Several associations gathered in the Bosnian town of Foca on Tuesday, conveying a message of solidarity with women who were victims of sexual violence in conflict both in Bosnia and Herzegovina and other parts of the world.

The gathering took place on the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict, the day aimed at raising the awareness of a need to put an end to conflict-related sexual violence, honour the victims and survivors of sexual violence and to pay tribute to those who devoted their lives to or lost their lives in standing up for eradication of these crimes.

“We remember the women who were raped in the war” and “We remember the site of crime” were some of the messages displayed in Foca on Tuesday at a gathering organized by “Women – victims of war” and “Women in Black” two associations, the first one based in Bosnia and the latter in Serbia.

A representative of “Women – victims of war” Bakira Hasecic said all women of the world should join their effort and fight for one single law, “a law against rape and violence in conflicts.”

Estimates of the number of women and girls raped during the 1992-95 in Bosnia and Herzegovina conflict vary. While UNHCR experts claimed 12,000 rapes, the European Union estimated a total of 20,000. The UN Commission of Experts identified 1,600 cases of sexual violence.

Stasa Zajovic “Women in Black” noted that “countless crimes on the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina were committed by Serb armed formations.” Women of this association held a performance “Look at the mirror”, which put an accent on taking over the responsibility for committed crimes.