, United Women in Banja Luka, Hori chosocial support provided by women’s zonti in Tuzla, Zena BiH in Mostar, Most organisations, the dialogue starting there, in Visegrad, Lara in Bijeljina, Zenski Centar is vital for the healing process. This is basic in Trebinje, Zene Zenama in Sarajevo, Glo peacebuilding. bal Rights in Sarajevo and Women & Society Women’s organisations are gaining sup in Sarajevo. They are all marked on the port for democracy among the population. upcoming map and there is a short descrip They are motivating people to use their tion of each organisation in Appendix 1.

INTRODUCTION The structure of the report is as follows: It is divided into 8 separate chapters, each one dealing with a specific aspect of the LIST OF ABBREVIATION women’s organisations’ strategies to help EUFOR European Union Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina women take part in shaping their society. EUPM European Police Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Chapter 1 provides a brief background to hCa Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly the conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina. IDP Internal Displaced Person Chapter 2 briefly outlines how and why IFOR Implementation Force the women’s organisations started – why IPTF (The UN) International Police Task Force the women thought they needed to organise NGO Non Governmental Organisation themselves and to start NGOs. OHR Office of High Representative

Chapter 3 discusses the importance of OSCE Organisation of Security and Cooperation in Europe meeting places. SFOR Stabilisation Force UNDP United Nations Development Programme Chapter 4 describes how women crossed UNHCR United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees the conflict borders in order to create con tacts and rebuild trust. UNMIBH United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina UNHCHR United Nations High Commissioner of Human Rights Chapter 5 documents the work of women’s organisations to consolidate the democratic system in their country by empowering women to participate in society.

Chapter 6 shows how women’s organisa tions have worked to strengthen legal secu rity, including educating law enforcement officials on women’s rights.

Chapter 7 documents in depth how wom en’s organisations have worked with one of the most serious security threats facing their society – violence against women.

Chapter 8 documents the work of the women’s organisations in advocating equal ity and non-discrimination in formal deci sion-making processes.

INTRODUCTION social crisis, with a lack of open discussions Background about the past and with no democratic tra dition. The recession was followed by a po litical tug of war on the course to be taken

chapter 1 in the democratisation and decentralisation process. Exacerbated by a rising national ism and a more forceful articulation of the Bosnia and Herzegovina was one of ethnic political and economic interests of its six republics that constituted the Socialist constituent republics, Yugoslavia split. The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The coun first multi-party elections in Yugoslavia in try was made up of a number of ethno- 1990 resulted in victory for the nationalis national4 groups which, to varying degrees, tic parties, with Slovenia and Croatia pro corresponded to the different republics. No claiming their independence, followed by republic in Yugoslavia was as demographi Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1992.5 cally mixed as Bosnia and Herzegovina. The war broke out in Bosnia and The main national groups of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1992. The warring parties Herzegovina were Bosniacs (Bosnian Mus committed gross human rights violations, lims), Bosnian Serbs, and Bosnian Croats. including the most serious war crimes, Following the death of President Tito in such as genocide and systematic rape. The 1980 came a period of severe economic and nationalistic war strategies were to a large

1993 April-May. A full-scale 1995 December. Signing of the Dayton war breaks out in Herzegovina Peace Accords. UNPROFOR is transformed and central Bosnia between to IFOR. US troops is now part of the Croat forces and the Bosniac- Nato-led peacekeeping force. Carl Bildt dominated Army of BiH. appointed as the first High Representative.

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

1990 First free elections 1992, February 29. Referendum about independence. 1994 March. With 1996 January-February. The division 1998 September. General elections. 2000 November 11. General 2002 October 5. General 2005 October 5. BiH parliament adopts in Bosnia-Herzegovina SDS calls for a boycott, observed by most Serbs. US as a broker of BiH into two entitites, RS and Nationalists once again wins. In RS elections. In Federation the elections. Back to normal legislation for the creation of unifying the (BiH) after World War II. 66 % turnout and 99 % yes to independence. the Washington the Federation, are completed, with Nikola Poplasen from SRS, the Serb Alliance for change, a coalition business; SDA, HDZ and SDS two armies to a single army. The three nationalist 1992, April 5. Independence declared. SDS declares agreement is signed, exception of Brcko. Radical Party, is elected president. of ten parties with the once again wins the majority. 2005 October 6. The national assembly of parties, SDS (serbs), their own state, Republika Srpska (RS) on April 7 with ending the Croat- 1996 September. First elections SRS is the most extreme nationalist socialdemocratic SDP as the RS adopts the police reform. In five years HDZ (croats) and SDA Radovan Karadzic as president and Pale as capital. Bosniac war. The after the war, organised by OSCE. party. He is removed from his post main force gets a narrow Bosnia will have one police force. (Bosniacs) gets an Federation is formed. by the High Representative majority. A non-nationalist 1992 April-May. The siege of Sarajevo begins. In many SDS, HDZ and SDA once again gets 2005 November. EU member states give the overwhelming majority in the majority of the votes. on March 5, 1999. government is formed in 2001. all municipalities. Only in municipalities SDS-led Crisis committees seize power. European Commission green light for Tuzla, Vares and Novo The ethnical cleansing starts in Northern and Eastern negotiations about a Stabilisation and Sarajevo socialdemocrats, parts of BiH. Association agreement, the first step for a liberals and reformists get 1992, August. The pictures from Serb camps outside membership in European Union. a majority. At national level Prijedor creates an outrage in the world. UN-troops, SDS, HDZ and SDA share UNPROFOR, are sent to BiH to guarantee delivery of the power. humanitarian aid.

10 BACKGROUND extent based on the creation of ethno- B O S N I A AND HERZEGOVINA national homogenous areas, through the expulsion of people of “wrong” ethnic CROATIA groups. The war ended with the signing of the Velika Kladusa Dayton Peace Agreement in December 1995 Stope Znanja and after three and a half years of war the REP. Modrica SRPSKA Buducnost situation was devastating both in material Banja Luka Brcko Bijeljina United Women, Lara loss and human suffering. Out of a popula hCa Tuzla tion of 4.4 million, 100,000 were dead or B O S N I A AND Horizonti SERBIA missing. Women had been subjected to mass HERZEGOVINA

rape, two thirds of the industrial potential Zenica Bratunac and half the homes and social welfare state Centar za Pravnu, Forum Zena Pomoc Zenama, facilities were demolished, half the Bosnian FED. BOSNIEN- Medica HERCEGOVINA Sarajevo population was displaced, the poor and un Zene Zenama, Visegrad Women & Society, Most educated rural population (mostly women, Tomislavgrad Global Rights, Duvanjke Komitet Slijepih Zena children and elderly people) fled to the cities. In December 1995, 1.2 million Bos Mostar REP. Zena BiH SRPSKA nian citizens were refugees.6

MONTE- NEGRO Trebinje Zenski Centar

0 80 km 1993 April-May. A full-scale 1995 December. Signing of the Dayton war breaks out in Herzegovina Peace Accords. UNPROFOR is transformed and central Bosnia between to IFOR. US troops is now part of the Croat forces and the Bosniac- Nato-led peacekeeping force. Carl Bildt dominated Army of BiH. appointed as the first High Representative.

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

BACKGROUND 11 The Dayton Peace Agreement lay the The fragile peace was upheld by NATO foundation for the future of Bosnia and led peacekeepers (IFOR, later called SFOR) Herzegovina. It was mainly an all-male and international police (IPTF). However, event, as was the decision-making during the situation continued to be very tense the war. No women from the country took for a long time with continuing incidents part in the peace negotiations and the nego of violence, harassments and human rights tiations ended up with a gender-blind peace violations reported also years after the war agreement and constitution.7 ended. The NATO peacekeeping force was The Peace Agreement effectively divided in 2004 replaced by a smaller European the country into two parts, more or less Union led force (EUFOR) and the IPTF was reflecting the last front lines of the war. replaced by a European Union police force The two ‘entities’, as they are called, are (EUPM). In addition to the domestic insti the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, tutions, the Dayton Peace Agreement also which is mainly made up of Bosnian Croats established the institution of the Office of and Bosniacs and internally divided into the High Representative (OHR), which is 10 Cantons, and the Bosnian Serb Repub the international community’s representa lic, ‘Republika Srpska’, mainly made up of tive in Bosnia and Herzegovina with the Bosnian Serbs. In addition to the two enti responsibility and mandate to oversee the ties there is the self-governing ‘District of civilian aspect of the peace agreement. The Brcko’, a small District created separately OHR has wide-ranging powers, for example in 1999 through international arbitration. to impose decisions where the local author The Dayton Peace Accords are com ities are not able to agree. In some respects prised of a General Framework Agreement the extensive powers of the OHR means for Peace followed by annexes dealing with: that Bosnia and Herzegovina in effect has Military Aspects of the Peace Settlement been an international protectorate. (1A), Regional Stabilization (1B), Inter-En There was a massive presence of inter tity Boundary Line and Related Issues (2), national organisations in the country right Elections (3), Constitution (4), Arbitration after the war. As well as the OHR there (5), Human Rights (6), Refugees and Dis were also the UN mission, UNMIBH, placed Persons (7), Commission to Preserve various UN special agencies and the National Monuments (8), Establishment of Organisation for Security and Cooperation Bosnia and Herzegovina Public Corpora in Europe (OSCE) – each with a different tions (9), Civilian Implementation of Peace mandate and role in the reconstruction of Settlement (10), and International Police the country. OSCE was for example man Task Force (11).8 dated to get the election process running One of the main objectives of the Day and working. Added to these were the ton Peace Accords was to create new multi- many international donor and humani ethnic and democratic institutions from a tarian organisations. war-torn society and to ensure respect for The situation confronting women and fundamental human rights and freedoms men after the war was overwhelming. The and the rule of law.9 soldiers had fought to win and after the

12 BACKGROUND war many of the men felt bitterly defeated Slavenka Drakulic wrote after this event and asked themselves what really had been that women needed to define their aims for gained.10 Many of the women had become themselves, and that the common denomi widows and had missing family members; nator should have been more than want many were survivors of rape and sexual ing to get their sons home, “It should have violence; severe traumas were common; a been a call for peace”. And others said that large number of women continued to be women fell victims, not only to nationalism exposed to violence since men’s violence but to their lack of organisation and politi continued at home. cal vision, a product of forty years of life The fall of the former Yugoslavia with under communism.12 all its institutions and norms had not only symbolic but also very concrete repercus sions. Socialist Yugoslavia before the war did not have a well-developed civil society or tradition of civil organising outside of the party structures. Therefore almost no one in the country had experience of civil soci ety and NGO work. Many of the methods and ways of working had to be developed by those who after the war decided to or ganise themselves for various reasons. However, some women began organising themselves in the early 1990s in reaction to the threat of war.

“In the autumn of 1991 women in Sarajevo protested against the war. “We are women – not nationalities, generals, or murderers!” they shouted […] A few days later hundreds of women from Croatia and Bosnia set out for Belgrade, where they were to be met by women from Serbia. They were all sup- posed to go together to the headquarters of the Yugoslav People’s Army. The women had only one weapon in their hands: small photographs of their sons […] The generals, finally realising that women after all amounted to half the population, roughly prevented them from meeting. Soldiers blocked the road to Belgrade and the women returned to their homes humiliated.”11

BACKGROUND 13 but what all groups shared was a common Organising will to address concrete problems affecting their communities. Many of the women who started the organisations had been active in different ways during the war when for Peace confronted by situations of extreme need and suffering. They had organised distribu tion of food, medicine and clothing, cared C H A P T E R 2 for the most vulnerable and coordinated schooling for children. Some organisations “[After the war] we had a feeling there were also started during the war. borders between us – most women had no chance to Since the country’s infrastructure had been almost completely destroyed, their have contact with their families in other places […] work initially was chiefly focused on pro We wanted to have the life from before the war. […] and viding services such as legal aid, health care and psychosocial support, that in normal we wanted to be able to say hi to anyone in the street conditions would be provided by the state. regardless of nationality. The main goal was to open One big problem for the many people who fled or were forced from their homes our town again. At that time we were nationally was the lack of personal documents such as divided. We wanted freedom of movement!” ID cards, birth certificates, marriage licences, school diplomas, employment records and STANOJKA TESIC, FORUM ZENA, BRATUNAC. property ownership documents. These documents were vital in order to be able to exercise their rights. Several organisa tions decided to open legal aid centres as After the war many women in Bosnia a reaction to difficulties and obstacles for and Herzegovina felt, and still feel, a strong people to exercise their legal rights. One of desire to participate in rebuilding their them was Centar za Pravnu Pomoc Zena country. This was matched by a frustration ma (Center of Legal Assistance for wom of being excluded from decision-making en) in Zenica. Jasminka Dzumhur, lawyer, forums. They knew that reconstruction and founding member of the organisation, requires their input and expertise, that it is describes the situation as follows: “The not enough that only men from the warring government, during and directly after the parties participate. war, did not have the capacity to provide So facing the challenges women started to support for vulnerable groups, and the ma- organise themselves for change. The exact jority belonging to vulnerable groups were reasons for getting together varied depend women. After the war there were many ing on locations and contexts, professional problems like divorces, lost husbands, dis- backgrounds and ease of communication, placed persons, returnees, women who

14 ORGANISING FOR PEACE were left alone with children, no employ- ”We were in a kind of ghetto – wanting to get out, ment and no money and that was the rea- to communicate [...] to show that there were people here son we decided to strengthen women. […] We recognised that many women were not who thought differently and who were against the war. But we able to enjoy their rights due to the lack of couldn’t do it by ourselves, only togehter with other people.” documents etc., so we decided to create an organisation to assist them in legal issues Lidija Zivanovic, hCa and in that way make their life easier.” Many people were traumatised be cause of what they lived through during we just couldn’t accept the situation”, says the war. They were in great need of some Dubravka Kovacevic from the organisation form of counselling and psychosocial sup Most in Visegrad. port to process their traumas. This again From the outset, women’s organisa was something the state did not have tions have had contacts with women and the capacity to address and where wom women’s organisations in other parts of en’s organisations stepped in to fill the the country. After the isolation and prop void. “During the war we started to help aganda that dominated throughout the women and children refugees [primarily war there was a strong need and desire from the Srebrenica area] that had come to to meet with people who had been on the Tuzla and we could see that the women were other side – to hear about their situation, depressed and sleep deprived, which made exchange information and discuss com it difficult for them to connect with their mon problems. It was clear that regardless children. They clearly needed psychological of nationality or religion, women faced help.” mira vilusic, horizonti, tuzla the same type of problems, i.e. exclusion In a period of increasing poverty and from the power structures of society, vio high unemployment some women also saw lence, discrimination, poverty, trauma etc. the opportunity to start organisations and and they could achieve a lot more if they formalise their work to generate some form worked together. of income through the funding from inter Since the country was highly politicised national donors. and the politics were dominated by nation Women’s work was and still is invalu alist propaganda, most women’s NGOs able for restoring a sense of normality in initially made a point of staying out of the their communities, effectively identifying party political sphere. However, their cross- daily problems and needs of women and border initiatives clearly defied the ruling finding ways of addressing these problems. parties’ nationalist propaganda and ideo At the same time many stress that they did logy. Women’s organisations have been not have any specific focus or long-term involved in many different issues in the plans in the beginning. They lacked knowl ten years that have passed since the war edge about civil society and how to organ ended. Due to the very unstable and vola ise. “We didn’t have a focus at first, but tile situation of the post-war society they

ORGANISING FOR PEACE 15 “Yes what can we do? were constantly faced with new problems poor without an income of their own and in and new situations and were forced to ad response many organisations began initi That is the central question. just, improve and invent new strategies. ating income-generating projects; the low If no one asks us, we have to “Learning is a way of life. It inspires us level of women’s participation in public not to loose ourselves; it is a permanent life led to efforts to lobby for changes of act ourselves to create the investment and constant endeavour to election laws and quotas as well as educa society we want to live in.” find a comprised solution acceptable for tion for women politicians and attempts to everyone.” nuna zvizdic, zene zenama, mobilise women voters. stanojka tesic, sarajevo13 “First we offered legal assistance to forum zena, bratunac Regardless of the initial declarations, women. Then we noticed that many women women started to organise not only to who came to us were victims of domestic meet each other but also to create and de violence. We discovered a lack of legislation velop the space around them according to on domestic violence so we tried to lobby their needs and abilities. While one of the to change the law. But there were no female main reason given for starting an organi politicians in the Parliament to support sation was to have a space to meet, very such a change so we started to work and soon those spaces developed into organisa support female politicians. Now the law tions tasked with offering assistance to the has been passed we need to train the po- female members of the community. Devel lice on the law and the doctors on how to oped at local level and focused on respond fill in the certificates prescribed by the law.” ing to the most acute problems, they were a women’s organisation in bosnia not perceived as political actors. Neverthe and herzegovina14 less their role as an instrument of change From initially being organised in loose was and still is invaluable. networks of friends and acquaintances They have worked on conflict resolution with a more or less ad-hoc approach to the in order to bridge the divisions between the problems, they are now professional organ ethno-national groups and for safe return of isations. Having moved from being seen as IDPs and refugees and reconciliation. When traitors to their ethno-national groups for violence against women turned out to be a interacting with and helping women from huge problem, the women’s organisation ‘other’ groups as well as being considered focused on finding ways of dealing with it spies or inconvenient by the authorities, and initiated changes in the law and train today there are several examples of part ing of law enforcement officials. When the nerships between women’s NGOs and problem of human trafficking surfaced they local authorities and institutions on a became very engaged in fighting it and they variety of issues. have done much to improve the situation The women’s organisations should not for victims of trafficking. Generally, women only be seen in the light of their develop in the aftermath of the war were extremely ment or the achieved results within the spe

16 ORGANISING FOR PEACE cific areas in which they have been active. However, because of the will to change Women’s organising has made a very signif and be an equal part in rebuilding the icant contribution to the development of a country many have fought on. As Stanojka civil society in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Tesic put it at a meeting in Bratunac in play an important and even leading role in Republika Srpska where women from the sustaining it, holding authorities and politi village met for coffee and questions were cal parties to account.15 Of course women raised about common issues like the lack who organise themselves to create change of work and the lack of political action: and who challenge the prevailing national “Yes what can we do? That is the central istic and patriarchal power structures face question. If no one asks us, we have to act many obstacles and problems. It has not ourselves to create the society we want to been an easy or self evident way forward. It live in.” stanojka tesic, forum zena, has been filled with fear, resistance, threats bratunac16 and doubts both within and from society.

