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Combatting Stereotypes: Recognizing Male Victims of Wartime Sexual Violence | Balkan Diskurs
Alec Anderson | Chiara Zardoni
September 30th, 2021
Despite irrefutable evidence of rampant CRSV perpetrated against men between 1992-1995, many factors still prevent male survivors from receiving effective support, justice, and acknowledgment from society.
“It is a difficult moment when you have to say the truth of what you have been carrying inside of you for 18 years. It is hard because we are re-traumatizing ourselves. It is hard to revisit the moments of torture, rape, and sexual violence that you have experienced. It is difficult to continually carry these things inside of you, but you have to keep going. Maybe I am a brave man, or maybe I am a cowardly one. Your opinion is up to you.”
–  Presentation of the International PSVI Protocol in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Post-Conflict Research Center
When people in academic circles and the public think of the scourge that was conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) during the Bosnian War, they most often think of the horrible crimes committed against women. However, it is not just women who are survivors of sexual violence in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) today. Despite irrefutable evidence of rampant CRSV perpetrated against men between 1992-1995, many factors still prevent male survivors from receiving effective support, justice, and acknowledgment from society.
CRSV against men in the Bosnian War is well documented by Thomas Osorio, who worked for over 20 years in the region of the former Yugoslavia with the United Nations and as a research associate at the University of KU Leuven, where he conducted field research and interviewed male survivors of CRSV. Mr. Osorio draws several critical conclusions in his research: that there is no doubt that sexual violence was a tool of war during the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia; that the violence was systematic, and widespread; that CRSV was certainly perpetrated against both women and men, as reported as early as 1993 in reports by UN Special Rapporteur Tadeusz Mazowiecki and later an investigation conducted by a UN commission of experts. Besides the UN, a number of international organizations, like OSCE and the Humanitarian Law Center, have provided evidence that sexual violence was perpetrated against men both as an act of humiliation and as a part of a  policy of “ethnic cleansing.”
As explained by Osorio and in the Final Report of the Commission of Experts Established Pursuant to Security Council Resolution 780 set out on 27th May 1994, male prisoners of war were often subject to sexual violence when detained in camps. This violence could take the form of different acts: prisoners were forced to rape women; they were subjected to sexual mutilation, castration, and forced incest was very common as well. As Osorio points out, it is important to note that places of detention throughout the Balkan conflicts were mainly secured and guarded by conscripted or volunteer civilian professional prisons guards or former police officers. Many of these individuals, in their new role as military guards or military police, did not differentiate prisoners of war from common criminals. This in no way justifies their actions, nor does it imply that these behaviors would be acceptable in civilian prisons, but rather illustrates the unfortunate reality that led to such severe war crimes. According to testimony, the systematic scope and nature of the perpetration of CRSV against men demonstrates that the violence was an instrument of ethnic cleansing through the destruction of families and communities.
Men have very rarely come forward to seek justice or other support, some even keeping their experiences from family members. From this standpoint, the post-war context of male and female survivors is completely different. Indeed, despite the application of protective measures in the legal system, communities of small villages often know the identity of female survivors, while most of the male survivors go unknown. This is only one aspect of the gender divide characterizing the way CRSV is addressed in BiH. However, there is progress, such as the Croatian law on compensation to rape victims, which degenderized CRSV survivors and granted a dignified one-off financial compensation – a first in the region.
Legal frameworks in many conflict-affected countries do not recognize men as possible victims of CRSV. Some data from Chris Dolan’s briefing paper on violence against men and boys help paint a clearer picture of the problem. The paper shows that, according to the laws of many countries, 90%  of men in conflict-affected countries cannot be identified as victims of sexual violence. Further, 62 countries out of all countries only recognize female victims of rape, 67 states criminalize men who report abuse, and in 28 countries only males are recognized as perpetrators of sexual violence. As such, legal frameworks often constitute insurmountable obstacles in delivering justice to male survivors.
Of course, legal precedents are far from being the sole reason that male survivors are less recognized than female survivors. The largest obstacle is the prevalence of deeply discriminatory and homophobic attitudes towards male victims of CRSV throughout society, as well as perceptions of masculinity that are not unique to BiH. Indeed, as Osorio explains, male survivors are not comfortable coming forward because of this; just three cases of CRSV against men have been dealt with by the Court of BiH since the war ended. Justice cannot be achieved if male survivors don’t feel comfortable speaking out. And as Lamija Grebo, court monitor and Balkan Investigative Reporting Network journalist points out, men in Bosnia have seen the intense suffering that women who spoke out endured. She comments, “I can only imagine what those men think their journey would be if they report it, tell their neighbors and families, or even admit it to themselves.”
The anticipation of homophobic backlash stifles survivors – rightfully so, given that statistical evidence shows that homophobic people are extremely averse to supporting male survivors in any way. Additionally, the creation of organizations dedicated solely to assisting female survivors, for all of the incredibly important work they do, has led to male survivors feeling like they have no one to whom they can tell their stories. The culmination of these social pressures have created an enormous stigma for men to overcome. Grebo continues, “society considers [women being raped] not as acceptable, but as more common…[for men], there comes in a ‘double-shame.’”
This widespread discriminatory culture influences all parts of society, including citizens, social and medical workers, and institutions. Indeed, many medical, social and legal professionals, who usually provide assistance for female survivors, were not able to help male survivors during the war and are still not ready to do so today. An important example of this was provided by Alma Taso-Deljkovic, Head of the Witness Support Office of the Court of BiH. During a 6th July interview, she admitted that her office, which offers significant assistance to female survivors, is ill-equipped to deal with men’s specific needs. Indeed, as men rarely come forward, the Witness Support Office has very little experience with male survivors, and most of its services are designed to support women. However, as Taso-Deljkovic and Osorio note, progress has been made thanks to the Witness Protection Department of the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) and relevant trainings provided to police officers and court officials by the United Nations Development Programme in BiH.
Society’s difficulty acknowledging rape against men can be linked to the specific approach of both the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and the state courts to prosecute perpetrators under appropriate statutes. Despite rape being defined as a crime against humanity in the Statute of the ICTY, and its judicial definition making no reference to the gender of the victim, these crimes are mainly prosecuted as rape when the survivor is female. Cases in which guards directly raped male victims (as defined by ICTY Statute) are more often prosecuted as torture or inhumane treatment rather than sexual assault, according to Osorio, who says, “sexual violence is very rarely adjudicated a single crime, it is always connected to other crimes.” As a result, male witnesses rarely testify and provide a detailed description of facts concerning CRSV before the court.
One case in particular shows the gendered approach that the ICTY inadvertently took to prosecuting rape. In Prosecutor vs. Brđanin, a situation is described in which a guard tried to force a male prisoner to have sex with a female prisoner at gunpoint against both of their wills. When the man refused, he was killed. And yet the court found that “the threat of rape constituted a sexual assault vis-à-vis the female detainee.” Andrew Pitt sums up the disturbing way in which the court ignored the sexual violence aimed at the man: “the male victim here is simply made to disappear.”
Unfortunately, this practice was adopted by state courts in Bosnia as well. Cases such as those against Macić Ibro, Akeljić Minet, Begović Gligor, and countless others include no indictment of rape, despite clear occurrences of sexual assault being described in court judgments. Obviously, partial justice is far better than no justice, but when a court fails to acknowledge rape against men for what it is, it creates an additional barrier to society-wide recognition of what these men have suffered.
But for all of the immense challenges that exist, there may be light at the end of the tunnel. Thanks to the tireless efforts of local organizations and committed journalists, some male survivors are getting to tell their stories. Some examples include documentaries Silent Scream and The Unforgiven. Organizations like Medica Zenica assisted men in attaining civilian victim of war status. It is vital that more effort is given to achieving recognition that men, too, can be raped, and that men, too, have suffered physically and psychologically as a result. This process begins with the dismantling of masculine gender norms that stigmatize male survivors into silence. This is a process that should take place not just in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but all over the world.

