Hasečić: Raped women are needed in court, but once they leave, they are nobody's concern!

Today marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, observed by activists against domestic violence since 1981, reports the Patria News Agency.

Tens of thousands of women were raped during the war, and they are still seeking justice today, as the state does little to protect raped women and at least try to ensure a somewhat normal continuation of their lives.

The president of the Association "Women Victims of War," Bakira Hasečić, told Patria that through struggle, justice, and truth, they have persuaded the executive and legislative authorities to include them as a special category in the Law on Civilian Victims of War.

- In this way, we have regulated our issues, at least so that women who have no income and are unable to continue their employment have basic means for treatment. As for any further programs, I do not see that BiH has shown any interest in solving many problems, both ours and those of our families who are also victims because they have survived everything with us – says Hasečić.

She notes that in today's Dayton Bosnia and Herzegovina, she does not see any improvement coming.

- There is no ear or reason for our daily face-to-face testimonies with war criminals, and it is unclear who is the victim and who is the criminal. We are needed in court while we are in court, but once we leave, we become nobody's concern. The state has sided with war criminals; they have the right to two lawyers, their sides perceive them as heroes, finance their children and families, provide scholarships and complete material support while they are serving their sentences. This means victims remain victims without the right to compensation, reparation for material and non-material damages – adds Hasečić.

Otherwise, hundreds of raped women have testified, and there are women who have testified 15 times, all of which leads to new traumas.

- When you testify in a case against a war criminal, that statement is not taken permanently; rather, every new arrest of someone else means new testimonies, and we are tired of it. We have organized ourselves, and through pilot projects and thanks to the "Local Democracy" foundation, we have secured a psychologist for support before, during, and after testifying, as well as a lawyer who manages to empower the victim for what awaits her – explains Hasečić.

Hasečić sees the solution in everything as the implementation of a state strategy to apprehend war criminals and catch them all within a year, regardless of their religious or national affiliation.

- But, when we see that we don't even have a prison for war criminals, it's no wonder they are released to defend themselves from freedom. It is even worse when they are free, and you have given a statement. While they are free, you cannot go to your pre-war place of residence, you cannot return or take any step, let alone mention weekend releases. We see them being released on some conditional freedoms, perhaps they think there will be another war so they can see if they will rape, slaughter, and kill again. This must be resolved legally because the victim must raise her voice daily and point out irregularities, injustice, and abuse of the criminal code – emphasized Hasečić.