The initiative Peace with Women’s Face was formed in 2013 as a response of women’s rights defenders to the exclusion of women from transitional justice policies and the insensitivity of these policies to the damage and suffering that women in BiH endured during the war and in the years of rehabilitation from the consequences of war. It was created within the project of the same name as a network of civil society organizations and an activist women’s movement that gathers and connects 13 women’s activist organizations that come from different social and war contexts in Bosnia and Herzegovina: “Lara” Foundation Bijeljina, “HO Horizonti” Association from Tuzla, “Women’s Forum” Bratunac, Association of Women “MOST” Višegad, CURE Foundation Sarajevo, Association “Woman BiH” Mostar, Association of Citizens “Grahovo” from Bosanski Grahovo, Center of Women’s Rights Zenica, Citizens’ Association “Future” Modriča, Foundation “United Women” Banja Luka, the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly of Banja Luka, the Association “Voice of Woman” Bihać and the Association of Prijedor Women “Izvor” from Prijedor.
The members of the Initiative Peace with Women’s Face, acting on a common platform, launched several actions to memorialize the suffering of women and include women in the general culture of remembrance, and one of those actions is the celebration of December 8 – the Remembrance Day for the Suffering of Women in the War in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
According to data from the Bosnian Book of the Dead, 9,901 women were killed in the war in BiH, which accounts for 10.31% of the total number of victims in the war and 25 percent of the civilian victims of the war. Their names are rarely or almost never found on monuments and memorials, and their memory is preserved only by family members or close friends.
By commemorating December 8, the members and supporters of the Initiative since 2014 point to the unfair attitude of society towards women who are victims of war, and who do not have an adequate place in the collective memory, without a monuments or a day when we would remember them and tear them from oblivion.
The Remembrance Day of Women in War will be organized again this year in 12 cities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, namely:
BIJELJINA – The “Lara” Foundation will organize a street action on King Peter I Karađorđević Square at 3 p.m., with volunteers and activists of the Foundation and other civil society organizations from the City of Bijeljina, and on that occasion will distribute promotional material.
TUZLA – The “HO Horizonti” Association will show the film “They Die the Second Time” and a promo video in the National and University Library “Derviš Sušić”, after which the participants will take a short walk from the Library to the memorial plaque “Women Victims of War” where they will lay flowers.
BANJA LUKA – Activists and volunteers of the “United Women” Foundation and the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly will gather for a street action on Krajina Square starting at 12 noon. On this occasion, they will be joined by volunteers and students of the Faculty of Medicine in Banja Luka and members of the Committee for International Exchange of Medical Students of the Republic of Srpska.
SARAJEVO – The CURE Foundation will organize a street action at 12 noon in front of Sarajevo City Center and distribute promotional material to passers-by.
MODRIČA – Activists and volunteers of the Citizens’ Association “Future” will organize a street action on Dr. Milan Jelić Square and a peaceful walk through the surrounding busier streets.
BIHAĆ – The Association “Voice of Woman” will organize a street action on the City Square from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. A street performance, distribution of promotional brochures and a conversation with citizens about the memory of the suffering of women in the war in BiH are also planned.
PRIJEDOR – The Association of Prijedor Women “Izvor”, in cooperation with the Centre for Youth Kvart, will organize a street action with the distribution of leaflets and the carrying of posters.
MOSTAR – The Association “Woman of BiH” will organize a street action and a walk through the city from Musala Square, after which the group will gather for an informal discussion.
BOSANSKO GRAHOVO – Volunteers of the Association of Citizens “Grahovo” will pass through Maršal Tito Street at 12:00 p.m., hand out leaflets and talk to the citizens, after which they will invite the citizens to the Gnijezdo center for coffee, socializing and discussion.
ZENICA – The Center of Women’s Rights will arrange the setting of the installation “Day of Remembrance” at the memorial to the civilian victims of the war “Stone Sleeper” at 12 noon. On that occasion, in memory of the suffering of women in ’92-’95, flowers will be laid, and promotional material will be distributed to citizens.
BRATUNAC – “Women’s Forum” will organize a street action at 12 noon at the City Market.
VIŠEGRAD – The Association of Women “Most” will organize a street action and distribution of promotional materials along with a conversation with the citizens of Višegrad in the main street in front of the CM market at 12 noon.
The Remembrance Day for the Suffering of Women in the War in BiH is included in the common calendar of activities of the Campaign 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence.
We invite you to join the celebration of this date and make your contribution to honoring the women who died in the war and preserving the memory of the women’s side of the war.
Members of the Initiative Peace with Women’s Face:
“Lara” Foundation Bijeljina
“HO Horizonti” Association Tuzla
CURE Foundation Sarajevo
Foundation “United Women” Banja Luka
Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly of Banja Luka
“Women’s Forum” Bratunac
Association of Women “MOST” Višegad
Center of Women’s Rights Zenica
“Voice of Woman” Bihać
Association “Woman BiH” Mostar
Association of Prijedor Women “Izvor” from Prijedor
Association of Citizens “Grahovo” from Bosanski Grahovo
Citizens’ Association “Future” Modriča