created: September 30th, 2021


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How the employee of the Turkish Airline helped the young man from Banja Luka to return home | Balkan Diskurs
Andrea Aleksić
October 4th, 2021
Robert Dacešin could not even dream that his return from distant Cuba would be so difficult. An employee of the Turkish airline helped him return home, and his arrival in beautiful and exotic Havana did not even remotely hint at the problems he would encounter on his trip.
The young Banja Luka resident Robert Dacešin is known for his adventures and promotion of Banja Luka around the world. As he says, the trip to Cuba, due to the corona virus pandemic, was the most difficult, but also the most beautiful so far.
He was supposed to return to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) on a flight via Moscow to Belgrade, but the airport in the Serbian capital was closed due to a pandemic, so his flight was completely canceled.
„An airline from Serbia sent a charter flight to Moscow for its citizens, and I was the only one of 40 people who could not board in and return home, because I did not have a Serbian passport. It was a very, very tough to experience, seeing all these people to get on that plane and go home, and I’m the only one left,“ says Robert.
Robert says he was shocked by the lack of empathy in people and how they often choose to ignore that we are all human beings.
“They knew I needed help and yet decided to ignore that. If there is already a seat on the flight, and if you know that this is my only chance to return home, why can’t I come in just because one document is a different color? Aren’t we all the same? Or maybe we still aren’t?” Robert wonders.
He remembers watching people from the group go through passport control and go on a flight with disbelief. Everyone left. Except for him.
“It simply came to our notice then. This is without a doubt one of the most difficult moments I have ever survived on a trip. That feeling of being left alone is hard to explain. When you see that others don’t care at all and when those you consider yours are still not yours is difficult,” he added.
Although the situation seemed hopeless, there are people everywhere ready to run to help. In Robert’s case, that person was an employee of a Turkish airline.
„What saved me was that a man from a Turkish airline then gave me a free ticket from Havana to Sarajevo. He realized how serious the situation was and that it was the only flight I had left. That ticket costs over 1,000 euros, and he gave it to me for free and said that he could not sleep knowing that I could not go to my house, and he did nothing to help me. It’s one of the most beautiful things anyone has ever done for me,“ Robert recalls.
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New Day New Problems
Not even the day when he was supposed to fly back home passed without difficulty. The police started to drive foreigners from the apartments of the local population for fear of infection, and soon they came to search the house where he was staying.
“No taxi wanted to take me to the airport, because everyone was forbidden to drive foreigners. My friend’s dad had to drive me with the whole family in the car using some side roads, so we do look suspicious. All the restaurants and food places were closed and I hadn’t eaten anything for almost 20 hours. I could hardly wait to finally go home,” he said.
The first case of the corona virus in Cuba, Robert remembers, was an Italian citizen, which just increased the stigma and intolerance towards all tourists.
„There was a lot of panic in Cuba even before the first case of infected Italian appeared. Special attention was paid to tourists, because the first infected person was a foreign citizen. Just before my departure, the first Cuban was infected. It also caused a lot of panic and a curfew was introduced at 6 p.m. Cuba is a police state and there are a lot of plainclothes police on the streets chasing foreigners. Many Cubans evicted foreigners from their apartments and houses because they were afraid they had the virus,“ Robert recalls.
He mentions food shortages as another problem in Cuba. Since this is a very closed country, its citizens do not have the luxury of going to supermarkets. After curfew was introduced, restaurants and markets were closed, and food was not available almost anywhere. To all this, the impossibility of going home fell even harder on him.
As he says, in such situations it is very important to have someone you trust and on whom you can rely.
„Many people were left without accommodation and literally lived at airports or embassies. It is important to contact the embassy. It is certainly easier for people who are in countries that are more open and liberal. It was very difficult for me in Cuba,“ said Robert.
He believes that after the all this situation with the pandemic, people certainly stopped traveling for a while.
„Travel is a luxury and many will not be able to afford it due to the economic crisis that followed. Also, fear plays a significant role in all of this. I hope that airlines will motivate people to travel more by lowering prices,“ he added.
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source: news-balkandiskurs

created: October 4th, 2021

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

author: Andrea Aleksić


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Eko Jasmina: A small organic food business finds success despite dissatisfaction with the system | Balkan Diskurs
Kristina Gadže
October 12th, 2021
Mostar’s Jasmina Ćušić started Eko Jasmina, a small store for organic fruits and vegetables, five years ago to “revolt against the system in Bosnia and Herzegovina”.
Despite her advanced degrees as a graduate professor of the English language, Jasmina could not find a job because she was not a member of a political party. But something positive emerged from this situation – she has started a business which is growing stronger every day and attracting more and more people.
Agriculture instead of a political affiliation
“I was told that I had to become a member of a certain political party to get a job in education. I didn’t want to be a part of that, so I embarked on my own adventure,” Jasmina says.
Agriculture, she says, was what was closest to her heart at the time. She grew up in the countryside and wanted to take advantage of the knowledge she already had. She thought running a small agriculture business could have big potential, so she decided to produce organic food. She received orders via Facebook and then brought them to her small stand in front of the Ero Hotel in Mostar.
At first, they only harvested three crops, but now they harvest 80 to 90 different fruits and vegetables. Jasmina says this is all thanks to the favorable Herzegovinian climate and fertile land.
“God has gifted us with good land, water, and a climate that is favorable for production year-round. In addition to producing typical Bosnian crops, we are also trying to introduce new crops and experiment with tropical fruits. We currently have kiwano, Peruvian strawberry, yellow watermelon, and sweet potato, which was a novelty three years ago. Our country is especially suitable for tropical fruits, because summer lasts almost from the beginning of May to the middle of October, and we have a lot of sunny days. We should take full advantage of these conditions,” explains Jasmina.
The pandemic strengthened the business
Although the coronavirus pandemic shut down many shops and wreaked havoc on farmers throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina, Eko Jasmina did not feel its consequences. Jasmina says that they were among the first to try to comply with all prescribed epidemiological measures.
“We had to adapt to all kinds of situations because it was very important to pack our products without making any physical contact. How our products were packed, who packed them, and how they were delivered became very important. People recognized that we strictly followed the rules and cared about our customers’ safety, which helped us avoid the pandemic’s adverse effects on small businesses. I think it actually strengthened our business,” says Jasmina.
Jasmina says many people realized how important it is to have their own space for food production after the period of uncertainty at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic.
“People think that agriculture is physically difficult or that it is only done by uneducated people who cannot do anything else. However, more and more educated people are turning to organic production because that is the future. I think that, given the increase in the global population and the need for food, people will increasingly think about having a small parcel of land in the countryside where they can produce food, at least for themselves,” says Jasmina.
Organic food tour throughout BiH
There is no time to rest for Jasmina and her team. Every day is different. They are in Sarajevo on Mondays and Thursdays, Zenica on Tuesdays, Tuzla on Wednesdays, and Banja Luka on Fridays. After that, they go to western Herzegovina, including Široki Brijeg, Ljubuški, Grude, Međugorje, and Čitluk.
“Every day is a rollercoaster, something new is always happening, and it’s never boring. In the afternoon, we are usually in a field in Višnjići or Nevesinje. That’s my Bermuda Triangle together with Mostar [laughs]. We’re always at one of those locations. If we have nothing to do, then we enjoy nature because that, at least for me, is my greatest pleasure,” says Jasmina.
Although the only brick-and-mortar store for Eko Jasmina is in Mostar, they plan to open a store in Banja Luka soon. They also plan to organize easier delivery methods.
“We recently signed a contract with BH Post to create a new food delivery program, where vegetables will come directly from the field to the consumer in a much shorter period. Currently, in every city, we have our stand where people come and take their orders. We’ve had a lot of offers to sell in retail chains, but so far, I have refused to do that because I don’t trust the people who work there, and I can’t be sure that they wouldn’t sell products that aren’t mine under my name in the event of a product shortage. Since I can’t control it, I didn’t want to agree to it,” says Jasmina.
Every year, as she says, the biggest’ boom’ is strawberries. As a result, she has to start taking orders in January, and she can attract upwards of 50 customers in a very short time.
“During the first lockdown, we announced at 11 pm that strawberries were coming to the store. When we arrived at the store the next morning, customers were lining up. So I can say that strawberries are the most in-demand every year,” Jasmina says.
Agriculture as a “male” business
Despite being the third daughter of five children in a large patriarchal family, Jasmine was not “saved” from certain jobs. She had to do everything.
“I’m used to fighting through life. It wasn’t difficult for me to decide to go on this adventure and create my own private business. I think I would regret it later in life if I had remained under someone else’s authority, or if I had owed someone a favor for the work I do, or if I were beholden to a political party for my job. I wanted my freedom, and I knew how much I would pay for it. But, for me, my freedom is invaluable,” says Jasmina. She says she has also commanded respect from men who have been in this business for a long time because they know how difficult it is to succeed.
Although BiH has great natural climate conditions for agriculture and has become more organically conscious, Jasmina believes it has not lived up to its potential. She points out that, compared to Slovenia, which has 3,000 organic producers for its small population, Bosnia and Herzegovina has fewer than 100.
“The European Union has a condition that 0.3% of arable land should be used for organic agriculture. In our country, it is currently at 0.003%, so there is a lot of room for the development of organic agriculture. The only thing missing is greater support from the state. I think that the state should engage and support more young people in organic agriculture, especially in larger cities such as Sarajevo or Banja Luka, because people there are more aware of what they eat and have greater purchasing power,” says Jasmina.
According to Jasmina, healthy food is becoming a trend, and demand for it is going up. Although the market is constantly increasing yearly, farmers still do not see the profit from organic production and continue to damage arable land with numerous toxins, offering low-quality fruits and vegetables on the shelves of various retail chains.
“If a farmer pollutes the land for the next 20 years, it must be painstakingly cleaned to produce anything healthy on it later. Generationally, we are destroying entire areas, entire plantations, and we will have to pay the price at some point. Luckily, we still have a lot of free arable land. I hope that organic producers will occupy this land so that we will not have any problems later,” says Jasmina.
If small businesses can’t benefit from the state, they have the option to seek support from various NGOs. Through one such project with USAID, Jasmina bought a new tractor. However, some manufacturers give up after the first year of operation due to high financial costs.
“Our government system is designed to make small companies pay very high taxes, as they do not have any government relief compared to other larger companies. All companies pay the same taxes, even though it doesn’t make sense. I think it is important to provide better conditions for small companies, to strengthen their foundation so they can build something bigger.”
A multiethnic team of people from 12 families
All fruits and vegetables at Eko Jasmina are harvested by 12 families from different backgrounds, with over 80 people employed through her business.
“We are a multiethnic team. There are Croats and Serbs, and Bosniaks. We all work together in our small eco-family. I was raised in a time without nationalism, and although I am a Muslim, I went to celebrate Christmas and Easter with others, and I welcomed people from other backgrounds to my home for Eid. I wanted to show that we can work together and we can live together, especially in Mostar. The store is open in Center 2 (in the western part of Mostar), but I have never had any problems. Wherever I go, people greet me with open arms,” says Jasmina.
Jasmina also says that there is plenty of space for young people who want to pursue this type of job because there is enough arable land for everyone.
“It wasn’t until I started doing this that I saw how many things we are missing in the country. For example, I can’t sell organic food in plastic bags, so we use paper packaging, and we found only one company in BiH that produces it from recycled material,” explains  Jasmina the need for producers to harmonize organic production with ecological principles.
Despite financial and conceptual support through various projects, she states that she has had several negative experiences with organizations and does not recommend them because, as she says, they take over a large part of co-ownership of businesses and thus the ideas of small producers fail.
She tells young producers that there is are a lot of risks involved, but they need to invest their time and go into it with their heart: “You always have to think long-term and sometimes make sacrifices if you see that this is good for the company in the long run,” says Jasmina.
She always pays attention to what customers ask her, and they always get what they pay for; that is her mantra.
“Our prices may be higher than those at the market, but no one at the market can drag you to the field where your produce was planted; I can do that,” concludes Jasmina.
You can search for Eko Jasmina products on social networks: Instagram – eko.jasmina & Facebook – ekojasmina.

