At the end of the month, the first book dealing with the topic of femicide and violence against women in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) will be published, entitled “The Voice of Silence“, by author Atina Perkovic, in cooperation with the Center for Criminalistic, Criminological and Legal Research.
It is a work that was created over a long period of time, patiently and with a clear intention to open important topics that are often kept silent about in society. Atina Perkovic is the first author in BiH to address this topic through a scientifically grounded and socially responsible approach, based on a unique synthesis of empirical research, an analytical framework, and authentic testimonies of women.
Her book represents a scientifically grounded and socially responsible contribution to understanding femicide and violence against women in BiH, opening space for academic dialogue and the timely prevention of femicide and violence against women.
As she herself emphasizes, “The Voice of Silence” is a book about women who survived what is most often silenced: violence, fear, and the silence of a society that does not want to see their pain.
“It is a book about pain that turns into strength, and wounds that become a voice, and about a woman who decided she would no longer remain silent,” the author said.
Through emotional confessions, personal reflections, and real images from the lives of women in BiH, this book does not accuse, but calls for understanding, compassion, and change.
“The Voice of Silence is not just a book; it is a call to hear, to believe, and to never turn our heads away again,” Perkovic emphasizes.
She hopes that the book will find its way to those who need it, as an incentive for reflection, conversation, and change.
“This is a gift for all women who were silenced, diminished, or forgotten, but also for those who still find the strength every day to speak, to endure, and not to give up,” the author said.
It is dedicated, as she says, to all women who left too early, but also to those brave women who fight every day and seek their own path, to encourage them, offer them support, and remind them that they are not alone and that it is not the end.
“Compared to many countries in Europe and the world, a woman’s path here is more difficult, slower, and more winding. While others more easily realize their right to education, work, and public engagement, women in BiH still face questions such as “is that a place for her,” “is she too ambitious,” “will she manage to be both a mother and a professional.” These obstacles are not written into laws, but they are carved into consciousness. They live in comments, in expectations, in looks that measure rather than understand. And that is why every step forward, no matter how small it may seem, represents a victory – a victory over the system, over prejudice, and over inherited silence. These are small but profound revolutions that shape a new world – a world in which future generations of women will not have to explain why they want to speak, learn, and decide. Their path is difficult, but worthwhile, because every one of their struggles pushes the boundaries of what society considers possible,” the author explained.
Atina Perkovic, a doctoral candidate at the Faculty of Criminalistics, Criminology and Security Studies of the University of Sarajevo, has in recent years been actively engaged in scientific and research work in the field of combating femicide and violence against women. In her work, she combines practical professional experience and an academic approach, with a particular focus on the prevention of femicide in BiH. She is employed at the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Canton 10 in Livno.
The book will be published on January 31st, and its first presentation will take place on February 27th in Sarajevo.
