Abstract
Human rights has been treated as one of the pillars in the processes of post-conflict state building and sustainable peacebuilding in the former Yugoslav region; and the gender dimensions of seeking justice for wartime sexual and gender based violence, fall under the rubric of mainstreaming of gender justice in both transitional justice and human rights reforms. The post-conflict justice mechanisms may be viewed as adequate means to pursue gender justice. Therefore, in this chapter we will focus on the implementation of the Point 11 of UNSCR 1325 in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Croatia and Kosovo—who, by 2014, had adopted the National Strategic Documents for the implementation of UNSCR 1325. The implementation of UNSCR 1325 had been seen as a promising provision for women war violence survivors and was strongly advocated by grassroots women’s and feminist groups. It was believed that such a provision might bring justice and equal treatment to all women who suffered sexual and gender based violence during the wars, regardless of their ethnicity. However, as will be showcased by country cases, several years after the beginning of the implementation of National Strategic Documents the states lack consistent and collaborative measures to prevent impunity and offer redress to the survivors of gender related war injustices. Furthermore, it is our claim that the four successor states of Yugoslavia have not only failed to implement measures adequately, but that they have used those very mechanisms to promote a certain form of legal nationalism. We will demonstrate how the gendered post-transitional justice has been nationally applied in post-Yugoslav societies, by showing how legal imagery, supposed to transform the lives of victims of war sexual violence, turned into the instrument for the re-introduction of nationalism. We rely on the analyses of the laws on civilian victims of wars or related measures, of the National Strategic Documents of each state, on reports of women’s grassroots and feminist groups and international institutions, as well as on recent media reports.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Amnesty International. (2012). Serbia (Kosovo): Time for EULEX to prioritize the war crimes. Retreived from https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/EUR70/004/2012/en/
Berdak, O. (2013). War, gender and citizenship in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia, the Europeanisation of citizenship in the successor states of the former Yugoslavia. CITSEE Working paper series 2013/32.
Centar za žene žrtve rata-ROSA. (2015). Izjava za javnost povodom donošenja Zakona o pravima žrtava seksualnog nasilja u Domovinskom ratu Centar za žene žrtve rata-ROSA, Ženska mreža Hrvatske i Inicijativa za Ženski sud (2015). Retrieved April 15, 2016, from http://www.czzzr.hr/novost.php?id=68
Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women. (1994). Concluding comments of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women: Bosnia and Herzegovina, thirteenth session 17 January–4 February 1994, excerpted from: Supplement No. 38 (A/49/38). Retrieved from http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cedaw/cedaw25years/content/english/CONCLUDING_COMMENTS/Bosnia_and_Herzegovina/Bosnia_and_Herzegovina-Special_report.pdf
Constitution of the Republic of Serbia. (2006). Retrieved from http://www.ustavni.sud.rs/page/view/en-GB/235-100028/constitution
Council of Europe. (2012). Posleratna pravda i trajni mir u bivšoj Jugoslaviji: Tematski izveštaj komesara Saveta Evrope za ljudska prava. Council of Europe website. Retrieved from https://www.coe.int/t/commissioner/source/prems/Prems45112_SER_1700_PostwarJustice.pdf
Davis, L. (2014). The European Union and transitional justice. Conciliation resources website. Retrieved from http://www.eplo.org/assets/files/2.%20Activities/Civil%20Society%20Dialogue%20Network/Policy%20Meetings/Transitional%20Justice/EPLO_CSDN_TJ_BackgroundDocument.pdf
European Peacebuilding Liaison Office (Ed.). (2013). UNSCR 1325 IN EUROPE 20 case studies of implementation. Conciliation resources website. Retrieved from http://www.c-r.org/resources/unscr-1325-europe-20-case-studies-implementation
European Union. (2008). Comprehensive approach to the EU implementation of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 and 1820 on women, peace and security. Retrieved from https://www.consilium.europa.eu/ueDocs/cms_Data/docs/hr/news187.pdf
European Union. (2015). The EU’s policy framework on support to transitional justice. Retrieved from http://collections.internetmemory.org/haeu/content/20160313172652/http://eeas.europa.eu/top_stories/pdf/the_eus_policy_framework_on_support_to_transitional_justice.pdf
Ferizaj, A. (2015). Wartime rape is no longer kept under wraps in Kosovo. 50.50 Inclusive democracy website. Retrieved from https://www.opendemocracy.net/5050/adem-ferizaj/wartime-rape-is-no-longer-kept-under-wraps-in-kosovo
Gender Equality Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees of BiH. (2010). Action plan for the implementation of UNSCR 1325 in Bosnia and Herzegovina 2010–2013. Retrieved from http://www.peacewomen.org/assets/file/bosniaherzegovina_nationalactionplan_2010.pdf
Gender Equality Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees of BiH. (2014). Action plan for the implementation of UNSCR 1325 in Bosnia and Herzegovina 2014–2017. Retrieved from http://www.inclusivesecurity.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/BiH-NAP-ENG.pdf
Global Network of Women Peacebuilders. (2014). Women count – Security Council Resolution 1325: Civil society monitoring report 2014. Global Network of Women Peacebuilderswebsite. Retrieved from http://www.gnwp.org/resource/women-count-%E2%80%93-security-council-resolution-1325-civil-society-monitoring-report-2014
Government of the Republic of Serbia. (2010). National action plan to implement United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 – women, peace and security in the Republic of Serbia (2010–2015).