created: October 12th, 2021

author: Kristina Gadže


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Bashka Chocolatier: “We breathe life into every gram of chocolate” | Balkan Diskurs
Mirnes Bakija
October 25th, 2021
Merjem Hamzić is a young entrepreneur who decided to give up her job in the banking sector for one in a chocolate workshop. She and her husband founded “Bashka chocolate,” their own homemade brand. She says that the idea for the shop sprang from a combination of her husband’s love of chocolate and her creativity and imagination.
Everything they do, they do with love. Every chocolate they make, every ribbon they tie, and every message they write is done with love and care and comes from their desire to build a unique brand. Merjem says that women who start a business must believe in themselves and know what they want clearly. There is no room for fear of failure.
This young entrepreneur explains that she has always wanted to start her own business. She and her husband decided to embark on the journey of creating this business without too much pressure or strict timelines.
“Our idea was to create a brand of handmade chocolates that can compete with world-famous brands. We wanted to offer chocolates with the highest quality ingredients available in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In addition to the quality of the chocolate, it was important for us to have a beautiful and sophisticated product design,” explains Merjem.
Merjem says that it is extremely important that get customers to come back again and again. Positive feedback motivates them to continue in this line of work. They are especially pleased when people choose to support local Bosnian brands. They currently produce four types of chocolate: dark, white, milk, and Ruby. Bashka is one of the first companies in BiH to make Ruby chocolate, which is known for its characteristic natural pink color and sweet-and-sour taste.
“We add various flavor enhancers to our chocolates, like nuts, fruits, and coffee. We even use Bosnian ground coffee, which gives the chocolate a distinct aroma. All of our recipes are original, and they are usually guided by our personal tastes,” says the young entrepreneur with a smile.
At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic last year, Bashka faced a standstill in its chocolate production due to supply chain disruptions. However, Merjem says they also saw the crisis as an opportunity for progress. They dedicated more time to researching chocolate and improved their marketing capabilities to introduce people to the Bashka brand. She believes that larger companies experienced a more serious crisis, while small businesses were given the opportunity to show what they offer.
“During that time, we had help from organizations both foreign and domestic organizations that support women’s entrepreneurship. I was actually surprised at the amount of support we received. In this line of work, it is important not only to be a constant in your community but also to stay flexible and make dynamic moves to learn about different incentives and programs that are available for you. We made good use of the time at the beginning of the pandemic to introduce our brand to chocolate lovers. We started using social networks, like Instagram and Facebook, which we didn’t have time for before,” explains the entrepreneur.
Merjem says that she was also involved in a program to help women entrepreneurs organized by the 787 Foundation in cooperation with UN Women, the British Embassy, and the Swedish Embassy. The program included educational programming, such as the basics of marketing, photography, and other important areas for running a business.
Merjem is glad that people’s interest in Bosnia and Herzegovina for local products is slowly growing. She is proud to say that she has always bought domestic products, even before starting her brand.
“We believe in homemade products, and we want to help any domestic brands grow,” says Merjem.
Bashka chocolates can be ordered via their social networks, but they also plan to open a workshop dedicated to chocolate production soon.
“The workshop will be intended for chocolate production and selling our delicatessens. We want to present our product in the right way with partners who share our vision and love for handmade chocolate,” explains the entrepreneur.
When starting a small business, there is no clear system or obvious set of steps to start. Merjem says that when you go to government institutions to ask just one question about starting a new business, countless new questions inevitably pop up that are difficult to answer. She says while some steps are clear, they are often not easily found in one place.
“In government agencies for registering small businesses, the staff usually consists of people who have never personally started a business, and they are therefore not clear about the obstacles you may encounter. However, starting your own business here is not all that difficult and or time-consuming. Depending on how up-to-date you are, it is possible to collect all the documentation you need to start the business in ten days,” explains Merjem.
She believes that young people are generally hardworking, and they benefit from many new skills that previous generations did not have. However, many young women, and men, are afraid to start their own businesses.
“We are generally a society that does not like to take many risks. I believe that we are also very quick to judge others, and we are prone to negativity. We were fortunate to have great support from our community from the very beginning,” says Merjem.
Merjem also wants to create a community of chocolate lovers who know how to enjoy this special treat. She enthusiastically explained to us how to properly eat chocolate: first, break off a cube of chocolate, chocolate cube, then inhale its aroma, and finally place it on your tongue to allow the chocolate to melt on its own. She also aims to educate people about what real quality chocolate is. Every day she tries to learn something new to improve the quality of her brand. Merjem says that in this business, it is extremely important that making chocolate does not become a routine.
“This process is complicated, even when you do it every day because it requires that you heat and cool the chocolate to specific temperatures. Every degree of difference can affect the quality, which is reflected in the chocolate’s appearance through dullness or stains,” explains Merjem.
Merjem and her husband have big plans for the future, but they want to take things slow to maintain the quality of their product. They also want to be socially responsible and keep their environmentally friendly packaging, even as they grow.
To all women who plan to start their own business, Merjem says: “They should be free to start their own small business. If they believe in themselves and to give their whole hearts to what they do, then their success is inevitable,” she says.

