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Paul & Boba: A Love Story under the Siege | Balkan Diskurs
Tatjana Milovanović
May 8th, 2020
Do not shoot. Waste your bullets. I’m immortal.
During the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), families across the world sat down every evening to watch scenes of besieged Sarajevo from their living rooms. What the viewers didn’t see amidst the footage of horror and destruction is how the Siege of Sarajevo could also result in a love story like that of war radio reporter Paul Marchand and journalist and marketing expert Slobodanka (Boba) Lizdek. Their love grew unexpectedly, developing deeper throughout the war in Bosnia and beyond. And it exists, even to this day.
The first time she met him, Boba never thought that this man would mark her life forever. “He had specific mannerisms that, as I later found out, he picked up in Beirut. I first thought he was a Bosnian who just spoke good French. And I was not at all impressed.” Paul tried talking to Boba several times but was completely ignored. After a while, they went on an assignment together. “The first thing I told him when I realized I was going on an assignment with him was: Oh, horrible. It’s you,” Boba says with a smile remembering the time they met.
Even during their first date in Sarajevo, Boba tried to push Paul away by talking about random, weird things. “I decided to just talk of silly things so that he would think I was dumb and leave. But the more I spoke, the more I noticed how fascinated he was with everything I said. I thought to myself: I won’t be able to run away from this one.” And one day, while they were in the iconic Holiday Inn hotel in Sarajevo, Boba started to feel the same. Their love grew over the years and, even though they did not live in the same country following the war, they always stayed connected.
At the time when they met in Sarajevo, Paul was in his thirties and Siege of Sarajevo was his biggest reporting assignment after Lebanon and Beirut. For many people in Sarajevo, Paul is remembered by his daredevil behavior, driving through the streets in a beat-up Ford Sierra with “Do not shoot. Waste your bullets. I’m immortal.” written on its bonnet. However, Boba believes that his eccentric behavior was just his way of hiding the real, soft, and modest side of himself from other people.
“I don’t think many people knew the real Paul. He liked people of Sarajevo and tried to help them in many ways, but he still wanted to keep his distance from them so as not to reveal his true self. People who really knew him would never call him an ‘adrenaline junkie’ or a ‘weirdo’, but they remember him as I do: a sweet and loving man who enjoyed life.”
This helping side of Paul and his reporting is revealed in the new film, Sympathy for the Devil, shot on the streets of Sarajevo in winter 2018. The movie, directed by Guillaume de Fontenay was filmed after Paul’s book with the same name published in 1997. The upcoming movie will showcase Paul as he was remembered by people in Sarajevo—a hard-working war reporter whose documentation told the world of the tragedy unfolding in this city and whose commitment to helping people trapped under the siege will never be forgotten. After writing his book, Paul showed it to Boba and that is when the idea for the movie came about. “Paul met with Guillaume and Guillaume’s first idea was to make the book into a play in which Paul would narrate his war experiences. Later was decided that the book would be best visualized as a movie.” However, movie production was stalled due to various challenges, including those of funding and location permits, and the final movie production started in 2012, but this time without Paul.
Paul was severely wounded in Sarajevo, which prevented him from continuing his work as a war reporter. He almost completely lost the ability to move his arm and this is an event that marked the rest of Paul’s life. After numerous operations, he settled in Montreal and later in Paris but never truly felt the same. “I believe his pride stopped him from going on new missions. After many years of therapy, he was able to work with his arm, but he still considered himself crippled and decided to end his reporting career,” Boba notes.
Tragically, in 2009 Paul made the decision to end his own life. “We were two opposite sides of one heart. I was the light and he was the darkness. He was drawn to death and that is why he came to Sarajevo. I was thrown into the war, but he came here willingly. Paul always flirted with death and, while in Sarajevo, he talked a lot about how if a person cannot live the life they deserve, they should end their life.” Sympathy for the Devil will show both Paul’s emotional and aggressive sides. “He deeply cared about people of Sarajevo and the war crimes that were happening in the city. That is why his radio reports were sometimes ‘too much’, even for his editor.” The editor of Radio France who was working with Paul told him several times that it was difficult to play such brutal recordings in the morning news. But Paul didn’t give up, as he wanted to shock the world and show the real picture of suffering that occurred under the siege. “You will hear the actor reading these reports in the movie. They will shock you even today.” Sympathy for the Devil is a story of love, dedication, hardship, and perseverance of one brave young man, and, as noted by Boba: “shows the absurdity of war, presents one daring, kind heart and serves as an homage to our undying love.”
The movie itself was filmed on the streets of Sarajevo and director’s primary aim was to authentically showcase the siege and living conditions in the early 1990s. “Filming lasted for 34 very intense days and nights. We filmed in Holiday Inn in Paul’s hotel room and the TV building and everything was kept very authentic… I believe it’s important for young generations to see the movie and to realize what took place here and how Sarajevo suffered. And to never again consider the possibility of war.”
Sympathy for the Devil was released in 2019 – 10 years after Paul’s death and 27 years after Paul and Boba met and fell in love.
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This article was initially published within the Bosnian edition of ASBO Magazine in 2019. ASBO Magazine is an independent publication created by the D Foundation as an extension of its mission to unearth and showcase fresh talent. The magazine aims to showcase the artistic talents and potential of Bosnians and Herzegovinians in an effort to empower and give them an international platform to share their work, ideas, and opinions on music, fashion, art, and cinematography.

author: Tatjana Milovanović


text:
Miss Besieged Sarajevo: Fashion and Beauty as Symbols of Resistance | Balkan Diskurs
Anja Zulić
May 12th, 2020
This image of Meliha Varešanović, captured by British photographer Tom Stoddart, went all around the world. It has become iconic – a classic of reportage. Yet back in 1994, while people overseas were opening their morning newspapers and talking about the beautiful women in the picture, Meliha was just thinking about how to survive another day.
“I put on one of my favorite dresses and sandals. I remember that it was the first morning with a new short haircut, because there was no water and shampoo. But I somehow straightened my hair into style. I put lipstick on, mascara and red nail polish. I walked slowly with my head held high. I never ran, especially during the war. I did not want those who saw me through snipers’ scopes to know that I was scared. I always liked to put on makeup, but at that time I wanted to do it more than ever. During the war, I wore the very best clothes I had in my wardrobe,” she says.
Sarajevo was under siege for 1,460 days. Despite the shortage of basic food items and other goods, plus the lack of electricity and water, people took a pride in their appearance – and attracted the attention of foreign journalists and women’s magazines. In the absence of other forms of power, women used clothing and beauty as a means of expression, sending a message that they were not just going to sit around waiting for the war to end. Appearance and attitude were a form of a rebellion.
Exhibitions, workshops, and roundtables have been dedicated to urban fashion culture in Sarajevo over the years, including the war period. A normal dress code was respected prior to the state of emergency – it depended upon your job or role in life – but in the nineties, these rules were abandoned. Hairdressers worked in bomb shelters, mostly free of charge. Women did not give up their fur jackets, short and long, or their hats, handbags or high-heeled shoes, even when their journey on foot to work was many kilometers long.
One of the means of obtaining clothes was through humanitarian aid or by refurbishing old pieces of clothing. During the siege, fashion designer Amna Kunovac designed ‘ready to wear’ items from fabrics that came from abroad. In times of great scarcity, such clothes were often bought by those who worked for foreign organizations, but other women also saved money to buy something beautiful for themselves.
Media reports about besieged Sarajevo were of course full of photographs and images of destruction and killings. But in 1993, a “Miss Besieged Sarajevo” beauty competition was organized – a bizarre idea but one that proved beauty could still send a strong message.
17-year-old Inela Nogić was selected as the winner, walking the catwalk while the song “Eve of Destruction” played from the loudspeakers. Along with the other contestants, she held up a banner which pleaded “Don`t let them kill us” – a photo that became a part of many subsequent reports about the besieged city.
“The aim of the competition was to show that war is more than just men and weapons and that woman also played a role in defying the goals of the killers, through raising morale and celebrating life. It was a crazy thing during the war, but we tried to live a normal life. It was some sort of a defense mechanism that we all had.” Nogić recalls.
Amateur film footage of the competition was later used by movie director Bill Carter to create the documentary “Miss Sarajevo”, which was broadcasted internationally. The footage can also be found in the video for the song “Miss Sarajevo” recorded by the U2 with the Italian opera singer Luciano Pavarotti.
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Clothes inevitably carry many varied messages. The one that is visible at first glance, such as a person’s status, or belonging to a particular group in society. But there are also hidden ones that in certain circumstances serve as a response or challenge. The photographs of Meliha’s dress and Inela’s swimsuit were much more than just pieces of clothing: they were symbols of resistance.
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This article was initially published within the Bosnian edition of ASBO Magazine in 2019. ASBO Magazine is an independent publication created by the D Foundation as an extension of its mission to unearth and showcase fresh talent. The magazine aims to showcase the artistic talents and potential of Bosnians and Herzegovinians in an effort to empower and give them an international platform to share their work, ideas, and opinions on music, fashion, art, and cinematography.