ORGANISING FOR PEACE 17 than anything the women wanted to break Making Room the isolation. “We didn’t want to be in a frame of tradition, we wanted to go outside and see more.” dubravka kovacevic, for Change most, visegrad Men on the other hand had their given gathering points and full access to public places, where they could meet others, go chapter 3 for coffee and discuss matters that con cern them. It was a somewhat implicit, or “We did not have any space to meet, drink coffee and talk. rather explicit, claim that public space was In 1995 there were no women in the streets, cafés or for men while women should stay at home. Women IDPs were often extremely isolated restaurants. We wanted to be able to meet, go to a restaurant, since they did not know anyone in the new have normal clothes, even our husbands started to ask us to area and by staying at home they did not make any new friends. behave differently and not to go out. Changing this is what women’s organis […] Our wish was to have a place – our place - where no ing is all about. It is about a strong will to gain access to the public arena where they one could disturb us, just to sit and have coffee and talk.” can participate on equal terms as men with out limitations or restrictions, or for that Dubravka Kovacevic, Most, Visegrad matter without being harassed or disturbed while doing it. The conservative values that often rise This quote comes from a woman who to the surface in the build up to and after had arrived as an internally displaced per conflicts are used to strengthen the national son (IDP) to the small isolated town of identity. In the 1990s the role of women Visegrad, a place she had never visited be changed, the task of patriotic women was fore. She had previously lived in a slightly no longer to build socialism through their more urban area of the country. According labour but to regenerate the nation by to her, the biggest problems experienced by motherhood.17 The shift to conservative women in small towns were that they could norms often bears direct consequences for not take part in the most common everyday women since these values usually influence activities such as going to cafes or restau the views of women’s position in the family rants to meet with friends. She says that in and society, as well as of their rights. For the conservative climate that prevailed in example, it often leads to various restric the area, women who went unaccompanied tions and limitations of women’s rights and by a man to a restaurant or café would be freedoms, like increased control of their regarded as “cheap” or as a “bad” woman, clothing, of where they are allowed to go and they would often be harassed by men. and how they should behave and choose to The situation felt like a prison, and more live their lives.

18 MAKING ROOM FOR A CHANGE The motivating force for women to cre “To give women the space to meet is vital. In these spaces we ate a separate space for acting is directly exchange experiences, learn from each other and become empowered. related to women’s subordinated position in society. Women are nowhere near being This is a pre-condition for us to claim our right to participate in represented to the same extent as men in building up a functioning society.” the decision-making structures; the partici pation and visibility of women in public life stanojka tesic, forum zena, bratunac in general is very small. In short, it means women only have limited possibilities to make their voices heard since they do not ing or knitting together), but in fact they have full access to the public arenas where served a far more practical and important men are. They are therefore forced to seek purpose. It was a way to get women out of alternative ways to become engaged – and their homes, and a way to provide a plat this arena is within civil society, where most form for them to act, which carried with it of women’s activism takes place today. a great potential to eventually create mo Therefore a common activity, both dur mentum for social and political change. ing and after the war in Bosnia and Herze Therefore, in the initial phase, women’s govina, was to create meeting places for meetings were usually presented as a simple women. First and foremost the purpose wish “to go out and meet friends and drink was to have a place to meet and to break coffee”. Stressing this more social than po their isolation. A place where they would litical character of organising was helping feel welcome and safe and where they could women to get a legitimate reason to leave speak freely. This could take place in some their homes for a couple of hours. It was body’s home, or somewhere where they also a way to reach more women. It seems could meet without being disturbed. In however that a political agenda was present creasingly, as organisations where formed, from the outset. “To give women the space these activities moved into the premises of to meet is vital. In these spaces we exchange women’s organisations and women’s cen experiences, learn from each other and be- tres. One woman who lived in Sarajevo come empowered. This is a pre-condition during the war said that “I missed air more for us to claim our right to participate in than food” explaining that the women’s or building up a functioning society.” stano- ganisation Zene Zenama gave her that air. jka tesic, forum zena, bratunac18 The meeting places also served other pur poses. In a conservative society, which after the war had become more restrictive and in Challenging national identities which women’s freedom of movement was The meeting places also served as a refuge rather limited, it became a strategy in itself from the nationalist environment. The di to have separate meeting places for women. viding lines of the war had been the ethno- Women’s gatherings were seen as something national affiliations so this became the harmless (women drinking coffee or sew most important identity marker for the

MAKING ROOM FOR A CHANGE 19 “Our approach to peace is based on an individual than separating them on the basis of ethnic approach; peace building has to start within ourselves”. ity, nationality or religion. All had experi ences from the war specifically connected nuna zvizdic, zene zenama, sarajevo to their identity as women and civilians. Deprivation of power and a feeling of be ing subjected to a conflict that largely saw people, and a strong tie to keep the group women as just one more commodity was together and create a feeling of belonging. a common experience for women on all Demarcation lines created by the war con sides of the conflict. This can explain why tinued to define the political reality in the women’s organisations very early on af post-conflict situation. Whether they liked ter the war started to have contacts with it or not people were forced into these iden women and women’s organisations on ‘the tities in order to survive the war and they other side’, or why women’s centres often had to keep them also in the post-conflict became meeting places for women belong situation. It was difficult to voice any op ing to different ethno-national groups. ”It position to these categorisations. Persons was important for us to create a safe place from mixed families for example were of for all women no matter who one might ten forced to flee or had difficulties finding be, returnee, internally displaced person their place. or domicile.” jadranka milicevic, zene The women’s organisations could pro zenama, sarajevo vide an alternative to the dominating sys Zene Zenama was one of the first organ tem of national identities, which allowed isations after the war with the direct aim of women to emphasise other identities than creating a safe haven for all women. They the ethno-national categories such as be see it as a necessary step and strategy to rec ing women, mothers, workers, civilians, oncile and make peace. widows, friends – identities that could be “I spoke about my experiences with two just as strong as any ethnic, national or Serb women here and I forgot my fear. That religious identity. The safe meeting places is peace.” a bosniac woman coming to gave the visitors space and time to formu the women centre of zene zenama in late themselves, who they were, what was sarajevo. important in life and what they wanted Women’s organisations have continued and needed. over the years to challenge ethno-nation Women shared common experiences alistic values even during very difficult cir with each other just by the fact that they cumstances. NATO bombings against the were women. Most of them shared expe Federal Republic of Yugoslavia caused by riences of discrimination in society and the conflict in Kosovo increased the nation family, they realised quite quickly that they alistic rhetoric in neighbouring Republika had far more connecting them as women Srpska. During these difficult circumstances

20 MAKING ROOM FOR A CHANGE United Women organised a roundtable in in mind that many suspected war criminals “I spoke about my Banja Luka, Republika Srpska. The tension are still moving around freely. experiences with two Serb was very high, high school youth, manipu The notion of safe space takes on an lated by ultra-nationalist right oriented po even deeper meaning when considering that women here and I forgot my litical parties, demolished offices of foreign many women are not even safe in the pri fear. That is peace.” consulates, UNHCR and other foreign of vate sphere – in their lives, in their homes fices and almost all international personal – due to violence against them from their a bosniac women had left. Despite this, United Women went husbands or other close male relatives. Af coming to the women centre through with the roundtable and put topics ter conflict it is common for interpersonal of zene zenama in sarajevo. like national hatred, violence and reconcili violence and men’s violence against women ation on the agenda, defying the risk of to increase.20 threats and allegations of being traitors. The meeting places were often organised According to the organisation the discus as women’s centres that offered a variety of sions were very constructive and the par activities and services, such as education, ticipants at the session felt that Slobodan legal aid and psychological counselling. Milosevic had a great responsibility for The centres became very important where what was happening in Kosovo. A second women could regain hope and strength to session on the same topic was held in control their lives and become actors out Mrkonjic Grad, where ultra-nationalistic side their homes. Psychosocial support was political parties were very strong. This time often a priority, especially during the first around 20 women participated and it was years after the war. “Our approach to peace the first time that the organisers experi is based on an individual approach; peace enced direct attacks; they were told that building has to start within ourselves”. nu- they were betrayers of the Serbian people na zvizdic, zene zenama, sarajevo and exponents of the “criminal” inter After the war it was evident that many national community.19 women suffered trauma which hindered them from living their life to the full and as whole human beings. For the women’s Freedom from fear organisations it was clear that this was The meeting places provide a sense of secu something that they had to address in order rity from the post-conflict reality that was for women to reconcile and participate in still perceived as very unstable and poten rebuilding society. One organisation, Hori tially dangerous. Many women did not, and zonti in Tuzla, describes as quoted earlier still sometimes do not, feel safe and secure how they began their work after seeing in the public spaces where they are at risk that the displaced traumatised women who of being exposed to pressure, insults and came to Tuzla from Srebrenica could not harassment and sometimes even threats just connect with their own children due to de because they are women. It should be kept pression and sleep deprivation.

MAKING ROOM FOR A CHANGE 21 “We had continuity in our work offering information concerning war traumatic experiences, including the loss of loved ones and homes. They also the right to return, their right to the movable property and real worked to neutralise the influence of many estate and so on. It was a necessary step, because the state and its stress-related factors such as separation of families, the uncertainty of return to their government agencies weren’t ready to give valid information previous homes, men’s violence and the regarding return, and the procedure was aimed at being complicated feeling that their lives were temporary.21 Through research conducted by the to de-motivate, from the start, all those who want to return.” Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation in 2001, 85 zene zenama, annual report 1998 per cent of women in the survey said that the war had had a negative effect on their family life and 62 per cent claimed that Trauma and psychosocial support is their husbands had changed negatively.22 an important aspect of the reconstruction This points to another serious problem in process. Experiences of great loss, violence, most reconstruction efforts – the limited humiliation, hate and lack of trust in other trauma services for men. Not dealing with people threaten to destabilise the recon these issues increases the risk of further vio struction efforts. Dealing with the past and lence at home and in society, child abuse with the traumas is a precondition for so and drinking due to the post-traumatic ef ciety and the people to function properly, fects on men. and the costs of not dealing with trauma could be devastating, for the individual and society alike. Unfortunately reconstruction Creating space for is usually understood only as the physical return and reconciliation and economic re-building of a country. The process of return was probably the The organisation Zene Zenama in Sara most difficult part of the reconstruction jevo has for many years worked with creating process in post-conflict Bosnia and Herze safe spaces for IDPs and returnee women. In govina. Many people in areas that had been 1997 the psychosocial support team started exposed to ethnic cleansing during the war its activity in the region of Sarajevo canton. were not welcoming the return of the dis They worked in mixed areas with displaced placed population. It was not uncommon persons, refugees and domiciles. Life was for returnees to be harassed or even vio insecure due to the difficult economic situa lated if they entered the towns which were tion, the high percentage of frustrated pop now dominated by another ethnio-national ulation and due to the fact that all families group. Because of these security concerns, carried mental and physical wounds from most returnees refrained as much as pos the war and the conflict was just under the sible from moving around, or going from surface. Zena Zenama’s team aimed to ana villages into towns which were often domi lyse and work through the war and post- nated by another ethno-national group.

22 MAKING ROOM FOR A CHANGE Women’s organisations conducted activi ”It was important for us to create a safe place for all ties to build trust and eventually friendship women no matter who one might be, returnee, internally between women from the different groups and to include the returnee women into the displaced person or domicile.” structures and activities of the organisation. The support given to the returnee women jadranka milicevic, zene zenama, sarajevo could be anything from going to visit them in their houses or villages, or more actively giving different kinds of support in their dai ly lives, such as accompanying them to in verely hit by the war and was divided in stitutions and local authorities or to schools to two parts, where the west part became with the children, or just do shopping to Croat and the east Bosniac. Women from gether. They created spaces where refugees all over the area visited the centres where and returnees could tell their stories, their they could speak freely about their expe fears, raise questions and receive answers. riences and concerns about the future. In The return process was slow and in 1998 the beginning the centres aimed at build when figures showed that 800,000 people ing bridges between domiciles and IDPs, were still displaced Zene Zenama decided which later turned to building bridges and to educate mediators in the local commu tolerance between returnees and those nity in villages throughout the country to who stayed in the city during the war. One help the process. The education focused woman who had returned in 1996 to the on local problems such as property, educa Mostar area said that at the time she was tion, security, local democracy and human afraid to go out, no one said hello to her rights violations.23 “We had continuity in in the street, her children were not allowed our work offering information concerning to go to school and her husband was dead. the right to return, their right to the mov- Stope Nade, that has its origin in Mary able property and real estate and so on. Stopes International, contacted her and It was a necessary step, because the state took her to one of their centres were she and its government agencies weren’t ready could get support. to give valid information regarding return, There are many testimonies from returnee and the procedure was aimed at being com- women saying that they would not have plicated to de-motivate, from the start, all dared to return or stay in the places of those who want to return.” zene zenama, return if they had not had access to the annual report 1998 women’s centres. They explain how the After the ceasefire between Croats and greatest sense of security in many ways Bosniacs in March 1994, the organisation came from the contact with women of Mary Stopes International began to estab other ethno-nationalities, rather than from lish women’s centres in Mostar together the security provided by the police and with local women. The city had been se peacekeeping troops.

MAKING ROOM FOR A CHANGE 23 “In the beginning it was difficult even to speak to people, IDPs from Bratunac were living, to make contact with them and to build trust and but we succeeded and now [after so many years] it is easier and start to create dialogue. They brought cof there is trust among us, and now we enjoy real cooperation.” fee and food and packed as many women as possible into the cars and then went for nada stjepanovic, most, visegrad lunch with the IDPs and thus slowly began to rebuild trust between the groups. Twice monthly the trip was reversed and they went to pick up the IDP women and It should be stated however that suspicion brought them to Bratunac. There they had and insecurity in many places went both lunch and met with local women as well ways. The meeting places between women as receiving help and support to visit their of different ethno-national groups also re former homes. In some cases their homes duced the suspicion among the domicile (and were totally destroyed, in other cases dis IDPs) population about the returnees com placed Bosnian Serbs lived in their old ing back. Horizonti in Tuzla realised that homes and Forum Zena tried as far as pos not only IDPs needed help but also domi sible to get the women to meet and to create ciles. The IDPs thought that the domiciles an understanding for each others’ situation. had everything as they still had their houses; Their work for returnees and reconciliation the domiciles thought that the IDPs got it all is now widely acknowledged. – electricity, water and food. In 1996 they When the return process began, the di organised meetings to reduce the tension be visions between the different nationalities tween the groups. were still very deep. Most returnees who The organisation Forum Zena works in had the courage and will to return essen the town of Bratunac in eastern Bosnia, in tially only resettled in the villages far away the Srebrenica area, the scene of one of the from town and very few returned to live worst war crimes. When the return process among the majority population. There were started in that area, a bus with Bosniacs, effectively no communication or interaction potential returnees, came to Bratunac to between the areas and the mechanisms from visit their pre-war homes. The bus was at the war continued in peace time. tacked with rocks and stones by Bosnian The organisation Most in Visegrad in Serbs, who lived in the town. After this in Republika Srpska went to Bosniac re cident the women in Forum Zena decided turnee villages to encourage dialogue and to do everything in their power to prevent reconciliation. Quite often Bosnian Serb such a thing from happening again and to women in town asked if they could come show the returnees that not all people in the along to see a friend from before the war. town were aggressive nationalists. The women did not dare to go by them Twice a month representatives from the selves for fear of threats from people in the organisation went to places in the Federa town or villages. Neither did they dare to tion, in the other entity, where many of the invite their former Bosniac friends to their

24 MAKING ROOM FOR A CHANGE home for the same reason. To go with a women’s organisation was viewed as safer. They could say to people that they were do ing humanitarian work which was far more acceptable, and perceived as more neutral than having personal contact and socialis ing with people from the ‘other’ group. Building up trust and contacts with return ees is often a long process requiring persist ence and patience which Nada Stjepanovic from Most confirms, “In the beginning it was difficult even to speak to people, but we succeeded and now [after so many years] it is easier and there is trust among us, and now we enjoy real cooperation.”