created: October 25th, 2021

author: Mirnes Bakija


text:
Women’s entrepreneurship: a step towards gender equality | Balkan Diskurs
Almedina Alihodžić
October 25th, 2021
The three of them show strength, desire, and great business initiative. Erna Šošević, founder and CEO of Bizbook.ba, Samra Bešlija-Ašćerić, Doctor of Dental Medicine, and Ajla Aljić, founder of the Doolzee brand, are successful business owners who stand as a prime example of women’s entrepreneurship in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The company “Bassantis” is the first company in Bosnia and Herzegovina associated with the development of means for maintaining oral hygiene. The company’s first product is the Cawex premium toothbrush, designed by dentist Samra Bešlija-Ašćerić. She says that she and her husband dreamed of producing quality products for maintaining oral hygiene even in their student days.
Bizbook is an interactive digital platform where companies create a business profile, publish offers, and communicate directly with other legal entities to conclude business deals. This platform was designed and conceived by Erna Šošević. She created the platform to help businesses solve their problems. She says that she is constantly brainstorming solutions to these business problems and enjoys the process.
A slightly different business, DoolZee, is a unique brand of handmade women’s nightgowns founded by designer Ajla Aljić. In addition to her successful brand, Ajla says that she is most proud of her “other” job as a mother. She says that she is a positive person, aware of the reality and circumstances in her environment and how difficult it is to reach one’s desired goals. Her first love was design, but soon after, she fell in love with caring for her two children.
The first steps in starting your own business
“The pandemic situation has prompted us to do things now. We have seen how important it is for countries to have their own means of production and not depend on others. We decided to start a company and take the first step of this journey”, says Samra, who considers herself persistent, ambitious, and perfectionist.
On the other hand, Erna points out that business beginnings typically mean dealing with a slew of everyday problems. “I noticed that domestic companies import a lot of products and services from countries in the region because there is no online B2B place where they have an overview of the market and where they can cooperate with other businesses. When I confirmed the utility of my idea, a completely new world of opportunities for personal and professional development opened up to me”, states Erna.
“The first step towards founding a business is a love of design, a love of creation. I generally love all kinds of art. When it comes to my future and what I want to do, given that I am a mother of two, I have decided that my path will be a path where I will be able to be successful both as a mother and as a businesswoman”, Ajla says, explaining her first business steps.
Obstacles as an integral part of business
“Obstacles are an integral part of business. The most important thing is to arm yourself with patience and gradually solve your current problem. It doesn’t always go according to plan, but it’s not a problem once you know your goal. It is important to keep striving for that goal and not to give up,” stated Samra.
Ajla knows firsthand that dreams do not come true overnight. She sees obstacles as integral parts of life: “You have to be focused on every little thing. We all face obstacles in life, and we never know what can happen to us, but mostly when they come, I say: Ok! If it weren’t for this obstacle or temptation, it would be something else, bigger than this.”
“I analyze some obstacles trying to find more ways to solve them; some I solve with my team, and others with my mentors and partners. I consider them development opportunities, and no matter how big or difficult they are, there is always a solution,” explained Erna, who says she is not a person who gives up easily.
Business performance of women-owned businesses
“Based on my experience and the businesswomen I met, I would say that women are very successful in business here. Women are extremely persistent, precise, and dedicated to their work. For women, running a business is often not an obligation but a desire. By supporting women who own businesses, you support their dream,” says Samra, who sees her job as a fulfillment of her student dream.
“Although there are still very few women who start their own businesses, those who do enter the market with their products, start production and offer services with their expertise. According to the indicators we have on Bizbook.ba, most of our clients run their businesses successfully, and 40% show constant growth, even during the pandemic. Even though they only have the basics, women are unstoppable,” pointed out Erna. Ajla agrees and believes women can still go above and beyond expectations, despite juggling multiple roles.
Breaking stereotypes about women in business
Samra says that she has not encountered any misunderstandings in her business and that both genders are amiable and open to helping young entrepreneurs at the beginning of their careers. “When we started with our work, we were surprised at how selflessly men and women help young people like us to achieve their goals.”
Erna says that through the entire development of Bizbook as a BH tech startup, she received support from both men and women. She added that VC investors often advised her to resign from the position of director of her company because, as they said, Bizbook would be more “desirable to invest in.” “Software company Ant Colony d.o.o., owned by three men, was the first to recognize the potential of Bizbook, but also me as its founder, which is why they invested in the development of the first and second versions of the platform,” explains Erna.
Ajla says she doesn’t expect understanding from the opposite gender but adds that what matters is how women actually feel after a hard day. “Even when we’re cooking and when we’re too tired from work, I think one nightgown is a complete hit to make us look and feel graceful even then.”
Entrepreneurship as an opportunity for women’s networking
Although entrepreneurship is a very competitive form of business, examples of cooperation between women in senior positions are numerous. “Women are aware of how difficult it is to be a mother, wife, daughter, and business owner at the same time, so they support each other. They are very friendly, approachable and network more and more with each other through numerous groups, associations, and events that are specifically intended for women’s entrepreneurship”, states Samra.
Erna believes that social and business networks for female entrepreneurs are big motivators, and Ajla agrees: “After finishing my first collection, I had the opportunity to talk to a lot of successful women. I was surprised that the most successful responded positively, supported me, and offered help. And that is something that motivated me to go on,” concluded Ajla.

author: Almedina Alihodžić


text:
When we are aware of our limitations, we get to know our abilities | Balkan Diskurs
Matija Krivošić
November 4th, 2021
Adisa Kišić, works hard every day to show how people with disabilities can be active members of society
“The purpose of the present Convention is to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity.”
This is the first article of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, ratified in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) in 2010. However, social attitudes towards people with disabilities in BiH have largely remained unchanged. It is often inhumane, cruel, and, above all, humiliating.
A New Chapter in Life
Our interlocutor, Adisa Kišić, works hard every day to show how people with disabilities can be active members of society, despite how some circumvent the laws and conventions on humane treatment of those with disabilities. At the age of nineteen – an age when you seem unstoppable and full of energy – she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
“As far as my health was concerned, everything was great. I had no problems at all. I have to say that only those who have experienced this can understand how it really is. You have the impression that your world is falling apart, that everything is over, and that there is absolutely no hope for tomorrow. You only feel indescribable fear. It happened to me in my first year of study, and I felt pretty lost. But, somehow, I found the strength to continue. I didn’t give up, and I graduated,” says Adisa.
Abyss in a Dysfunctional System
After her diagnosis, Adisa immediately faced systematic discrimination. There is no coordinated approach in the entity government to implement the UN Convention enumerated above due to conflicting social policies in BiH. The principles of the convention include respect for dignity, non-discrimination, inclusion, equal opportunity, accessibility, equality of men and women, respect for children with disabilities, and acceptance of persons with disabilities into society. But these principles are not applicable in practice.
“I was quickly introduced to a new world, realizing how much discrimination against “the other” is present in our society. The prevailing prejudices are, of course, primarily systemic problems. All of this made me feel an indescribable fear towards everything I was facing,” says Adisa.
Despite the diagnosis, which was difficult to deal with initially, Adisa got her degree in Bosnian language and literature. After taking odd jobs like selling cakes or making decorative items, and many unsuccessful attempts to find a job in her profession, she finally found work as a Public Relations Officer at the Information Center for Persons with Disabilities “Lotos” Tuzla.
“It is completely normal that people with disabilities or other similar problems do not participate in social activities precisely because of their fear of the unknown. That was the case with me. After that kind of ‘isolation,’ I set off in search of a job. Trying to find work in my field was nearly impossible, given the already high unemployment rate in our country, in addition to being a person with a disability. I have heard various similar stories. Even the “healthiest” don’t have a chance to find a job, so what hope do I have? I wanted to run away from everything, but that is impossible, of course,” says Adisa.
No support or very little support from society
The opportunity to meet people in a similar situation to Adisa has helped her a lot. When she arrived at the “Lotos” Center, Adisa says she saw the world in a better light, which she certainly appreciates. However, she also learned how nonsensical the Law on Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment of Persons with Disabilities is. One such illogicality is that only one person with a disability is hired per 16 public sector employees   which is still incredibly low, and even that is not applied in practice.
“People with disabilities often only get the opportunity to work at associations or organizations for people with disabilities. I saw the system hinder many capable and hard-working young people with disabilities from reaching their fullest potential. I think that it would be very helpful to repeal that article of the Law to create more employment opportunities for people with disabilities, instead of discriminating against them in that way,” Adisa says.
Women – the targets of violence
At the beginning of the pandemic, Adisa was the Peer Support group leader for women with disabilities from the Tuzla Canton. The lockdowns in response to the COVID-19 crisis did not change life so drastically for people with disabilities. In Bosnian society, people with disabilities, particularly women, felt “locked down” before the pandemic even began. They are often reliant on others to complete daily tasks outside the house and can’t leave home freely. Discrimination and violence against women are also unfortunately common.
“First of all, it is simply not easy to be a woman here, let alone have a disability. We always carry a heavy burden. We do not have much support and accessing nearly everything is difficult. In most cases, we are dependent on our families. Unfortunately, family members and spouses are also the most frequent perpetrators of violence against people with disabilities, especially women. A woman with a disability is often financially dependent, and she usually can’t even leave the house alone. Often, she is made to stay at home and take care of the family. I have also noticed that women with disabilities are often seen as unsuitable for creating their own families and having a typical married life because they are considered to be incompetent wives or mothers,” says Adisa.
Adisa also believes that society has an obligation towards people with disabilities; the state must respect legislation that has been passed to protect their rights. But these laws are not respected. If all the articles of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities were implemented, we would not be in the situation we are today.
“We never know what may happen tomorrow. We should not despair, and we must not give up. It was only after many years, twenty-one to be precise, that I realized what a burden it was,” concludes Adisa.
Disability issues are basic human rights issues. Unfortunately, human rights today do not guarantee dignity, fulfillment, and, above all, a sense of belonging – something that was once their purpose.
Instead, human rights have become a luxury that not all can afford.

