The two-day regional conference "Sexual Violence in Armed Conflict: Correcting Injustice, Preventing Future Violence" was organized on 29 and 30 May in Zagreb at the Glyptotheca of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts, by the Ministry of Veterans Affairs of the Republic of Croatia, with the support of the United Nations Development Programme in Croatia. (UNDP) and under the patronage of the President of the Republic of Croatia, Ivo Josipović. The conference brought together over 120 government officials and civil society activists from Southeast European countries.
The topic, which is still insufficiently talked about, and which marked the victims of the Homeland War, regardless of which gender they belonged to, is slowly starting to take its place in discussions. The issue of moral and material reparations for victims, removal of stigma and punishment of criminals finally captures the attention of decision-makers and the public. The statistical data that President Ivo Josipović also spoke about show that the victims were in fear, and society was too little engaged in protecting them and enabling them to live a life worthy of a human being. Namely, the data he presented according to the UNDP research show the striking fact that the image of sexual violence is distorted and that it is treated as a demonstration of the power of soldiers, while the victims hide the crime for years after suffering trauma and are rejected not only from the wider environment, but also from the closest family members. These are the reasons why it is not talked about, crimes are not reported and procedures are not initiated for the satisfaction of justice, because stigmatization is omnipresent in relation to the victims. "According to UNDP research from 2013, about 2,200 victims suffered sexual violence during the Homeland War, of which only 147 cases were processed. 36 of them were processed in court, and only 15 court verdicts were handed down."
This conference was marked by numerous eminent names from the world socio-political scene, which further testifies to the importance of this topic and the willingness to correct long-standing injustices. The voices of victims were also heard, who, with their strength and optimism, left a message of optimism and hope to all interested parties that it is possible to live a quality and dignified life even in the worst conditions, but that this is impossible to achieve alone and in a divided community full of prejudice and ignorance. In a community that does not sympathize and does not understand victims and would rather close its eyes to cruelty than to work on improving itself and its environment. In order for progress to be visible and for victims to be satisfied with their status, the support of the entire order is needed, which will enable victims to be included in society without judgment, substitution of theses, fear and shame. It is necessary to create an atmosphere of equality and support for all those who, through no fault of their own, have lived for years in the darkness of the burden of torture that they have gone through not only during the war but with every new day.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon addressed the conference in a video message, emphasizing that sexual violence in conflict is the world's oldest and most neglected crime. He also said it was time to abandon the excuse that rape in war is inevitable. It can be stopped. We have an international legal framework that holds accountable all those who commit, order or condone such crimes. We must use these tools and translate commitments into action.
UNDP Administrator Helen Clark also greeted those present via video link and congratulated the Croatian Ministry of Veterans Affairs on passing a new law "which provides recognition, compensation and support to victims of wartime sexual violence in a truly dignified manner."
In her speech, she expressed her hope that the new law would inspire further efforts, in Croatia and elsewhere, to support victims in their efforts to rebuild their lives and restore faith that justice can and will prevail. Her wish was to pay tribute to those who survived sexual violence, including the brave women of Vukovar, who spoke out not only to exercise their rights, but also to open up the possibility of finding out the truth and securing justice for all victims of sexual violence. Their strength and perseverance will have a lasting legacy. In his speech, Minister of Veterans Affairs Predrag Matić emphasized that keeping quiet about the topic of sexual violence in war would mean closing his eyes to a major social problem and the suffering of victims. He believes that peace conferences have been and will be held, and wars will continue to be fought all over the world. What remains behind all wars are victims, and we are all responsible for the victims.
An institutionally important part of his address was to emphasize that the ministry he leads has recently completed the public debate on the Law on the Rights of Victims of Sexual Violence in the Homeland War and that this Law should soon be in the parliamentary procedure. It remained in good faith that this conference could be a quality tool for crystallizing possible improvements to the proposed Law.
The meeting was conceived in such a way that on the first day, the international context and national policies and practices in solving the issue of sexual violence in South-Eastern Europe were discussed, while on the second day, the focus was on discussing issues of reparations and rehabilitation of victims. It is important to emphasize that proposals were made by political officials to improve the situation, but at the same time by representatives of non-governmental organizations, where the loudest were the psychologists of the victims themselves, who had the courage and energy to express their views and expectations in the future.
The aim of all presentations and debates implemented by this conference is to contribute to and exchange international and regional experiences in helping victims of sexual violence in armed conflicts and to help improve models of legal and health care. A lot of time has passed, but it is important that even now, regardless of the time gap, we take the initiative to help and correct mistakes and the past, but also to do everything we can to ensure that nothing like this ever happens again. Wars are always present, maybe not in our immediate neighborhood, but somewhere in the world someone is suffering now and it is important to stop the practice of brutally punishing the weaker ones who are on the opposite side. It is necessary to protect our victims, but also the victims who are experiencing fear and suffering around the world today; in Syria, Uganda or Cameroon.
There remains hope and positive expectations after this gathering, as the conference findings will be presented at the global summit on the prevention of sexual violence in armed conflict, which will be held in London from 10 to 13 June 2014, thus creating mechanisms for better practice and for raising awareness about the absolute unacceptability of sexual violence in armed conflict.
And let's not forget, we are all members of society and violence can never be a personal problem. It concerns us all.
