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Women, Peace and Security Initiatives: Bosnia and Herzegovina
In-country | International

In-Country

Women and Society Research, Policy and Advocacy Center Sarajevo
Soros Foundation
In the upcoming period, Center has planned to organize several activities, such as a conference entitled “Strategic priorities of the women’s movement in Bosnia and Herzegovina”, initiation of the “National Monitor of Violence Against Women in Bosnia and Herzegovina” and research regarding the role of women in public and political life in Bosnia and Herzegovina. For more information about the activities of the “Women and Society” Center, please contact “Women and Society” Research, Policy and Advocacy Center Sarajevo, Executive director: Dr. Nada Ler Sofronic´, Address: Jadranska bb, 71 000 Sarajevo Tel: ++ 387 33 259 600, fax 259 601 E-mail: nadalsws@bih.net.ba. womensoc@bih.net. You can also visit their website.

Srebrenica Justice Campaign
July 11, 2002
The Srebrenica Justice Campaign, the Bosnia Solidarity Campaign, and the Bosnia-Herzegovina Community UK supported the demands of the women of Srebrenica. On the seventh anniversary of Srebrenica's fall, they called upon the British government to, among others, make publicly available all information about the role of the UN and international governments in the fall of Srebrenica, to honor its commitment to arrest all indicted war criminals, especially Karadzic and Mladic, to increase material assistance and provision of security for the refugees returning to Srebrenica, and to increase assistance to women in collective refugee centers with opportunities to support and educate their children. To add your signature to the petition for forwarding to Prime Minister Tony Blair Click Here. For more information visit Srebrenica Justice Campaign.

Rebuilding Srebrenica
2001
A coalition of organizations formed in 2001 the Forum of Srebrenica NGOs aiming to create a unified lobby for Srebrenica reconstruction. In the massacre of Srebrenica in 1995, over 7000 Muslim men and boys were killed in and around the Bosnian town of Srebrenica. On July 11, 2000, the fifth anniversary of the massacre, over 50 bus loads of displaced Srebrenicans traveled in a convoy back to Potocari, the suburb of Srebrenica that was the scene of their expulsion five years ago. The Advocacy Project, supporting the Forum of Srebrenica NGOs, returned with them to chronicle their campaign for return and justice. To read the full report of the Advocacy Project’s visits Click Here. For more information visit Advocacy Project.

Tolerance between youth in Bosnia & Herzegovina
July-August 1988
The Youth Network of Bosnia & Herzegovina from the Helsinki Citizen's Assembly organized a T-shirt campaign under the name: "Tolerance between youths in B&H". The main message of was that tolerance between youths in B&H is still present no matter on divides created by the national and political leaders. 1500 shirts were printed out and distributed throughout the youth organizations/network members. In addition, youth organizations were promoting the campaign goals on the local radio stations and other media in their cities. For more information visit Helsinki Citizen's Assembly.

International

War Crimes Trust Fund: Women and the ICC
February 2004
During the violent fragmentation of Yugoslavia in the early 1990's, women and girls suffered extensively as ethnic rivalries tore the country apart. Unfortunately the extent of their suffering has yet to be calculated. However, efforts by the International Criminal Court show sings of progress in ensuring women's protection under international law. The ICC is a giant leap forward in advancing the human rights of women around the world. One key lesson learned from the ad hoc tribunals was the need for special counseling and protection for victims of gender violence, a lesson thoroughly incorporated into the ICC. To learn more about the ICC’s protection of women’s rights Click Here. In assisting the efforts of civil society in Srebrenica, the Advocacy Project is supporting a flourishing campaign to help victims of past and future atrocities. The campaign is organized by the US Branch of the World Federalist Association, and is raising funds for the Victims Trust Fund of the new International Criminal Court. To find out more about the Victims Trust Fund Campaign Click Here, or to sing an open letter to US Senators Click Here. Questions can be e-mail to Maggie Gardner at the WFA.

Tell the World Campaign
WomenAid organized the Tell the World campaign, a major international human rights campaign, as a response to women refugees that began telling of the existence of rape camps, and human rights violations. They said "Don't call us victims - we are survivors." The campaign drew attention to the appalling atrocities being committed against defenseless women and children. WomenAid psychologists, worked closely with refugee women's groups to provide counseling, individual and group therapy, to traumatized refugee women who had suffered rape, violence, and intimidation. For more information visit WomenAid International.