created: November 4th, 2021

author: Matija Krivošić


text:
Invisible Scars of Violence | Balkan Diskurs
Amina Sejfić
November 5th, 2021
Due to the deep-rooted patriarchal structure of society in Bosnia and Herzegovina, domestic violence is often perceived as a corrective measure of the strong over the weak, which must not go beyond the four wall boundaries of the home.
As society shut its eyes to this increasingly pronounced problem, silence screams behind the closed doors, leaving victims to fight the perpetrators on their own.
Gender-based violence in public discourse has a recognizable form – bruises, bloody wounds, cut lips, tousled hair, broken bones, deep stares, downcast eyes. But some bruises are not visible; they are wounds that only one person knows, a look disguised in normal life.
Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) has become highly tolerant of almost all forms of violence, so gender-based violence has also become an everyday part of our society. Disturbing headlines in the Bosnian media that speak of horrific examples of violence against women, often with a fatal outcome, testify to the brutality of the human mind, cowardice, and the passivity of the system. Reports by non-governmental organizations, such as the OSCE, USAID, and the UN, which provide data on occurrences of gender-based violence, are also frequent.
Although there is a somewhat satisfactory legal framework for prosecuting gender-based violence in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in practice, things are not moving in the right direction. Inadequate protection, mistrust in the work of competent institutions, lack of a unified system for collecting data on victims of gender-based violence, and non-acceptance and non-reporting of violence often takes victims on a journey with no return.
Economic and psychological gender-based violence is a problem of both sexes
The four most well-known types of violence that constitute gender-based violence are physical, psychological, sexual, and economic violence. Economic and psychological violence, which are relatively recently recognized categories of violence, have long been neglected and are often overshadowed by physical and sexual violence since they are the most visible.
Violence is much less visible in the form of full or partial control of money, prohibition of work, sabotage of attempts to find or keep a job, and verbal diminution of a woman’s value.
Nura * (53) says that her life with her parents was extremely difficult and that they married her off when she was less than 18 years old. That’s when her nightmare began.
“When I got married, he immediately told me that the woman’s place is in the house. I took care of both him and his parents, but he was too stingy to give me one Bosnian mark. He also used to hit me, but the real chaos started after his parents’ deaths. I was never good enough for him after their death. He blamed me for everything, and the beatings and humiliation became more frequent,” says Nura.
Nura is not alone in her story. Many young girls and women share her fate. Ajla Aljić (24) is one of them.
“I first experienced violence after I got married at 20. My husband was the one to do it, but at the beginning, I was not aware what was happening,” says Aljić, emphasizing that she believed that things would change, but they only got worse over time.
“If he failed to confront me with words, he would resort to physical harassment,” she said.
According to an OSCE study published in 2019, psychological violence appears to be the most widespread form of violence against women – out of approximately 640,000 women who participated in the research, as many as 36% were victims of psychological violence, and 12% of them were victims of economic violence.
The incidence of these two forms of violence is higher among women living in economically poorer households, among women who approve of patriarchal attitudes, and among women whose partners have problems with alcohol and drug consumption.
The traditional role of women
“According to research, violence in BiH is based on physical, economic, psychological, and sexual violence, but the nature of such research is very complex. The most common type is economic violence, which is agens movens, circulusa viciosusa of male domestic violence. When a man cannot fulfill his role as the breadwinner of the family, he takes out his frustrations through domestic violence,” explains Lejla Mušić, professor at the Faculty of Political Sciences, University of Sarajevo.
Psychological and economic violence are punishable forms of violence, according to the law in Bosnia and Herzegovina. They are also recognized as punishable forms of violence by many international treaties ratified by the state. But these two types of violence are not often recognized by the public due to the patriarchal structure of society, which implies that it is the man who controls the money and supports the family. Although women’s status in BiH today is more favorable than in the recent past, it is still not satisfactory.
“Women face various challenges in all spheres of society, and they still have traditional roles, particularly in rural areas, where they are often exposed to multiple forms of domestic violence,” says Sanja Sahačić, a psychologist and coordinator of the Safe House in Sarajevo.
“He forbade me to see my relatives. I only saw my parents if he let me. Everything he would earn, he would spend on alcohol, and I was expected to put lunch on the table every day,” says Nura, adding that she had no way out because her husband’s violence was “her shame.”
When she decided to turn her back on the life she had lived for four years with her two children (her two-year-old daughter and one-month-old baby), Ajla had no permanent job, no apartment, and no car. But she had to do it for her children.
“I began to enslave myself and turn into someone I am not. He made me a very depressed person, and I let him do that. I decided it was too much for the kids. I didn’t want them to grow up thinking that this was normal,” says Aljić, emphasizing that we owe our children a beautiful life with love, education, and security.
“Your children are not safe if you are not safe – if they watch their father abuse you.”
Silence is not golden
Centuries of a mentality molded around the fear of the unknown have pushed gender-based violence under the rug. This mentality stems from several factors: lack of quality education for both men and women, insufficient information, disinterest in the growing number of victims of psychological and economic violence, an inadequate response to these problems in the media, victims’ passivity, indoctrination of patriarchy and toxic masculinity, and feminization of poverty and the image of women as inferiors.
Sahačić emphasizes the media’s critical role in responding to this problem because “women should be encouraged to report violence, and citizens should remain sensitized to gender-based violence.”
Women victims of violence often suffer from feelings of insecurity, guilt, fear, and feelings of loss – they also crucially lack information about whom they can ask for help. Violence against women is often declared as a “woman’s problem,” both due to inadequate media coverage and the systematic failure of the state’s response.
Ajla Aljić points out that she reported her husband to the police, but they were “cold and disinterested.”
It is imperative to remove stereotypes that negatively affect the perception of gender-based violence from the public discourse.
Vulnerability in the labor market increases vulnerability in partnerships
Economic and psychological violence are based on the control of another person. Fully or partially controlling someone’s finances is economic violence. Due to the victims’ economic dependence on the perpetrator, they cannot easily get out of the relationship, especially if they have no one else to turn to. Economic violence is often accompanied by manipulation, verbal insults, blackmail, and threats, usually leaving victims without support. Vulnerability in the labor market also increases this vulnerability in partnerships.
The Safe House (Shelter) in Sarajevo, which has housed 2,138 beneficiaries since its establishment (771 women, 1,013 children, and 354 girls), carries out various economic activities to empower women.
“Economic independence and financial stability are key in the process of women’s independence when they decide to get out of a violent environment. Through various projects [of the Foundation of Local Democracy], we strive for women to receive economic support by creating opportunities for the development of entrepreneurial ideas to include women in a competitive labor market,” says Sahačić, emphasizing that reducing the inequality of women and men in the labor market necessarily contributes to women’s empowerment.
The Center for Women of the Foundation of Local Democracy provides training for women to help them develop entrepreneurial ideas, and women there are often financially supported.
Considering all the disadvantages of the labor market towards a woman – the inability to find a job because a woman is a woman, overtime, underpaid work, non-affirmative perception of society about women – it is understandable that no form of violence exists should remain private.
According to Professor Mušić, the non-affirmative image of women is present in public discourse and diminishes the women’s value to their physical beauty: “In political campaigns, women are usually subjected to negative reviews of their physical appearance or style which is a complex problem, and also an obstacle to the women’s advancement in politics,” Mušić says, adding that patriarchy succeeds when only a few women are in power.
Sometimes it is difficult to recognize the signs of economic and psychological violence. Sometimes it is difficult to take that first step towards a new life because there is a fear that no one will offer a helping hand. Sometimes, it is easier to embrace the demons of the past and let them walk through the forest of “beautiful” memories. But losing yourself is the most dangerous thing, and no woman deserves to stay in the dark because the impossible becomes possible if the desire is strong enough.

