At the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Zenica, on December 2nd, 2024, an international conference titled “Culture of Remembrance and Gender: Gender-Based Violence in War and the Continuation of Misogynistic Projects in the Post-War Period in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Region” was held. The event was organized in collaboration with the TPO Foundation as part of the UNIGEM project. The conference was part of the global campaign “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence” and brought together experts, activists, academic staff, and students with the aim of highlighting the ongoing misogyny and violence against women, even three decades after the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
During the conference, it was emphasized that gender-based violence, which peaked during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, continues to shape the lives of women in the post-war society. According to international reports, between 20,000 and 50,000 women and girls were raped during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and their trauma remains invisible in the public discourse. Stigma, patriarchal culture, and the lack of institutional support further complicate their recovery, while the sites where these crimes were committed have yet to be adequately marked as memorial sites.
“Although international rulings on wartime rape have been made, the victims and survivors still remain silent, and society turns its back on them. There is a need to work on a culture of remembrance that does not exclude women and their experiences,” was stated during the opening speeches.
One of the most impactful moments was the keynote address by the prominent feminist and activist Lejla Mlađenović, who reminded the audience of the importance of validating and remembering the feminist work supporting women who survived sexual violence during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and Kosovo. She emphasized the difference between a feminist approach, based on anti-patriarchal values, and an approach rooted in patriotism.
Prof. Dr. Zilka Spahić-Šiljak spoke about internalized misogyny, analyzing how societal norms and stereotypes shape gender roles and how the contribution of internalized misogyny plays a role in maintaining patriarchal structures.
Medina Mujić, Ph.D. analyzed the way the media reports on gender-based violence, pointing out the problem of trivialization and sensationalism, and stressed the need for a change in discourse to promote zero tolerance for violence and ensure the dignity of victims and survivors.
In addition to them, other prominent experts also participated, including Prof. Dr. Sarina Bakić, who spoke about gender-based violence, explaining the significance of femininity and patriarchal values in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Particular attention was paid to intergenerational trauma and the invisible categories of victims, such as children born as a result of rape, who are often faced with unrecognized rights and stigmatization.
