WOMEN IN BLACK – Belgrade

ACTIVITY REPORT: APRIL 15^th – JULY 15^th, 2005

During this period, Women in Black, together with other nongovernmental organizations which have displayed unambiguous and clear attitudes towards the responsibility for war and war crimes of the Serbian regime that was in power until 2000, as well as towards the absence of political will for breaking with the criminal politics of the regime of Slobodan Milosevic, were subjected to harsh attacks.  In the case of Women in Black, those attacks were of both institutional character (questioning, police investigations, financial controls, etc., all aiming to discredit and criminalize Women in Black) and “non-institutional” character (constant telephone harassments, anonymous and open threats via telephone and e-mail) in order to move the campaign of public lynching from words to deeds: on July 10^th, during the action “Let us not forget – genocide in Srebrenica” a group of neo-Nazis, fascists, and chauvinists threw a teargas bomb in the direction of manifestation participants.  Luckily, no one was hurt, but this cannot be considered as an isolated “incident” but as a logical consequence and continuation of the politics of institutional toleration of clero-nationalism and clero-fascism; in short – the political, social and cultural climate that produced war and now is being displayed through the justification, relativization, and minimalization of responsibility for war and war crimes.  And the consequences of these politics for the future of Serbia, especially the youth, are great.

In the period from April 15^th to July 15^th, a huge number of street actions were realized (protests, performances, etc.), as well as a campaign to exert pressure on institutions in the direction of taking measures for overcoming the consequences of the criminal past.  Namely, in the abovementioned period passed the tenth anniversary of the genocide in Srebrenica that was committed by the army of the Republic of Srpska and with the support of the regime of Slobodan Milosevic.  This anniversary was the reason for the majority of public actions (relating to the genocide in Srebrenica) as well in relation to other tragic events from the recent past (1991 – 1999).

Public – Street Actions

• May 28^th – “We control of our own bodies – we control our own money”: feminist-antimilitaristic performance on Republic square in Belgrade on the occasion of May 24^th (International Day of Women’s Action for Peace and Disarmament) and May 28^th (International Day for Reproductive Rights and Women’s Health).

DEALING WITH THE PAST: Actions against denial of the criminal past – acts of compassion and solidarity with the victims of genocide in Srebrenica – actions of nonviolent resistance to crimes committed in our name – visiting the places of crimes committed in our name – demands for responsibility for the wars and war crimes…

• May 25^th – Tuzla (Bosnia and Herzegovina): On the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the crime (May 25^th, 1995 at 20.55h a grenade was thrown on the pedestrian zone Korzo, in the center of Tuzla, killing 71 people, mostly youth), that was committed by the Serbian Army and para-military formations, about twenty Women in Black activists from Belgrade and other towns in Serbia, by the peace action “We Remember” and by placing flowers at the place of the crime, paid respect to the dead, and expressed compassion and solidarity with the families of the victims.  The same day, together with representatives of the Youth Initiative from Belgrade, Women in Black placed a wreath at the Statue Complex “Slana Banja” where the majority of the victims are buried. 

• May 30^th – Declaration about Srebrenica: About the responsibilities of the state of Serbia to take every measure to protect the rights of victims of war crimes, in particular the victims of genocide in Srebrenica.  The Declaration was submitted to the National Assembly of Serbia by Representatives Natasa Micic and Zarko Korac, written and supported by a group of eight nongovernmental organizations: Lawyers’ Committee for Human Rights, Center for Cultural Decontamination, Civic Initiatives, Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia, Women in Black, Belgrade Circle, Humanitarian Law Center, and the Youth Initiative for Human Rights.  Although the Declaration has not yet been included on the parliamentary agenda, it has received great publicity and incited public interest, and represents a very important document of civil society against denial of the criminal past. 

• June 10^th – “Srebrenica – Remembrance for the future”: Exhibition in Belgrade at the Center for Cultural Decontamination in organization of the German Heinrich Boll Foundation for Southeastern Europe, with the support of numerous nongovernmental organizations from Serbia, including Women in Black. 

• July 10^th – Let Us Not Forget – On the occasion of ten years since the genocide in Srebrenica: Protest on Republic Square in Belgrade, with participants clothed in black and standing silently.  Over 200 activists participated in the protest from many nongovernmental organizations in Belgrade, as well as a number of public personalities, representatives of democratic political parties, Women in Black activists from around twenty towns in Serbia as well as from Italy, Germany, and USA, and representatives of the international peace caravan “Caravan for Palestine – Caravan for Human Rights – 2005” which began traveling from Strasburg on July 4^th.  During the protest vigil, neo-Nazis and members of clero-fascistic groups threw a teargas bomb at participants. 