created: November 5th, 2021

author: Amina Sejfić


text:
How new generations are reinventing antifascism in Bosnia and Herzegovina today | Balkan Diskurs
Aurora Pinelli
November 9th, 2021
76 years after the struggle between Yugoslav partisans and Nazi Germany, new generations in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) are reinventing the concepts of fascism and antifascism in light of contemporary issues.
Antifascism is usually defined as what it is not, or rather, in terms of the ideology it has tried to fight. Appearing first in Italy in the mid-1920s, strong opponents to the regime instituted by Benito Mussolini coined it to express their disagreement with an ideology soaked in nationalism, discrimination, hierarchy, militarism, and authoritarianism – the ideology whose violent and anti-egalitarian nature would cause the worst conflict of the 20th century.
As Nazi racial theories and fascist ideologies spread throughout Europe, they influenced the Croatian Ustashas and Serbian Chetnik ideologies in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. This resulted in systematic and extensive cooperation with the Nazis in their terror campaigns in Yugoslavia and exacerbated ethnic divisions and antagonisms. In Yugoslavia, the antifascist struggle was purported by the Communist Party of Yugoslavia (KPJ), led by Josip Broz Tito, mainly against Chetniks, Ustashas, Nazis, and other fascists. It gave birth to the armed resistance movement composed of the well-known Yugoslav partisans.
Thus, in a way, fascist ideologies have allowed antifascism to exist in the first place. In highly militarized societies, sides are defined by the war, life means survival, and the fight for the right to have rights. In these contexts, recognizing the manifestation of fascism and antifascism is easier and more straightforward.
Today things have changed. How can we truly recognize manifestations of fascism and antifascism in societies that are free from direct physical conflict, where the definition of the “other side” is becoming progressively blurrier and more sophisticated to grasp?
Now in BiH new generations of activists are engaged in fighting different forms of fascism and renew antifascism accordingly. They are working to reinvent concepts that seem too intertwined with a controversial past and have lost their meanings.
Their strategy? Understanding the values of antifascism and the worrying features of fascism in light of contemporary issues, keeping an eye on progress and social welfare. The inspiring youth that I have interviewed come from various organizations and initiatives from across BiH, including Omladinski Pokret Revolt (Tuzla), Ostra Nula (Banjaluka), Bh. Povorka ponosa (the organizing committee of the pride march of BiH), Antifa 2.0, Citizen Against Terrorism (CAT), and Partyzan Clothing.
New Manifestations of Fascism in BiH
Today fascism is manifested in BiH through nationalist and divisive narratives about the 1992-1995 war. This includes hate speech, human rights violations, and historical revisionism. The latter is defined as the reinterpretation of historically-established facts, such as the denial of the Srebrenica Genocide, the glorification of war criminals, and the spread of narratives describing Chetniks and Ustashas as antifascists rather than Nazi co-operators. As mentioned by the president of Ostra Nula, Milica Pralica, these revisionist dynamics are more worrying in Republika Srpska, where generations of kids and university students are told false narratives about their 1992-1995 past and the role of the Chetniks in the Second World War.
When asked about what fascism is today, all the interviewees surprisingly agreed with each other and had the same definition. According to them, antifascism is the stigmatization and discrimination of minority groups and the violation of their human rights just for the sake of their alleged difference. They advocate for a non-nationalized version of this perspective, believing that the focus should not be on only Serbs, Croats and Bosniaks, but also on the rights of migrants, LGBTIQ+, Romani people, people with disabilities, women, and other marginalized identities.
“We just speak about the rights of Serbs, Bosniaks and Croats and we pretend that they are the only ones deserving rights and for me this is fascism,” says Pralica.
As the executive director of Antifa 2.0, Irena Petrovic discusses how the organization was moved by worrying anti-democratic and intolerant developments in BiH, which are contributing to young people sympathizing with totalitarian, anti-democratic political solutions. The public’s reluctance towards the concept of antifascism resides in its view of communism and Tito’s regime.
“So, the problem is here: many people, especially in BiH, have very negative feelings towards communism because of its repression of freedom of religion and its neglecting of nationalities and national identities,” Petrovic explains while sipping her orange juice. She emphasizes that the only way to work with new generations that were born during or after the 1992-1995 war is to pressure institutions to foster transitional justice, something which is currently lacking.
These young activists share their experiences of waking up in the morning and being overwhelmed by fascist and nationalist symbolism, hate speech, and propaganda from all three sides, whether in the streets on stickers and t-shirts or on social media. This rhetoric includes references to Ustasha, Chetiks, and the Bosnian Army and the glorification of “great nations.”
Nationalism can easily contribute to other forms of extremism. Starting from 2012, BiH has been seen as a spot of jihadist activism and recruitment for the IS and Al-Nusra Front, which resulted in the departure of Bosnian citizens to Syria and Iraq. This also happened in 2016 when the war in Ukraine broke out. Bosnian citizens left to fight for both the Russian and Ukrainian sides.
Slobodan Blagovčanin from CAT comments on this, “we realized that our environment is very radicalized.” He continues, “we decided to found CAT in 2017, while many of our peers were leaving BiH to fight for Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) or to combat on the side of Ukraine or Russia…Muslims would go to battlefields in Syria and Iraq, Serbian Orthodox would join Russian forces, and Croatian Catholics would fight on the side of Ukraine. All three entities from BiH would go somewhere else to fight for someone else’s goals.”
Young artists, members of these associations, and other youth initiatives came up with the idea of reviving antifascism and freeing it from its historically negative connotation. A modern interpretation antifascism is emerging.
Approach to History and War Crimes
Antifa 2.0 developed an educational exhibition that, through videos, pictures, and interactive spaces, fosters the public’s understanding of the historical roots of fascism and Nazism, as well as its connection to modern forms of fascism. Antifascism is emancipated from its belligerent, communist legacy, as neither the Second World War nor the 1992-1995 war is directly tackled. In this way, existing divisions and the reluctance to discuss the topic are overcome, and the real meaning of antifascism can emerge. Furthermore, this demilitarization of antifascism conveys the idea that antifascism is not only the fight for “your own side’s rights,” but for everyone’s rights.
“New generations need to understand what antifascism means in the first place, the human values that it purports. We want to give them the tools to recognize modern forms of fascism and make them embrace its fight. We want them to understand that the values of antifascism do not exclude all other human rights,” explains Petrovic.
This strategy has proved successful.
The emancipation of the concept from the wars’ legacies has allowed the team behind Antifa 2.0 to be in direct contact with the Ministries of Education of Republika Srpska and with the 10 cantons of the Federation. In this way, they succeeded in expanding their reach and acquiring a public space for the exhibition in the often-impenetrable Banja Luka, the capital of Republika Srpska. High Schoolers from Sarajevo, Mostar, Pale, Banja Luka and East Sarajevo attended the exhibition. This is a true accomplishment as history is now interpreted very differently in these cities.
Similarly, members of CAT developed their own approach to past events that they did not experience, as they were born during or after the 1992-1995 war. Young people from Bijeljina, Brcko Distrikt, Gradačac, Tuzla, Mostar, Prijedor, Zvornik, Vitez and Zivinice came together to free a new generation from a sense of guilt related to their ethnicity. Through their 20 million reaches on social media, they act to prevent youth radicalization, to make diversity flourish, and to fight the political instrumentalization of the recent war. Their compass is the legal verdicts and the Dayton agreement.
“I don’t want a young person to feel guilty about an event that happened before he/she was born, but rather to accept that there were people who committed crimes…speaking about Srebrenica, we don’t feel like we still have to prove to anyone that genocide happened, we have the Hague tribunal for that – we are young activists who want more in BiH for us, more opportunities. I really hope that a recently passed law against genocide denial will finally stop all these rhetorics and narratives – we (the youth) cannot live our lives focusing on these past issues when facts were established,” says Blagovčanin, with a voice full of intensity and pragmatism.
The Inclusion of Queer Perspective in Antifascism
If antifascism means to revolt against all forms of oppression, discrimination, violence, and injustice, then queer people and perspectives should be included in this fight. Antifascism is one of the first values purported by the Pride March of BiH organized by BiH. Povorka Ponosa that took place in Sarajevo on the 14th of August.
“During former Yugoslavia, homosexuality was a crime, it was punishable by law, and it was important for us to emphasize that antifascism is also the guarantee of human rights for everyone, including the human rights of the LGBTIQ+,” explains Zagorac from the organizing committee.
It’s not a coincidence that in May this year the strength and originality of their perspective brought the Organizing Committee of the BiH Pride Parade together with the Youth Center KVART from Prijedor to win a grant delivered by the Peacebuilding Network. Their artistic-activist action, “Antifascism is our choice,” happened on May 9, Victory over Fascism Day and Europe Day. It consisted of street actions and online campaigns merging the anti-fascist struggle and LGBTIQ+ rights and symbols. This campaign happened simultaneously in Banja Luka, Tuzla, Zenica, Prijedor and Sarajevo.
“We believe these campaigns were a success in all cities. People were happy to come to talk to us in the street and know more about the connection between LGBTIQ+ and human rights and antifascism…I want to highlight that we are activists in several fields; for us, any violation of human rights and inequality is part of the antifascist struggle. We want to empower people to comprehend new forms of fascism because the fight is not over,” Zagorac explains over her cappuccino.
New Means to Promote New Generations’ Engagement
“I believe that the environment and natural resources will be the new fight that will unite people beyond their ethnicities, as people from all over BiH and the Balkans are already fighting for their rivers and waters,” says Pralica from Ostra Nula (Banja Luka).
This helps us reflect on the way that people can come together and support each other for the sake of a collective good. However, people’s engagement can only be effective if a common sense of belonging is built. This reflection has pushed Selver Učanbarlić to found Partyzan Clothing, a brand that renews antifascist symbolism and makes people visually connected to the same values.
“I realized that nationalist and fascist propaganda used symbolism to create a feeling of community. That is why I decided to create a brand that could counter nationalism using the same visual strategy and making antifascism be fashion again! The old symbols of antifascism cannot fit our present society anymore. That is why they needed to be renewed…my designs are a mixture of pop culture (because it is popular, and people understand it) with an antifascist touch,” explains Učanbarlić with enthusiasm.
Fascism in Europe and BiH is changing forms and is harder to recognize and fight. However, new generations from all over BiH are rising to the challenge, adapting, and reviving antifascist values according to modern trends, social issues, and necessities. Past, present, and future are combined through youth initiatives. They are overcoming the public’s fear of diversity and embracing human solidarity by creating new artistic symbols, street and online campaigns, workshops, and opportunities to gather and have exchanges.
Their engagement and determination should be an inspiration for all those who believe in a better future for BiH.