MAKING ROOM FOR A CHANGE 25 lika Srpska and the Federation. This system Crossing Borders made it easy for police and others to spot and harass visitors from the other entity which increased the fear and tension. chapter 4 The fact that there was hardly any flow of information between different parts of the country made people even more isolat “I couldn’t accept hating somebody because ed. There was no radio or newspapers and of their name – I wanted a normal life. Why should we not even the telephone worked over the en tity lines. In all areas, the media subjected be divided when we have lived so long together?” people to propaganda and prejudice.25 dubravka kovacevic, most, visegrad Several of the women’s organisations re member how human rights activists, NGO representatives and journalists faced in timidation and threats if they attempted to The fragile peace in the country was promote inter-ethnic/national/religious dia upheld by NATO peacekeepers (IFOR/ logue or criticise the nationalist leadership. SFOR) and UN police (IPTF). However, The peace agreement had established the the situation continued to be very tense for rights for displaced persons and refugees to a long time. During the first years human return to their pre-war homes but the re rights abuses continued, including harass turn process was widely obstructed by gov ment and intimidation of minority groups ernment and law enforcement officials. and sometimes even murder. Police, munic In an overall assessment of the situation in ipal and government officials could play a the country Carl Bildt, the High Represent direct or indirect role in the violations. The ative for the implementation of the peace war had collectively traumatised the popu agreement on Bosnia and Herzegovina, said lation, and hostility, fear and distrust was in July 1996 that the progress of people’s reinforced by propaganda in local media daily life was often staggering and that the controlled by the political parties. politics that drove the war were still prevail Freedom of movement was extremely ing. He also criticised the parties for fail limited and it was difficult, and could be ing in their commitment to respect human dangerous, for minorities to travel in some rights. “Of particular concern is the pattern parts of the country. In 1996 Western dip of either encouragement or tolerance of eth- lomats criticised NATO for not fulfilling nic harassment […] This causes the coun- its mandate and ignoring provisions in the try to continue to drift apart in a develop- peace agreement, including ensuring free ment that is contrary to the declared aim of dom of movement for civilians throughout re-establishing a multi-ethnic society.” carl the country.24 The right to move freely was bildt the high representative for the also undermined by the system with sepa implementation of the peace agree- rate registration plates on cars for Repub ment on bosnia and herzegovina26

26 CROSSING BORDERS Despite the situation, women activists “Of particular concern is the pattern of either encouragement contacted each other across ethnic and na or tolerance of ethnic harassment […] This causes the country tional borders and arranged meetings and gatherings immediately after the war. On to continue to drift apart in a development that is contrary to a few occasions, where it had been possi the declared aim of re-establishing a multi-ethnic society.” ble, the contacts had already been taken or maintained during the war. Carl Bildt the High Representative for the implementation Many outside observers at the time did of the peace agreement on Bosnia and Herzegovina not think it was even remotely possible to move across entity lines and/or cooperate with other ethno-national groups. When We “ordinary people” want to socialise asking women’s activists what made them with each other.” merima džankovic, take these contacts despite the obvious duvanjke, tomislavgrad difficulties and risks involved, the answer Many of the women felt a strong frus is often that it was simply a natural thing tration because of the isolation that they to do, or if not natural then at least rec had lived under during the war, both in ognised as absolutely necessary in order to terms of access to information as well as resurrect some sort of normality after the the very restricted freedom of movement. war. “It’s easy because we are part of the They wanted to break that isolation. same country! We are together and in any Women from one organisation say that case we must live together. And before the they were seeking contact with women on war there were a lot of mixed marriages “the other side” because they were curious and people had relatives everywhere. A and simply wanted to know how life was clear distinction must be made between for them. One woman from Visegrad said: politics and ordinary people.” jasminka “there was a total lack of information – no dzumhur, founding member of centar newspapers, no radio, no bus line – it felt za pravnu pomoc zenama, zenica. like a prison, so we went to the local UN- To contact people from the other ethno- HCR office and said ‘We are women and national group was a clear statement we want to have contact with other women against the ideology of the war and the – to see how they live’”. A woman work ongoing political propaganda. “I couldn’t ing there got involved and helped them to accept hating somebody because of their come into contact with a group of women name – I wanted a normal life. Why should in the other entity, not too far away. This we be divided when we have lived so long meeting led to several more meetings, and together?” dubravka kovacevic, most, soon there was a formal cooperation, the visegrad first one being a joint training course on “Women cross borders because we reproductive health. are in the same situation. Not employed Almost all women’s organisations stress and we wanted to speak to other wom- the important role that especially OSCE, en. They were our friends before the war. but also UNHCR, played during the first

CROSSING BORDERS 27 Everything I read or saw on TV – at that time in both entities – The women’s activist Klelija Balta, now working for UNDP in Bosnia and Herze was always a dooming shadow, always talking as if we again would govina, underlines that these meetings were have war. They were fighting all the time. It gave the impression very important. By exchanging information with each other about what was going on that war just stopped for a while, but will continue again. There was no in different parts of the country they chal hope. But this conference gave me hope. If we are strong maybe we lenged nationalistic propaganda. She ex plains that when the women first started can change this society, and I still believe that women in Bosnia and to meet they agreed to write to each other Herzegovina are the only hope for Bosnia and Herzegovina as a and to check with each other whenever there was anything in the media that could state – to remain a state and not have war again. Male politicians stir up tension or deteriorate the situation, have spent all their credits and they haven’t done anything.” since media continued to be very polarised and full of propaganda after the war. mara radovanovic, lara, bijeljina

Room for conversation years after the war in providing transport Nothing illustrates the act of cross border for women who wanted to meet people in cooperation better than the women’s con the other entity. Travelling under the pro ferences held shortly after the war ended. tection of international organisations was The organisation hCa organised a confer during the first years practically the only op ence in Zenica on June 6–9, 1996 entitled portunity they had if they wanted to travel Room for Conversation. It was one of the across the borders. This support should not first times that women from Republika be seen as merely physical protection and Srpska and from the Federation met in transport, but also as essential in enabling an organised way and 53 women from 32 the exchange of information between dif organisations from different parts of the ferent parts of the country and making it country participated. possible for women’s organisations to dis It was not an entirely easy thing to pull cuss and make plans for a collective action off so soon after the war ended in 1995. to rebuild the country. The scars and the memories were still fresh However, several of the women defied and these types of meetings provoked a lot threats and their own fear and travelled of resistance among people. People would in their own cars. Women from Horizonti, ask women attending the conference “why Tuzla, remembered how they travelled in do you meet with [Serb/Bosniac] women, the car during the night to Republika Srp whose husband’s killed us?”. ska and how afraid they were. At the same The purpose of the conferences was time they recognised that the only solution simply to establish contact and to discuss for the future was to work together. problems that were common to all women,

28 CROSSING BORDERS regardless of nationality or religion. Lidija Interestingly enough, almost all who did Zivanovic, one of the organisers, says “the not participate in these conferences said it important thing was that these women was impossible to meet in those places right wanted to establish communication and there and then. cross borders”. She also believes that this The difficulties that had to be overcome was the time when the women fully began in order to organise these conferences are to realise that they had not been part of the clearly shown by this example from Lidija war in the sense that they did not start it or Zivanovic: “For the first time 30 women make any decisions about it, and that wom from the Federation came to Banja Luka. en were not represented in the negotiations, It was a problem to present to the public neither before, during or after the war. that such a conference would take place in The aim was also to develop ideas and Banja Luka. I decided to invite President strategies for the future in order to work Biljana Plavsic, not because I wanted her jointly for a democratic, multi-ethnic and to come, but because I wanted the highest unified country and to improve women’s authorities to know [about the conference]. participation in decision making processes I also asked for approval from the Ministry and the respect for women’s human rights. of the Interior and from the police. I passed After the conference the participants signed through several interviews and they told me a letter urging international organisations at the end that I didn’t need approval for and government bodies to improve the po such a meeting because it would be held in sition of women and ensure women’s par a closed space. Permission was only needed ticipation in building a new society. for meetings outside. But I insisted on ap- About six months after the first confer proval. We chose to organise the conference ence, in December 1996, a second Room in a hotel which at that time was owned for Conversation conference was arranged, by a representative from the Serb Radical this time in Banja Luka in Republika Srp Party. This was also a good strategic step ska and it was the first time women from because it would attract great attention if the Federation came to Republika Srpska something happened in their hotel and in for a conference. A third conference was their space. […] I was of the opinion that it held in July 1997 in Mostar. There were was less dangerous to organise everything other women’s conferences as well, but the publicly than to do it in smaller scale or se- unique characteristics of those mentioned cretly. […] I can’t estimate now how dan- here is that they were entirely initiated by gerous it was but the indication of just how women from Bosnia and Herzegovina. dangerous it was was perhaps in the people The choice of venues was symbolically I met who refused to communicate with me important as all of these places in one way and participate because they thought it was or another symbolised intolerance (Zenica dangerous” lidija zivanovic, hca not in the same degree as the other cities).

CROSSING BORDERS 29 “Crossing entity borders and The conferences led to calls for laws to had exactly the same problems as women be “harmonised with international and from Republika Srpska and they agreed on taking part in public reunions democratic standards”; calls for the setting how different problems should be solved. in another entity was heroic. up of specific programmes for marginalised Maybe that made an even greater impact groups (refugees, disabled persons, families on me because it was right after the war Ten years ago one had to of victims of war, elderly people); and that and it gave me hope that we can do some- be extremely brave to go to civil society must be included in the recon thing together! Everything I read or saw struction of the country. on TV – at that time in both entities – was Sarajevo and meet people The conclusions about education were always a dooming shadow, always talking there. We were afraid of particularly interesting since this topic is as if we again would have war. They were very much at the centre of the political bat fighting all the time. It gave the impression saying where we were going tlefield. The conference demanded that ed that war just stopped for a while, but will and how we were meeting ucation should not be influenced by politi continue again. There was no hope. But this cal interests and differ depending on which conference gave me hope. If we are strong people of other nationalities ethno-national group you belong to. Instead maybe we can change this society, and I still to discuss politics of that time. the conference wanted “one school” where believe that women in Bosnia and Herze- children were taught the same history that govina are the only hope for Bosnia and Those hard times, fears and did not recycle the division between people Herzegovina as a state – to remain a state memories are still very fresh. into the next generation. and not have war again. Male politicians Many of these recommendations from have spent all their credits and they haven’t Putting up with all the 1996–1997 are still relevant and, ten years done anything.” mara radovanovic, accusations of being a traitor on, the government bodies are just begin lara, bijeljina ning to succeed in developing unified laws. Just after the conference in Zenica in or a foreign spy was one of The conference in Banja Luka took place June 1996 the organisation Zena 21 organ the hardest experiences.” after the first post-war elections were held ised Women Transforming Themselves and and a working group for analysing the elec Society a large women’s conference in Sara gordana vidovic, tion law was established. They were going jevo to which they invited people from the buducnost, modrica to make proposals for amendments in the international community and women from election rules in order to have more women the whole region. The agenda was similar in the upcoming municipal elections. to the Zenica conference and included is Apart from the actual conference conclu sues concerning family, women’s participa sions, the conference(s) resulted in deeper tion, education, health and legislature. They communication and networks between the also brought up the importance of speaking women who participated. Many women out about the widespread sexual violence felt encouraged and started to get involved and rape which so many women had been and to organise themselves. One participant exposed to during the war. expresses her experience as follows: “It was Women’s activists point out that in really wonderful!! It was the first time I these conferences and in women’s meet saw people from both entities who agreed ings language is never a problem. In Bosnia on everything. Women from the Federation and Herzegovina language is being used

30 CROSSING BORDERS as a political tool to stir up and maintain after the war ended, remembers: ethno-national divisions – what language “Crossing entity borders and taking part and alphabet should be used, and in what in public reunions in another entity was he- language documents should be printed etc. roic. Ten years ago one had to be extremely This problem is a construction since the brave to go to Sarajevo and meet people three languages referred to are so similar there. We were afraid of saying where we that many people say the only difference were going and how we were meeting peo- is dialectal. Due to the ethno-national divi ple of other nationalities to discuss politics sions during the war the language was di of that time. Those hard times, fears and vided into Bosnian, Croat and Serbian. For memories are still very fresh. Putting up the women who started to meet in confer with all the accusations of being a traitor or ences and meetings right after the war, this a foreign spy was one of the hardest expe- language question “is just not an issue”. riences.” gordana vidovic, buducnost, These meetings across the entities were modrica not looked upon very sympathetically by It was not without obstacles women en the authorities and by the ruling political gaged in work crossing the entity lines. Al parties. In fact, very often women put them though it might in some respects be consid selves in great danger by travelling to the ered easier for women since a majority of other entity or by just meeting or cooperat them had not taken part in the actual fight ing with somebody from the other ethno- ing, a great deal of courage was required national groups. Especially in the beginning to go through with meetings, conferences they were often accused of being traitors or and cooperation. The general climate in spies, and they were not seldom harassed the country naturally affected the women and excluded in their local community. as well and the women’s meetings were not Lidija Zivanovic from hCa says that in without mistrust and suspicion. the beginning it was much easier to get out Some of the women describe the great of Banja Luka than to get back in again af apprehension they felt in the beginning ter a seminar or a meeting. After the wom when they were to cross the borders for the en’s conference in Sarajevo for example, first time. The emotions were very strong in the names of the women from Republika terms of fear as well as distrust and doubt. Srpska attending that conference were pub What made it possible was their focus on lished in a newspaper which led to some of the future, on the common practical prob them even losing their jobs. Another wom lems that faced them all and the feeling that an, while thinking back at those first years the only solution was to work together.

CROSSING BORDERS 31 women’s groups and helping them to organ Opening Doors ise to give them as much influence in their local community as possible. Zene Zenama has worked a great deal with educational for Activism support to new women’s organisations and encouraging the formation of new women’s groups and organisations in isolated and “difficult” areas. They emphasise the im chapter 5 portance for non-governmental organisa tions to formulate their own demands and ”If we really want to turn Bosnia and Herzegovina are convinced that an independent civil so into a modern country of equal opportunities we have ciety throughout the country is a prerequi site for a successful democratic process. to act preventive” Essentially all women’s organisations in Bosnia and Herzegovina are implement Gordana Vidovic, Buducnost, Modrica, explaining the aim of awareness raising activities. ing different types of awareness-raising ac tivities. They organise public discussions, roundtables and seminars; they appear in the media, spread information leaflets and organise campaigns about various aspects Strengthening civil society of women’s rights, such as economic rights, and raising rights awareness social and health rights, the right to live a The women’s organisations learnt at an life free from violence and discrimination, early stage that awareness among women and the right to participate in all decision- about their rights was very low, and that making. Roundtables in particular are of women were more likely to become victims ten used, and a method that has served a of violations and discrimination and that dual purpose, to give information to the they did not know how to claim their rights. participants but also to have them partici To break this negative circle the organisa pate actively in the discussions. tions realised that they had to act. From the The organisations stress that an impor outset they have aimed to reach out and tant step is to spread knowledge to women spread information and knowledge. Most who do not have access to news or informa well-established organisations assist less de tion, particularly women in rural areas who veloped sister organisations, and there is a are very isolated. Many returnee communi widespread acknowledgement that a change ties are situated in villages outside of towns in women’s position in society cannot be usually inhabited by another ethno-national achieved without including all women – in group, which adds to their marginalisation rural as well as urban areas. and isolation since there is very little con Some organisations have made spreading tact between different groups. of knowledge and support their main mis The organisation Most in Visegrad de sion. Zene Zenama in Sarajevo has worked scribes how they try to break the isolation around the country for years supporting of rural women by clarifying new laws and