Hayden, M. R. (1992). Constitutional nationalism in the formerly Yugoslav republics. Slavic Review, 51(4), 654–673.
Helms, E. (2013). Innocence and victimhood gender nation and women’s activism in postwar Bosnia and Herzegovina. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press.
Human Rights Watch. (2000). Serb gang-rapes in Kosovo exposed. Retrieved from https://www.hrw.org/news/2000/03/20/serb-gang-rapes-kosovo-exposed
Humanitarian Law Center. (2014). Press release: Bill on rights of Civilian Victims of War should be withdrawn. Retrieved April 18, 2016, from http://www.hlc-rdc.org/?p=27883&lang=de
International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia 1998, Judgement Prosecutor v. Anto Furundžija, Case No.: IT-95-17/1-T, Date: 10 December 1998. Retrieved from http://www.icty.org/x/cases/furundzija/tjug/en/fur-tj981210e.pdf
International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia 2001, Prosecutor v. Kunarac et al., Case No. IT-96-23 & 23/1. Judgment passed 22 February 2001. Retrieved from http://www.icty.org/x/cases/kunarac/tjug/en/kun-tj010222e.pdf
Konačni prijedlog Zakona o pravima žrtava seksualnog nasilja u Domovinskom ratu. (2015). Croatia. Retrieved from https://vlada.gov.hr/UserDocsImages/Sjednice/2015/222%20sjednica%20Vlade/222%20-%203.pdf
Koska, V. (2012). Framing the citizenship regime within the complex triadic nexuses: The case study of Croatia. Citizenship Studies, 16(3–4), 397–411.
Krasniqi, G. (2012). Overlapping jurisdiction, disputed territory, unsettled state: The perplexing case of citizenship in Kosovo. Citizenship Studies, 16(3–4), 353–366.
MacQueen, H. (2004–2005). Legal nationalism: Lord Cooper, legal history and comparative law. Edinburgh Law Review, 9(3), 395–406.
McLeod, L. (2011). Configurations of post-conflict: Impacts of representations of conflict and post-conflict upon the (political) translations of gender security within UNSCR 1325. International Feminist Journal of Politics, 13(4), 594–611.
Miladinović, D., & Subotić, G. (Eds.). (2013). Independent monitoring of the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 in Serbia. Belgrade: Women in Black. Retrieved from http://zeneucrnom.org/images/pdf/independent_monitoring_of_the_implementation_of_resolution1325_in_serbia2013.pdf
Miladinović, Z. D. (Ed.). (2014). Security Council Resolution 1325: Civil society monitoring report 2014. GNWP. Retrieved from http://www.bezbednost.org/upload/document/2014_civil_society_monitoring_country_report_for_t.pdf
New Law Recognizes Persons Who Suffered Sexual Violence. (2014). Retrieved April 18, 2016, from http://www.womensnetwork.org/?FaqeID=1&n=173
Olsson, L., & Tryggestad, L. T. (Eds.). (2001). Women and international peacekeeping. London and Portland: Frank Cass.
Popov, N. (Ed.). (2000). The road to war in Serbia: Trauma and catharsis. Budapest: CEU Press.
Rangelov, I. (2015). Nationalism and the rule of law. Lessons from Balkans and beyond. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Rankovic, A., & Subotic, G. (2012). Independent monitoring of the implementation of United Nations security council resolution 1325 in Serbia. Belgrade: Women in Black.
Raped Serb women are being ‘deleted’ by Kosovo law. (2015). Retrieved April 18, 2016, from http://inserbia.info/today/2015/09/raped-serb-women-are-being-deleted-by-kosovo-law/
Republic of Croatia, Draft National Action Plan for the Implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) on women, peace and security, and related resolutions (for the period from 2011 to 2014), http://www.peacewomen.org/assets/file/NationalActionPlans/croatia_nationalactionplan_2011.pdf
Republic of Kosovo. (2014). Law no. 04/L-172 on amending and supplementing the law no. 04/L-054 on the status and the rights of the Martyrs, invalids, members of Kosovo liberation army, sexual violence of the war, civilian victims and their families 2014. Kosovo. Retrieved from http://www.kuvendikosoves.org/common/docs/ligjet/04-L-172%20a.pdf
Sarajlić, E. (2012). Conceptualising citizenship regime(s) in post-Dayton Bosnia and Herzegovina. Citizenship Studies, 16(3–4), 367–381.