created: November 9th, 2021

author: Aurora Pinelli


text:
Bellen Cosmetics: Good Organization is the Key to Success | Balkan Diskurs
Kristina Gadže
November 10th, 2021
Natural cosmetics are becoming more popular with consumers, especially those who prefer natural and creative products instead of products with good advertising. But, starting a small business of your own is not easy, especially if you are also a student.
Amila Muratović from Živinice has successfully tackled this challenge – she has started Bellen Cosmetics, a brand of handmade cosmetics using natural waxes, vegetable oil, and essential oils. On their website, you can find mirrors, teas, and serums, among other things – everything you need for beautiful skin.
Own experience as inspiration for starting a small business
Amila says that cosmetics have been her passion since childhood.
“During puberty, I began to have problematic skin. After more research, I discovered that the main culprit was my makeup. The products I used contained silicones, parabens, formaldehyde, heavy metals, and even flame retardants. Who would want to use that every day on their face?” says Amila Muratović, who got the idea to make cosmetics for herself after learning this.
As she points out, she wanted to create natural, cruelty-free cosmetics without ingredients that are not harmful to both people and the environment. The name of the brand, as she says, came about quite by accident.
“At the time when the brand itself was being created, my sister and I were watching a movie. The lead actress’s name was Belén, we looked at each other, and our thoughts coincided. The name Bellen seemed to be the perfect name for a cosmetics brand. The word bella in Italian means something beautiful, so that’s another reason.”
According to Muratović, the difference between Bellen cosmetics and other products is its composition and other defining characteristics.
“Bellen does not test its cosmetics on animals and does not use parabens, formaldehyde, silicones, or heavy metals. Instead, Bellen uses raw materials from certified organic farmers. We also try to listen to the requests and opinions of our clients. The packaging for storing cosmetics is mostly glass or paper and is safe for the environment,” says Amila Muratović, adding that Bellen cosmetics are intended for women seeking quality skincare.
Teamwork is the secret of success
Beauty standards are not going anywhere, especially due to the influence of social media. What Amila Muratović tells her clients is that they should love and appreciate themselves as they are.
“Beautiful skin is healthy skin, and we need to respect that. A woman’s face with makeup is beautiful, but a clean face without makeup is a luxury. Therefore, I consider cosmetics much more important than the makeup we use every day. I also want to mention that social media is not the true measure of beauty – we should not believe everything we see,” she adds.
In addition to starting a small business, Amila is studying at the Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Tuzla. She is successfully adjusting to her new obligations thanks to her team.
“Together, we help each other to manage all of our responsibilities. Sometimes it is hard for us, but when we work together in harmony as a team, everything is much easier. Without exaggerating, the whole team radiates some kind of special energy. I think that good organization is our key to success,” says Muratović.
To produce Bellen cosmetics, Amila uses luxury ingredients with specific effects.
“Bellen cosmetics are handmade from natural waxes, vegetable oil, and essential oils. We listen to our clients and make changes in the composition on request. If a client is allergic to a certain ingredient, we usually replace it with something which agrees with their skin type,” says Muratović.
The uniqueness of the ingredients as a perfect natural recipe
“Our production is like a small kingdom of pure oils and waxes. Every day, we strive to improve our recipes with more and more modern equipment. To create a product, we must first develop an innovative recipe. Then, we must analyze what the composition of the product should be. We must be safe, meticulous, and very careful when making it. While the mixture for the products is being prepared, we disinfect the packaging. When the mixture is ready, we slowly transfer it to the filler, and then we begin the careful packaging of our products,” says Amila Muratović about their production process.
She adjusts the price to the market conditions, and for each product, she makes calculations based on the material the time spent working on the product. However, the Bosnian market is very uncertain for small producers, and competition is increasing.
“In general, it is a great challenge to develop a brand in the world of high-quality natural cosmetics. I am aware of this, and so I always choose originality and creativity. I try to give Bellen cosmetics have an authentic look, quality composition, and nice feedback. I am glad that customers recognized the benefits of these cosmetics and remained faithful to it,” says Muratović, whose products have not yet found a place in the retail chain, though this process is in the works to make it easier for customers to purchase their products.
Amila’s brand proves that the world of production and trade in BiH is not only reserved for men, which is an encouragement for all future female entrepreneurs who want to start their own small businesses.
“Start as soon as possible! Learn, explore, create. The younger you are, the better because you have more time for ups and downs. That way, you gain experience. Don’t listen to others; listen to yourself. Be supportive of yourself. Long-term experience will open many doors for you,” advises Amila Muratović.
She plans to expand Bellen Cosmetics in the future, but she does not want to reveal her big plans yet, wanting to keep them a sweet surprise.
“Also, in the coming period, I would like to dedicate myself to developing formulations for new products. Every day is a new beginning for me, and I think we should make good use of what life has to offer,” she concludes.
You can find Bellen Cosmetics products on their website, and also on Facebook and Instagram.

created: November 10th, 2021


text:
Anything is possible with the right support | Balkan Diskurs
Marijana Vukmirica
November 18th, 2021
The Down Syndrome Center from Banja Luka is the only social welfare institution in Bosnia and Herzegovina building capacity for people with Down Syndrome through its social rehabilitation program.
Since 2005, the Down Syndrome Center has functioned as a citizens’ association, but the center received the “social welfare institution” status in September of last year.
In addition to the headquarters in Banja Luka, two local community centers have also been opened: one in Banja Vrućica and one in Jahorina. The center in Banja Vrućica has a greenhouse, an orchard, and an apiary. In Jahorina, an orchard has also been planted, and they are even planning to produce essential oils.
“When I started the social rehabilitation program in 2015, I thought I would be able to help change the lives of those in our community with Down Syndrome, but instead, they changed me. I have actually think I have learned more from them than they have from me. They are so undeniably altruistic because when they choose to help someone, they do not ask for or expect anything in return,” explains Zoran Jelić, director of the Down Syndrome Center.
Zoran Jelić used to be a civil engineer, but now, he is a psychotherapist and reflexologist through training he received abroad. He works with his patients at the center every day, including playing the guitar for them. His wife, Zdravka Jelić, an architect by profession, is also involved in the center’s work as the head of art therapy there.
Zoran Jelić founded the center to help his own son, Lazar, who was born with Down syndrome. He knew that many people with Down syndrome are left to themselves after they turn 19 and stop attending educational institutions, and he wanted to do something to change that.
“[People with Down syndrome] become invisible to experts and others in their wider community. Many of them fall into a state of apathy which can lead to severe depression. That is why I started this center: to give people with Down syndrome the right to a dignified life, a right which is so often taken away from them,” he says.
Methods following those in the European Union
Jelić says that the social rehabilitation model that the Down Syndrome Center implements is similar to the model implemented in the European Union. This rehabilitation program, called “PAIN,” helps give people with Down syndrome the right to self-determination and supports their identity and integrity.
This social rehabilitation model includes group and individual psychotherapy, art, drama, music, dance, sports therapy, and independence and work training programs. They cooperated with several cafes in Banja Luka in previous years, where the wards worked as waiters. They also got their residents jobs with the Banja Vrućica Health and Tourist Center and the Karidial Hotel until the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.
In July, the Down Syndrome Center opened a community center in Jahorina, in partnership with the Jahorina Olympic Center and the Vučko Hotel. There, the wards will have the opportunity to train for several jobs, like waiters, cooks, maids, and laundry workers.
“We focus on what they can do, so we can work on their self-confidence and help them reach full their potential. We also work to break down prejudices and fight discrimination and stigmatization because from the moment they are born, they usually only hear what they can’t do, or how they won’t be able to be useful members of society,” says Jelić.
Centers like this one are important, says Slađana Popović, a master psychologist and psychotherapist under supervision.
“Through the center’s activities, people with Down syndrome are empowered and become competent in several different tasks, which significantly contribute to their socialization. We hope to send the message that people with Down syndrome can and should be active members of their community,” she says.
She emphasizes that prejudices and stigmatization towards people who are different are still present in society.
“Unfortunately, we see that people with Down syndrome, and anyone with developmental disorders or physical disability, tend to be degraded and marginalized by our society. People often make many incorrect assumptions about people with Down syndrome, either out of ignorance, misinformation, or fear,” says Popović.
“The center’s work is a good example because it helps integrate people with Down syndrome into the community, while also raising public awareness of their ability and potential and breaking down stereotypes,” she explains.
Breaking down prejudices
In September 2019, the wards from the Down Syndrome Center premiered the play “Little Prince,” the first play in BiH performed by people with Down Syndrome. In June this year, the center also premiered the documentary, “Some New Broadway,” presenting the lives of the residents on screen.
In May this year, the residents also won first place at the International Gastronomic Festival in Moscow. They were the only team made up of people with disabilities. All of their activities help the residents break down societal stereotypes of people with Down syndrome.
The therapy that the center provides helps the residents discover their potential. One of the wards of the Down Syndrome Center from Banja Luka is 28-year-old Sandra Radinković. She says she loves all the activities she does at the center.
“I like to do everything – paint, cook, wash, pick herbs. I do it all out of love. We are a team, and we do everything together. There is no lying or fooling around. We are a family,” says Sandra with a smile.
Sandra adds that the center means a lot to her, that she has made many friends there. She also says it helps them to become smart, hardworking, honest, and good people.
Her future dreams focus on employment and her independence: “I want to work, to be a cook. I like to cook everything, and I can do it well,” says Sandra.
Like Sandra, Aleksandra Lakić, a twenty-five-year-old ward, also values what the center has done for her.
“This means everything for me – to be active and to do what I love. I love the people surrounding me: my friends, Zoran and Zdravko. If it weren’t for this center, I don’t know what would happen to me or all of us. I don’t know what I would do. My life would be much harder,” she says.
She says that in the future, she sees herself working and playing sports.
“I have plans in sports. I like to play football and basketball because I can show my hard work through those sports. I want to go through the center’s training to become a waitress and a cook so that I can show my hard work through those, too,” she adds.
A shift in the formal education system
Zoran Jelić points out that the Down Syndrome Center has also contributed to a significant shift in formal education regarding people with Down Syndrome. At the beginning of June this year, the Medical Faculty of the University of Foča signed an agreement to send their students for special education to train for several days at the community center in Jahorina.
The center has also partnered with the Medical Faculty of the University of Banja Luka. Medical students will learn about the social rehabilitation program for people with Down syndrome during their fifth year of study.
Although the Down Syndrome Center officially became a social welfare institution in September 2020, they still do not have financial support.
The center is currently financed through donations from businesses and private citizens, as well as from Jelić’s family’s resources. The center also gets some money through their agriculture projects, including the sale of the herbal and honey preparations, which they produce at the community center in Banja Vrućica. However, Jelić points out that the Down Syndrome Center’s financial and human resource challenges are not the biggest that they face.
“The biggest challenge is the attitudes of the parents of people with Down syndrome. The parents are often not aware not only of their children’s needs and but also of their potential. This is due to insufficient information provided by the medical community, and this must change. We must demonstrate positive examples of what people with Down syndrome can do – and they can do a lot,” Jelić concluded.