source: news-balkandiskurs

license: Creative Commons - Attribution - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

author: Anja Zulić


text:
Ena Dujmović and Plusminus Fashion: Fusing Modern Art with Graphic Design | Balkan Diskurs
Sophie Gagnaire
May 15th, 2020
Work hard, believe in yourself, and don’t blame anyone else if you don’t succeed.
Bosnian native Ena Dujmović is pioneering the fusion of modern art and graphic design as a method to create the fashions that make up her brand Plusminus. Dujmović views her brand as an opportunity to innovate: “the inspiration came from the world of graphic design and its artists who frequently remain closed off to opportunities that break the traditional mold within which they operate, but who are now opening themselves up to a whole new vision.”
Dujmović, who studied Product Design at the Academy of Fine Arts in Sarajevo, recalls the moment when she first realized she wanted to pursue a career as a fashion designer. “I had the opportunity to work for one of the rare fashion houses in Sarajevo. This was a special experience because I was immediately ‘thrown into the fire’. I had to do a lot of things that weren’t in a designer’s job description, but all of this helped me to make my brand more serious later on.”
Dujmović’s experiences at the Art Academy and at the Sarajevo fashion house helped her to discover her own unique aesthetic and signature as a designer and motivated her to create her own fashion brand. When asked to describe the Plusminus brand, she emphasizes the concept of contrast that is present in all of her creations—black versus white, positive versus negative, plus versus minus. Each of her pieces, a work of contemporary art hand printed onto natural fabrics that tells the story of each artist in the form of graphic fashion.
The process behind the production of her designs is as intricate and innovative as the concept of the brand itself. The first step in her artistic process is to gather inspiration from the creativity she channels from within herself. “When I want to accomplish my own creations I feel like running off to somewhere without technology so that I can get in touch with myself and elicit my own creative energy.” This is followed by an initial concept sketch for each design. Once a concept comes to fruition, molds are created to transfer art onto fabric in unique, handcrafted ways.
“A large part of the process goes toward experimentation with graphic expression and the application of these expressions onto to textiles. We currently combine copper-etching and linocut techniques to create our designs and I’m always working with the artists to explore new ways of expressing their art form,” says Dujmović.
Dujmović discusses Bosnia’s fashion industry and how it was once booming just 25 years ago. Post-war, however, there are only a few notable companies left, and this presents a major disadvantage to the youth that are attempting to enter the industry. When asked of the hardships she faces working in this post-conflict and highly complex society, Dujmović says, “Sarajevo is not a very inspirational environment for designers, but when you are carrying the creativity inside of you, it finds a way to come out.”
Struggles and roadblocks are not unfamiliar to Dujmović and she has faced many challenges along her journey to create her own brand. “You can’t expect anyone to help you because there are very few people that will believe in your success. So, in many ways, you are on your own, and you often need to think carefully about your every move and what you will do next,” she states. However, despite the challenges and disadvantages that may come along with working in Bosnia, she explains that there are silver linings: “Because the fashion here is not developed, it was easy to reach customers and achieve goals very quickly.”
Dujmović’s self-reliant approach, creative energy, and dedication to her passion fuel her to continue pushing ahead in this industry. “When you look back, you know that your hard work wasn’t for nothing. So every day, I wake up, make plans for the day, and believe in myself and work.” She continues to promote and support Bosnia’s fashion industry and the designers that are a part of it. “I try to inspire myself on my journey and motivate as many creators as possible to take the same step. We are stronger together,” she expresses.
The advice she gives to young aspiring artists is: “Work hard, believe in yourself, and don’t blame anyone else if you don’t succeed.”
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This article was initially published within the Bosnian edition of ASBO Magazine in 2019. ASBO Magazine is an independent publication created by the D Foundation as an extension of its mission to unearth and showcase fresh talent. The magazine aims to showcase the artistic talents and potential of Bosnians and Herzegovinians in an effort to empower and give them an international platform to share their work, ideas, and opinions on music, fashion, art, and cinematography.

author: Sophie Gagnaire


text:
Those Who Need Help Shouldn’t be Ashamed to Seek it | Balkan Diskurs
Mirnes Bakija
June 2nd, 2020
For its eight years of existence, the charity Pomozi.ba has assisted over 700.000 people in various ways. They raise money for the treatment of seriously ill people, assist in the housing of those who are in extremely difficult financial situations, provide food and other material supplies to socially-endangered people in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Due to its humanitarian work and contribution to society, Pomozi.ba received last year’s “Ordinary Heroes” award in the BiH category, awarded by the Post-Conflict Research Center.
“Recognitions such as these are an indication that we are on the right track and that we are fulfilling our mission with top quality,” said Maja Arslanagić, PR at Pomozi.ba. “They give us an incentive to continue pursuing humanitarian work and to help even more vulnerable people through new projects and actions.”
Humanitarian organizations in Bosnia and Herzegovina play a significant role in helping people that are socially endangered, while the authorities in BiH provide only symbolic support in their work.
“This is why we have to emphasize that we have a lot of support from specific companies that regularly donate food, hygiene and other products to us, as well as provide cash donations which makes our work a lot easier,” said Arslanagić.
Pomozi.ba Association has many activities, but they are especially proud of their long-standing projects „Obrok za sve (A meal for all)“ and „Užina za đaka (A Snack for Students).“ Last year, they opened a “Restoran dobre volje (A Restaurant of Good Will)” in Travnik, where socially endangered citizens can get a meal for free.
“Approximately 1000 meals are prepared daily through the „Obrok za sve“ project. The food gets delivered to people who, for various reasons, are unable to provide themselves even with a single meal a day,” said Arslanagić.
Across the whole of BiH, and especially in rural areas, the association is working on “Užina za đaka” which provides school lunches for children who are in social need or whose parents are unable to afford a meal to their children.
“We are currently providing meals for over 1,500 children on a daily basis,” added Arslanagić.
Pomozi.ba has also launched “Radnja dobre volje” This is a place where citizens can donate clothes, shoes, jewelry and similar products to be sold at symbolic prices. The shop, located in Sarajevo, is open every Saturday from 10:00 to 18:00. All the shop’s proceeds are used to help realize the charity’s activities.
In November 2018, Pomozi.ba signed a memorandum of cooperation with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the official United Nations organization dealing with migrant and refugee issues.
“We have committed ourselves to providing three meals a day for migrants located at the Ušivak Migration Center in Hadžići,” said Arslanagić. “We’re providing three meals a day for migrants housed in the new Blažuj Reception Center and, in addition, we’re helping the migrants with donations of clothing, footwear and other necessary items.”
They also rented a motel in Tuzla to house migrants and refugees. The motel wasn’t intended to function as a permanent campsite for refugees and migrants, but only a temporary shelter. It currently houses about 50 migrants, with priority being given to people with health problems. During their stay, refugees can sleep, take showers, eat and stay for several days.
Pomozi.ba emphasizes that the balance between emotions and reason is very important in humanitarian work, and that the recipe for success is the true desire of their employees and volunteers to do this kind of work.
“Those who need help should not be ashamed to ask for it, because this is a situation in which we could all find ourselves in. It is for this reason that it is important not to turn our heads away when we see that someone is in a difficult life situation and that it’s important we should help them in any way we can,” concluded Arslanagić.
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Anyone who wants to be a part of the charity campaigns conducted by Pomozi.ba can help by doing volunteer work. Those who are able to donate material supplies such as food, hygiene products, clothing, shoes, toys and baby items are welcomed to do so. More information about donation methods and current projects can be found on their official Facebook page, as well as on the website Pomozi.ba.

