The panel brought together Sabiha Husic, Director of Medica Zenica and one of the protagonists of the book, Elma Hasimbegovic, Director of the History Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Zilka Spahic Siljak, researcher and professor of gender studies and religious studies.
The discussion was moderated by Ajna Jusic, Director of the Forgotten Children of War Association, and also a protagonist of the publication. The discussion centered on the power of women’s testimonies and the responsibility of different sectors (survivors, academia, and museums) to ensure these stories shape public understanding of war, justice, and memory. Sabiha focused on the deep personal experience of sharing her story and the ethical dimensions of respect in working with survivors of wartime sexual violence. Her input highlighted how institutional silence harms long‑term healing and how excluding survivors’ voices impoverishes public debates about justice.
Zilka’s part of the conversation explored how academia can elevate these testimonies from the margins, treating them as essential knowledge rather than anecdotal accounts. It also examined the book’s potential impact in societies still reluctant to confront the past, and how such works can expand historical narratives by making space for perspectives long overlooked.
Elma’s perspective turned to museums as sites of memory and interpretation. The questions probed how documentary and oral history materials can reshape museum practices, how institutions navigate the tension between truth‑telling and revisionist pressures (especially around gender), and how museums can responsibly include new generations in war narratives without reducing them to symbolic roles.
Together, the questions framed a conversation about visibility, responsibility, and the transformative role of women’s stories in shaping collective memory.
Resistance: Women of Peace and Justice in Former Yugoslavia and Albania is a powerful exploration of how women transformed resistance into a force for peace, justice, and human rights during and after the political oppression in the former Yugoslavia and Albania. Through the personal testimonies of eleven extraordinary women, the book reveals how they challenged patriarchal systems, confronted nationalist ideologies, and stood up against violence and oppression. Their stories document a tireless struggle for truth, reconciliation, and the recognition of war crimes. From organizing protests and recording atrocities to leading humanitarian efforts, these women shaped movements that opposed militarism and built bridges across ethnic divides, often without the recognition they deserved. This intimate collection of stories sheds light on the strength and resilience of women activists in post-conflict societies. It celebrates their unwavering courage and their determination to build a future grounded in peace, dignity, and justice, despite the immense personal and collective trauma they endured.
Attendees at the event had the chance to get copies of the book in Serbian/Bosnian/Croatian.
"Resistance: Women of Peace and Justice in the Former Yugoslavia and Albania" is co-published by Pro Peace Kosovo and Youth Initiative for Human Rights - Kosovo (YIHR KS).
This event was organized in partnership between Pro Peace Kosovo, Pro Peace Bosnia and Herzegovina and Forgotten Children of War Association.