32 OPENING DOORS FOR ACTIVISM explaining their rights. On returning from network will work closely with women’s a conference or a meeting they visit the vil organisations in the forthcoming elections lages surrounding the town to share with in 2006 and provide coverage to women the women the information they received at candidates in an attempt to promote gender the meetings – about events in other parts equality issues. of the country, campaigns by women’s or ganisations or about new laws and regula tions that concern women. They always try Strengthen to explain things simply and concisely. economic independence There are also several activities aimed at Despite the peace, unemployment and pov raising women’s self-esteem in order to en erty is spreading in Bosnia and Herzegovina. courage them to take a greater part in pub Many men had been killed during the war lic life. In 1999 the organisation hCa initi or had gone missing and there were many ated a project entitled “To Be Seen To Be divorces, which led to a dramatic increase Heard” with the specific aim of strengthen in households headed by single women. At ing women in rural areas and small com the same time women have been hard hit by munities and increasing their participa unemployment and the international pro tion in public life. An informal women’s grammes set out to cope with the problem network was set up as part of this project, have in some cases been discriminating to currently consisting of more than 160 ac wards women. A study from 1997 revealed tivists, members of NGOs, political parties, that emergency employment programmes government institutions and religious and implemented by the World Bank, ILO and cultural organisations from sixteen cities in other bilateral donors focused on public Bosnia and Herzegovina. works mostly aimed at employing demobi The media was quickly identified as a lised soldiers. This resulted in more work crucial tool to get their organisations’ mes opportunities for men.27 On top of this sage across and improve people’s awareness. women are often paid less than men for the However, they learnt that the use of media is same work. a double-edged sword since it is also one of Women’s organisations address these the main proponents of the negative gender problems in different ways. They organise stereotypes and prejudice against women. educational programmes for women such Hence the media is not just being seen as a as language and computer courses, and var channel. Media workers have become a di ious vocational trainings like hairdressing, rect target since their attitudes, values and sewing, typing etc. to increase the chances priorities influence people’s perception of for women to get a job and become more women in society in general. To fight nega competitive on the labour market. In Mos tive gender stereotyping the organisation tar, the organisation Stope Nade arranged Lara has initiated a network of female jour meetings for women to discuss what they nalists to advocate for a more gender sen should do to get a job. Discussing possibili sitive media reporting, to challenge gender ties and ways to apply for and find work stereotypes and to work towards improving strengthened the participants’ self esteem. the visibility of women in the media. This This made it easier to go out and look for

OPENING DOORS FOR ACTIVISM 33 jobs and several of the participants also group were included in the project. This managed to find work. Just after the war, helped them get to know each other and to the organisation Zena BiH started work- avoid allegations of favouritism of one or therapy based on knitting. Women travelled the other group. long distances to take part in this activity Women’s organisations also brought to which gave them something meaningful to public attention discrimination of women do and a place to meet and talk. in the economic sphere. For example, prop The activities of women’s organisations erty was often required as collateral in order tend to serve several purposes. The courses, to be granted micro-credit loans. However, for example, served as a way to get women property in Bosnia and Herzegovina is often out of their homes to meet other women. registered to men, not women so women’s Very often the organisations mixed women NGOs called on micro-credit donors to con of different nationalities in order to fa sider this and adjust their programmes to ac cilitate contacts between the groups. The commodate women. courses were also empowering women to As well as addressing women’s pover learn new things. ty through lectures about, and support To combat women’s poverty, several or for, women’s income-generating activities, ganisations also initiated various income- women’s organisations also monitored the generating programmes. Many women’s government’s and international institutions’ organisations are active in this area through macro-economic policies, and analysed the organising workshops on setting up busi effects of these policies on women. One ness and assisting women to apply for cred such example is the analysis conducted by its. One example is a project in Bratunac Centar za Pravnu Pomoc Zenama in Zenica in eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina where in 1999–2001 of the privatisation process Forum Zena, together with the Agriculture of the Bosnia and Herzegovina economy. Institute, organised lectures on strawberry The Centar highlighted the fact that wom and raspberry farming, targeting unem en were affected by this process more nega ployed single mothers so that they could be tively than men. Women were more often come self supportive. Eighty-four women, made redundant, no matter how long they 60 Bosniacs and 24 Bosnian Serbs, passed had been employed, and they seldom re the course and 24 received grants to start ceived proper compensation. On complet up small businesses. The women earned ing this analysis, Centar za Pravnu Pomoc some income from this and later formed a Zenama demanded that the institutions in farming collective where they shared freez charge conduct a similar gender analysis of ing facilities to facilitate the manufacture the privatisation process.28 process of the berries. One example from United Women in As in many other cases, the project com Banja Luka illustrates the link between bined several purposes. This region has economic independence and participation. witnessed a good deal of tension between Within the framework of a “democratisa returnees, IDPs and domiciles so the organ tion project” funded by an international isation made sure that women from each donor they asked women living in villages

34 OPENING DOORS FOR ACTIVISM around Banja Luka what they needed. The contraceptives. The tests gave women an “Generally we think women replied that they wanted to have opportunity to ask “private” questions that the international their houses rebuilt or cows. The organi which they would normally not raise at an sation did not have the means or capac ordinary medical check-up. It was some community should trust ity to build houses. They agreed however times difficult to reach IDPs women since local initiatives and local to give the women cows, although being they were ashamed of going to a gynaecolo a bit hesitant about it, feeling that maybe gist if their husbands were not present. In organisations much more. they cheated the donor somewhat because their eyes, the only reason for going to a gy Most of the money that the they could not see a completely clear link naecologist was if you had a new man. So between democratisation and giving cows going alone would insinuate that you had international community to women. Before long they realised that been unfaithful. However the smear testing gives to Bosnia and there was indeed a clear connection. The project opened the door for women to go to fact that the women became owners of the gynaecologists since the project was about Herzegovina goes to cows (one cow to one woman) gave them cancer and women had received informa international organisations. increased economic power in their families, tion beforehand. They also had the possi which meant that they also gained increased bility of joining a group with other women The largest democratisation power in the community as a whole. who they knew so that they would feel safer projects are implemented by and less ashamed. Stope Nade also arranged a seminar for medical staff from both the international organisations, Taking back control Federation and Republika Srpska. This and they will never achieve over women’s body and sexuality provided participants with the opportunity The struggle for gender equality and for to share knowledge and experience over results. Somebody who women’s equal participation with men in entity borders and they stressed the impor comes here contracted public and political life must also address tance of communication between the medi the issue of reproductive health rights. Re cal professionals from all ethno-national for short-term work is productive health is central when it comes groups. These types of meetings were, and not as interested in making to a woman’s ability to plan her life and to still are, very important in improving and participate fully in society. Women’s organ building up a functioning health system in real long-term difference isations in Bosnia and Herzegovina took an the country.30 as we are.” early lead on this issue, organising lectures Reproductive health rights are more than on reproductive health and other health is just a health issue. Throughout history so mara radovanovic, lara, sues, very often combined with the possibil cieties have tried to control women’s sexu bijeljina ity of basic medical check-ups. ality, often by restricting access to women’s After the war people were in great need reproductive health facilities, and by doing of health care, but a large number of medi so exposing women to serious health risks cine staff had fled the country. Women’s as well as poverty, and indirectly weaken health was not a priority. At this time, in ing their possibility to fully participate in 1996, the organisation Stope Nade start the public sphere. This can be seen in vari ed a medical project to improve women’s ous examples from all around Bosnia and health by taking cervical smear tests29 and Herzegovina. One organisation for example giving information to women about wom that educated women in reproductive health en’s health, including family planning and were accused of being traitors and being

OPENING DOORS FOR ACTIVISM 35 “Women make up against their ethno-national group because Women’s organisations come into contact they educated women about contraceptives with all kinds of women through their dif more than 50 per cent to avoid unwanted pregnancies. In the eyes ferent activities, and outreach work – IDPs, of the population. We could of the authorities this would lead to fewer returnees, domiciles facing different living children being born and threaten the future conditions in cities and rural areas. give them [international of their ethno-national group. They actively seek information about the community] the core Women’s rights is a very sensitive topic situation in order to make correct analyses that often reaches the core of political and of the needs and priorities. One example problems and offer them a nationalistic rhetoric. The situation is made is the organisation Lara who conducted a door to reach into society.” worse by the fact that religious leaders of door-to-door project in villages around the ten interfere in political life, and strongly town of Bijeljina to ask women about their azra hasanbegovic, advocate more conservative values, or as life situation and about their problems. They zena bih, mostar one woman put it: ”Our three different followed this up with designing projects and religious organisations are against women, informing the local politicians. they would like to force women to stay at By showing the women in their area that home and be quiet. They have no problems they are genuinely interested in their situ agreeing on that point – they totally agree. ation, the women’s organisations gain the They are all against abortion and condoms trust of the women and receive a great deal etc. because they need soldiers for their pur- of information that is often hard to come poses! mira vilusic, horizonti, tuzla by in any other way, for example about cor There are several examples of doctors ruption, security issues and everyday life working at public health institutions who problems. refuse to perform abortions out of fear of Despite having extensive knowledge of being targeted by politicians and religious the situation, problems and needs of ordi leaders. However, the very same doctors will nary people, access to a good deal of in carry out the abortions in secret at private formation and contacts, many women’s or clinics. Given the fact that abortion is legal ganisations feel that international organisa in Bosnia and Herzegovina this must be re tions working in the country rarely regard garded as a serious violation of women’s them as a resource. rights. In addition, forcing women to seek The organisation hCa in Banja Luka help in private clinics means that an addi had for example implemented a project tional economic burden is placed on them. on tolerance and non-violent communica tion in schools in Republika Srpska. They had worked for a long time educating both Marginalisation by teachers and children, and they had pre the international community pared a training manual. When the OSCE “Women make up more than 50 per cent of later initiated an educational programme, the population. We could give them [inter- they never built on the experience of the national community] the core problems and organisation who had worked with this is offer them a door to reach into society.” sue for such a long time. “Most policymak- azra hasanbegovic, zena bih, mostar ing organisations exclude civil society from

36 OPENING DOORS FOR ACTIVISM influencing their policies. We don’t need to kind of exclusion undermines the empower “Most policymaking be directly included but they should build ment of women and threatens to strengthen organisations exclude on the experience and knowledge that al- discriminatory structures. Several women ready exists [to give us space] – they never point out that when the international com civil society from influencing do that.” lidija zivanovic, hca, banja munity fails to invite and consult women their policies. We don’t need luka and women’s organisations they also send a Another example of how the interna signal that women’s voices and knowledge to be directly included but tional community fails to consult women in is not important. they should build on the ex- a reconstruction programme in the eastern At the same time, when international part of the country again comes from Forum organisations do contact women’s organi perience and knowledge that Zena in Bratunac where an international sations to get information they very rarely already exists [to give us organisation planned an income-generat give any feedback in return leaving a ques ing project. They consulted the local village tion mark over whether their knowledge space] – they never do that.” councils about the people’s priorities but was used or if it was just a visit out of obli lidija zivanovic, nobody considered the fact that there were gation, to be able to say that they had been hca, banja luka no women represented on these councils. there, but without any real intention. “They Single mothers in particular were excluded always ask us about our strategies, priori- despite being the largest group in that area. ties and activities, but they never say what The project was therefore planned without their strategy is and what they want to do. necessary information from the single moth Probably they still do not recognise us as ers about what they needed. The women’s relevant actors with whom they should har- organisations wondered why they were not monise their strategies.” lidija zivanovic, contacted beforehand, since that would hca, banja luka have helped achieve a successful result. There are also examples of how the inter “Generally we think that the interna- national community indirectly undermines tional community should trust local initia- a strong civil society by inviting and paying tives and local organisations much more. individual activists in their personal capac Most of the money that the international ity instead of inviting them as representa community gives to Bosnia and Herzegovi- tives from their organisations. “It seems na goes to international organisations. The they want to push NGOs aside by extract- largest democratisation projects are im- ing people from NGOs. You see logos of plemented by international organisations, UNDP or Gender Centre on the booklets and they will never achieve results. Some- and promotional material but never logos body who comes here contracted for short- of NGOs. We get in a position of having to term work is not as interested in making choose between what is less bad for us. Our real long-term difference as we are.” mara visibility and our chances for sustainability radovanovic, lara, bijeljina could increase if we could be contracted as Although the international community an NGO.” alexandar zivanovic, hca, emphasises local ownership of projects they banja luka often forget to consult all the groups within society, in particular women’s groups. This

OPENING DOORS FOR ACTIVISM 37 the conflict had a huge impact on wom Building up en. However, while the crimes committed against women during the wars in former Yugoslavia were known and condemned Legal Security by the international community, the situa tion of women after the war was not as well known or widely discussed. Many women had been victims of war crimes, in particular chapter 6 rape and torture, and after the war they had to struggle with psychological trauma and “Bosnia and Herzegovina could be a lesson learnt stigmatisation. Still to this day very little for other places. It is extremely important to have legal has been done by the authorities to provide legal and psychological assistance to these professional help immediately after the war. For example, if women and very little has been done to you have a missing husband you won’t get a pension. Families ensure compensation. Many women had be come widows and had lost family members. had to pronounce people dead in court in order to receive the The situation of women was made worse by pension. It’s a moral dilemma: how can I say that my husband the fact that many did not own any family property and could not find employment. is dead if I haven’t seen his body or know he has been killed? Women’s organisations immediately rec Through our work we have seen that it is crucial to have ognised the particularly difficult situation of women. As a reaction to the insufficient both legal and psychosocial support.” response of the official institutions to ensure legal security and give adequate support to Jasminka Dzumhur and Amira Krehic, founding member of Centar za Pravnu Pomoc Zenama, Zenica individuals, women established organisations to provide free legal aid. Given the widespread poverty, free legal assistance was very impor In post-war Bosnia and Herzegovina the tant in order for women to reclaim property, capacity of the state to ensure legal protec identity documents or get their pensions and tion of all its citizens was very limited due to other benefits. Women who went through di the breakdown of the country’s institutions vorce received help to claim their share of the and administration and the fragmentation property after the divorce. However many of the legal system. Furthermore, the respect were not aware of this right. for human rights was very low, and wasn’t Many people were displaced from one high on the political agenda. As well as the part of the country to another but their lives fragmented legal system, regulations and were still intertwined with the part of the laws changed so quickly that it was nearly country they had left. It was often not clear impossible for ordinary people to exercise under which jurisdiction a case should fall. their rights if they did not have assistance Laws and regulations could be completely from lawyers. The enormous human rights different depending on in which part of the violations on the civilian population during country you lived.

38 BUILDING UP LEGAL SECURITY In order for IDPs to receive their pension that they could not do their work proper or unemployment benefits or get hold of ly and push for changes unless there were personal documents such as school diplomas proper laws in place, a functioning legal sys and property documents, it was necessary to tem and if women did not know their rights have information from and contacts in both and how to claim them. In order to improve entities. “There was no central registry on the rule of law in the country the women’s state level and everything was scattered in organisations chose to address these issues. different places so we had to get it for them”, For example, at the beginning of their work explains lawyer, Jasminka Dzumhur. right after the war ended, there were no laws Lawyers giving legal assistance to women against men’s violence against women in the in one place of the country thereby needed family or to ensure women’s equal participa to have contacts with counterparts in other tion in decision-making and non-discrimina parts of the country since it was not pos tion at the workplace. Trafficking in human sible for people to travel to get the docu beings for sexual exploitation was not on ments due to the security risks or general the agenda and “non-existent”, hence there fear of what could happen. This coopera was no legislation. tion between lawyers “happened sponta- Women’s organisations have had a direct neously because we were working on the impact on the number of legal changes re same things, although separated by nation- lated to men’s violence against women. A ality and entity lines” explained Gordana huge success is that domestic violence was “We submitted letters Vidovic from Buducnost. defined as a criminal act in the new crimi The Centar za Pravnu Pomoc Zenama in nal codes. Perhaps the most important law and conclusions to all Zenica describes how difficult it was, and to have been passed thanks to the advocacy important organisations and how they would spend hours just finding of women’s organisations is the Bosnia and legislation for one case because of the com Herzegovina Gender Equality Law (passed said we NEED an umbrella plicated system. This was the reason they in 2003). The initiative was financially sup legislation. We must have organised a conference in 1997 with lawyers ported by the Finnish Government, but the from both the Federation and Republika drafting of the law was by large a domestic one unified law. There were Srpska where they discussed issues such as initiative, with much assistance from the no limits to the discussions, the right to return, property claims and la UNHCHR and in close cooperation with bour rights. “We submitted letters and con- the Deputy Minister for Human Rights and no talks about entities. If clusions to all important organisations and Refugees and the two Gender Centres.31 you look at our conclusions, said we NEED an umbrella legislation. We The law defines equal rights for women must have one unified law. There were no and men in private and public life and it would be the same limits to the discussions, no talks about enti- prohibits any gender-based discrimination conclusions now.” ties. If you look at our conclusions, it would (direct or indirect) as well as criminalising be the same conclusions now.” jasminka gender-based violence. The law is regarded jasminka dzumhur, dzumhur, one of the founders of cen- as one of the best gender equality laws in one of the founding members tar za pravnu pomoc zenama, zenica the world. However, it still needs to be im of of centar za pravnu pomoc In relation to almost every concern they plemented and other laws are to be harmo zenama, zenica worked on, women’s organisations realised nised with this law.

