White Roses Down the Ćehotina for Women Raped in War

(Patria) - By throwing white roses into the Ćehotina River for the innocence of rape victims during the past war in Foča, with a minute of silence and prayer, and by recalling the thorny path of survivors in achieving rights, justice and memorialisation for crimes adjudicated in domestic and international verdicts, June 19, the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict, was marked.

Zehra Murguz Kovačević is one of the few women from Foča who, after surviving wartime rape, decided to speak about it and fight for justice and the rights of women who experienced the same, reports Detektor.ba.

She says that every house, every apartment in Foča was a camp for the abuse of women, girls and young girls.

- I was 27 years old then. Here in this notorious "Partizan", children of 12 were raped, a little girl who brought a doll with her - said Murguz Kovačević, for whom every arrival in front of the "Partizan" hall in Foča is difficult, because it reminds her of the sorrow and pain they experienced.



She stated that she believes there is no genuine reconciliation without acknowledging the crimes, and expressed dissatisfaction with the slow processing of cases for rape and sexual abuse.

- It's as slow as a snail… This should be sped up because the biological clock is ticking, especially for us victims. I am already over 60, and many statements have not even come up for processing, nor have the perpetrators.

And the perpetrators flee every day to, as they say, "mother Serbia" - she concluded, adding that the survivors will "bravely and courageously continue their fight."

According to estimates, between 20,000 and 50,000 people were raped during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia sentenced four individuals for rape in Foča to a total of 75 years in prison in two verdicts: Dragoljub Kunarac – 28, Radomir Kovač – 20, Zoran Vuković – 12, and Dragan Zelenović – 15 years. The Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina sentenced 15 individuals for rape and other forms of sexual violence to 188 years in prison.

Although the crimes at many locations in Foča have been adjudicated in the verdicts of the Hague Tribunal and the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, these sites have never been adequately marked.

The Association of Victims "Foča 92-95" launched an initiative several years ago to place a memorial plaque on the "Partizan" hall.

- When you look at it now, it's a completely normal building, like other buildings in the municipality of Foča. There is no marker, yet so many crimes were committed in this building. The greatest crime committed in this building is the rape of an 11-year-old girl.

We only asked for what is rightfully ours based on the verdicts. This is a message to all future generations, not to hate, but to preserve and nurture peace - said Midheta Kaloper, president of the Association of Victims "Foča 92-95", which organised the marking of June 19 in Foča.

She also recalled the struggle of survivors for the rights of abused women and children born as a result of rape, who for years were a category neglected by the state.



- I think the commemoration is very important, because through this we are trying to raise awareness, to awaken those who are asleep, that we, those of us who survived, are still here and are reminding of the crime committed both in Foča and throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina - added Kaloper.

Ajna Jusić, president of the Association "Forgotten Children of War", said that one of the main turning points occurred in 2022, when the Law on Civilian Victims of War was adopted in the Brčko District of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in which children born from wartime sexual violence were recognised as a special category of civilian victims of war.

A year later, the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina adopted the Law on the Protection of Civilian Victims of War, which offers solutions for protecting the basic human rights of children born from wartime rape.

The adoption of this law represents a small victory for us and for our mothers, for survivors in the Brčko District, for survivors in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and it is up to us to work so that survivors in the Republika Srpska also feel this kind of justice - said Jusić at the commemoration in Foča.

She drew attention to the fact that the actual number of children born as a result of rape is still unknown, due to the lack of a systemic approach to this category, as well as due to stigma in society.

- Even if it were just one child, now an adult, that child deserves to live and breathe dignity and equality. Unfortunately, forgive me, but I must say that we know and are aware of the fact that national and international authorities have failed to preserve much evidence of the suffering of civilians from '92 to '95, so today we only have information from those who survived wartime torture and sexual violence in war - claims Jusić, adding that no one except the victims of wartime rape is aware of how much strength it took to get up after everything they endured and speak the truth.

Duška Jurišić, Deputy Minister of Human Rights and Refugees of Bosnia and Herzegovina, said that the healing of victims' souls lasts a lifetime, and that there is no justification for not providing support and contribution from all family members and the entire society.

- The crimes against thousands of women were committed by hundreds, not by the twenty or so convicted individuals. The fact that many of them still lead peaceful family lives, read fairy tales and sing to their grandchildren, certainly provokes anger, rage, and indignation.

I am not entirely sure what kind of peace and serenity their eventual repentance would bring to the victims, but it would certainly bring more peace if the crimes were acknowledged and an official, public apology were made - said Jurišić in her address.



Deputy Ambassador of the United States of America (USA) Deborah Mennuti said that the USA stands in solidarity with the victims and survivors of the rape camps in Foča, and that they are against the use of sexual violence as a tool of war.

- We are here today to pay tribute to the brave survivors who decided to speak out about their painful experiences during the war, in the interest of seeking truth and justice. Also, we work every day to preserve the memory of those who did not survive.

What the Association of War Victims 'Foča 92-95' does every day, to support survivors and prevent their stigmatisation, is truly inspiring and contributes to meaningful reconciliation - emphasised Mennuti, calling on the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina to accept the truth about what happened, to seek accountability from perpetrators, and to provide support to survivors.