In war, civil war and dictatorships women are the ones who suffer most. Since the 20th Century wars have claimed the lives of more and more civilians, women and children.. Women are responsible for providing for the family and holding the family together under conditions of war. As sisters, daughters, wives and above all mothers, they must endure the absence and loss of those relatives who have been called up to fight.

Due to this, women's groups and organisations that speak up for peace during armed conflicts retain particular importance. Neither do they shy away from the toughest situations to give voice to their call for peace and understanding. This provides them with a signal effect for other women to participate actively and often form the backbone of the peace movement in regions rich in conflict. "Women in Black" is one of these women's organisations.

With the declarations of independence of Slovenia and Croatia, 1991 marked the beginnings of the division of Yugoslavia and the bloody war that followed. The German federal army intervened in Slovenia in June 1991. The war between Croatia and Serbia began in Croatia in July.

["Women in Black" in Israel]

The Belgrade Group "Women in Black" was founded on the model of the organisation of the same name in Israel, which has been holding a vigil to end the conflict between the Palestinians and Israelis since 1988. "Women in Black" protested against the Serbian government's policy of war for five years. However their protest was only directed against the government in their own country. In like manner, they condemned the NATO bombardments in 1999 and demanded the immediate return to the negotiating table (see below). The women also set up a refuge for deserters, conscientious objectors and their relatives and helped refugees and victims of war. "Women in Black" is an autonomous women's group in which women of all ages, religions, nationalities and creeds are welcome. It also stands up for emancipation and women's rights. The women's movement and peace movement are linked, since the fight against nationalism and war is also the fight against propagated gender roles. The movement makes a contrast between the male ideal of the nationalists and consistent pacifism. "Listen guys, being in favour of armed combat these days is all old hat and very old-fashioned. [...] You, who are so young, are supporting antiquated ideas, whose principles have long since been overtaken. I, a woman with experience in armed combat, choose non-violence today. Non-violence does not mean you are a coward. It is simply better adapted to the modern day. You should hold to this with all decisiveness." [Neda Bozinovic, 84, former partisan and resistance fighter, today a member of "Women in Black"]

The "Women in Black" has been travelling to many towns in the region with a peace school since 1998. They hold workshops on the topics of non-violence, women's and human rights, women and politics, intercultural solidarity and much more. An international women's solidarity network summer camp is organised against war each year. Beyond this, "Women in Black" publish numerous journals such as a bulletin on women and pacifism published quarterly with 7000 copies. The organisation maintains close contacts to other "Women in Black" groups and pacifist and women's organisation at home and abroad. This not only makes the "Women in Black" initiative an important part of the peace movement in the Balkans, but also in the women's peace network around the world.

http://wib.matriz.net/index.html (international) www.frauen-in-schwarz.de (Germany) http://www.womenngo.yu (Yugoslavia)

[Author: Dorette Wesemann, Edited by: Ragnar Müller]

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Appeal by "Women in Black against War" to the governments of the NATO member states

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Subjects:  Human Rights  I  Democracy  I  Parties  I  Examples  I  Europe  I  Globalisation  I  United Nations  I  Sustainability

Methods:    Teaching Politics    II    Peace Education    II    Methods