created: June 2nd, 2020

author: Mirnes Bakija


text:
Differing Attitudes Towards BiH’s NATO Membership | Balkan Diskurs
Mads Jacobsen
June 4th, 2020
Western leaders recognize the importance of a NATO membership for Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and advocate for the country’s integration into Euro-Atlantic partnerships and institutions. This was confirmed in December 2018, when the foreign ministers of the NATO member countries approved the first BiH Annual National Program that enabled the offer for an action plan for NATO membership. However, leaders and citizens of BiH have yet to reach such a consensus.
In 2010, the three members of the BiH Presidency unanimously decided to move closer towards NATO membership via their participation in the Membership Action Plan. Since that time, internal dissent and other challenges have prolonged what was hoped to be a smooth process towards admission. NATO membership will have a profound impact on the policies, security, politics, economy and foreign relations of BiH, though the various actors involved are hardly able to agree on whether or not this impact will be positive.
Ideologically, NATO member states are committed to liberal democracy and associated values, such as universal human rights. The original idea for the NATO alliance was to collectively defend Western democracies against the Soviet Union and the tenets of Communism. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, NATO’s primary focus shifted to the protection of universal human rights. This has led to the implementation of several humanitarian interventions, often in the form of military campaigns, in states that commit human rights violations. One such intervention, Operation Deliberate Force, was launched immediately following the July 1995 Srebrenica Massacre. The NATO-led operation sustained an air strike campaign to undermine the Army of Republika Srpska’s ability to attack remaining “safe areas”.
As a result of Operation Deliberate Force, Bosnian Serbs, who now constitute the majority in the Republika Srpska (RS) entity, have developed an unfavorable opinion of NATO and, thus, resist any efforts to join the alliance. According to a study carried out in the RS, only 18% of Bosnian Serbs are in favor of NATO membership, compared to 71% of non-Serbs living in the same entity.
Former President of the RS and current Serb member of Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Milorad Dodik, stated in 2016: “The people will decide whether they want this place to be integrated into NATO with Serbia outside and whether they want a border on the Drina. Whatever will be their decision will be mine as well.”
This statement emphasizes that the decision to join NATO should not be left to BiH’s political elite. However, the recent statement by Dodik testifies differently: “NATO is not an option and that’s what we can expect. Republika Srpska said that NATO is not in our national or state interest. Perhaps we used to think or had to think that this is possible, but now we think that it is neither fair nor possible that the people bombarded by NATO can become members of such organization.”
Some experts believe there will be no change in attitude within the RS until neighboring Serbia decides to join NATO. According to polls, the number of Serbs in favor of NATO membership is 13% , a figure further complicated by the entity’s de-facto relationship with non-member Russia. Russia, a historical ally of the Serbian people and a fellow Christian Orthodox nation, is critical of NATO’s expansion in Southeast Europe and views it as a threat to their geopolitical interests. Russia’s Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, has stated: “With regards to the expansion of NATO [in the Balkans], I see it as a mistake, even a provocation […] This is, in a way, an irresponsible policy that undermines the determination to build a system of equal and shared security in Europe, equal for everyone regardless of whether a country is a member of this or that bloc.”
In the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, there seems to be a more optimistic outlook its NATO membership prospects as was expressed by Šafik Džaferović, Bosniak member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Bakir Izetbegović, former member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Izetbegović feels that, “membership in NATO is firmly established in our law on defense and was confirmed by unanimous decision by the BiH Presidency in 2008. Despite all the political, institutional, economic, and budget challenges we face, we achieved steady progress in fulfilling standards necessary for membership in NATO…improving the overall capabilities of our defense system.
Western countries are not without their own opinions of Bosnia’s NATO status. During visits to the country, Western leaders have often referred to the changes that must take place for it can obtain membership. For instance, Ambassador Jonathan Moore, former Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH, stated that the road to NATO membership will be difficult because of the non-implementation of reforms and skepticism from within Republika Srpska. A more optimistic view was expressed by former US Ambassador to Bosnia, Maureen Cormack, who stated that Bosnia’s success in becoming a member of NATO would signal a secure economy to foreign investors, thus opening the door for much needed foreign investment.
In 2010, NATO foreign ministers invited Bosnia to join the Membership Action Plan (MAP), an initiative that offers advice, assistance and practical support tailored to any state wishing to join NATO. Countries that are part of the MAP must submit annual reports covering political, economic, defense, resource, security and legal aspects of their preparation for possible membership. While the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina unanimously decided to join the MAP, one obstruction is the country’s immovable defense properties, which must be registered as state property for use by the state’s defense ministry.
Regardless of the public sentiment, it remains true that BiH has already supplied personnel for international NATO military operations. In 2009, three years after the Armed Forces of BiH was unified, BiH deployed a number of officers to the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan.
These are just some of the factors Bosnia must consider in order to integrate into the Euro-Atlantic system. Will Bosnian politicians vote for and implement the necessary reforms? What will be the response of Bosnia’s Serbs, especially given Dodik’s statements that NATO membership is out of question? The prospect of attracting foreign investors and capital might not be enough to convince the Bosnian Serbs to join if it means upsetting their Russian allies. But, the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina cannot move forward without approval from the RS and the Bosnian Serbs, which constitute nearly half the country’s population. Forcing these groups into an international military alliance, which many of them view as a de facto terror organization, could further fragment, destabilize and poison interethnic relations. For now, Bosnia will continue to tread water until domestic challenges and thorny foreign relation issues are resolved.
Sources:
Aleksander (2015). Citizens – not political elite – will decide on BiH’s NATO membership. The Srpska Times, 15 January 2016. [Online] Available at: http://thesrpskatimes.com/citizens-not-political-elite-will-decide-on-bihs-nato-membership/
Becirević, Edina & Halilović, Majda & Hewer, Christopher J. & Robert, Ron (2015). Exploring attitudes to NATO in Republika Srpska. Global Discourse: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Current Affairs and Applied Contemporary Thought, Volume 5, Issue 4, pp. 579-599.
Dodik: Nema ništa od NATO! Nije fer da narod koji je bombardovan bude članica te organizacije. Oslobođenje. 31 December 2018. [Online] Available at: https://www.oslobodjenje.ba/vijesti/bih/dodik-nema-nista-od-nato-nije-fer-da-narod-koji-je-bombardovan-bude-clanica-te-organizacije-421559
“Izetbegović at NATO summit: BiH showed dedication to NATO values” (2014). Oslobođenje. 5 September 2014. [Online] Available at: http://www.oslobodjenje.ba/daily-news/izetbegovic-at-nato-summit-bih-showed-dedication-to-nato-values
Jacobsen, Mads (2015). 20 Years after Dayton: What’s Next for Bosnia? Balkan Diskurs, 14 December 2015. [Online] Available at: http://www.balkandiskurs.com/en/2015/12/14/20-years-after-dayton-whats-next-for-bosnia/
Jacobsen, Mads (2016). Bosnia at a Crossroads in 2016. The Post-Conflict Research Center [Blog post], 15 January 2016. [Online] Available at: http://pcrcinterns.tumblr.com/post/137339956427/bosnia-at-a-crossroads-in-2016-one-of-sir-winston
NATO (2015). Membership Action Plan (MAP). Last updated 4 December 2015. [Online] Available at: http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/topics_37356.htm
NATO (2015). Relations with Bosnia and Herzegovina. Last updated 8 December 2015. [Online] Available at: http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/topics_49127.htm
“Only 13pct Of Serbian Citizens For NATO Membership – Poll” (2015). In Serbia Network. 15 December 2015. [Online] Available at: http://inserbia.info/today/2015/12/only-13pct-of-serbian-citizens-for-nato-membership-poll/
Sito-Sucic, Daria (2014). NATO’s planned Balkan expansion a ‘provokation’: Russia’s Lavrov. Reuters. 29 September 2014. [Online] Available at: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-nato-balkans-russia-idUSKCN0HO11W20140929

created: June 4th, 2020

author: Mads Jacobsen


text:
#ŽENEBIH and the Ordinary Heroines of Bosnia and Herzegovina | Balkan Diskurs
Kashif Malik
June 11th, 2020
People will question your idea, but the most important thing is that you believe in it all the way, even if you fail multiple times throughout your journey.
Everybody has heard of the concept of the “glass ceiling”, the barrier that stifles the dreams and aspirations of women, young and old. When we think about how to shatter it, we often count how many women are in positions of power, as elected officials, or as heads of private companies. But we often ignore the ordinary women who pose perhaps the strongest opposition to the oppressive structures that continue to impede women’s rights: ordinary women like those that make up #ŽeneBiH, for example.
#ŽeneBiH – meaning “Women of Bosnia and Herzegovina” – began with three women – Maša Durkalić, Hatidža Gušić, and Amila Hrustić Batovanja – and their simple idea to stage a social media campaign depicting everyday Bosnian women who had re-imagined women’s role in Bosnian society.
Their campaign began in March 2018 with a Facebook post that shined a light on Staka Skenderova, Bosnia’s first teacher and social worker. As the women continued to identify and promote more ordinary heroines, the campaign went viral, captivating audiences across the Balkans and beyond. Their passion for women’s history, accompanied by their feminist and activist roots, inspired the three to take the #ŽeneBiH initiative one step further, and create a book that tells the stories of “female artists, writers, poets, social workers, national heroines, directors, scientists, musicians, doctors, activists, professors, deans, pilots, and other women who have been pioneers in their fields.”
Each story preserves the memory of “women who promoted women’s rights at a time when they did not even exist, women who gave their lives in the fight against fascism,” as well as those who broke new ground simply by allowing themselves to dream of and achieve new heights. And of course by documenting the remarkable women who have left their mark on Bosnia, Gušić, Durkalić, and Batovanja have become part of those stories they seek to preserve.
In the face of considerable challenges – lacking infrastructure, funding and resources – #ŽeneBiH exemplifies what is possible when an idea is backed up by diligence and passion. Gušić is convinced that the group’s commitment to organizing, planning, and leaving nothing to chance is quintessential to their success. “Believing in your idea is the key,” she notes.
Batovanja says the magic comes as a result of focusing on your inputs, and what you can control, which allows the outputs to take care of themselves. “People will question your idea, but the most important thing is that you believe in it all the way, even if you fail multiple times throughout your journey,” she says. #ŽeneBiH launched their book on 8 March 2019 – International Women’s Day – a year after their first Facebook post. Comprised of the biographies of over 50 women from Bosnia and Herzegovina it aims to inspire further documentation and educational initiatives both inside the country and internationally. The work of #ŽeneBiH and their vision is a testimony to the fact that the brightest, most inspiring messages can be developed in the most unexpected of places. As Batovanja puts it: “You learn by doing, by taking action, not by thinking about doing something. You don’t have to know everything in order to start creating.”
What can you tell our readers about the project #ŽeneBiH?
Maša Durkalić: The book #ŽeneBiH is an artistic, activist and research initiative that is comprised of biographies of over 50 BiH women who have broken stereotypes and advocated women’s rights and emancipation. Each woman was illustrated by a different woman illustrator/designer/artist from BiH. This is a book about first female artists, writers, poets, social workers, national heroines, directors, scientists, musicians, doctors, activists, professors, deans, pilots and even soccer referees.
What inspired you to make such a book?
Hatidža Gušić: All three of us are feminists and activists. We take women’s rights seriously and we try to contribute to the improvement of the position of women in Bosnia and Herzegovina, through different initiatives and actions. We constantly talk about amazing women and their achievements, so we were concerned that women’s history is being neglected, and we wanted to do something about it.
What lessons have you learned in this creative process?
Amila Hrustić Batovanja: This was a long process and it is not yet finished. I learned a lot and I am still learning. I would highlight three lessons that have been repeated many times through this process: Kick it off, you can only control the inputs and trust your own guts.
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This article was initially published within the Bosnian edition of ASBO Magazine in 2019. ASBO Magazine is an independent publication created by the D Foundation as an extension of its mission to unearth and showcase fresh talent. The magazine aims to showcase the artistic talents and potential of Bosnians and Herzegovinians in an effort to empower and give them an international platform to share their work, ideas, and opinions on music, fashion, art, and cinematography.

