On the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, women involved in cross-border activism to support survivors of war-related sexual violence explain why solidarity and mutual trust are vital to overcoming nationalist narratives and achieving lasting peace.
”No woman should suffer the way we did.”
This is one of the most common sentences heard from women who survived sexual violence in the war after being supported in a safe space provided by women’s organizations in the post-conflict regions of the Western Balkans.
In the absence of adequate institutional support, hundreds of them found proper acknowledgment of the crimes they were subjected to and concern for their feelings, needs, and dignity only from feminist therapists and activists in women’s organizations.
Many of these organizations were founded by feminist activists during the wars due to the need to turn feelings of pain and anger into solidarity activities.
The healing processes are different, but the women from these organizations in Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), and Serbia have a common belief, based on many years of professional work with survivors, that individual and social support and therapy are important, but that they must be accompanied by social changes and transitional, restorative and social justice.
Making women’s voices heard
The wars in the former Yugoslavia were fueled by hatred and their violent influence is still felt in the dominant nationalist and patriarchal narratives that persist in the region. That is why change needs to be fueled by love, respect, and trust, especially toward those whose experiences have been neglected and belittled.
This is precisely where regional feminist organizations have their place. Traditional processes of transitional justice often ignore the experiences of women. Through feminist cooperation, the voices of women, especially those who have survived violence, are at the center of all activities, policies, and demands.
Feminist leaders, therapists, and activists in the region have also been marked by the traumas of the past. The common thread that runs through the words of those who work with victims of war-related sexual and gender-based violence is that it is that supporting others and the relationship of trust they create is what motivates them to be active and continue the work they do.
We imagine peace not only as the mere absence of war but also as the presence of human security for all. Activists involved in the “Amplifying Voices” project hope that by creating a space for younger generations so that they can be involved in peace-building work based on feminist values, they will sow the seeds for lasting change, Detektor reports.
E.Dz.
