From: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu (Rich Winkel)
Subject: Report from Zagreb to women's and peace organizations
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: PACH
Date: Wed, 30 Dec 1992 00:52:09 GMT

/** headlines: 600.0 **/
** Topic: Report from Zagreb **
** Written  5:08 pm  Dec 28, 1992 by newsdesk in cdp:headlines **
/* Written  5:53 pm  Dec 25, 1992 by gn:gsoa in igc:yugo.antiwar */
/* ---------- "Report from Zagreb" ---------- */
LETTER OF INTENTIONS
To woman's and peace organizations all over the world

We are impressed by the response of international women and peace movement on
the systematic raping of women in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Demonstrations and
support actions organized all over Europe encourage us in our work and give as
hope that we can strenghten the work on supporting women victims of war.
However, we would like to share with you some of our serious concerns.

We are writing this letter because we fear that the process of helping raped
women is turning in a strange direction, being taken over by governmental
institutions, Ministry of Health of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and male
gynecologists in particular. We fear that the raped women could be used in
political propaganda with the aim of spreading hatred and revenge, thus leading
to further violence against women and to further victimization of survivors.  

A lot of talks have been done so far, but the concrete outcome is still very
poor. Some raped women have presented publicly their tragic experience, hoping
to receive more understanding and help; they are disappointed now because they
still do not get the needed support. We believe that this sensationalistic
journalist approach has frightened and additionally upset the raped women. The
atmosphere of heavy time pressure, produced by domestic and international media,
demanding Ad Hoc Centers for Help to Raped Woman is counter-productive. Raped
women will feel the consequences of the crime during their whole  lives and
deserve appropriate help - not instant solutions. Developing of serious
women-support -projects needs understanding of the problem, patience and time.
Otherwise, the good intentions could turn out to be useless or even harmful,
bringing some relief only to the conscience of the support-givers.  

Therefore the women active in peace initiatives decided to make initial steps
towards self-organizing of women in refugee camps. On the basis of experience
acquired in work with women-victims of violence in Autonomous Women's House
Zagreb, we believe that the first step which is needed very much is establishing
communication among women. We are establishing a womens' network working  on
process of trustbuilding by systematic visiting of refugee camps. The shape of
the appropriate support to raped women could be defined as a result of learning
about the destinies and problems of women in the camps. When we find the
specific needs of women victims of war, the concrete institutional way of
support will be proposed. Before the basic work in camps has been done, we can
only point out the principles which have to be fulfilled in order to begin with
sensible support work: 

- support has to be given by women, because only women can understand the deep
crisis of the raped women
- the work have to be done by non-governmental organizations to avoid possible
misuse of the raped women for political aims
- support should be given to women's non-governmental organizations on the basis
of detailed project proposals and clear selection criteria
- possible future centers for the support have to be established in all the
states on the territory of  former Yugoslavia, as raped women live in all the
states
- possible network of centers has to be decentralised and run by women only
  
Exchange of experiences between the women helping rape victims in different
countries and direct support is necessary to build the needed network of
volunteers and institutions as soon as possible. Help should be planned and
organized on the long-term basis.

Looking forward to our future cooperation. 

Zagreb Women's Lobby
Zagreb, December 21,1992


Women from:
"Independent Alliance of Women of Croatia"
"Autonomous Women's House"
"Informative-documentary Center for Women"
"Antiwar Campaign Croatia"
established "Zagreb Women's Lobby" and "Center for the Support to Women Victims
of War and Raped Women" in November 1992.


To the women's organizations:


Concerning overexcited and emotional discussion on tragedy of raped woman we
would like to clearify at least some misunderstandings. Two women from Zagreb
visited several countries speaking on tribunals organised by different women
organizations presenting themselves as representatives of different women
organizations. 

We would like to inform you that Nina (Nihada) Kadif and .eljka Mrkif do not
work with and do not represent "Autonomous Women's House Zagreb", established in
the year 1990 with aim of giving shelter and support to women and children
victims of domestic violence.


** End of text from cdp:headlines **

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