• July 10^th and 11^th – Let Us Not Forget – Never Again: On the occasion of ten years since the genocide in Srebrenica, in over fifteen European towns (in Italy, Spain, Denmark, Germany, France), in the USA, and in Asia (India and the Philippines), the international network of Women in Black, in coordination of Women in Black, Belgrade, held protest actions, actions of compassion and solidarity with the victims’ families. 

• July 11^th – Let Us Not Forget – Commemorative gathering in Potocari (near Srebrenica, BH): On the occasion of ten years since the genocide in Srebrenica, over sixty Women in Black activists from every region in Serbia, as well as activists of the international network of Women in Black from Italy, Germany, Israel, and USA, participated in the commemoration.  During the action held in black and silence, respect was paid to the victims of genocide, with expressions of solidarity with the families of the dead. 

In the recent period, eight organizations for peace and human rights from Belgrade: Center for Cultural Decontamination, Belgrade Circle, Lawyers’ Committee for Human Rights, Humanitarian Law Center, the Youth Initiative for Human Rights, Women in Black, and the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia continued with cooperative activities against denial of the criminal past, the establishment of rule of law, and democratic pressure on state institutions through campaigns, public announcements, and demands that representatives of the government begin to assume criminal and other forms of responsibility. 

WOMEN’S PEACE NETWORK – Strengthening and Widening

From the numerous educational activities of very heterogeneous content and form (workshops, tribunals, seminars, training programs, etc.) that have been realized during this period, we have selected the following:

Dealing with the past – a feminist approach: In March and April, 2005 the first and second phases of this project were realized (educational trainings/instruction for members of the activist core of Women in Black from Serbia and Montenegro) while the third phase began for application of the acquired knowledge. Within this framework the following regional seminars were held:

• May 13, 14, 15^th – Regional seminar in Sijarinska Banja (Southern Serbia): Thirty activists from Southern Serbia participated in the seminar, during which, in the aim of combining/intersecting theory and activist knowledge, the following workshops and lectures were held:

1.     About dealing with the past – introduction to the theme,

2.     From the role of victim to responsible citizen,

3.     Responsibility and I,

4.     How justice is met – about transitional justice – about models of dealing with the past,

5.     Dealing with the past as women’s solidarity – resistance to the rise of fascism – continuation of women’s nonviolent resistance.

In addition, video materials on this theme were shown. 

• June 24, 25, 26^th – Regional seminar in Vojvodina (Northern Serbia): Thirty-eight activists participated in the seminar from around ten towns in Northern Serbia.  The program for this seminar was identical to that of the regional seminar held in Sijarinska Banja. 

Women, Peace, Democracy – Within the framework of this educational project begun in January 2005, the following seminars/trainings of regional and international character were realized, as well as public tribunals:

• May 27, 28, 29^th – “Everything for Peace, Health, and Knowledge – Nothing for Armament”: International conference on the occasion of May 24^th (International Day of Women’s Action for Peace and Disarmament) and May 28^th (International Day for Reproductive Rights and Women’s Health).  In addition to the activists of the Women’s Peace Network/Women in Black Network from Serbia, lecturers/activists from Greece, Croatia, and USA participated in this conference/training.  The following workshops and lectures were held:

-         Panel discussion: Women’s activism in the face of retrograde tendencies;

-         Field report: results of the abortion poll conducted in around 20 towns in Serbia;

-         Lecture: Between the concept of state security and human security;

-         Lecture: On the concept of human security;

-         Lecture: UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (“Women, Peace, Security”);

-         Workshop: On demographic politics and national security;

-         Lecture: Security is the absence of violence against women – security is the investment in health and education;

-         Lecture: Engendering the nation – political demography and gender politics.

In addition to these activities, during this international conference/training program, documentary video material about women’s actions for reproductive rights and abortion, peace, and disarmament was shown.  The conference was attended by 47 activists.

    ●   July 1, 2, 3^rd – Women, Peace, and Security – regional seminar/training: held on Bor’s Lake (Eastern Serbia) with the participation of 39 activists from ten towns in Eastern and Southeastern Serbia.  During this seminar, the following workshops and lectures were realized:

1. Belonging: an imposed category or choice?
2. Equal and different – about stereotypes and prejudices
3. Security is the absence of fear, violence, and misery…
4. On identities – gender and nation
5. On UN Security Council Resolution 1325.

     ●   June 20^th – Civil society and women’s human rights: a tribune held in Vlasotince (Southern Serbia).  Two Women in Black activists from Belgrade spoke in the town library.  The tribune was organized by the SOS Hotline for Women and Children Victims of Violence and City Hall of Vlasotince.

• June 21^st – Civil Society and Women’s Human Rights: A tribune held in the Cultural Center in Dimitrovgrad (Eastern Serbia), with the support of the Center for Cultural Affirmation from Dimitrovgrad. 