author: Kashif Malik


text:
Protective Masks for Everyone | Balkan Diskurs
Ahmedin Đozić
July 1st, 2020
There are not a lot of us in Srebrenica and we need to stick together through communion and mutual care.
A group of powerful women from Srebrenica have sought to respond to the corona-virus pandemic by hand-making protective face masks for those in their communities.
Valentina Gagić-Lazić, one of the founders of the association uniting the group of women, Sara-Srebrenica, and a long-time activist in Srebrenica since moving there in 1995, explained the initiative’s origin:
“We didn’t want to do this only as part of an association, but rather as individuals. Ibrima Halilović, an employee at MI BOSPO, was the first one to react. She got in contact with us and told us that she was willing to sew but that she didn’t have the machine required for it. We exchanged a few ideas and quickly came to a solution. We gave her all the resources our association has such as machines, materials, and threads. We also reserved a location to function like a small workshop.”
The group began with just six women; three sewed and the rest washed, tailored, and ironed the masks.
“The idea was to show our fellow citizens that we stand with them during these troubling times. We hope that these masks will make them feel more protected. There are not a lot of us in Srebrenica and we need to stick together through communion and mutual care. Word of our work must have gotten out because more and more people started supporting us. Women began reaching out to, offering to donate materials and help in other ways. Everyone should help as much as they can afford. The spirit of solidarity, in these times, can be felt,” Gagić-Lazić added.
The dynamic group encapsulates women from different professional backgrounds who are all set on the same goal: supporting their community. Women in the group are: Valentina Gagić-Lazić, Stana Medić, Željka Milovanović, Hilda Đozić, Jelena Bibić and Ibrima Halilović.
Valentina Gagić-Lazić assists with the cleaning, tailoring, and ironing, while Stana Medić, also one of the founders of Sara-Srebrenica, supports the efforts by sewing masks at her home due to her high-risk status.
Željka Milovanović joined the effort to sew using her own machine. An employee of the EKONOMIK factory that makes prefabricated containers, women from Srebrenica say she is a fierce fighter who doesn’t shy away from any job when it comes to assisting her community.
Hilda Đozić, an employee at House of Good Tones and an active member of her community, contributes by tailoring and distributing the masks. Reacting swiftly to the health crisis, Đozić coordinated with the management of House of Good Tones to secure a work space for the effort.
Another active member of her community, Jelena Bibić, together with her daughter, tailors and prepares masks for sewing.
Collectively over 1000 masks have been sewn and distributed to workers of local shops, pharmacies, older community members, and others who still needed one as well as to Srebrenica’s neighboring villages.
Sara-Srebrenica continues to respond to the needs of the local and expanded community working alongside the Red Cross and Civil Protection office in Srebrenica to ensure its resources are accessible. As mask production continues, the demand has increased with the implementation of mask wearing requirements.
“The reason we all got together was to contribute. We wanted to do something concrete and useful, as we always do. We just instinctively reacted. It’s important that we share a spirit of solidarity in these troubling times. We must do everything in our power. I believe that has been the driving force for each and every one of us,” Gagić-Lazić reflected.
Assisting their neighbors in a time of great need, this innovative group helping in a range of capacities serves as a reminder of the power of determined women who seek to support their communities.
Photographs: Ahmedin Đozić

created: July 1st, 2020

author: Ahmedin Đozić


text:
Goran Bubalo - A Hero Of Peace | Balkan Diskurs
Benisa Bibuljica
August 11th, 2020
A good, so very good, humble, dedicated and tireless peace activist is no longer with us.
“What happens when a peace activist dies? Whether a little bit of peace goes with them, or whether people take responsibility for that bit as well – that is up to us,” wrote Amra Pandžo, director of Little Steps and long-time peace activist, in the wake of activist and humanitarian Goran Bubalo’s passing.
Bubalo, director of the Network for Building Peace, passed away on June 9th 2020 in Sarajevo at the age of 49, following a short and difficult illness.
The death of the celebrated peace activist – a man who influenced the Bosnian and international peace path, as well as the struggle for human rights – provoked a tide of reactions from friends, colleagues, young people, and all those who knew him, directly or indirectly.
“The horrific and surreal news of the death left us all numb today. A good, so very good, humble, dedicated and tireless peace activist is no longer with us. He was a real fighter for people and for peace. But memories do remain, warm and indelibly fixed in our minds,” writes Slobodan Šoja, commenting on the Network for Building Peace’s Facebook post regarding Bubalo’s passing.
Bubalo was born in 1972 in Čapljina and spent most of his life in Sarajevo. He was president of the Network for Building Peace and a lifelong volunteer in the fight for human rights and freedoms. His struggle for peace and humanity was directed towards solving the issues of all generations.
He never limited his peace journey to national borders. In fact, quite the contrary, he was a true cosmopolitan in his acceptance of all people, no matter what, never standing for any kind of discrimination.
“Unfortunately, politicians are the ones who mostly put emphasis on differences among people via the repeated use of hate speech to separate us, pointing to the most common fictional differences targeting the other religious groups and nations, migrants and refugees, claims of our nation’s supremacy over theirs, sowing poison against everyone they believe is different,” said Bubalo in an interview with Al Jazeera last year.
Bubalo saw and treated people as entirely equal. Never in his work, actions or private life did he look through the prism of nationality. Everything he did was aimed at people of all faiths, nations, races and generations.
He saw his comrades and colleagues as his siblings, and in doing so he built his “peace family”. Connecting to people in a formal and informal way, he was always prepared to meet any and everyone who asked him for help, without discrimination or judgement.
“He wanted to help. He liked being the first NGO door to knock on in Bosnia. I don’t know who else would endure that and take on that kind of responsibility. His commitment to that mission will not be forgotten,” said Amra Pandžo.
His giving hand and his rejection of any kind of competitiveness towards others is not something that went unnoticed within the NGO sector, as well as among his associates. His selfless dissemination of information demonstrated his dedication to not only his own success, but everyone’s.
“Goran would send us an e-mail every day with information about donors, news, NGOs, colleagues. Most often, these emails would arrive at six in the morning, sometimes at two after midnight. So often I wondered ‘What on earth is this man doing?’” recalls Amra Pandžo.
Bubalo never liked to be the center of media attention. He knew that real help was not to be found on that side of the story. In order to convince people of the positive side of Bosnia and the broader narrative surrounding it, he was rigorous about every piece of advice and every suggestion he made to all those who asked for it, as well as to those who did not.
Maja Gasal, director of the Academy for Women, remembers how optimistic he was: “First of all, you always saw the optimistic side to everything, and I don’t really know if there was anything pessimistic in you. I don’t remember meeting a person ever in my life who responds to messages at all times, who helps, binds, advises, in addition to doing his job flawlessly and doing his best to make this society better.”
His dedication to the peace mission was unrivalled, so much so that it was recognized by the International Peace Center, which – inspired by the work of Bubalo – awarded the Network for Building Peace the Freedom Award for its contribution to humanitarianism and human rights.
There are those among his friends who say they have no idea when exactly they met him because he was so much a natural part of their lives. Even those who did not know him personally share this opinion. One of them is Samir Mušović, who, in comments on the Network’s Facebook post, said that Bubalo was so kind in communication with him that he felt like he had known him for years. Mušović added that he could not understand how someone could be so good when they did not know you personally.
His unrelenting loyalty and his availability at any time of the day or night speak to his true nature: he was one of those rare unconditional and tireless friends, and to a large number of people. Bubalo was a support mechanism for many and the first person they would call in difficult life moments.
Young people were an important part of his mission and life. A calmness in his words and smile awakened the younger generation’s hope for a better tomorrow. He approached every activity dedicated to young people with empathy and without discrimination. This commitment is also reflected in the constant sharing of information about seminars, projects and other opportunities offered to young people.
Samir Beharić, writing for Buka Magazine, notes how Network for Building Peace’s newsletter was always an inexhaustible source of information: “For a good morning and a successful day, Goran Bubalo has been serving us priceless tips on a virtual tray for years. On everything from how to get a scholarship, embark on a youth exchange, expand our horizons – in other words, how to become a better version of ourselves.” Beharić adds that Bubalo knew exactly how to filter the information and enrich it with valuable advice and recommendations.
His service was and will remain endemic in youth work, and people should, as Ismail Šehić, director of the Bosnian Representative Association for Valuable Opportunities – BRAVO, told Sarajevska Sehara, erect a monument to Bubalo in order to honor him for everything he did.
Regardless of the situation, Bubalo gave his utmost at every moment of his life in the service of the values he promoted and lived by. He was an undisputed humanitarian, a defender of human rights, and a man with a big heart, and his last wish to donate all of his money to humanitarian causes illustrates how he remained true to himself until his final breath.
It is hard to find adequate words of praise and gratitude for all that this Peace Hero did throughout his life’s journey. In memory of other peace activists, Bubalo would write letters every time one of them passed away. Whether this peace activist and humanitarian will be forgotten or whether the memory of him will become part of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s culture of remembrance is a moral question to which all of Bosnian society will be answerable.
Every person would like, at least once in their lifetime, for their deeds to speak for them in the same way that Goran’s speak volumes on his behalf.