BUILDING UP LEGAL SECURITY 39 “almost nobody knew The women’s organisations have cooper vision that gave displaced people not only the ated with each other and managed to utilise right to return to their pre-war homes, but that they had the right each other’s experiences in the respective also the right to get their property back. They to return or get property entities. They have strived to ensure that the say that: “almost nobody knew that they had laws passed in the different parliaments are the right to return or get property back in the back in the other entity” harmonised with each other in order to im other entity”. With the new knowledge they

the organisation most, prove cooperation as well as the protection travelled to villages around their town to in visegrad. of victims. The very fragmented legal sys form people about the Dayton Agreement tem and the many levels of decision-making and what it meant for people’s lives. Based makes it very difficult to lobby and to work on this experience they realised they had to together for legal change. The adoption of study the peace accord and adopted laws so these laws is therefore a great victory for that they could claim their rights and also to the women’s movement. help others do likewise. A cornerstone in women’s organisations’ Women’s organisations also maintain efforts to strengthen legal security for peo the role of civil society to hold authorities ple has been the extensive work to inform and politicians accountable for what they women of their rights according to interna do in order to uphold the rule of law and tional human rights law and the Bosnian counteract abuse of power and corruption. legislation. Much of this work has been car Women’s organisations use the laws, taking ried out in the legal aid centres and through up cases of men’s violence against women, various public events, such as workshops, trafficking in human beings and discrimina roundtables and media campaigns where tion at work, and bring these cases to court. women’s organisations have introduced They follow their clients to court and give and educated women and men on inter support throughout the process to make national and domestic laws that protect them feel safe and strengthened. In this way women’s human rights. Centar za Pravnu many cases are challenging old stigmas at Pomoc Zenama in Zenica has for instance a tached to men’s violence against women in column in a newspaper where they answer the family and rape. Women’s organisations readers’ questions about laws and rights. also use the laws in their advocacy work as A large part of this work has also been has been the case with the new election law carried out through outreach activities in where they have tried to make the authori rural areas to reach marginalised women ties live up to their obligations and harmo who would not otherwise have access to nise it with the Gender Equality Law. this kind of information. Thanks to these Women’s organisations also carry out ex outreach activities, women all around the tensive monitoring of the implementation of country have been informed about new laws. This could concern follow-up reports laws and regulations, responsibilities of in of violence or discrimination reported to stitutions, and rights of the individual. the police by women to see what action has One concrete example comes from Most been taken by the authorities. Many organi in Visegrad who describe how they, for the sations also keep statistics of the number of first time and years after the Dayton Peace reports and cases in court. Women’s NGOs Agreement was signed, learnt about the pro also collect information from women vic

40 BUILDING UP LEGAL SECURITY tims of violence on how they have been met that her daughter several years later had “The High Representative by officials on duty, and challenge decisions had a visit in school by one of the trained decides to only invite leaders that are not correct. One such example is police officers who was now informing the the organisation Lara who took a case to students about the exact same issues – vio and then it will only be men. court regarding a young woman who had lence and trafficking. For her this shows the The police reform was yet illegally lost her job because she was preg success of their activities. nant. They won the case. In 2005, after a great deal of effort, the another example. By doing As well as the day to day monitoring of Office of the High Representative and the so he gives the power to men officials and institutions, women’s organi government bodies agreed on a police re sations also produce comprehensive reports form to create one unified police force in and marginalises women. on the status of women’s human rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina, replacing the sys He’s saying that Bosnian Bosnia and Herzegovina looking at a wide tem with two forces, one in each entity. This range of areas such as men’s violence against was seen as a great success and a step for women are not important.” women, women in public and political life, ward, away from the ethno-national divide nada golubovic, women and health, women and education. which threatens the stability of the country. united women, banja luka At the same time as the government hand However, women were excluded from this ed over its report to the UN Committee on process despite their extensive experience the Elimination of Discrimination against and knowledge on legal security and the Women in 2004 describing what they have problems people face in cities and rural are done to implement The Convention on the as throughout the country. They demanded Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination to be involved in the process but it fell on against Women (CEDAW), the women’s or deaf ears, despite UN Security Council Res ganisations handed over a shadow report, olution 1325 specifically calling on all ac giving their views. tors involved to adopt a gender perspective When the women activists noticed that and to involve women in reforms related law enforcement officials such as police, to the police and judiciary. The organisa judges and prosecutors were not aware or tion Lara organisation says that the reform did not care about the laws that protected is good in many ways and a step forward, women’s rights they offered training to these away from a police force for the nationalis institutions. Several women’s organisations tic parties rather than for the people. But at work with this type of training. These edu the same time they are disappointed. cational activities targeting officials are “The Office of the High Representa- important since they make the official re tive organised the police reform in Bosnia sponse to various problems in society more and Herzegovina and they didn’t include adequate. This is also an effort that in the any women. It’s unbelievable really. If they long run increases citizen trust in the legal had consulted women’s organisations they system and the responsible institutions. would have received good recommenda- Jasminka Dzumhur, one of the founders tions because the information is based of Centar za Pravnu Pomoc Zenama who on the real situation of people.” mara also have educated police officers on vio radovanovic, lara, bijeljina lence against women and trafficking, says

BUILDING UP LEGAL SECURITY 41 “The things we chose to do United Women in Banja Luka also ex that the Election Law should be harmonised presses the same frustration and stresses the with the Gender Equality Law. The process were always our choice. We signals the exclusion of women sends out. is still ongoing at the time of writing. could choose to be quiet, “The High Representative decides to only invite leaders and then it will only be men. or to join them [corrupt of- The police reform was yet another exam- Fight against corruption ficials or criminal gangs], or ple. By doing so he gives the power to men and organised crime and marginalises women. He’s saying that “From the very beginning of our work, we to speak out. We chose to Bosnian women are not important.” nada dared to criticize political decisions and speak and encourage other golubovic, united women, banja luka issues such as minority rights, corruption Many women’s organisations also view and criminal acts committed by the highest people to do the same.” the role of the international community in political officials. Maybe it does not look radmila zigic, lara, legal reform as somewhat problematic. They like a big deal right now, but back then no bijeljina argue that the international community has one dared to say anything against official been too selective in its approach to the authority.” gordana vidovic, buduc- subject. While stressing the importance of nost, modrica the rule of law and the importance of legal Many of the women organisations say reforms in line with European standards, that corruption and organised crime are the the most influential international organisa two most serious problems in the country. tions present in the country – notably OHR, Stanojka Tesic from Forum Zena in Bratu OSCE, EU – have given very little public nac says that there were only so called war support to, for example, the efforts to en heroes in the municipality after the war (in sure implementation of the Gender Equali many cases they could even bribe them ty Law, or as Gordana Vidovic, Buducnost, selves into the positions). These men had a puts it:”The international community does lot of power and influence on what was go not respect the Gender Equality Law at all ing on in the municipality, for example the and it is the most visible obstruction [for reconstruction of people’s homes. During the implementation of the law]! We have the house reconstruction phase they were sent several statements. For example saying involved in negotiating the reconstruction that the Office of the High Representative in their municipality with donors, and does not live up to the standards set in the what happened in this town was that “on- Gender Equality Law. But we never get a ly the powerful men who ruled the town reply.” nada golubovic, united women, could say who could have a house and who banja luka could not. They would force women – often The latest example of this was the draft widows and single mothers – to cook or to of the new Election Law, where any no have sex with them in order to get a house tion of gender equality was ignored despite or other help. And the worst thing was that there being a legal obligation to draft this nobody knew where or how we could com- law in line with the Gender Equality Law. plain to the international community”. Although the international community was A recent example of how the mafia tries monitoring this process closely there was no to undermine the rule of law is from the comment or pressure in public about the fact town of Tuzla where a young girl came to

42 BUILDING UP LEGAL SECURITY Horizonti after having been severely raped. organisations were among the first who be It turned out the rapists were two mafia gan to talk about the problem and who also members in the town. The rape had been in pointed out the connection with organised a public place, but no one dared to inter crime and corruption. Mara Radovanovic, vene due to the background of the two men. Lara, one of the anti-trafficking activists in The staff at Horizonti were the only ones Bosnia and Herzegovina says: “When I ev- addressing the case and spoke out about er have a chance to speak to women about it, even though many of the staff members trafficking, and what we think about it and were afraid. They received threats and great why we are doing that work, I always un- resistance from the perpetrators and their derline that trafficking is part of organised contacts. The perpetrators’ lawyer who had crime which has a very large and negative good political contacts questioned Horizon impact on the whole of society […] We were ti’s work and asked how they could push the first to say openly in the media that traf- this girl and that they themselves were go ficking is organised crime!” ing to jail. Despite the resistance, Horizonti In general, many women’s organisations continued their work and the girl was brave point to the fact that corruption is very enough to take the case to court. Horizonti widespread when it comes to the response say that the police gave them great support of the authorities to (sexual and violent) during the case and in the end the girl won. crimes against women. There are several By working on this case Horizonti not only examples where the male perpetrators man strengthened the girl, but also managed to age to bribe police officers or prosecutors in challenge the influence of organised crimi order to get away lightly. In Bijeljina for in nal gangs over the rule of law and prejudice stance after evidence of bribery the Chief of about rape. However, they say that many Police was replaced and the same happened in the community still think that the girl is to the Public Prosecutor. Despite this, sev to blame since she went to the discotheque eral women’s organisations have taken on where the rape had taken place. cases where the mafia have been involved, After this experience Horizonti realised challenging the power and influence of or that they had to develop strategies on how ganised criminal networks. to address these types of cases and how to “The things we chose to do were always protect themselves from organised crime. our choice. We could choose to be quiet, or They are planning to contact other wom to join them [corrupt officials or criminal en’s organisations who have had similar gangs], or to speak out. We chose to speak experiences. and encourage other people to do the same.” Women’s organisations’ work against radmila zigic, lara, bijeljina trafficking in human beings is worth a spe cial mention since it has very much been a fight against organised crime, which has also been one of the priorities for the inter national community. It is organised crimi nal networks that manage the trafficking of women and run the night clubs. Women’s

BUILDING UP LEGAL SECURITY 43 The organisations that began to organise Challenging legal assistance after the war believed that they would mainly deal with issues such as reclaiming of property, ID documents (and Violence in Society other personal documents), as well as help ing refugees and displaced persons to ex ercise their rights. At the beginning, these issues were indeed the main problems for chapter 7 women seeking legal assistance. But soon the women’s organisations were increasingly “Peace in the family have an impact on peace in the street approached with other requests; most of the and peace in the country.” requests for legal aid were about men’s vio lence against women. “We were surprised by Ljiljana Cickovic, Zenski Centar, Trebinje the violence. We always knew that it existed but not to this extent and before it was always kept in the private sphere [not in pub- Very early after the war the women’s lic].” berjana ackar, centar za pravnu organisations realised that men’s violence pomoc zenama, zenica against women in the family was a big Organisations working with education problem. Men’s violence against women al and psychosocial programmes saw the had of course existed before and during same patterns, and were equally surprised the war but it was not until after the war by the number of women who spoke out that the real picture started to surface. In about the problem. fact, the extent of the problem took many Most of the organisations were not at by surprise. all specialised in violence, they organised After the war there were a lot of weap themselves with the aim of responding to ons around, remaining in the possession of other social problems. When they realised most adult men despite the occasional am that violence was such a big problem, they nesty. These could be used to control female adjusted their activities to address this hu family members. During the war women man rights abuse. This meant that the or gained more power over decision-making ganisations realised that they needed to in the family and many men returning from increase their own knowledge and began the fighting had difficulty accepting the educating and training their own staff in increase in women’s self-esteem. Violence order to be able to increase their legal aid against women was (still is in many areas) services and psychological support pro widely accepted as part of the tradition or grammes for women victims of violence. culture or as a result of men’s war-traumas. They saw this work as essential since men’s Violence against women was rarely believed violence against women is directly linked to to occur at a serious level, when it did it the status of women in society. The violence was believed to be the result of alcohol or restricts women to fully enjoy their human due to mental illness.32 rights, including the right to participate on

44 CHALLENGING VIOLENCE IN SOCIETY equal terms as men in public and private many women are still not ready to go and life. Violence isolates and violates women ask for help personally and they can anony and sustains an unequal power structure. mously contact the SOS line for help and as There are great costs to be paid for violence sistance. The notion that the woman brings for society as a whole; the fact that so many disgrace to the family if she talks about the citizens are restricted to participate fully is violence, not the man who beat her, is still not only a human rights problem but also a common today (2006). democratic problem. However, it soon became clear that it Horizonti, in Tuzla, who started work was very difficult to help women who were ing with psychosocial support during the victims of men’s violence and who came to conflict, remembers how big the stigma the women’s organisations for help because attached to men’s violence against women the legislation covering domestic violence was in the beginning, how difficult it was was either non-existent or severely insuf for women to speak out about it, their feel ficient. The help and assistance that the ing of shame and self blame. Some women women’s organisations could offer was of even thought that it was normal to suffer ten reduced to direct and short-term assist violence from a husband. “It was the as- ance and, in some cases, shelter for a short sumption that the man was the most im- while. Long term solutions, including legal portant member of the family” says Mira measures against the perpetrators of vio Vilusic, Horizonti. It was not until they had lence were not available, or in the words built up enough trust and felt safe during of one lawyer, Gordana Vidovic, Buduc the sessions that the stories started to come. nost: “We couldn’t help women who were Horizonti now organises group sessions victims at home because laws at that time where the participants support each other. were not sufficient so we realised we must In the group they realize that they are not change the laws.” alone and not to blame. For example, domestic violence was only Today Horizonti notices a great change categorised as ‘disturbance of public order’ in attitudes; women sometimes even pub and not as a criminal act. This meant, if licly speak out about being survivors of there at all was any reaction from the au men’s violence against women in the fam thorities, that both the man and the wom ily, which would never have happened ten an were held responsible and blamed. The years ago. They and many other organisa only possibility to press charges against the tions started to break the silence, organis perpetrator was if the woman had very seri ing public debates, roundtable discussions ous injuries from the violence. Apart from and media activities to put men’s violence that the only legal assistance the organisa against women on the agenda. tions could provide was to assist the wom In the early stages several organisations en victims of violence if they wanted a di opened SOS lines in order to give an open vorce. Other support provided by women’s ing for women who did not have the pos organisations includes temporary refuge in sibility of getting to a women’s centre. But shelters and psychological support.

CHALLENGING VIOLENCE IN SOCIETY 45 “In the beginning it Shelters are of utmost importance in as to protect its citizens. The women’s groups sisting women victims of violence, or in the contacted politicians about the necessity for was shameful to talk about words of Gordana Vidovic, Buducnost: “it legal reform in this field. They even drafted women and problems they was impossible to help women victims of the proposals for the new laws themselves. domestic violence emotionally or legally To begin with, the main priority was to cre face because people said without providing them with a safe place ate legislation that would actually regulate we don’t have any violence to stay. The main goal of the shelter is to domestic violence as a criminal act. The first provide women and children with safety, law that was passed to address this was a here, it’s not important” solidarity and psychotherapy during their new criminal law, which included domestic

dubravka kovacevic, stay”. Women’s organisations have had to violence (In Republika Srpska 2000 and in most, visegrad fight a lot of prejudice and lack of under Federation 2003). standing in the importance of shelters. It During the course of the advocacy for has been very difficult to get funding and new laws the women’s organisations real support from the authorities. ised another problem: there was very little The shortcomings of the legislation interest among most of the male politicians brought women’s organisations even closer to engage in the fight against this human together, advocating for legal changes with rights violation. It turned out that most of regard to domestic violence. Women’s or the male politicians did not regard men’s ganisations from all over the country came violence against women as a problem, or at together to discuss what to do and set out least not as a problem that concerned them, determinedly to advocate for legal reforms the politicians, or society as a whole. Wom to protect and support women victims of en’s organisations were often dismissed and violence. This step from local response on were told either that the violence did not ex individual cases of violence against women ist or that it was not a serious problem. The to the broad cooperation between organi issue became controversial also on another sations from both entities to advocate on level as it challenged the notion that the vio the political level to adopt new legisla lence in Bosnia and Herzegovina was isolat tion was mentioned by many interviewed ed to the other groups only. The discussion women as the turning point in the develop about violence against women had exposed ment of their organisations. The organisa the fact that there were actually problems tions planned and worked (and still do) to also within the ethno-national homogenous raise awareness of violence against women communities, something that was strongly among the broader population, including contested by many in the ruling nationalist in schools. A seemingly endless number of parties. “In the beginning it was shameful to public discussions, workshops, poster and talk about women and problems they face media campaigns have been organised, and because people said we don’t have any vio- various types of informational material has lence here, it’s not important” dubravka been produced. kovacevic, most, visegrad Men’s violence against women began to The experience from contacts with be perceived as a serious human rights vio women politicians was different. Many of lation that needed to be addressed by the them – regardless of their political affilia state in accordance with their responsibility tion – tended to support the demands from