MUTUAL SUPPORT – Women’s Solidarity at work

Either in organization of Women in Black or by friendly groups, educational activities (lectures, workshops) were held with the aim of widening the spaces of women’s autonomy, the culture of feminism and pacifism, and strengthening autonomous women’s groups:

• May 12^th – The responsibility of civil society in dealing with the past – a feminist approach: lecture by Women in Black activist in organization of the Women’s Studies Center, Belgrade, at the Faculty of Political Science. 

• June 4^th and 5^th – “Reproductive rights are women’s human rights”: three workshops in Tutin (in the region of Sandzak, Southwestern Serbia), held in coordination of Women in Black activists from Belgrade and in organization of NGO “Impulse” from Tutin. 

• June 10^th – “Multiple Subjects – feminist writers and/or sociological researchers”: Presentation of the poetry of Jasenka Kodrnja from Zagreb, in the Center for Cultural Decontamination, Belgrade, in organization of Women in Black. 

• June 17 – 18^th – “The women’s peace movement”, “Women in Black and the cultural of resistance”, and “The peace movement and globalization”: Three lectures by Women in Black activists in Kotor, Montenegro in organization of Women’s Studies, Kotor. 

• Corruption and free access to information: Regional project of the Croatian Helsinki Committee from Zagreb, the Lawyer’s Committee for Human Rights from Belgrade, and the Center for Free Access to Information from Sarajevo, in which Women in Black, Belgrade participated.  In coordination with the aforementioned NGOs, during June Women in Black submitted demands to the Serbian state organs in connection with the state budget, health system, school system, UN Security Council Resolution 1325, etc.

International Alternative Politics

Of the numerous international activities realized during this period (participation in international conferences within the country as well as abroad, meetings, contacts, discussions…) we have selected the following:

• April 22 – 26^th – East-West Cooperation in Europe on Civilian Conflict Resolution: Annual meeting of Nonviolent Peaceforce and the European Network for Civilian Peace Services, held in Cluj-Napoca, Romania.

• April 22^nd – “Women and War: women’s civil resistance (Italy 1934-44 and the Balkans 1991-99):  Padova, Italy, lecture by Women in Black, Belgrade activist in organization of Women in Black, Padova on the occasion of sixty years since the victory over fascism in Europe. 

• April 23^rd – “Women’s civil resistance”: Schio, Italy, lecture by Women in Black activist from Belgrade. 

• April 26^th – Verona, Italy, lecture by Women in Black activist from Belgrade in organization of Women in Black, Verona. 

• April 27^th – “Women’s nonviolent resistance in the conflicts in ex-Yugoslavia”: Udine, Italy, lecture by Women in Black activist from Belgrade in organization of Women in Black, Udine, in cooperation with the cultural center Arci. 

• May 5 – 8^th – Brioni, Croatia, international conference of the Forum for Freedom of Education from Zagreb, Croatia.

• May 18 – 21^st – “Women’s mediation – peace praxis”, Barcelona, Spain.  Participation in this international conference in organization of the government of Spain and Institute for Women, Catalonia.

●   During this period, Women in Black activists also actively participated in international conferences on the issue of dealing with the past that were organized in Belgrade:

-         June 3^rd – conference “The presence of the past in Serbia on the way towards Europe?” in organization of Heinrich Boll Stiftung.

-         June 11^th – the conference “Srebrenica – beyond reasonable doubt” in organization of the Humanitarian Law Center and the Office of the Hague Tribunal in Belgrade.

-         June 26 – 29^th – “Transitional Justice in the former Yugoslavia” in organization of the Center for Cultural Decontamination and Belgrade Circle.

●   June 29^th – Nomination campaign “1000 women for the Nobel Peace Prize” – Stasa Zajovic, Women in Black activist from Belgrade was among those nominated.

●    July 5 – July 19^th – “Caravan for Palestine – Caravan for human rights – 2005” began traveling from Strasbourg.  Around 100 cars passed through Switzerland, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, and on July 10^th a number of participants joined the Women in Black protest vigil on occasion of the tenth anniversary of the genocide in Srebrenica.  One Women in Black activist joined the caravan, the only participant from Serbia and Montenegro.  The caravan was scheduled to arrive in Jerusalem on July 19^th.

●    July 10^th – Meeting and discussion of Women in Black activists from Serbia and representatives of the International Women in Black Network from Italy, Germany, and USA, in the Women in Black office in Belgrade.

In addition to the abovementioned activities, Women in Black had numerous other contacts and meetings during the visit to Belgrade by a large number of activists and researchers from various European countries.

PUBLISHING ACTIVITIES

During this period a large number of leaflets and brochures on UN Resolution 1325, as well as about the tenth anniversary of the genocide in Srebrenica were printed.  Also, the publishing process has been continued of the book “Rising up in Response” by Jane Barry, USA, which will be published in Serbian in August 2005.

Belgrade, July 20^th 2005

Report prepared by: Stasa Zajovic