created: August 11th, 2020

author: Benisa Bibuljica


text:
Tolerance as the Key to Survival | Balkan Diskurs
Maida Šljivić
August 24th, 2020
Unity in diversity and mutual tolerance have always been present as a modus vivendi in Bosnian society, even during desperate times. The story of two religious leaders in Tuzla testifies to this, as they found a solution to a common issue, despite their differences. They had the same issue which was bigger than the differences between them – the question of human lives and death. And the solution to this issue was the mass burial of the victims of the massacre at Kapija, which was a mutual proposal by Muhamed effendi Lugavić and fra Petar Matanović.
The Massacre at Kapija, also known as the Tuzla Youth’s Massacre, was a war crime committed against the civilians of Tuzla on May 25, 1995. At 8:55 pm that day, the Army of the Republika Srpska fired a grenade from Ozren on the Tuzla promenade, a meeting place of young people known as Kapija. The grenade killed 71 Tuzla citizens and wounded over 150. The average age of the citizens killed was 24 years old.
As fra Petar Matanović says, “War is a special psychological condition of human personality and consciousness, which in certain people or groups creates a certain deviant behavior.“ In order to avoid the undesirable reactions of individuals and certain social groups, it is necessary that social actors act consciously, responsibly and rationally, he states.
Politicians and authorities during war focus their resources on military defense planning and collective protective actions, and do not have the time or resources to deal with ordinary citizens and their behavior. Therefore, individuals in such times are left to themselves, to their own moral conscience.
What keeps this conscience “awake“ for many people in such moments is religion – religious and spiritual principles. As a result, religious leaders are the first to encourage the awakening of moral consciousness in people in harsher times such as war.
In an interview with Balkan Diskurs, Fra Petar states that from May 1992 to May 1996 only religious officials of the Islamic and Catholic communities were active in Tuzla. “As for the cooperation between the believers of all religious communities, it is rare to hear that someone has been provoked or harassed because that person is of another religion,” said fra Petar.
Due to this kind of cooperation between the religious communities, it was not difficult for fra Petar Matanović and Muhamed effendi Lugavić to agree to hold a mass funeral for the victims of the massacre after the tragedy at the Tuzla Gate.
“A religious official must be what his faith demands of him and what space and time require,” said Effendi Muhamed in an interview with BH Dani magazine.
The massacre at the Gate is a horrifying, eerie event. Some reacted to it poorly. As the effendi went on, “At that same place children died, the youth of the city. I was hurt when I heard the comments how they would not have died if they had been on the front lines instead of in a cafe, where they may have consumed alcohol, although at that time there was practically nothing to eat properly, let alone drink. I confronted them by saying that death is not just for someone who thinks one way or another, but death is God given. Then there was talk that they could not be buried in one place.ˮ
“I had no valid reason, neither religious, nor moral, nor any other, not to hold a funeral for those children, the youth who perished at the Gate, although it is known that it was not supposed to be be done,” says Effendi Muhamed.
The harmonious and tolerant cooperation among the religious communities, which operated during those harsh times, mattered more. As fra Petar says, “It is no wonder that we managed to go beyond those challenges and agree upon (after the severe tragedy which occured at the Tuzla Gate) fulfilling the wish of the majority of parents of victims and some people who suggested that the youth be buried together on the location of the former Slana Banja.”
The way forward for Bosnia and Herzegovina as a sovereign state, a community of all three peoples, can be maintained only through mutual interethnic and interreligious tolerance and its promotion. In this context, fra Petar Matanović states, “We need our individual and collective differences only to carry through our lives and professions. Differences are a natural phenomenon. And only in the unity and togetherness of different people and groups can we meet our social needs.ˮ
“We cannot live without each other, no matter what our names are or ethnic group, or country. Bosnia and Herzegovina is a small country, and as such, it cannot survive without internal harmony and cooperation with other countries and peoples,” said fra Petar Matanović at the end of the conversation.

created: August 24th, 2020

author: Maida Šljivić


text:
Sarajevo Monuments and A Culture of Remembrance | Balkan Diskurs
Medina Čarkadžić
August 31st, 2020
Monuments, due to their strong symbolic meaning, give clear messages of what, whom and which promoted values should be remembered.
A culture of remembrance – that is, the relationship between a society and its past – is an essential part of every society, and historically, no society has ever ignored it. One way to remember is to build monuments and museums. Monuments become physical symbols, the purpose of which is not only to help in the process of reconciliation in a post-conflict society, but also to stand as a warning and a reminder of past sufferings so that they will not happen again.
“Monuments are indicators of the values on which society wants to rest. The importance of monuments lies in the fact that places of remembrance are right next to them. Commemorations and other ceremonies of remembrance are organized with special programs which have an impact on the formation of collective identity and form official attitudes towards history,” says Amra Čusto, historian in an interview for Balkan Diskurs.
However, monuments in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) remain a controversial topic, especially those built after the last war (1992-1995). One of the reasons for this is contemporary politics, which, in Amra’s opinion, has a great influence on creating an image of the past.
“The construction of monuments in every society is part of the politics of remembrance, which, when we talk about BiH, has been changing after traumatic war events, after a difficult war legacy, with every socio-political change, and the collapse of one and the creation of another regime. Therefore, in the discourse in which different, opposing policies of remembrance are developing in BiH, the process of constant shaping, adapting of memory and establishing a new relationship not only towards the recent past, but also the past of World War II is noticeable – and all from the perspective of the present political circumstances.”
There is also the fact that each monument is a reflection of one specific story which mostly testifies to only one event, and there is always the possibility that the “other side” sees the event in a completely different way.
“The constructed monuments reflect all the divisions of Bosnian society, and often those already constructed or those intended to be erected in memory of difficult events from the past provoke lively reactions and controversy in the public. There are numerous examples which speak of wars of remembrance. Most often, monuments are built to ‘their victims,’ which shows the lack of acknowledgment of suffering to those ‘on the other side.’ Empathy is expressed, kept and developed only within its national group, and the consequence is that the issue of remembering the 1992-95 war period is further complicated, and is the reason for the constant divided and conflicting narratives,” explains Amra.
25 years after the end of the war, memorialization in BiH is divided, even though the construction of monuments is one important step towards reconciliation, as it encourages dialogue and promotes empathy and compassion for innocent victims.
In the entire territory of BiH there are 2,143 monuments dedicated to the suffering of people during the last war, according to the list of the Central Register of Monuments. 270 monuments were built in the Sarajevo Canton, all dedicated to the suffering of people during the war. Most of them were erected to martyrs and fallen fighters, with their names engraved on plaques, but other monuments were erected to innocent victims and those who went missing during the siege.
The Memorial to the Murdered Children of Besieged Sarajevo opened on May 9, 2009, which is also the day celebrated throughout Europe as the Day of Victory over Fascism. A year after its opening, a pedestal was erected containing the names of 521 children, out of a total of 1,621 who died during this period. The monument was erected in Veliki Park in the municipality of Centar, and its creator is Mensud Kečo.
In addition to this monument, Kečo is the creator of the monument of Ramo from Srebrenica, which is also located in Veliki Park. The monument is symbolically called Nermin, come! and was made after the release of a shocking video taken after the fall of Srebrenica on July 11, 1995, in which a helpless father named Ramo, at the urging of the Serbian Army, calls on his son Nermin to surrender.
Neither Ramo nor Nermin survived, and their bones were found in 2008 in one of the mass graves near Srebrenica.
There are also “Sarajevo roses,” which are memorials to those killed by grenades that fell on the city during the siege. The roses were made by filling the grenade-made holes with red paint. They are called roses as they resemble a rose. Although most of these roses were removed over the years after sidewalks and streets were restored, some have still survived or were preserved over the years.
When asked what memorials to the memory of the victims of the 1992-1995 war represent for her personally, Amra answered that “the killed civilians, the youngest victims of the siege of Sarajevo, are among the most painful, most emotional issues from our traumatic past. The memory of them, as well as the monuments to them, should encourage us to find a more layered and omnidirectional way to observe difficult war experiences, in opening a dialogue, and in order to better understand the past.ˮ

