News
Wednesday, 8 April 2009
“Will you really close your eyes to this?”
Women in Black, Belgrade lead a protest today in front of the Belgrade City Hall to speak out against the treatment of the Roma community by the Serbian officials, and specifically the planned removal of Roma communities from Zemun to South Serbia. Men, women, and children from the Roma community were joined by around thirty Women in Black activists; as well as representatives from: Swedish Helsinki Committee, Committee for Human Rights (YUCOM), Humanitarian Law Fund, Youth Initiative for Human Rights, Women’s Reconstruction Fund, and Belgrade Human Rights Center, among others. The protestors chanted: “Stop Racism”, “Stop Fascism”, “Solidarity with the Roma”. And carried peace flags and signs, which included: “Serbia is a concentration camp for Roma”, “Serbia is a concentration camp for the poor”, “Racism, how long will it last?”, “Don’t tear down Belgrade”, “The final solution is killing”, and “Discrimination is the heart of Serbia”. Women in Black handed out flyers explaining the persecution of the Roma communities by the Serbian government, which ended with the question “Will you really close your eyes to this?”
The protest was heavily covered by national media.
Vigil 20, January, 2009
Stop the Siege of Gaza
Today Women in Black - Belgrade held a vigil in Republic Square calling for the end of violence in Israel and Gaza. Around twenty five people participated in today's vigil and many reporters and photographers from the media covered the event. We included signs addressed to the new United States President, President Obama, calling on him to use his new power to end the violence in the region. We have also written a letter, which we have sent to the American Embassy in Serbia, again, calling for an end to this violence.
We shared Yvonne Deutsch's beautiful poem with the Serbian public in a pamphlet, which we distributed during the vigil.
Our hearts and minds are with those in Israel and Palestine. We continue to stand with you in the fight for peace.
Letter to Mr. Obama
To the Israeli Embassies in Madrid and Belgrade
Dear all,
I saw this morning pictures from what was called by the sender 'Gaza Concentration Camp'. This horror, this cruelty is done in my name, a Jewish Israeli woman living in West Jerusalem. Israel's crime against humanity in Gaza is done in my name, a feminist peace activist.These killings are done in the name of my loved ones. This suffering is caused in the name of my community.
International Human Rights Day
Women in Black together with Humanitarian Law Center, Committee of Lawyers for Human Rights, Center for Peace and Development of Democracy, Social Democratic Union, Voice of Difference, Youth Initiative for Human Rights, Dah Theater and Skart – organized the action to celebrate International Day for Human Rights.
Action started at noon, at the first stop of public bus 26, in Dunavska street, in Belgrade. Central event was the theater play (In)Visible City performed, in the bus 26 by Dah Theater.
During the bus ride, actresses and actors interacted with passengers, reminding them of International Human Rights Days through quiz-questions. Dah Theater actresses and actors recited in ten different languages parts of the Human Rights Declaration and evoked memories of activists who made huge impact are who are not with us anymore – Zarana Papic, Dejan Nebrigic, Jelena Santic, Jelka Kljajic-Imsirovic, Stojan Cerovic, Biljana Jovanovic...
Public figures such as Vesna Pesic, Vesna Rakic-Vodinelic, Zarko Korac joined this theater play in the public bus, as well as representatives of media.
On bus stops through out city, activists of non-governmental organization and Social Democratic Union were getting on the bus to spread promotional materials related with different aspects of human rights as well as Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
SOLIDARITY WITH SONJA BISERKO
The statement is in response to yesterday’s act of vandalism against the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights by the violent group who is self-named Movement 1389, that the media ill-fatedly calls a protest. The Movement 1389 has unlawfully protested against the arrest of Radovan Karadzic for more than seventy days, with the permission and presence of state institutions. The non-governmental organizations listed as signatories below demand a response from President Boris Tadic and the Minister of Internal Affairs Ivica Dacic, and herewith we remind that...
Initative of women's organisations to include rape and sexual violence in the amended indictment of the Karadzic case, adressed to Mr. Serge Brammertz, Chief Prosecutor International Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia
Medica Mondijale letter adressed to Mr. Serge Brammertz
SREBRENICA - 13 years
Women’s Peace Coalition - Kosova Women’s Network and Women in Black Network - Serbia
Kosovo – Serbia in the aftermath of the proclamation of independence
ACTION “MARCH 8TH-POSTPONED” – 100 YEARS OF STRUGGLE FOR WOMEN`S RIGHTS
Women in Black Belgrade, Women in Black Network of Serbia, with solidarity and support of over 50 civil rights organizations and democratic parties of Serbia invite you to
WOMEN`S PEACE MARCH
March, 15th, at 12 o`clock – Republic Square
NO MORE PROHIBITIONS, FEAR, VIOLENCE!
FREE CITIZENS, NEVER SERVANTS!
Letter of Support for Activists in Serbia
The Kosova Women’s Network condemns threats and attacks against women’s peace activists in Serbia and calls upon the Serb government to immediately condemn such threats, as well as international governments to pressure the Government of Serbia.
The Kosova Women’s Network (KWN) is deeply concerned about the recent violence in Serbia and impact that such nationalist sediment has on women peace activists. Since the declaration of Kosova’s independence on 17 February, there has been an increase in threats targeting women peace activists in Serbia.
We are particularly concerned about the personal safety of Women in Black activists located throughout Serbia. For more than two decades, Women in Black activists have outspokenly opposed war, militarism, and violence, promoting peaceful resolution to conflict and social responsibility. Women in Black activists have risked their lives defending human rights and international law. They are long-term advocates of human rights and justice for war criminals no matter their ethnic or political background.
Since the end of the wars dividing the former Yugoslavia, they have worked toward a peaceful, democratic future in the region through initiatives like the Women’s Peace Coalition that brings together activists from Serbia and Kosovo of all ethnic groups to devise strategies for future cooperation and women’s involvement in political decision-making in the region, as well as the Regional Women’s Lobby for Peace and Security in South East Europe.
Rather than defending these advocates for peace and democracy, publicly denouncing violence, and ensuring that internationally recognized human rights values are upheld, the Government of Serbia has as much as condoned the violence. It has argued that Serb citizens are upset, which justifies their actions. The Serbian government has lacked political leadership that supports peaceful resolve, freedom of speech, and democratic values.
We call upon the Government of Serbia, particularly the Prime Minister and President, to immediately publicly condemn the harassment, hate speech, and violence targeting women peace activists.
We implore international leaders, especially the European Union, to support and protect women peace activists and human rights defenders by immediately pressuring the Government of Serbia to denounce hate speech, harassment, and threats to their personal safety.
Sincerely,
The Kosova Women’s Network
KWN is a network of 81 women’s organizations in Kosova, working to support peace, democracy, and women’s rights in particular in Kosova, the region and internationally. KWN member organizations have cooperated closely with Women in Black Network activists through the Women’s Peace Coalition. For more information, see www.womensnetwork.org or contact Igballe Rogova, Executive Director, igorogova@yahoo.com or info@womensnetwork.org.
Letër përkrahëse për Aktivistet në Serbi
Women in Black – Serbia perspectives
Dialogue on Kosovo – after the declaration of independence
Serbia faces low intensity war again