created: November 18th, 2021

author: Marijana Vukmirica


text:
Dayton’s Legacy: Female Political Participation | Balkan Diskurs
Mia Forton
November 19th, 2021
The marginalization of women in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) is apparent when looking at the political culture of the state. Women suffer systematic barriers that keep them out of both partisan politics and civil society.
The extent to which this marginalization can be explained by the absence of women from the Dayton peace process is the focus of this piece, which includes testimony by academic Aida Hozić and lawyer and activist Azra Berbić.
In December 1995 the Dayton Agreement was signed, resulting in formal peace between Croats, Serbs, and Bosniaks in BiH. Almost no women were involved in the negotiation process, except those in administrative roles. Academic Aida Hozić called Dayton “a series of locker room stories,” commenting, “I could simply not believe the absence of women was so obvious in the way that the agreement was negotiated.”
Dayton centered peace only on issues of ethnicity and territory, despite the prevalence of wartime sexual violence (WSV) against women during the conflict. Contemporary discourse at the time rightly focused on the widespread and systematic use of rape. However, the impact and implications of WSV on women, as well as underlying gender issues in the conflict, were not considered central to the peace process, despite how vital coverage of these issues was to stopping the war. Women’s bodies thus became a space for politics and a tool of intervention to prevent WSV. As Hozić says, “this is all really about using women and instrumentalizing women for the purpose of a very militarized international system that we live in.”
Thus, the opportunity to counter female instrumentalization and passivity in political processes was undermined at the first instance of peacetime in BiH. In today’s BiH, women’s political participation in both mainstream partisan politics and civil society are marred by patriarchy and difficult socioeconomic circumstances, preventing women from participating like their male counterparts. As lawyer and activist Azra Berbić observes, “Dayton showed the direction of politics, and 26 years later we are still living in it.”
In partisan politics, the number of participating women is significantly lower than the 40% required by BiH’s Gender Equality Law (GEL). A recent report revealed that in the November 2020 elections, less than 20% of elected candidates were women. It forecasted that compliance with GEL minimum standards could take an additional 42 years. Further, there are issues surrounding the treatment of women in office. Women remain marginalized in major discussions, gender pay gaps remain, and frequent sexist behavior has been documented.
Berbić points out that “women in politics [just] fulfill the quota.” She spoke of being solicited to fill the regional quota list, and how this made her feel that her thoughts and experiences were being ignored for the sake of expediency. Hozić agrees, saying that “those women who make their way through have to be either hyper nationalist and masculine or they have to be a professional woman…but overall, a much-abused space for genuine participation of women in political processes.” In other words, women in BiH must fit a certain profile in order to be successful, and even when in positions of representation, women who are genuine about making a difference are muted and pushed out.
These patriarchal attitudes and behaviors have led to many female change-markers finding positions in civil society instead. However, even within this field, women are undervalued. “[There is a] circumscription in the way in which women can enter politics as opposed to perhaps unruly activism and participation,” Hozić explains.
Therefore, BiH is at an interesting point in its trajectory for female participation. As Hozić says, “We have two processes that have been going on kind of in parallel. On the one hand, the story about female empowerment and bringing women into the economy [and political space] … and then, on the other hand, simultaneously, actually a suppression of women. So, you have this kind of formal increase of rights whilst simultaneously, you have suppression.” This is compounded further in the socio-political context of BiH, where high domestic violence rates and reparation rights for WSV survivors are still at the forefront of female issues.
Women’s participation goes beyond representation in institutions in BiH. Both Hozić and Berbić emphasize that patriarchal norms and values about women’s roles limit the time, space, and energy of women to participate. As Berbić summarises, “[In BiH, there exist the] burden to be the perfect wife and mother, to have a perfectly cleaned house, to always have prepared lunch…it’s just expected from women to get married…and of course, they just don’t have time to think about themselves or [how to build] their careers.” Hozić adds, “I know that women [after the war]…were more likely to get jobs…[women] often ended up as breadwinners…which really means that they were then not able to participate in the political life of Bosnia itself…I think that that precisely the reason why they’re not visible…they really carry the burden of society.”
This affects how women in BiH perceive themselves. Often, they do not involve themselves in politics because they do not know they can. Berbić comments on the absolute necessity of education in breaking intergenerational, internalized patriarchy: “a huge issue is the fact that we are not educated and [do not] feel like powerful individuals…[they] are not educated and aware of [their] positions in this society.” This is particularly pronounced in rural areas of BiH.  Thus, internalized patriarchy leaves women uneducated, unempowered, and with diminished perceptions of their own abilities. Berbić continues, “we are not questioning ourselves, and what is it that we are doing wrong…we are letting this to happen. So, I believe the main issue is that we are willingly participating in it.”
Women’s participation and representation in politics in BiH must be addressed. However, it is equally necessary to be critical of the emphasis placed on women in discussions of political involvement. Hozić explains that “it is [not] about women; women are very absent in these processes, and this is an excellent illustration of the absence of everybody…the focus on women makes sense because I think it draws attention to these glaring absences of others.”  In other words, it is important to consider whether our focus on women in discussions about healthy democracy is further instrumentalizing women and other marginalized identities.

created: November 19th, 2021

author: Mia Forton


text:
Barista Slađana Palikuća: A Woman’s Strength is Often Underestimated | Balkan Diskurs
Mirnes Bakija
November 23rd, 2021
Young entrepreneur Slađana Palikuća tears down prejudices about being a barista, which is often thought to be a man’s job.
She started down this career path during high school, and today she is the proud owner of the Piccola Café in Banja Luka. The coffee is served with different motifs drawn in the foam in this charming shop to make guests feel welcomed while drinking their favorite beverage. Slađana stresses that women must work twice as hard to survive in the business world and are often not taken seriously.
Slađana has always strived to improve her skills as a barista ever since she started in the service industry. Despite the various problems she faced in her professional development, she never thought of giving up the job she loved. In the beginning, she worked in smaller cafés, but she realized that she could achieve much more through her hard work and dedication.
“I wanted to improve in the job I love. At one point, I realized that I had very few opportunities for professional advancement in the city where I live. I felt like I had seen it all somehow, so I stopped enjoying what I did. It was the first sign that I needed to change something, and I quickly decided to open a small café. I started from scratch and created a foundation by working alone all day and giving myself another chance in this city,” Slađana says.
She opened the café before the outbreak of the pandemic, which significantly set her back in business. Even today, she feels the consequences of epidemiological measures that mostly affected small businesses and individuals. The place she owns is very small, and only four customers were allowed at a time. Slađana says that the entire service sector has been going through a crisis since the beginning of the pandemic, and many caterers have been fired. She did not receive any help during this crisis, and she had to continue paying the café’s rent during the lockdown.
She explains that starting a business is not difficult, but everything that comes after that is demanding. It is rare for people to start their own business here, most often for fear of failure.
“Whatever job you do, the beginning is not easy. Every job requires a certain sacrifice if you want to succeed, and sometimes you have to take risks. I did not expect any help from the government and the state because often only the businesses that do not need help at all are the ones who receive help,” says the young entrepreneur.
She believes that our society is still strongly influenced by stereotypes, and women are often underestimated. During her work, she encountered various problems, like discrimination and being passed up for promotions. She says that the biggest problem women face in small businesses is that they are not taken seriously, and they can even encounter various forms of violence.
“I suffered psychological violence from an older man when I opened my place. He told me that I was a brat running a business and that he could get drunk wherever he wanted. He threatened to send inspectors until the café was closed,” Slađana says, recalling the traumatic experience.
The Piccola café serves specialty 100% Arabica coffee, as well as many other espresso-based drinks. You can also try coffee blends from different regions, like Brazil, India, Cuba, Colombia, and Ethiopia. For fans of decaffeinated coffee, there are also many options.
After learning a lot about making coffee, she became a Bar Academy instructor. She feels especially proud of this certification because she can pass on her years of experience preparing coffee to other people. She also holds Barista training in Piccola café, and participants are not required to know about coffee-making before enrolling. The training has both practical and theoretical components, and participants study the origin and cultivation of coffee, processing methods, proper use and hygiene of equipment, and latte art.
“There are several basic latte art motifs that students master. Later, by combining basic forms, we create new, unique motifs. Every guest is happy with the drawing on their coffee – because happiness comes from enjoying the little things. Sometimes even a small heart on your cappuccino can fix the day,” says Slađana with a smile.
She also says that in our society, people believe that trying to succeed is not worth it, which, she says, can lead to complete economic and social collapse. She believes that people will be in serious trouble when all their good workers leave BiH.
“From my experience, many employers insist that workers will accept the minimum wage. They don’t care whether the worker is a professional in their job, or if they are good, loyal, and honest,” she added.
Through life, she has learned that no matter how many plans you make, life throws you something unexpected. In business and life in general, it is important to be ready to adapt to a new situation. She tells all women who aspire to join the world of business that they should confidently strive to attain their goals if they are fully fulfilled by what they do.
“You don’t have to be great at the start – you have to start to be great,” concludes Slađana.

created: November 23rd, 2021