This Sunday, Mostar once again joined the global One Billion Rising campaign. A public dance performance was held at Spanish Square, sending a clear message of solidarity, support, and zero tolerance for violence against women and girls.
The “One Billion Rising” campaign was launched to draw attention to the scale of violence against women and girls worldwide and to call on communities to take action.
Every year, people in more than 200 countries take to the streets, using dance, art, and public actions to raise their voices against violence and inequality. Dance, as a universal language, becomes a symbol of resistance, solidarity, and a shared struggle for a safer and more just society.
As part of the campaign, a joint dance performance was held at Spanish Square in Mostar, featuring local dance clubs PS Flash Mostar, Mo Stars B Dance, Erigo-D, Mostar Majorettes, and SDC Zrinjski.
Tajma Tiro Demić, coordinator of the “One Billion Rising Mostar” campaign, emphasized the role and symbolism of dance in the context of the pressing social issue of violence against women.
“According to statistics, one in three women worldwide will experience some form of violence in her lifetime. That is why we rise and dance, because dance represents freedom of movement. We dance in public spaces because the goal of the campaign is to send the message that this is not a private issue, but a problem that concerns all of us. Until we begin to think that way, we will not make real progress,” Demić stated.
She added that violence against women must not remain one of the issues that are swept under the rug.
“Every time we witness violence and fail to report it, we become complicit. There has been some progress in the Federation regarding femicide and related legislation, but as long as we continue to hear comments that justify violence, it is clear that our society still has a long way to go,” Demić added, stressing that violence can never be justified and that a collective response is necessary.
The event in Mostar was organized by the Center for Development and Education HERA, with the support of the Youth Council of the City of Mostar, the Citizens’ Initiative of Mostar, the Association Novi Pogled, the Herzegovina Branch of the Association of Psychologists, and photographer Daniela Antičić, Fena news agency writes.
