Amplifying voices for a culture of recognition and reconciliation in the Western Balkans

Despite important progress in the Western Balkans to account for the large-scale use of sexualised violence during the Yugoslav Wars, women affected still face significant challenges in accessing their rights to reparation and justice, as well as health and social consequences. Within this context, medica mondiale and organisations in Kosovo, Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina worked together to contribute to a culture of recognition and reconciliation by integrating the perspective and needs of women affected by war-related sexualised and gender-based violence (SGBV) into national and regional initiatives to deal with the past. Programme activities focused on the realisation of the right of survivors to know the truth, their right to reparation, and their right to justice, aiming to create changes on individual, societal, institutional, and political levels and to enable women affected by war-related sexualised and gender-based violence to live in dignity and without violence.

A final evaluation of the project found interventions were relevant and effective in achieving their goals, particularly at the individual, community and institutional levels. Despite a challenging context, the evaluators note that the collaborative efforts of the organisations across the three countries led to tangible results, including policy changes, legislative reforms, and the development of educational materials and advocacy tools. At the micro level, women experienced improved mental wellbeing, sense of community and support, and greater empowerment. The project had more limited success at the regional level, and progress was slower in Serbia than in the other implementing countries. 

Sustainability of the project was promoted through the strengthening of national institutions and organisations, the establishment of strong relationships between survivors, and by involving younger generations.