46 CHALLENGING VIOLENCE IN SOCIETY the women’s organisations on this issue, laws had been changed, responsible insti “It was impossible to help which became a very clear illustration of tutions, including police officers, were not women victims of domestic the fact that women and men might not de informed of the changes, or simply did not fine social and political problems in the care about them. violence emotionally or same way, or even identify the same issues Many women who turned to women’s legally without providing as problematic. But there were not enough organisations for help would tell the organ women politicians to push the issue through; isations about the inappropriate attitude of them with a safe place to the great majority of politicians were (and police officers who had come to the scene. stay. The main goal of the still are) men. The women were reporting that the police The conclusion was that there was a had not cared to interview them in private, shelter is to provide women great need for more women in the political or that they did not take complaints seri and children with safety, parties – not only from the gender equal ously or that they had openly taken sides ity perspective, but also from the perspec with the abusive husband. The same inap solidarity and psychotherapy tive that political deliberations are never propriate attitude or lack of understanding during their stay”. neutral but reflect the values of the people of the problem was also common among who hold political positions. The women prosecutors and judges, or officials from Gordana Vidovic, Buducnost: activists realised that any advocacy efforts the centre for social work. for better protection of women victims of When realising the shortcomings in the violence had to go hand in hand with ad implementation of the laws, many women’s vocacy to increase the number of women organisations offered to train institutions’ in political parties. The same problem was employees on the new laws and about the noticed when it came to the international nature of the problem. First trainings were community; usually it was easier to get sup mainly developed and conducted for the port from women working for any of the police, since they usually come first to the international organisations than from male scene of the crime and later on they ad officials in those organisations. dressed health and social care institutions Since 1996, several laws regulating and other legal professionals. The experi men’s violence against women have been ence from these trainings has been very passed. Domestic violence is now regarded positive and they are very much appreciat as a criminal act; there are laws regulating ed. The trainings have over the years devel rights within the family, including property oped into methodologies to enable training and ownership rights. The latest law on to practitioners all over the country. the matter includes provisions to remove The organisation Medica from Zenica the offender from the home. All in all, the gives training to institutions and capacity legislative framework has improved the builds local NGOs. Through their project protection of human rights in the country, A Multidisciplinary Approach to Combat- and significantly improved the security of ing Violence against Women they educate women victims of violence. professionals throughout the country from However, the institutions responsible for relevant institutions, such as police, judges, dealing with this problem were lagging be prosecutors, NGO representatives, journal hind the legal developments. Although the ists, social workers and medical workers,

CHALLENGING VIOLENCE IN SOCIETY 47 “We have achieved in a gender-sensitive approach to violence the citizens of the town demanding that the against women. They organise the trainings city council include the shelter into the town a lot by making other in different municipalities and the complet budget, shows that more and more people people accept that women’s ed training programme often leads to the recognise this issue as a public concern. The various actors in the municipality formally actions resulted in money being allocated human rights are a concern agreeing to cooperate with each other on by the city council to finalise construction for society as a whole – if this issue. of the shelter along with a pledge that the All the information and awareness-rais running costs will indeed be included in the you violate women’s human ing efforts addressed to politicians, the budget (from 2006). rights you undermine the media and general public have produced After many years of lobbying the local results. Apart from the legal changes that institutions in Banja Luka have agreed to respect for human rights have been achieved, the problem of vio sign a memorandum of understanding about for everyone.” lence against women has increasingly be cooperating in terms of providing assistance come recognised as a problem in society. to women and child victims of violence, with mara radovanovic, After several years of work, there is a great specific responsibilities of each signing party lara, bijeljina er awareness among organisations about and regular meetings. A similar memoran the problem and the issue is no longer as dum of understanding has also been agreed much of a taboo as it was in the beginning. in other municipalities. Several organisa This change is reflected in the increased vis tions point out that increased cooperation ibility of the cases of violence – there are can be seen, particularly with the police more calls to SOS lines, run by women’s after they approved trainings provided by organisations compared to the late 1990s. women’s organisations. It often results in The number of women who report violence regular meetings and in closer cooperation to the police, and those who are ready to on specific cases. take their case to court are also increasing. After intensive lobbying, four women’s “We have achieved a lot by making other organisations signed an agreement with the people accept that women’s human rights Republika Srpska Gender Centre to coop are a concern for society as a whole – if erate over a common SOS number (1264) you violate women’s human rights you un- throughout Republika Srpska. However, dermine the respect for human rights for women’s NGOs are aware that there is still everyone.” mara radovanovic, lara, much to do in terms of legislation, edu bijeljina cation and information and, not least, in There is also a visible change of attitude terms of changing the attitudes among peo among government institutions, for exam ple about this problem. Despite the many ple the Republika Srpska government do achievements of women’s organisations, nated money to two shelters in the Repub society still places violence against women lika Srpska. The fact that United Women in in the non-problem category. Local au Banja Luka after this decision managed to thorities do not take their responsibility to collect 1,700 signatures in two days from provide adequate protection, such as shel

48 CHALLENGING VIOLENCE IN SOCIETY ters, for women victims of violence. There Centar za Pravnu Pomoc Zenama in Zenica “Only trafficking is a big are too few shelters for domestic violence puts it: “Only trafficking is a big issue but issue but it is only because in relation to the scope of the problem. The it is only because of its links to organised majority of shelters are financially depend crime and foreign citizens [nobody really of its links to organised ent on foreign donors. cares about the women]”. crime and foreign citizens Criticism from the women’s movement In a report in 1998 Oxfam stated that there is also directed at the international com seemed to be little being done by the interna [nobody really cares about munity as it does not pay enough attention tional community to fight or even to address the women]”. to men’s violence against women in the the issue of violence against women:“This family. At the beginning of their activities despite international provisions that clearly Berjana Ackar, Centar za women’s organisations felt for example state that violence against women consti- Pravnu Pomoc Zenama in that the international community could tutes discrimination, and mandates that Zenica have done more to put pressure on the leg instruct the organisations to pay careful at- islative bodies or political parties to intro tention to gender issues. For many, “gender” duce legislation regarding this widespread equals “women issues” equals “psychoso- human rights violation which so many cial”. Despite the preponderance of women women were facing in their everyday life. amongst the displaced population and the The women’s organisations were not alone obvious indicators that domestic and other with this opinion. In 2000 the Gender Co violence against women is probably going to ordination Group33 criticised OHR for not increase, this issue is frequently considered paying more attention to the problem of as secondary to the “real work” of “real” men’s violence against women. The same human rights violations.”34 criticism was directed to IPTF for their lack of focus on the issue, despite the fact that a large number of the violent crimes that they Fighting slavery dealt with were gender-based violence such “...We have a women’s paper that covers as domestic violence. topics avoided by other media. Our wom- At the same time the international com en journalists decided to find out more, in munity put a lot of energy in combating depth, about trafficking in human beings in another type of violence against women, our country. Contacting police stations and i.e. trafficking in human beings. Several of attending trials they got a hold of a lot of the organisations say that the strong focus information. We heard stories from police on trafficking tends to overshadow other officers, for example about a raid against a forms of violence against women. Not to bar where they found eight women forced say the efforts to combat trafficking and to have sex with visitors. We read the wom- support trafficked girls and women are not en’s testimonies and got their full story. We important and welcomed, but why not as were very surprised, that this could happen much effort is put into fighting other forms here, where we live! That a man can hold of violence as well. As Berjana Ackar from eight women as slaves! They were isolat-

CHALLENGING VIOLENCE IN SOCIETY 49 “...We have a women’s paper that covers topics avoided by ed a trafficking conference in December the same year where representatives from other media. Our women journalists decided to find out more, in depth, ministries, institutions, international or about trafficking in human beings in our country. Contacting police ganisations attended as well as Bosnian women organisations who already had stations and attending trials they got a hold of a lot of information. We come across cases in their work. From the heard stories from police officers, for example about a raid against a beginning women’s organisations worked together with these other actors to put an bar where they found eight women forced to have sex with visitors. We end to slavery, ensure protection for survi read the women’s testimonies and got their full story. We were very sur- vors and hold perpetrators accountable.36 Very quickly it became apparent that prised, that this could happen here, where we live! That a man can hold trafficking, like other forms of violence eight women as slaves! They were isolated, he never spoke to them and against women, could not be effectively combated without proper legislation and they were not allowed to use the phone or contact the outside world. We awareness among the responsible institu got very upset and felt that we had to do something.” tions about the nature of the problem and the rights of the victims. Women’s NGOs, mara radovanovic, lara, bijeljina34 together with international agencies, in particular the UNHCHR, pushed for new legislation based on the UN Convention against Transnational Organised Crime ed, he never spoke to them and they were signed by Bosnia and Herzegovina in not allowed to use the phone or contact 2000 in order to protect the women fall the outside world. We got very upset and ing victims to this crime, and legislation to felt that we had to do something.” mara criminalise the people involved in traffick radovanovic, lara, bijeljina35 ing. The new law was adopted in 2003. During the war and in particular in the Also in this field much progress has been aftermath of the war, trafficking in human made and Bosnia and Herzegovina has beings became a huge problem in Bosnia today very good legislation on trafficking and Herzegovina. This was largely due to although the implementation still leaves a combination of a high presence of the much to be desired. international community in the country It did not take long until organisations that increased the demand for sexual serv developed information and awareness rais ices and discrimination of women, weak ing campaigns at the same time as they de legal system, weak border control, corrup manded long term solutions to the problem, tion and widespread presence of organised including legal remedies. They have also criminal gangs. conducted training for law enforcement and Trafficking in human beings for sexual other governmental institutions to inform exploitation was first brought up in a wid them about the human rights approach to er scale at an IPTF training in 1998. The trafficking and to advocate for the protec Council of Europe and UNHCHR organis tion of the rights of the survivors.

50 CHALLENGING VIOLENCE IN SOCIETY Lara began assisting survivors of traf The fact that international civil and mili ficking in 2000. They offer shelter for these tary personnel go to brothels has made the women and use their network of women efforts to hold perpetrators to account and in the city and in the rest of the country to stop trafficking more difficult. Mara Ra to support the survivors in terms of health, dovanovic from Lara has noticed how the psychosocial support and legal support. presence of the international community Lara also stresses the need to have good has affected attitudes in Bosnia and Herze translators and knowledge about the situ govina, now it is for example more accept ation in the countries of origin in order to able than before the war for men to go to be able to meet these women and girls in prostitutes. She has also seen how traffick an adequate way. 37 They train high school ing in human beings affects society. professionals and visit schools. Today they “Trafficking and prostitution has altered also bring along a police officer so that the people’s perception of reality. It distorts police can answer questions from the pupils the whole community. Sex trading is not as well. The aim is to increase youth’s trust only a crime against the individual. It is in the police so that girls who are violated also a threat to our attempts to build up dare to turn to the police for help. a democratic society after the war.” mara radovanovic, lara, bijeljina38

CHALLENGING VIOLENCE IN SOCIETY 51 development and a just and sustainable Participation in peace. However, the international commu nity and the warring parties failed to do so. The Dayton Peace Agreement lacks a gen Decision-making der perspective and this influences women’s lives and possibility to participate. There is no focus on gender or on development of civil society. There was no explicit men and Agenda-setting tioning of women or women’s needs and in terests, which signalled that women’s rights or gender equality was a low priority in the chapter 8 reconstruction that was to follow. Usually, in most peace negotiations, it is “Big changes are needed now, to get more women in the the warring parties that negotiate the peace (as a way to stop the fighting). And since government but also other men. Many people don’t believe in the warring factions almost exclusively are the political system today, and therefore they do not vote. We made up of men, it means that it is almost exclusively men who participate in the hope to break this circle. It is the base for change. And many peace negotiations. Civilians or representa of those who don’t vote are women.” tives of civil society are rarely allowed to take part in the negotiations. And since Mara Radovanovic Lara, Bijeljina women were mainly civilians during the conflict it means they were excluded from As early as at the first women’s this process. “We must have women in de- conferences women’s organisations de cision-making positions. […] Unfortunately manded to be included in the decision-mak in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as in many oth- ing process. It was their sense of alienation er, especially transitional countries, women from the events and decisions that had are not actors and subjects of peacebuilding taken place, including a sense of injustice and war prevention policies and processes. based on their insight that they had not They weren’t asked when the Dayton peace been allowed to take part in shaping their agreement was made or when general poli- future that was driving them. Like Jadran tics were designed […].” nada ler, women ka Milicevic, Zene Zenama, puts it: “We and society, sarajevo were aware that women were excluded in It is a cornerstone of democracy for all the peace processes and that women needed citizens to participate on equal terms. Most to be included from now on”. of women’s engagement in society has The peace negotiations in Bosnia and taken place within civil society. However, Herzegovina presented an opportunity to any influence that women may have in or deal with discrimination on all grounds from civil society can never be equivalent and to emphasise that gender equality is to participation in the formal decision- a precondition for a successful democratic making structures. Women’s organisations

52 PARTICIPATION IN DECISION-MAKING AND AGENDA-SETTING in Bosnia and Herzegovina have worked to The women’s organisations stress the very “ The most logical achieve an equal participation of women in important support that they got from OSCE argument is that you must the country’s decision-making and legisla on this issue. In 1997 the OSCE democrati tive bodies and by doing so they have also sation department initiated the Women in include more than half strengthened the entire democratic system Politics programme based on close coopera of the population.” by striving to achieve a truly representative tion with women’s activists. The programme democracy. “The most logical argument is also acknowledged the importance of the diana sehic, global rights, that you must include more than half of visibility of women and their accomplish sarajevo the population.” diana sehic, global ments.41 Several of the organisations also rights, sarajevo point out that the persons within OSCE “The first reason we decided to work on who supported them were women genuinely women participation in politics was because interested in the issue of women’s equal par we thought it was a natural thing for wom- ticipation in decision-making. en to also make decisions, not only men” Women’s activists realised that in order mara radovanovic, lara, bijeljina to be able to change things they must en The first election after the war was a courage more women to use their right to great disappointment with regard women’s vote. Therefore, one of the first tasks was participation – both in terms of the number to talk to women about the importance of of women who voted and in terms of the voting. This work was usually also com women who got elected. bined with very hands on education in how Only one out of 43 seats went to a to vote and the way the whole voting and woman (2.38 per cent) in the Bosnia and election system works. However, some or Herzegovina House of Representatives.39 ganisations underline that it was not always In addition, it was the same ’old’ political easy, people faced so many other problems parties – the three main nationalist parties, like access to food and health care. These SDS, HDZ, SDA, that had been in power acute daily problems took a lot of time and during the war – that won the election. energy, leaving little space for other impor Many women felt alienated and questioned tant issues like elections. whether any change was really going to Ahead of the election in 1998 women come about. from 14 organisations throughout the As a reaction to this dismal result, the country mobilised under the campaign Nas women’s organisations, in close coopera je vise (“There are More of Us”). The name tion with OSCE, advocated for a change to referred to the fact that women constituted the Temporary Election Rules that a gender more than half of the population and that quota should be introduced with the aim they therefore really could influence the of increasing the number of elected women outcome of the election if only they would in legislative assemblies. The ‘7.50 Rule’ as go and vote. It was the first campaign it was called stipulated that each candidate that women’s organisations organised at list must have at least three persons of the the state level. During the campaign over opposite sex among the first nine candi 13,000 women from urban and rural areas dates, and so on until the end of the list.40 as well as from refugee camps were edu

PARTICIPATION IN DECISION-MAKING AND AGENDA-SETTING 53 cated by 58 trainers in all kinds of places: This strategy – to focus on women in ru factory halls, schools, health and cultural ral areas – is still an integral part of the work centres. They were informed about the of the women’s organisations to this day. coming election, about the voting lists and In the following election on the state the right of women to vote and the right of level that took place in 2000, the women’s being elected. The campaign made women organisations built on the experiences from feel strong, it made them realise that they the previous election in 1998. But while the together actually can make a difference, main focus in 1998 was to persuade more that their roles and voices are important.42 women to vote and take a more active part The OSCE supported the campaign fi in political life, the focus for the 2000 cam nancially and also logistically, by covering paign was somewhat extended to advocate costs for meetings of the coalition and local stronger for more women on executive and coordinating offices. This support was vi legislative positions and for including gen tal. The election in 1998 resulted in 26,19 der quotas in the first Permanent Election per cent of the seats in the Bosnia and Law in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Herzegovina House of Representatives be A significant difference from the previ ing taken by women.43 ous election was that the candidate lists Many efforts were put into reaching out to this time were ‘open’, meaning voters the rural areas. As mentioned earlier women could choose their preferred candidate on living here were often very marginalised. the lists. Compared to the election results There was also widespread acknowledge of 1998 the number of elected women fell ment that the rural areas were absolutely to 17.9 per cent. The explanation is widely crucial for ensuring peace in the country. regarded to be the open lists because with It was in the rural areas that the war had a system of open lists the personal election been the most damaging, and the people in campaigns matter more. And for personal the rural areas who had done most of the election campaigns funding is crucial, and fighting and been promised the most by the women candidates did not have even near nationalist politicians. Therefore, there was the same amount of money as male candi almost a sense of urgency to include rural dates, and thus did not have the same vis women in all activities carried out by the ibility in the media and in poster campaigns women’s organisations. “We need to go into as men. Another factor that must be men villages! We need to reach the rural women tioned is that most political parties have and convince them that they need to vote policies of not allowing separate personal for women, not only for nationalist parties, campaigns, something which most women to show that they have options. But [we candidates have respected in contrast to should not do it] like political campaigns, many of their male colleagues. but talk to them in a relaxed manner. Many The role of the media and the importance women there don’t have radio, TV etc. They of women candidates being visible in order have no information. We should produce a to be elected is stressed by hCa and United brochure that is easy to read, with true sto- Women in Banja Luka. They have worked ries. We MUST reach into villages!” azra for nine years to increase the number of hasanbegovic, zena bih, mostar women in politics and the number of wom

