More than three decades after the war, women who survived wartime torture continue their struggle for truth, justice and the preservation of historical memory. At its regular annual assembly, the Association of Women Victims of War of Republika Srpska reviewed its achievements and announced plans to present survivors’ testimonies internationally next year, ensuring their experiences are heard beyond the borders of Republika Srpska.
The women’s testimonies have been documented in books, transforming their personal experiences into an important part of efforts to preserve the memory of wartime suffering.
Two publications entitled Our Confession have been released, and the Association is working to bring the voices of women who survived wartime torture to a wider international audience.
“No matter how hard we try to speak the truth publicly, without backing down before anyone, the struggle for truth remains extremely difficult. Even among our own people, there are individuals who maliciously take credit for our work,” said Božica Živković Rajilić, President of the Association of Women Victims of War of Republika Srpska.
Institutional support for preserving wartime testimonies
Institutional support remains essential to the Association’s activities, particularly projects aimed at documenting wartime suffering and preserving historical memory.
The Association’s regular annual assembly was held at the premises of the National Assembly of Republika Srpska.
Representatives of the Ministry of Labor and War Veterans and Disability Protection confirmed that they would continue supporting the Association, emphasizing that its work deserves recognition and attention.
“As before, this Association will have the support of both the Ministry and the Government in all its activities. We thank its members for their efforts and determination to ensure that the truth is heard not only in Europe but throughout the world,” said Radenko Topalović, Chief of Staff to the Republika Srpska Minister of Labor and War Veterans and Disability Protection.
Cooperation between institutions and nongovernmental organizations was highlighted as essential for preserving historical records and passing survivors’ experiences on to future generations.
International presentation of survivors’ testimonies planned for next year
The monograph Our Confession 2 was presented in Belgrade last year before more than 50 representatives of foreign embassies.
“That was the first time many people heard that Serb mothers, daughters, grandmothers and women had endured this kind of wartime torture in the most horrific ways,” said Miroslav Ljubojević of the Republika Srpska Center for Research of War, War Crimes and the Search for Missing Persons.
Association representatives stressed that their struggle to establish and communicate the truth is far from over.
Next year, they plan to intensify international efforts to raise awareness of the torture endured by members of the Association of Women Victims of War, as well as the broader wartime suffering of the Serb people in the region.
The initiative aims to bring survivors’ personal testimonies to international audiences and contribute to preserving the memory of their experiences for future generations.
Source: RTRS