created: August 31st, 2020

author: Medina Čarkadžić


text:
Tuzla Volunteers are the Only Hope for Migrants | Balkan Diskurs
Belma Kasumović
September 14th, 2020
“I approach each and every man as a human being. At no point do I care if he is from Pakistan, Morocco, Algeria. I see a human being in need in front of me, and I act in accordance to that. This is how it all starts actually,” says Senad Pirić as he begins his story of humanity, empathy and solidarity. Senad has dedicated himself to helping refugees and migrants.
The first migrants and refugees started coming to Tuzla in May 2018. Then, while still working as a journalist, Senad had the task of covering a story about them. However, his mission did not stop there. Ever since then, together with other volunteers, he has helped hundreds of people on the move, so that they don’t spend the night hungry and thirsty.
“The first year was relatively easy for us, as Tuzla citizens did not notice these people. They would come here at night, they slept here, at the train station, in the park. And only with the help of good people did we manage to help them,” he says.
However, the situation has become more complicated. An increasing number of migrants have come to Tuzla. Intolerance and insecurity have emerged among the citizens, and the authorities have no solution. Volunteers have less and less resources to provide assistance. Instead, they, too, face condemnation. The support of the local population is lacking.
“Individuals cause problems, and based on that, stigmatization is created. And that is something we volunteers feel on our skin as well. When they removed these people from the station, only then did the real lynching begin. We are accused of human smuggling, equipping them with weapons and the like. But in reality, [critics] can’t find imperfections with us or our work, nor anyone who works with us, because we do this with all our hearts and without any personal interest, and that’s somehow incomprehensible to people,” says Senad.
Volunteer Amila Rekić also testified about the tremendous public pressure. In addition to her work at the Safe House in Tuzla, she often spends her time at the bus station. Due to negative comments, accusations and lack of funds, the number of volunteers has been reduced. Some of the citizens, she says, thought that if there was no help from volunteers, migrants would no longer come to Tuzla.
“Generalization is the problem here – the mistake of one person becomes the mistake of everyone else. We constantly say that the media reports only negative things. I am being completely realistic. Yes, there are groups of people who cause trouble. And that happens as a consequence of losing everything, including being stripped of basic human rights. It happens either because all that stress, anxiety and other things accumulate, or because they are simply that kind of individual – as some of us are. They are not worse or better than us, we are not better or worse than them,” says Amila.
Migrants do not come to the bus station just for transportation. They stop by a restaurant next to it as it is the only place where they are treated as people.
Azra Alibegović is the owner of the restaurant. Migrants come for coffee and lunch, but also to take a shower, charge their phone or just talk. As a token of gratitude, they often help clean the restaurant’s garden.
“When the waitress takes the broom, they take it to sweep. In the evening, when we close, they put away chairs, tables, take down parasols, and say their greetings. In these three years of working with them, I have never had a single incident. They are good to me here, they respect me, and I respect them as well,” says Azra. Problems still came, but from other sources.
“Business has fallen off, and as it comes to local people, they now don’t want to eat here. And when I was looking for a worker, they immediately would say ‘no, there are migrants, I wouldn’t work with them.’ This is very challenging. Recently, the police came, as migrants are no longer allowed to gather at the station. The policeman said, ‘Azra, you have migrants in the restaurant again,’ and I said, ‘they are my only customers, I can’t chase them away.’”
While Azra defends her customers, they prefer to talk about positive stories and experiences. Senad says that many of them come with the desire to find a job.
“One of them has, for example, a talent for painting and drawing on walls. We had one hafiz of the Qur’an, we had a man who makes carpentry, a man who cooks and arranges food, and now they all beg in the streets of our country while somewhere else their talents would be appreciated. This society does not allow any inclusion of these people and those talents we witness daily, unfortunately, are not recognized by others,” says Senad.
There are also two friends at the station who, in addition to sharing the same name – Hamza – often share a spot to sleep under the open sky. They met while they were in Serbia and reunited again in Tuzla.
They have many issues with the police, not because they are doing something they shouldn’t, but, as they claim, just because they are here. They say that the police are rude. They take their money, break their phones, drag them to unknown places, so it is difficult for them to cope with all of this. That’s why they don’t trust the police.
“It’s all due to a broken system. You can’t talk to them, they are superior, above everyone and everything. I don’t like causing any trouble, and I don’t like talking to a lot of people here. The two of us are friends. I don’t want to meet a lot of people, so I don’t get in trouble. I left my country because of the government, and the government here is the same as in my country,” says Hamza from Morocco.
He also complains that others perceive them as strangers, and that they do suffer because of some individuals. “They think we’re all the same. I know some are causing problems, but we are not the same,” he says.
They are grateful to the volunteers, especially to Azra. They try to help her as much as they can because, as they say, she is kind to them. However, this is not their final destination. Europe, for them, means freedom. They hope to be able to move to some better-governed countries where they will be accepted.
The fact that volunteers are the first ones migrants call when they cross the border and arrive in another country speaks volumes about how much they can bond and make friends with others. That means a lot to them, says volunteer Amila.
“Basically, I think they really see us as their family and the ones who support them. And the fact they call us once they leave the country testifies that. We follow the course of their lives, we stay in touch. We meet their families. The most emotional moments are those when mothers of some appear on the other side of the screen and then cry and thank us for providing them with a meal or shoes that day or for finding them accommodation,” she says.
Volunteers say they just want more support and understanding from the citizens and the authorities.
“It is not enough only to feed them or find them a place to sleep. I want to give them back their dignity, I want them to see that they do matter. Many cannot see from their blindness, hatred, prejudice, ignorance. We simply have to be humans and not judge others,” concludes Senad.

created: September 14th, 2020

author: Belma Kasumović


text:
#TogetherWeRemember: A 24-Hour Virtual Global Commemoration | Balkan Diskurs
Linda Zheng
September 18th, 2020
“For the dead and the living, we must bear witness.” – Elie Wiesel
On April 30th, 2020, the Post Conflict Research Center (PCRC) and the Srebrenica Memorial Center partnered with the Together We Remember coalition to participate in a 24-Hour Virtual Global Vigil to commemorate victims of genocides and mass atrocities. For the event, several leading genocide and human rights organizations, scholars, and activists came together to contribute to remembrance at a global scale. Over the course of 24 hours, the event featured educational presentations, touching artistic performances, and name readings in honor of genocide victims.
David Fox-Estrin, the Founder & CEO of Together We Remember, was only a junior at Duke University when he was motivated by the passing of his grandfather to begin a campaign that would become his life’s calling. David’s grandfather, James Lichtman, was a Holocaust survivor who spent his life sharing his story of survival. To carry on the legacy of his grandfather in the tradition of l’dor v’dor, an idea in Judaism that refers to the responsibility of passing on knowledge from generation to generation, David organized an event on campus for Holocaust Remembrance Day where he read the names of victims of different genocides for 24 hours.
Since then, the #TogetherWeRemember campaign has grown into a powerful, global movement that motivates people from all over the world to hold name reading vigils in their own communities. The cornerstone of David’s campaign is his dedication to spreading awareness of all genocides and providing a platform for participation regardless of age, ethnicity, or location. As a testament to David’s commitment to the idea of “Never Again,” a 24-Hour Virtual Global Vigil was organized for the end of April despite complications from COVID-19. The vigil was livestreamed on Facebook Live so people around the globe could tune in for the commemorative event.
David Fox-Estrin says, “We reached thousands of people in 114 countries, according to our metrics, which was so far beyond what we were envisioning in the first place.” According to David, over 50 organizations and individuals from 20 different countries hosted programs for the 24-Hour Virtual event. The Post Conflict Research Center and the Srebrenica Memorial Center were two Bosnian based organizations that collaborated with each other on the 24-Hour Global Vigil to bring awareness to the ethnic tensions and denialism of the Srebrenica Genocide that persists in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
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The program hosted by PCRC and the Srebrenica Memorial Center for the 24-Hour event, “Remembering the Past to Rethink the Future: 25 Years after the Srebrenica Genocide,” featured discussions on the Srebrenica Genocide and the legacy it has left behind. Tanya L. Domi, President of PCRC’s Advisory Board and Adjunct Professor at Columbia University, opened up the program with a sobering reminder of the devastating consequences of the Srebrenica Genocide, “This year, on July 11th, marks the 25th anniversary of the worst massacre and crime of genocide since the conclusion of WWII. On that fateful day of July 11th, 1995, more than 8,000 Muslim boys and men were murdered. Their mothers and sisters and some of their smaller brothers were separated and ethnically cleansed from Srebrenica.”
Following a brief introduction, PCRC screened an episode from their award-winning documentary series, Ordinary Heroes. The documentary highlights the courage of many Bosnian citizens who risked their lives during the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina to rescue those who were most at risk of persecution. The story that was chosen for the event was that of Zoran Mandlbaum, a Jewish leader in the city of Mostar who chose to stay and provide humanitarian aid to people who were trapped on the East side of town or in nearby concentration camps. Despite threats on his life, he persevered and contributed to inter-ethnic rescue that has inspired young people in Bosnia and Herzegovina to look past nationalist narratives.
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After the documentary screening, Hikmet Karčić, a Ph.D. Genocide Scholar, provided some historical context for the Bosnian Genocide. He brought up two important points about the Genocide which he believes many foreign scholars have failed to consider, “Firstly, this was not an ad hoc project coordinated by some local madmen in Bosnia … This was a government policy which was mastermind, financed, and supported by Belgrade.” Hikmet adds, “Bosnian Muslims were dehumanized solely [based] on their Muslim heritage. Even those who did not consider themselves Muslim or religious were targeted. The perpetrators, rather than the victims, decided which identity you belonged to.”
Hikmet’s illuminating discussion was followed by Hasan Hasanović’s story of survival. Hasan survived the Srebrenica Genocide by joining “The Column,” a group of 15,000 Bosniak men who escaped from Srebrenica through the forest in the hopes of reaching Tuzla, the nearest Muslim territory (Remembering Srebrenica, 2014). On this harrowing 70-mile journey teeming with heavy artillery, gunfire, and minefields, Hasan had little food or water and could not sleep for fear of being killed. Only 3,000 Bosniaks were able to make it to safety, the others including Hasan’s father and twin brother, were gunned down or perished from exhaustion on the “Death March.”
According to Hasan, one of the most difficult days of his life was the day he had to bury his twin brother, “I had to put his bones in the actual grave with my own hands. We were twins. We wore the same clothes. We did everything together.” Despite his tragic past and personal trauma, Hasan has never stopped telling his story. Hasan is currently the curator for the Srebrenica Memorial Center and the celebrated author of Surviving Srebrenica, a personal memoir that recounts his experiences before, during, and after the Genocide.
To close out PCRC’s program, Jasmina Đikoli, a Bosnian journalist and radio host read part of the names of the victims of the Srebrenica Genocide. For 15 minutes, as the international community listened on in silence and solidarity, the memories of the victims were honored for a brief yet powerful moment. Over the course of 24 hours, PCRC connected with several artists, activists, and scholars from different communities in Argentina, China, Germany, Poland, Rwanda, South Africa, U.K., and the U.S.A. The 24-Hour Virtual Vigil was an unprecedented event that brought together global activists with the same mission of creating a powerful movement to end hate.
In the words of David Fox-Estrin and in the spirit of PCRC’s commitment to genocide awareness, “We see April and this culminating global vigil as our moment to demonstrate unity and further resolve and further inspiration, and then get back to work the rest of the year and then do it again.”