54 PARTICIPATION IN DECISION-MAKING AND AGENDA-SETTING en using their right to vote. Their tireless sition and discrimination even within their “The women politicians have work has given results. In the local elec own political parties. They are seldom con put welfare on the political tion in 2004, 35 per cent of the seats in the sidered for any higher positions in the party municipality were taken by women, an in and they are often taken off candidate lists agenda.[…] They talk about crease of 17 per cent since last election. if they become too popular and gain a lot problems concerning our “You cannot vote for somebody who of support. is invisible. We have strengthened women The work to strengthen women politi economy, as opposed to politicians and worked to get them to reach cians is usually based on building particu other politicians who only out to the public. We have set up radio pro- lar skills, such as public speaking, conduct grammes and TV shows in which women ing press conferences and speaking to the speak about nationalism.” have participated. Our media programmes media, and organising election campaigns. nada golubovic, and open meetings focus on people’s eve- Education about women’s human rights united women, banja luka ryday life, not the nationalistic propaganda is usually also included in the trainings. which the campaigns of the nationalis- The aim is two-fold. On the one hand it tic parties are full of.” nada golubovic, strengthens politicians in their role and united women, banja luka44 within their respective political parties. On During the years hCa and United Wom the other hand, the aim is to form a critical en have arranged many open meetings, mass of women politicians who will advo tribinas, about women’s human rights and cate for women’s rights regardless of politi many women politicians from the various cal affiliation. parties have come to discuss these issues. By targeting women from different po Parallel to this they have trained and sup litical parties who would normally never ported women politicians. The aim is to have any reason to work together – due to empower women from all the parties to the ethno-national divisions in the country work across party lines promoting and – and the fact that they started to cooper strengthening women’s human rights. The ate stands in stark contrast to the leaders participants have now created a coalition of the nationalistic parties. The results of promoting women’s rights and equality. these efforts and the method of working are “The women politicians have put welfare very positive. The women who have under on the political agenda.[…]They talk about gone these trainings do indeed cooperate problems concerning our economy, as op- with each other across party lines on issues posed to other politicians who only speak regarding women’s rights. The women’s or about nationalism.” nada golubovic, ganisations also serve as a resource to the united women, banja luka45 women politicians, and assist them in draft Several of the women’s organisations al ing laws or preparing argumentation. so work with the empowerment of women However, providing training to women politicians. In a society where women are politicians no matter what political party not expected to become involved in politics they represent also enfolds a dilemma. By there is a great deal of resistance to and strengthening a woman politician, one also prejudices against women politicians. Also, indirectly strengthens the political party women politicians often meet a lot of oppo that she represents, which in the worst case

PARTICIPATION IN DECISION-MAKING AND AGENDA-SETTING 55 “The proposal not only might be a political party that advocate un the The Gender Equality Law. If adopted it democratic values or values detrimental or also decreases the possibilities for women reveals how little hostile to women’s rights and position in so to influence politics.” klelija balta, the involved parties care ciety. ”I usually have a dilemma with wom- gender programme manager, undp, en politicians we work with in nationalist bosnia and herzegovina46 about the The Gender parties. My dilemma is: are we supporting Despite some progress in the legislative Equality Law. If adopted them as individual politicians or their par- framework regarding gender equality, the ties? I want women in politics but I don’t fact is that women in Bosnia and Herze it also decreases the want nationalists. We support three sides in govina are still to a large extent excluded possibilities for women our work, building their capacities, and I from the formal decision-making process in am not happy with that. […] Actually they the country. Of course, the ones who bear to influence politics.” have capacities and skills that they can use the main responsibility for this must be the

klelija balta, gender in both ways. They advocate gender equal- domestic authorities in the country. programme manager, ity for women but they are at the same time However, many women’s organisations undp, bosnia and marginalised in their [nationalist] parties.” also argue that part of the blame must be herzegovina lidija zivanovic, hca, banja luka put on the international community. Since Women’s organisations have continued the international community has such an to prioritise work connected with elections extensive influence over the country’s de and have planned several activities for the velopment and is so deeply involved in le forthcoming elections in 2006. Women’s gal reform it can influence and support the organisations lobby intensively for equal calls for gender equality and gender sensi representation of women and men on the tive legislation had it wanted to. After all, candidate lists. many women’s activists argue, the interna After the Gender Equality Law was tional community is tasked to support the passed in 2003, women’s organisations building of a stable democracy and a last have advocated for the Election Law to be ing peace in the country, and the issue of harmonised with the Gender Equality Law, gender equality definitely falls within that which clearly states that men and women mandate. should be equally represented in public and Several of the women’s organisations political life. Women’s organisations also also think that the international commu refer to the country’s constitution which nity has too lenient an approach to na clearly prohibits discrimination, includ tionalist parties, and towards the extreme ing gender-based discrimination. There male dominance of these parties. “We don’t is great concern among women’s groups think there are any women involved in the since the drafted proposal is not in line work of the High Representative, they dis- with these regulations. Together with 145 cuss everything within a small group of NGOs hCa and United women have pro people, all of whom are men.” dubravka posed amendments to the draft proposal kovacevic, most, visegrad and sent to the House of Representatives in Even if there is an understanding of why the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and the international community speaks to the Herzegovina.“The proposal not only reveals nationalistic parties who are elected repre how little the involved parties care about sentatives of the people, many are puzzled

56 PARTICIPATION IN DECISION-MAKING AND AGENDA-SETTING that there does not appear to be any more punish the war lords, and that normal citi- in-depth analyses of what and who these zens would be chosen to make peace. But The number of female parties represent, bearing in mind that al instead the international community sup- ministers after the national most half of the population did not vote ported the war lords and nationalist parties. election 2002: and that there are discriminatory structures I don’t know how they expect those who • On state level there is one which make it difficult for women to par started the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina female minister out of nine. ticipate on equal terms. to make peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina. • The Republika Srpska “The international community is talking It’s really stupid. But they did it. […] Ordi- government has two female and compromising with the wrong people nary people said ‘OK they started the war, ministers out of 16. because their partners are SDS, SDA, HDZ which we didn’t want, and didn’t like, and • The Federation government […] All the politicians who are so-called didn’t take part in; we just tried to save our has two female ministers democratically elected are the same faces lives and our families, and now it’s over and out of 16. we saw during the war. They are democrati- it’s our turn to show what we know’. To- cally elected because the international com- day ordinary people don’t believe or trust munity recognised them as partners in ne- the international community or local politi- The number of female gotiations from the outset. And then [after cians. In the beginning most people trust- mayors after the local the elections] the international community ed the international community.” mara election in 2004: asks the population why they vote for these radovanovic, lara, bijeljina • In Republika Srpska there people. But it’s very interesting because less are two female mayors than 50 per cent of the people vote, so can out of 62. we really say that these politicians are rep- Setting the agenda resentatives of the people who live here?” The exclusion of women from the decision- • In the Federation there lidija zivanovic, hca, banja luka making structures in society is not only a is one female mayor A point often made by women’s or problem in terms of unequal representa out of 79. ganisations is that the male dominance of tion. It is also a problem because it has con Source: Gender Centre FB&H the political parties is a remnant from the sequences for the agenda-setting in society, power structures of the war, and that it is what issues that will be discussed in public virtually impossible for anyone who was and eventually make way to decision-mak not part of these structures to get into the ing agendas. This also has repercussions parties, especially women. In this sense, for democracy. Decisions are being made many women argue that pushing for gender which affect a large part of the population equality in politics indirectly means break who have not had the opportunity to voice ing the dominance of power elites from their opinions. Decisions that are made the war and their concentration of power may not be of any relevance to large parts on the political arena. If 50 per cent of the of the population, but merely support the positions were granted to women, much of agenda of the nationalistic parties. Wom the power structures would be broken. en’s organisations have experienced this ”People in Bosnia and Herzegovina several times. were so disappointed after the war. Or- However, women’s organisations have dinary people who were against the war challenged this fact. As we saw with the – even if they had been forced to take part case of men’s violence against women, many – expected the international community to organisations were met with suspicion and

PARTICIPATION IN DECISION-MAKING AND AGENDA-SETTING 57 even harassed because they brought prob concerted campaigns on certain issues, for lems to public attention that were not in example men’s violence against women. line with the official position of the ruling Most organisations also try to organise ra political parties. Forum Zena in Bratunac dio programmes where they inform people spoke out about the social problems and about their activities, including conclusions poverty people were facing in the commu from roundtable discussions on various nity because of the war and got the reply topics. Women’s organisations also or “everything is OK in Republika Srpska so ganise trainings for journalists on how to what is your problem?” The organisation write about certain topics, such as violence was even accused by the authorities for against women or human trafficking, and being traitors and of being unpatriotic be how to analyse news and write about news cause of their complaints. in a gender-sensitive manner. Women’s organisations have never The international community plays an stopped speaking out about problems they important role in agenda setting. Because see in society. The organisation Lara in Bi of its great influence in post-war Bosnia and jeljina has arranged a weekly meeting since Herzegovina, how it formulates its agendas 2001, Coffee with the Mayor, which is ba matters a great deal (political, economical, sically about inviting representatives from developmental and otherwise), as well as the municipality to come to the women’s where it gets its information from and what centre to answer questions from women it bases its analyses on. and listen to their concerns. They began One representative of a woman’s or having the meetings on Wednesdays since ganisation explains how for some years the it was the “sports evening” which enabled international community had different pri women to have a “free evening”. These orities for each year, for example ‘the year meetings not only give women a chance to of return’, ‘the year of reconciliation’, ‘the speak directly to the politicians and author year of youth’. And the organisation had ity representatives, but the meetings also to adjust to these priorities in order to get contribute to a greater political accountabil funds for their projects, but as Nada Gol ity in the town. Several campaigns and pro ubovic, United Women, points out this was tests have emanated from these meetings, almost absurd since “every year is the year and Lara has become a strong force in the of everything for ordinary people”. municipality that the local politicians rarely Sometimes the international community dare to completely ignore. In addition, the has been an obstacle for women’s participa evening question time with the women has tion, as in 1999 when the status of Brcko become such an important platform for was to be decided. Together with women anyone who wants to achieve something in from Brcko, United Women and hCa or the town that politicians themselves ask to ganised a public session: Arbitrage Deci come there to meet with the women. sion in Brcko. Brcko District – what does As previously mentioned, organisations it mean?. While they were preparing for the use the media to provide the public with session the local OSCE office considered information. This could be in the shape of that it was too early for women in Brcko to

58 PARTICIPATION IN DECISION-MAKING AND AGENDA-SETTING discuss the problem as the arbitration had cared. The government was ready but there “One mistake by the not yet been brought up so citizens of Brcko was no longer any pressure from the inter- international community should not discuss it. United Women and national community.” gordana vidovic, hCa argued though that the citizens have buducnost, modrica when Elisabeth Rehn left the right to hear what had been written The organisations almost unanimously her office was that women’s by the Arbitration Commission as well as describe this time period as the one when of the meaning of Brcko district. Eighteen they have received most understanding and issues were no longer on the women from all the ethno-national groups most support from the international com agenda. At one donor confer- were present at the session. Nobody turned munity, not only in terms of understanding up from OSCE’s local office despite prom for their demands but also because they ence just before she left they ises to come and inform.47 were consulted more on general issues im talked about the enormous Many women’s organisations also say portant for the country. that it has mattered greatly whether the This latest point is important, and some resources that would be giv- representatives of the international organi thing which is often mentioned, that wom en to the Gender Offices but sations have been women or men. For ex en’s organisations want to participate in ample, women officials have generally been the political and social reforms taking place after she left no one cared. more interested and sympathetic to issues and those facing Bosnia and Herzegovina in The government was ready regarding women’s human rights and gen the future, such as the police reform, con der equality. And conversely, most male stitutional reform and setting up of a truth but there was no longer any officials tend not to think about these is commission. pressure from the sues, nor do they take in a gender perspec Since the international community has tive into the programmes. Several women’s a leading role in these processes they have international community.” organisations mention specifically the late the power to invite various societal actors gordana vidovic, buducnost, 1990s when there was a woman (Elisa and to demand from the local authorities to modrica beth Rehn) as Special Representative of the ensure a more gender equal and fully repre Secretary General within the UN Mission sentative delegation. to Bosnia and Herzegovina, and a wom “The fact that demands of local woman (Elisabeth Rasmussen) as Head of the en’s organisations were largely ignored by OSCE Democratisation Department, and a the international community, especially the woman (Madeleine Rees) as Head of Office Office of the High Representative, shows for the Office of the High Commissioner the absence of a true willingness by the in- for Human Rights. ternational community to assist in the de- “One mistake by the international com- mocratisation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. munity when Elisabeth Rehn left her office This also exemplifies a lack of strategy was that women’s issues were no longer on among actors to contribute in creating a the agenda. At one donor conference just local environment where voices of both before she left they talked about the enor- women and men would be equally valued.” mous resources that would be given to the aleksandra petric, united women, Gender Offices but after she left no one banja luka

PARTICIPATION IN DECISION-MAKING AND AGENDA-SETTING 59 peace, which coincides with their work for Conclusions democracy. They have deep rooted strategies to reach sustainable peace in their activities. These strategies can be seen throughout the whole country in cities and rural areas ”In order to achieve real peace you must eliminate alike, crossing war-time borders, building all reasons for conflict, all factors that can create conflict, trust and challenging war-created fear and hatred. The peace factor is fundamental including discrimination. And in that sense any anti- in working against men’s violence against discrimination work or equality work must be women. Work against violence is reducing violence in society, counteracting discrimi regarded as being peace building.” nation, fear and hatred and enhances secu rity for all. It also strengthens respect for Jasminka Dzumhur, one of the founders of Centar za Pravnu Pomoc Zenama, Zenica human rights. The women’s organisations have addressed hatred and fear through psychosocial support, thus enabling rec Much more than signing a peace agree onciliation. They have addressed discrimi ment is required in order to reach sustaina nation trough advocating new laws and ble and just peace. In this report we have put educating people on the laws and human forward the work women’s organisations rights. They have strengthened the political in Bosnia and Herzegovina have carried out system by putting forward new important supporting the transformation from a war issues and through supporting women poli time and non democratic society towards ticians and they have put demands to their a more functioning society with respect for politicians, expecting them to deliver what human rights and non discrimination. the people want. This is building a society There is a clear link between democracy that people want to live in. and peace. We believe that a non-democrat This road has not been natural or self- ic society, with human rights violations, is evident for the women. It is a long row of more likely to erupt into war. Bosnia and strategic choices made day by day in the in Herzegovina has gone from a socialist non- teraction with both the Bosnian society and democratic society that collapsed in a war the international community. to what it is today – on the road towards As we have shown in this report, when democracy. Building peace and democracy international community actors inter takes time and a pluralistic debate and a act with women’s organisations great re strong civil society are as crucial for this sults are produced. The OSCE support to process as the rule of law and free and fair women that needed security, legitimacy elections. and transportation in the time just follow Women’s organisations in Bosnia and ing the war is one example. Another was Herzegovina are working to prevent a new the case with the pre-election campaigns conflict from emerging and for sustainable “Nas Je Vise” working to get more women

60 CONCLUSIONS in politics. This was also the case in pro “We are strengthened because of exchange of experience with other moting and funding work leading to the people: to share my knowledge and experience and opinion and my sense adoption of the Gender Equality Law and the anti-trafficking law. Women’s organi of freedom with other people. To show all women how they could be – sations and the international community professional, educated, free and to have the possibility to participate in agencies were working together and sup porting each other. political life and make decisions. And we really included many many It is shown here that in order for the in women in our work! We work together, and together we have lobbied ternational community to see and interact with women’s organisations there need to and changed many laws.” be women in the international agencies, amira krehic, one of the founders women in high positions. It seems as if of centar za pravnu pomoc zenama, zenica women tend to listen to women to a larger extent than men. And women in the NGOs find it easier to be in contact with women in the international community. In order to be trustworthy in emphasising the impor tance of Gender Equality to the national politicians the international community interact. Even though the ruling political also needs to have an equal gender balance parties after democratic elections turn out within its own organisations. to be nationalists, the international com In spite of the examples mentioned above, munity has to interact with them because women’s organisations have concrete cases they are elected and in order to hold them where they felt that the international com accountable. But the international com munity had let them down. Vital informa munity cannot limit its contacts to the de tion has not been collected from the organi cision-makers on the highest level. Civil sations or given to them. The most serious society also has to be included. In a con problem is, however, the fact that women’s flict-affected society with a very fragile de organisations are not acknowledged as im mocracy, supporting an active civil society portant actors and partners. They are all is even more important. When the interna too often not invited to meetings or given tional community actors support and inter opportunities to have a say about processes act with women’s organisations it strength led by the international community. Added ens them, they are legitimized which gives to this is that many important issues put them more power also in interaction with forward by the women’s organisations, is the national decision-makers. sues identified by them and of importance International actors have to acknowledge to society in general, are not acknowledged the knowledge that women’s organisations by the international community. have regarding societal needs and problems The international community actors in order to find solutions to these problems. choose, to a large extent, with whom they There are different ways of addressing dif

CONCLUSIONS 61 ferent problems and the best ways have to During the work with this report it has be found in a dialogue between the various become all too clear that women’s organi actors. Many times the problems are best sations have contributed to the democracy solved by the people living in the country, development on several levels. On the ques by NGOs and the political parties, with tion of whether their work has strengthened strong moral and financial support from the peace process in Bosnia and Herzegovi the international agencies. The division be na, they all agree and feel very strongly that tween what the international community their work has made and still makes a great can and shall do and what the NGOs can difference. “We are strengthened because of do has to be found through dialogue. The exchange of experience with other people: organisations need to both be invited to in to share my knowledge and experience and fluence the agenda set by the international opinion and my sense of freedom with other community and be involved in actual proc people. To show all women how they could esses hosted by the international commu be – professional, educated, free and to have nity. This is decisive for the fulfilment of the the possibility to participate in political life goals set up by the international communi and make decisions. And we really included ty itself, as well as for achieving peace and many many women in our work! We work democracy. It is also time for the interna together, and together we have lobbied and tional community to acknowledge the dis changed many laws.” amira krehic, one crimination of women as a security threat, of the founders of centar za pravnu a human rights violation and as undermin pomoc zenama, zenica ing democracy. In the words of Jasminka Dzumhur – gender equality work must be regarded as being peacebuilding.

