Together against crime

Dvodnevna regionalna konferencija "Seksualno nasilje u oružanom sukobu: Ispravljanje nepravde, sprječavanje nasilja u budućnosti", organizirana je 29. i 30. svibnja u Zagrebu u Gliptoteci Hrvatske akademije znanosti i umjetnosti, od strane Ministarstva branitelja Republike Hrvatske, uz podršku Programa Ujedinjenih naroda za razvoj u Hrvatskoj (UNDP-a) te uz pokroviteljstvo predsjednika Republike Hrvatske, Ive Josipovića. Konferencija je okupila preko 120 vladinih dužnosnika i aktivista civilnog društva iz zemalja jugoistočne Europe.
Tema o kojoj se još uvijek nedovoljno govori, a koja je obilježila žrtve Domovinskog rata bez obzira kojem rodu one pripadale, polako počinje zauzimati mjesto u društvenoj stvarnosti koje joj pripada. To mjesto se tiče moralnih i materijalnih reparacija za žrtve, uklanjanja stigme s njihove ličnosti i kažnjavanje zločinaca koji su činili te nehumane radnje. Da su žrtve bile u strahu, a da se društvo premalo angažiralo da ih se zaštiti i omogući život dostojan čovjeka, pokazuju i statistički podaci o kojima je govorio i predsjednik Ivo Josipović. Naime, podaci koje je iznio prema istraživanju UNDP-a, pokazuju frapantnu činjenicu da je iskrivljena slika o seksualnom nasilju te da se ono tretira kao demonstracija moći vojnika i onih koji se samo tako smatraju, a žrtve i godinama nakon pretrpljenih trauma skrivaju zločin i bivaju odbačene ne samo od okoline u širem smislu, već i od najužih članova obitelji. To su razlozi zbog kojih se o tome ne govori, zločini se ne prijavljuju i ne pokreću se postupci za zadovoljenje pravde jer je sadistička stigmatizacija sveprisutna u odnosu prema žrtvama. "Prema UNDP-ovom istraživanju iz 2013. oko 2200 žrtava je pretrpjelo seksualno nasilje za vrijeme Domovinskog rata, od čega je obrađeno tek 147 slučajeva. na sudu je procesuirano njih 36, a donešeno je samo 15 sudskih presuda."
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.
Skup je zamišljen na način da se prvog dana govorilo o međunarodnom kontekstu i nacionalnim politikama i praksama u rješavanju pitanja seksualnog nasilja u jugoistočnoj Europi, dok je drugog dana fokus bio na  razgovoru o pitanjima reparacija i rehabilitacije žrtava. Važno je naglasiti da su se iznosili prijedlozi i političkih dužnosnika za popravljanje situacije, ali istovremeno i predstavnika nevladinih organizacija, gdje su najglasniji bili psiholozi te samih žrtava koje su imale hrabrosti i energije da iznesu svoje stavove i očekivanja u budućnosti.
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.
Ostaje nada i pozitivna očekivanja nakon ovog skupa jer će nalazi konferencije biti  predstavljeni na globalnom summitu o prevenciji seksualnog nasilja u oružanim sukobima koji će se održavati u Londonu od 10. do 13. lipnja 2014. i tako stvoriti mehanizmi za bolju praksu i za povećanje svijesti o apsolutnoj neprihvatljivosti seksualnog nasilja u oružanim sukobima. 
And let's not forget, we are all members of society and violence can never be a personal problem. It concerns us all.