Skjelsboek, I., & Smith, D. (Eds.). (2001). Gender, peace and conflict. London: Sage Publications Inc.
Skupština Brčko Distrikta BiH. (2012). Odluka o zaštiti civilnih žrtava rata (01-02-619/12). Retrieved from http://skupstinabd.ba/2-registar/ba/Odluke/2012%20prethodni%20mandat/619.%2071.%20redovna%20sjednica%20-%20Odluka%20o%20zas+titi%20civilnih%20z+rtava%20rata%20BOS.pdf
The 3rd Alternative Report on the Implementation of CEDAW and Women’s Human Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2010, with Annex on Changes in Law and Practice. (2013). European Country of Origin Information website. Retrieved from https://www.ecoi.net/file_upload/1930_1375090959_jointngosubmission-forthesession-bih-cedaw55.pdf
The Human Rights Watch. (1995). Global report on women’s human rights. New York and Washington: Human Rights Watch.
United Nations. (2010). Guidance note of the Secretary-General United Nations approach to transitional justice. United Nations and the Rule of Law website. Retrieved from https://www.un.org/ruleoflaw/blog/document/guidance-note-of-the-secretary-general-united-nations-approach-to-transitional-justice/
United Nations Security Council. (1994). Letter dated 24 May 1994 from the Secretary-General to the President of the Security Council (S/1994/674). United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia website. Retrieved from http://www.icty.org/x/file/About/OTP/un_commission_of_experts_report1994_en.pdf
United Nations Security Council. (2000). Resolution 1325 (S/RES/1325). United Nations website. Retrieved from http://www.un.org/womenwatch/osagi/pdf/res1325.pdf
United Nations Security Council. (2004). The rule of law and transitional justice in conflict and post-conflict societies. Report of the Secretary-General (S/2004/616). Interparliamentary Union website. Retrieved from http://www.ipu.org/splz-e/unga07/law.pdf
Women Organizing for Change. (2016). Concept and framework for the development of a gender-sensitive reparations program for Civilian Victims of War in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Women organizing for change website. Retrieved from http://womenorganizingforchange.org/Development/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Reparations-BiH.pdf
Zaharijević, A. (2015). Dissidents, disloyal citizens and partisans of emancipation: Feminist citizenship in Yugoslavia and post-Yugoslav spaces. Women’s Studies International Forum, 49, 93–100.
Zajović, S. (Ed.). (2010). Women, peace, security resolution 1325–10 years. Beograd: Žene u crnom.
Zakon o izmjenama i dopunama Zakona o osnovama socijalne skrbi, zaštite civilnih žrtava rata i zaštite obitelji s djecom 1999. (Službene novine Federacije BiH, broj: 36/99). Retrieved from http://fmrsp.gov.ba/s/images/stories/Zakon%20o%20osnovama%20socijalne%20zastite%20zastite%20civilnih%20zrtava%20rata%20i%20zastite%20obitelji%20sa%20djecom.pdf
Zakon o izmjenama i dopunama Zakona o osnovama socijalne skrbi, zaštite civilnih žrtava rata i zaštite obitelji s djecom 2006. (Službene novine Federacije BiH, broj: 39/2006). Retrieved from http://fmrsp.gov.ba/s/images/stories/zakoni/Zakon%20o%20izmjenama%20i%20dopunama%20zakona%20o%20osnovama%20socijalne%20zastite%20sl%20novine%20FBiH%2039-%202006.pdf
Zakon o pravima civilnih invalida rata 1996. (“Sl. glasnik RS”, br. 52/96) (Serbia). Retrieved from http://www.ombudsman.osobesainvaliditetom.rs/attachments/023_Zakon%20o%20pravima%20civilnih%20invalida%20rata.pdf
Zakon o zaštiti civilnih žrtava rata 2010. (02/4.3-409/10) (Republika Srpska). Retrieved from http://www.udas.rs.ba/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/zakon_o_zastiti_civilnih_zrtava_rata.pdf
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2018 The Author(s)
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Subotić, G., Zaharijević, A. (2018). Women Between War Scylla and Nationalist Charybdis: Legal Interpretations of Sexual Violence in Countries of Former Yugoslavia. In: Lahai, J., Moyo, K. (eds) Gender in Human Rights and Transitional Justice. Crossing Boundaries of Gender and Politics in the Global South. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-54202-7_9
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-54202-7_9
Published:
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-54201-0
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-54202-7
eBook Packages: Political Science and International StudiesPolitical Science and International Studies (R0)