There is still no memorial for survivors of wartime sexual violence in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), despite the significance it would hold for survivors as a recognition of their suffering, courage, and dignity, but also as a symbol of remembrance of the evils of war.
The erection of monuments and memorials is one form of commemoration. They play an important role in informing and educating people about human rights violations.
Three decades after the violent conflicts that claimed thousands of lives and profoundly shaped those who survived, a central question remains across the Western Balkans: how can the voices, experiences, and needs of those most affected be placed at the center of policy and societal action?
For survivors and victims’ families, memorials have a profound significance, but this meaning often does not extend beyond individual communities. Although this form of commemoration is important, experts warn that alone, it is insufficient for dealing with the past.
Public memorialization, which includes the erection of monuments and memorials, is an integral component of transitional justice and dealing with the past.