62 CONCLUSIONS CONCLUSIONS 63 Recommendations

the recommendations are taken from the interviews with the women’s organisations

Recommendations from Recommendations from the women’s organisations to the Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation the international community to the international community

• Support us in our work to build demo • Demand that women – activists as well cracy. We are here to stay, it is our as politicians – are involved in peace and future. democracy processes. • Trust and acknowledge our competence • Assume that there always are women’s – we know the country the best and organisations worth consulting. therefore how to work. • Support women’s organising both mor • Arrange regular meetings with us. ally and financially. • Involve us in project planning. • Be in contact with and support women’s • Give us the possibility to influence your organisations all over the country, in policies. cluding in the rural areas. • Let us women take part in discussions • Support women’s organisations in their on ALL topics including issues regarding efforts to make politicians and decision peace and security. makers accountable. Local ownership in peace and democracy processes is as • Have more women in your own organi sured by the civil society. sations, also on high level positions. It will support us in our work for the ad • See and acknowledge women’s organisa vancement of women’s human rights and tions work to strengthen democracy and gender equality. human rights. • Implement UN Security Council resolution • Make your mandates known among the 1325. Give us a place at decision-making local population so they know who to levels where you are in power to do so. turn to regarding different issues. • See and acknowledge the work we do • Support us in our work – do not compete with us in doing things that we already are doing. • Support the NGO sector, see us as important and necessary advisors and discussion partners.

64 RECOMMENDATIONS

Information that the women’s Information that the women’s organisations want to give to organisations want to receive from the international community the international community

• Our view of the situation in the country. • Information about who the international • Our knowledge about women’s situation. actors are and what they do. • Our observations of the status of human • Information about the international actors’ rights. mandates and what they are accountable for. • Our knowledge about everyday prob lems facing civilians, such as discrimi • Information about how they can be nation, non-functioning or non-existing contacted. laws and misuse of power by authorities • Information about on-going and up- and politicians. coming reform processes (which the inter • Our analyses of security threats in the so national community is involved in). ciety, including violence against women. • Information about how the international • Our experience and facts about corrup community describes the situation in the tion and war profiteers. country, including security concerns. • Our understanding and expertise of the • Information about women’s situation, situation of refugees, IDPs and returnees. laws, budget expenditures, in other coun tries. • Our suggestions to solutions and meas ures to improve the situation. • Information on all (international law) documents Bosnia and Herzegovina has signed. It is likely that the international community has better knowledge on this than local authorities and politicians. • Feed-back on how international actors has used information given by women’s organisations and if it has lead to any action.

RECOMMENDATIONS 65 Apendices

67 Organisations that were interviewed for this report 69 Bibliography 70 Notes

66 APPENDICES Organisations that were interviewed for this report

Buducnost, Modrica Buducnost started in 1996. They work, among other things, to increase women’s participation in public and political life, with legal aid and against violence against women, including providing shelter for women victims of domestic violence.

Centar za Pravnu Pomoc Zenama (Center of Legal Assistance for Women), Zenica Centar za Pravnu Pomoc Zenama started in 1996. They work among other things with legal aid and legal advocacy to strengthen women’s rights and the rule of law.

Duvanjke, Tomislavgrad Duvanjke started in 2000. They are among other things arranging meeting places for women from different ethno-national groups at their women’s centre.

Forum Zena, Bratunac Forum Zena started in 1999. They are among other things providing meeting places for women from different ethno- national groups and work to increase women’s participation in public and political life.

Global Rights, Sarajevo Global Rights is an international organisation and opened its office in Sarajevo in 1997. They are a human rights ad vocacy group that partners with local activists to challenge injustice and amplify new voices within the global discourse.

Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly (hCa), Banja Luka hCa started in 1996. They work among other things on strengthening civil society and the respect for human rights, including advocacy and capacity building to increase women’ participation in public and political life.

Horizonti, Tuzla Psychological centre started in 1994 and changed its name to Horizonti in 1999. They are among other things offering psychotherapy and psychosocial support to women.

Komitet Slijepih Zena (Committee of the Blind Women), Sarajevo The committee was established in 2000 as the women’s branch of the Associa tion of the blind citizens of Canton Sarajevo. They are among other things

APPENDICES 67 providing assistance to the blind an sight-impaired women in the Canton of Sarajevo and advocating for improved legal protection for blind and sight-impaired people.

Lara, Bijeljina Lara started in 1998. They work among other things with advocacy work to strengthen women’s human rights – including promoting women’s participation in public and political life and fighting trafficking in human beings.

Most, Visegrad Most started in 1998. They work among other things on awareness-raising about women’s rights and promoting women’s partici pation in public and political life and providing meeting places for women from different ethno-national groups.

Stope Znanja, Velika Kladusa Stope Znanja started in 1993 as a Stope Nade women’s centre and became an independent organisation in 1999 when they took the name Stope Znanja. They are among other things pro viding meeting place for women and organising various psycho-social and educational activities.

United Women, Banja Luka United Women started in 1996. They work among other things with legal aid and legal advocacy to strengthen women’s rights and the rule of law, and promote women’s participation of women in public and political life.

Woman & Society, Sarajevo Women & Society started in 2003. It is a research, policy and advocacy centre. They promote women’s rights on national, regional and global level as well as advocacy for gender sensitive democratisation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Zena BiH, Mostar Zena BiH started in 1994. They are among other things working against violence against women, including trafficking, and they arrange awareness raising activities about women’s human rights.

Zene Zenama, Sarajevo Zene Zenama started in 1997. They are among other things working with empowerment and capacity building of wom en’s organisations throughout the country.

Zenski Centar, Trebinje Zenski Centar started in 2001. They are among other things working against violence against women and giving lectures about reproductive health.

Klelija Balta Klelija Balta is a founding member of the organisations ‘Vive Zene’ and ‘Amica Educa’. She is now Gender Programme Manager at UNDP Bosnia and Herzegovina. (At the time of the interview.)

68 APPENDICES Bibliography

Centar za Pravnu Pomoc Zenama. Influence of Privatization on Status of Women in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Zenica, 2001. Cockburn, Cynthia with Stakic-Domuz, Rada and Hubic, Meliha. Women organizing for change. A study of women’s local integrative organizations and the pursuit of democracy in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Zenica: Medica Women’s Association, Infoteka, 2001. Cockburn, Cynthia. The safe space between us: Negotiating Gender and National Identities in Conflict. London and New York: Zed Books, 1998. Cullberg Weston, Marta. War is not over with the last bullet. Overcoming Obstacles in the Healing Process for Women in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Stockholm: the Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation, 2002. Lithander, Anna (ed.). Engendering the Peace Process. A Gender Approach to Dayton – and Beyond. Stockholm: the Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation, 2000. Lorentzen, Lois Ann and Turpin, Jennifer (ed). The Women War Reader. New York: New York Universty Press, 1998. Maguire, Sarah. A family affair, a report of research into domestic violence against women in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. OXFAM GB, July 1998. Söderberg Jacobsson, Agneta. Security on whose terms? If men and women were equal. Stockholm: the Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation, 2005. Ugresic, Dubravka. Because we are lads. What can we do for ourselves – East European Feminist Conference. Belgrade: Centre for Women’s studies, 1994.

APPENDICES 69 zations and the pursuit of democracy Notes in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Zenica: Medica Women’s Association, Infote ka, 2001, p 25. 5. Lithander, Anna (ed.). Engendering the Peace Process. A Gender Approach to Dayton – and Beyond. Stockholm: the 1. Beijing Declaration and Platform for Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation, 2000, Action, paragraph 13, Fourth World p. 17. Conference on Women, September 6. Ibid. 4–15 1995 Beijing China. http://www. 7. Ibid., p. 20. un.org/womenwatch/daw/beijing/ fwcw.htm 8. Ibid., p. 15. 2. Bruthus, Lois. Peace Agreements as a 9. Ibid. Means for Promoting Gender Equality 10. Cockburn, Cynthia with Stakic- and Ensuring Participation of Women. Domuz, Rada and Hubic, Meliha. United Nations, Division for the Ad Women organizing for change. A study vancement of Women, Expert Group of women’s local integrative organi- Meeting on “Peace agreements as a zations and the pursuit of democracy means for promoting gender equality in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Zenica: and ensuring participation of women Medica Women’s Association, Infote – A framework of model provisions”, ka, 2001, p. 24. Ottawa, Canada, November 10–13 11. Ugresic, Dubravka. Because we are 2003. lads. In What Can We Do for Our 3. United Nations Security Council Reso selves – East European Feminist Con lution 1325, October 31 2000. http: ference. Belgrade: Centre for Women’s //daccessdds.un.org/doc/UNDOC/ studies, 1994. GEN/N00/720/18/PDF/N0072018. 12. Lorentzen, Lois Ann and Turpin, Jen pdf?OpenElement nifer (ed). The Women War Reader. 4. The term ethno-national is used to New York: New York Universty Press, suggest that identities in Bosnia and 1998, p. 238–239. Herzegovina are a product both of 13. Zene Zenama. Annual Report 1998. cultures that have gained specificity Sarajevo, 1998, p. 24 over historical time (ethnicity) and 14. Peck, Lennart and Lyth, Annette. Eval- their conscious deployment in nation uation of Kvinna till Kvinna Women’s alist political movements (national empowerment projects. 2005. ism). Cockburn, Cynthia with Sta 15. Cockburn, Cynthia with Stakic- kic-Domuz, Rada and Hubic, Meliha. Domuz, Rada and Hubic, Meliha. p. Women organizing for change. A study 34. of women’s local integrative organi-

70 APPENDICES 16. Lithander, Anna. From the article Bos- 25. Maguire, Sarah. A family affair, a re- niska kvinnor för samhällsförändring. port of research into domestic violence The Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation against women in Albania, Bosnia and webpage: 2003-03-07. http://www.iktk. Herzegovina, Croatia, Federal Repub- se/nyheter/2003/030715_forumzena. lic of Yugoslavia. OXFAM GB, July htm 1998. p. 22. 17. Cockburn, Cynthia. The safe space 26. Goodman, Anthony. Bildt’s Office between us: Negotiating Gender and Publicizes Indicted War Criminals, National Identities in Conflict. Lon Reuters, July 17 1996. don and New York : Zed Books, 1998, 27. Walsh, Marta. Post –Conflict Bosnia p. 161. and Herzegovina: Integrating women’s 18. Lithander, Anna. From the article Bos- special situation and gender perspec- niska kvinnor för samhällsförändring. tives in skills training and employ- The Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation ment promotions programmes. ILO webpage: 2003-03-07. http://www.iktk. Action Programme on Skills and En se/nyheter/2003/030715_forumzena. trepreneurship Training for Countries htm Emerging from Armed Conflict, 1997. 19. United Women. Women Today Project 28. Centar za Pravnu Pomoc Zenama. In- – Phase III, Semi-Annual report March fluence of Privatization on Status of 1st – August 1st 1999, p. 8–9. Women in Bosnia and Herzegovina. 20. Söderberg Jacobsson, Agneta. Security 2001. on whose terms? If men and women 29. The smear test (cervical smear, pap were equal. Stockholm: the Kvinna till smear) is a screening test which allows Kvinna Foundation, 2005, p. 36. doctors to predict those women who 21. Zene Zenama. Annual Report 1998. are likely to develop cancer of the neck Sarajevo, 1998. p 26. of the womb (carcinoma of the cervix) in time to prevent it developing. 22. Cullberg Weston, Marta. War is not over with the last bullet. Overcoming 30. The Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation. Obstacles in the Healing Process for Slutrapport, Projekt no: SEKA – 1997- Women in Bosnia and Herzegovina. 06-26 (BOH/8650/Sida/1998) 1999- Stockholm: the Kvinna till Kvinna 01-29. Foundation, 2002, p. 33–34. 31. Gender Centres exists in both Repuli 23. Zene Zenama. Annual Report 1998. ka Srpska and the Federation. They Sarajevo, 1998. p 28. are among the first institutions with the same mandate existing in both entities. 24. Hedges, Chris. Diplomats Fault Bos- The Gender Centres should monitor nia NATO Chief, New York Times. women’s position and implementation New York: April 28 1996 of their guaranteed rights. They should

also establish cooperation with institu tions in the other entity, as well as with those on the state level.

APPENDICES 71 32. Maguire, Sarah. p. 22–23. 40. OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herze 33. The Gender Coordination Group was govina. 7.50 (Gender Rule) PEC Rules founded within the framework of the and Regulations 1998. Office of the High Representative in 41. OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herze 1999. It was the first joint initiative govina. Programme points – an over of the international community to ad view – “Women in Politics” 1997 dress gender issues. The mandate was 42. Zene Zenama. Annual Report 1998. to promote gender equality in Bosnia Sarajevo, 1998. p. 36. and Herzegovina through co-ordina 43. OSCE. Triumph on the Threshold of tion of gender programming within the 21th Centruy: Women in Parlia the international community. ment, November 6–8 1998 Confer 34. Maguire, Sarah. p. 27. ence report. 35. Lendhal, Mia. From the article Hur 44. Lithander, Anna. From the article Fler bekämpar man människohandel. The kvinnor i politiken i Banja Luka. The Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation web Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation web page, 2002-10-18, http://www.iktk. page, 2005-06-30, http://www.iktk. se/nyheter/2003/031204_synskadade. se/nyheter/2005/050630_bl.htm htm 45. Ibid. 36. Stiftelsen Kvinnoforum and the Kvinna 46. Lithander, Anna. From the article till Kvinna Foundation. IOM Regional Förslag till bosnisk vallag missgynnar Counter Trafficking Programme in the kvinnor. The Kvinna till Kvinna Foun Western Balkans. An Organisational dation webpage, 2005-12-20. http:// and Programme Evaluation Commis www.iktk.se/nyheter/2005/051220_ sioned by Sida. Stockholm, May 2003. vallag.htm p. 32. 47. hCa and United Women. Women Today 37. Ibid., p. 32. Project – Phase III, Semi-Annual report 38. The Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation. March 1st – August 1st 1999. p 8–9. Reaction and Revolt against trafficking in women and girls. 2002, p. 7. 39. OSCE. Women’s representation in elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a statistical overview 1986, 1990, 1996, 1997.

72 APPENDICES The Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation addresses the needs of women – Peace strategies from women organisations in Bosnia and Herzegovina in areas affected by war and armed conflict. The Kvinna till Kvinna

Foundation cooperates with women’s organisations in Albania, Armenia,

Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Georgia, Israel/Palestine,

Jordan, Kosovo, Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro and in Syria.

ISBN: 91-974999-7-8