created: September 18th, 2020

author: Linda Zheng


text:
Big-hearted People in the “Good Will” Restaurant | Balkan Diskurs
Amina Sejfić
September 24th, 2020
Poverty knows no borders. People with a big heart in the restaurant “Dobre Volje” (“Good Will”) in Travnik preserve the dignity of those who struggle and for whom just one meal means a lot. In 2019, the humanitarian organization Pomozi.ba opened a restaurant in that city, the first of its kind in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In the very heart of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in a city known for the Šarena Džamija, Hari’s ćevapi and as the birthplace of Ivo Andrić – Travnik – a restaurant with a slightly different concept has been operating since 2019. It is the first of its kind in the state, a restaurant that has a soul just like its customers.
Amir Fulurija is proof that people in Bosnia and Herzegovina really do have big hearts. Together with the humanitarian organization Pomozi.ba, he used his restaurant “Šeher” for years to help the elderly, the sick and the socially endangered in Travnik.
Then they came up with the idea to completely convert a commercial restaurant into a restaurant for people in need, for people who can’t afford a quality meal.
Amir says that this decision was not difficult because his heart is full when he sees a smile on the face of others. “When Elvir [Elvir Karalić, founder of the humanitarian organization Pomozi.ba] told me that he had an idea to open a restaurant for people in need, I offered him my restaurant without any thought, even though the business was growing like never before,” he told Balkan Diskurs.
He believes that some of the most important aspects of running a small business are freedom and the flexibility to contribute to the community.
Maja Arslanagić, PR manager of Pomozi.ba, says that “in a place where until recently delicious food was made for people who can afford to eat in a restaurant, now equally delicious meals are made for those who live hard [lives].”
“Currently, the restaurant has slightly more than 250 registered users, and our plan is to increase that number in the coming period. In that way, we would provide food for the most disadvantaged people in the wider area of Travnik,” she adds.
Restaurant “Dobre Volje” (“Good Will”) in Travnik is the first soup kitchen of its kind in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Its goal is to preserve human dignity and protect its customers from stereotypes associated with long queues and food in cans.
In addition, employees strive to provide their customers with a quality meal. “Every day there is a main dish on the menu with which we serve juice and salad and very often fruit, cake or some other dessert. We always try to make the meal quality, tasty and healthy,” says Maja of Pomozi.ba.
This kind of restaurant allows people to feel like human beings, so they don’t keep their head down in search of what the state has not provided them with.
“Quality and delicious food, beautiful atmosphere, garden and meals served as in any restaurant allow people in need not to feel less valuable,” adds Amir, the owner of the restaurant.
In addition to those who come to the restaurant, meals are also taken to those who are not able to come. Employees also offer customers a kind word, which sometimes means much more.
The idea of opening a restaurant like this is thought-provoking. No matter the circumstances, change always starts with individuals. The people who breathe life into this restaurant are proof that solidarity, humanity, empathy, philanthropy – the qualities of great people, fighters and champions – can do much for the benefit of others.
What remains behind big-hearted people are deeds that live forever, little guardians of humanity which this world desperately needs.
According to the United Nations, in 2018, 18.1 percent of the population in Bosnia and Herzegovina lived in absolute poverty, with monthly incomes lower than 237 KM (around 140 USD).
The restaurant “Dobre Volje” (“Good Will”) – from an idea to a deed, from ordinary people to big stories – is trying to, at least partially, change these bad statistics. It went through a transformation from a commercial restaurant to a restaurant that preserves people and their dignity, because it is precisely this loss of dignity that burdens ordinary people the most. And in order to preserve one’s dignity and return a smile to one’s face, a united front and a handful of good will is all we need.

created: September 24th, 2020

author: Amina Sejfić


text:
The ”Nafaka” of the Sarajevo Haggadah | Balkan Diskurs
Adelisa Mašić
October 1st, 2020
For more than a hundred years of turbulent history, Sarajevo and its inhabitants have kept the Sarajevo Haggadah, a written collection of Jewish regulations and traditions, from wars, arson, and theft. Its home is the National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which the Haggadah has had to leave several times in order to be preserved.
The Haggadah is a written collection of religious precepts and traditions used to mark Passover, the holiday which celebrates the liberation of the Jewish people from Egyptian slavery. Because texts from the Haggadah are read with family every Passover, there is a relatively large number of such books – the most famous being the Sarajevo Haggadah.
National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina notes that the Sarajevo Haggadah was created in Barcelona around 1350. Due to the persecution of Jews in Spain, it traveled all around Italy and came to Bosnia and Herzegovina, where it has been ever since. The Sarajevo Haggadah is invaluable, as it contains unique figural depictions and is the only Haggadah from that era that has been preserved in its entirety.
“The Sarajevo Sephardic Cohen family, due to the bad financial situation, decided to sell their Haggadah. At first, they offered it to various Jewish associations, but nobody had enough financial resources to buy it. Since the National Museum was founded by the Austro-Hungarian government, it had funds to redeem it, and so in 1894 it bought the Haggadah for a sum of 150 crowns. Among our documentation, we still have a purchase agreement,” says museum curator Lejla Bečar, explaining how the Haggadah arrived at the National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
It was sent from Sarajevo to Vienna for analysis, from where, with certain vicissitudes, it returned after a few years. However, the Sarajevo Haggadah had not yet found its lasting peace in the Museum collection.
“German military forces were collecting Jewish art throughout Europe to form a museum of perished civilization. Sarajevo wanted the Haggadah exclusively. Curator Derviš Korkut – a learned man – was in charge of it. When the director of the museum at the time, Joza Petrović, informed him that the Germans had arrived, he hid the Haggadah in his trousers and said that they had handed it over to another officer that morning. The Germans went to look for that officer, who had been created in the minds of Derviš and Joza, while the two of them stayed to think about what they would do with the Haggadah,” says Bečar.
Derviš Korkut, at great risk, hid the Sarajevo Haggadah in a mosque in a Muslim village on the Bjelašnica Mountain, where it remained until the end of World War II. Afterwards it was returned to the National Museum in Sarajevo.
The Sarajevo Haggadah was not safe during the siege of Sarajevo (1992-1996), as the National Museum found itself on the front lines of the city and suffered severe destruction. Along with many other valuable items, the Haggadah was transferred to the National Bank’s vault, where it welcomed the Dayton Peace Agreement.
The Sarajevo Haggadah has survived the Inquisition, the First and Second World Wars, and the last war in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“It has Bosnian nafaka (blind luck),” Bečar explains vividly.
The fact is that Bosnia and Herzegovina’s cultural wealth is immeasurable. However, the question is whether current generations have been taught to go to museums and appreciate the treasures left to them by their ancestors.
Awareness of the Haggadah’s importance is poorly developed, according to Luka Bošković, a longtime volunteer at the National Museum in Sarajevo.
“On the Museum’s birthday and for European Museum Night I see the same friends who sometimes manage to bring some other people. Young people have no tendency to go to museums,” he says.
Awareness of the importance of the Museum and the museum collections can be awakened. Bošković’s advice is the following.
“When any of the readers visit the National Museum, let them take a better look at the exhibits, let them read the inscriptions and let them mention on social networks what they read and learned during that visit. Don’t ever rush those things like we’re used to rushing through our whole lives,” he says.
The Sarajevo Haggadah, one of the most valuable and unique exhibits in the Museum’s collection, was exhibited very rarely before 2018 due to the lack of appropriate conditions at the Museum. It would only be exhibited on Passover and on the Museum’s birthday.
Thanks to the French Embassy in BiH and UNESCO, which decided to protect the Museum and the room where the Sarajevo Haggadah will be on display, the Haggadah can now be seen twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12:00 to 13:00. In addition to that, special visits with experts are provided.

created: October 1st, 2020

author: Adelisa Mašić


text:
How to Fight for Women’s Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina | Balkan Diskurs
Amra Ćatić
October 12th, 2020
Subjugation, inequality, revolution, and protests have marked and continue to mark the world history of activism. For thousands of years, people have fought against oppression and subjugation – whether by force or peace. And women have always been part of that fight.
Despite the fact that women in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) were given the right to vote as early as 1945, the struggle for gender equality remains active even today. Many believe that BiH is a patriarchal state in which women and men are not equal, but activists in BiH try to prove the opposite through their day to day work.
“I tend to say that I started my activism from an early age, when I was still in primary school. We got to read the play ‘Hasanaginica,’ and I said that it was the worst piece of literature we should be proud of. I was given an F and was told that I would be able to correct my grade once I changed my mind. At that time, I saw ‘Hasanaginica’ as oppressing women,” Vildana Džekman, an activist at the CURE Foundation, told Balkan Diskurs.
She tells the story of how she was a rebellious girl from a young age, played football, wore men’s clothing and never adapted to social norms.
“Being as such, nobody accepted me as a girl. That’s when my activism began. Back then, I did not know it was my resistance, and my identification with feminism, that would come up later,” she says.
Vildana is one of those women who experience what it is like to be an activist in Bosnian society firsthand, including how much effort is needed to achieve results. After graduating from law school, she began volunteering at the CURE Foundation. There she encountered for the first time the idea of feminism and support for lesbian, bisexual, and transgender women.
This is how love, acceptance, feminism, rebellion and resistance towards patriarchy developed in her, which, as she says, has been going strong for nine years since she came to the CURE Foundation. She believes it will remain part of her life for good.
“It is very difficult to be a woman activist in BiH society. It is a sphere difficult to act in, especially when you are a lawyer and a feminist and a fighter for LGBT rights. It is a constant struggle with oneself, especially finding support for what you are doing. And that struggle is tiring and exhausting. Instead of focusing on the results, you have to enlighten others on feminism, the liberation of women, the struggle for equality and a stronger civic economy. So, you always have to start from the very beginning, which is very tiring. And you are always on the fence whether to share the results with others,” Vildana points out.
Berina Bukva is a youth representative, activist and expert who has been working in the non-governmental sector for 10 years. She mostly deals with youth and gender issues. She says that being a woman, and at the same time a young person in Bosnian society, is often challenging and carries a double burden of obligation and responsibility.
“Sometimes it all starts and ends under that pretext, ‘it doesn’t matter now, we have burning issues to deal with, there are more essential things than your right or request.’ It is challenging to either be an educated or uneducated young woman, while being very loud in your beliefs, demanding your right to vote for the processes relevant [to you]. I have been approached under the assumption of always being on the wrong side, that I have grappled with ‘too big too handle’ things, and that this is not appropriate behavior for girls. Thinking about what that means, this struggle has always been of dual nature – I am young and a woman. Being a woman activist in BiH is difficult as you can allow yourself not to know, not to be informed and not to participate in the processes that concern you,” Berina says.
Traditionally, men have always been seen as strong, while women have been seen as weak. Men are perceived as superior, while women are seen as their subordinates. This is illustrated by the fact that masculine traits are seen as strong and competitive, and such traits are socially desirable. Female traits, on the other hand, are those of passivity, obedience and emotions, and those are not socially desirable traits. It is therefore very obvious that we live in a society that is not only sexist, but discriminatory in general. (Stamarski, Son Hing, 2015)
“Today, modesty is rooted in women’s character, their voices are constantly silenced, they are told to be modest. And this is not right. Why should a woman not brag, if she has done something significant for the community? It is not boasting, it is valuing your actions. That is one part of the issue, and an additional drawback is that women know very little about their rights, they read very little about it. Changes can only begin when women start learning and when they start to unite in the exchange of information and knowledge, but also in the exchange of support,” explains Vildana.
According to data from the Agency for Statistics in BiH, for the academic year 2017-18 there was a higher percentage of women, compared to men, who completed their academic or vocational studies – in other words, of the total number of graduate students, 58% were women.
Yet, data from 2017 show that the unemployment rate for women is 23.1%, while the unemployment rate for men is only 18.9%. All these are data which indicate that the position of women in the labor market is still less favorable than the position of men.
In addition to that, women’s participation in politics shows that women in BiH have an unfavorable position compared to men. Women are ministers in only two ministries at the national level – the BiH Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the BiH Ministry of Civil Affairs – while there are no women among the deputy ministers.
“It is no good to talk about politics and women, while avoiding talking about ‘male’ politicking, which in the end creates a male political empire. And, of course, there are those great and capable female politicians, but no media space is reserved for them – because the truth is – we already (wrongly, but sometimes correctly) assume that they only follow in ‘the big boss’ footsteps. So, the responsibility is theirs, but also ours – should we follow others into the ‘better future’ or should we lead towards it? This aspect can only be improved by conscious learning and speaking,” adds Berina.
From the reign of Katherine the Great to present day, many things have changed – various industrial and technological revolutions have contributed to that change. However, one thing has remained the same: women continue to fight for their rights.
Women’s activism has shed light on ongoing debates around the world and helped to address the issues women face and end injustices against them. Despite inequality and segregation across the globe, women have managed time and again to express their feelings, questions and desires. Women’s activism has spread around the world, making it a sign of unity, so everyone may come to believe that both men and women deserve equality in opportunities, treatment, and social rights.

created: October 12th, 2020

author: Amra Ćatić


text:
Why do Young People Decide to Leave Bosnia or to Stay and Build their Future Here? | Balkan Diskurs
Milan Sofrenić
October 19th, 2020
The departure of young people from Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) in recent years is one of the most pressing topics, and though talked about often, no solutions are offered. When speaking about leaving Bosnia and Herzegovina, the focus should not only be on young people, but on all generations. The idea that the most educated and capable people are leaving the country is also no longer representative.
A survey conducted by Balkan Diskurs among 378 young people confirmed that 38.1% want to leave the country, while 47.6% said maybe and 14.3% said they wanted to stay. To the second question, “What are your reasons for leaving the country?”, 42.2% of young people stated living conditions, 38.4% mentioned financials, and 9% cited additional education as the reason for leaving.
“I am a person who wants to create and contribute to a better tomorrow. My life path is paved with many interests. I want everyone from my home country to live well, decently. Since I am studying mechatronics at the Technical University in Graz, I am interested in the development of technology, which is unfortunately neglected in our country,” says Nemanja Mijajlović for Balkan Diskurs.
He decided to leave BiH due to, as he says, a lack of prospects and poor living conditions.
“The family is essentially the most important factor for the development of a young person, especially in a country like Bosnia and Herzegovina, where one cannot rely on the system. I continued my education in Austria, which takes care of young people and where the education system values knowledge and expertise. One of the reasons for me to leave my home country is that the [Bosnian] government does not take care of young people – how they live, what they do, whether and how much they are educated,” says Nemanja.
Most young people do not see their tomorrow here and want to build their lives in another country. This is one of the biggest issues in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“At the moment, I do not plan to return to Bosnia. What I notice is that my personal development in Austria is completely different from all the values that are considered desirable in BiH. As such an individual, with brilliant ideas and results, I would still not be appreciated. I recommend every young person to read, listen to quality music and watch good movies and to take formal education seriously in order to be well prepared for the life that awaits them,” Nemanja adds.
There are many young people among those who leave for whom opportunities abroad are more tempting than staying here, where unemployment is a huge issue.
However, among these young people there are those who, although aware of the bad, have decided to stay. They try to encourage others to do the same. This includes a young Roma woman named Jovana Barbu.
“I am a student at the Faculty of Law in Bijeljina, an activist, coordinator and project coach. I work in the association “Safe Step,” and am a part-time journalist and field worker on the portal Moja Bijeljina. I would describe myself as an ambitious, stubborn and self-confident girl,” she says.
The position of young people is endangered, especially when you are a minority and you encounter prejudice every day.
“I focus on my personal development and on the Roma community in Bijeljina, because I am one of those who will, with knowledge and spirit, change some things surrounding [her]. Regardless of the fact that I encounter prejudices from people around me every day, with my hard work, and a smile on my face, I stop them from thinking of Roma in terms of [these] prejudices,” explains Jovana.
In her opinion, the position of young people is devastating, and although many of them, as she says, want to stay in Bijeljina, they are forced to seek their fortune elsewhere.
“I think that every young person who graduates from college must find a job and do everything in their power to find a job. The family is very important, because they have a big role in shaping children and their personal traits,” says Jovana.
This young successful Roma woman built her life from scratch while facing disparagement from her environment, yet she decided to stay and build a better future for herself and all people.
“I see my future within the borders of our country. I had offers to go study abroad with paid tuition and scholarships, but I decided to stay here and prove that there is hope for all young people and that it is possible to succeed here. Above all, I have managed to break down prejudices about the Roma. People do not choose their destiny, but they can direct it towards something better,” she states.
She describes how her participation in various seminars and her various acquaintances led her to the invitation by UNESCO to represent Bosnia and Herzegovina and its young people at UNESCO’s annual youth conference in Geneva.
“I am guided by the fact that nothing should be obtained easily and that we must fight for everything in order to appreciate what we get. The main motive for my progress is to believe in this city. I believe that a lot can be done with new energy and a lot of effort. Specifically, the city of Bijeljina is developed and young people have opportunities that they do not recognize, so why would Bijeljina not become a city of students, tourists and hard work in five or six years,” Jovana says optimistically.
The society of Bosnia and Herzegovina has put aside the needs of young people, as well as the conditions needed for their development, although these should be the pillars of every system and every state.
According to data from the Union for Sustainable Return and Integrations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the last six years there has been a steady increase in departures from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Since 2013, when the Union kept records, until the end of last year, more than 200,000 people have left. In 2019 alone, 60,000 people left BiH. In 2018, 40,000 people left.

created: October 19th, 2020

author: Milan Sofrenić