The project directly responds to the lack of recognition and documentation of women’s war experiences in Osijek-Baranja, Vukovar-Srijem, and Požega-Slavonia Counties—regions that were heavily affected by the 1990s conflict and still face the consequences of war, social polarization, and incomplete reconciliation processes. This invisibility stems from broader structural and cultural factors. Post-war societies in the region have primarily focused on dominant, male-centered narratives of heroism and national identity, while gender-sensitive approaches to remembrance and peacebuilding have been underdeveloped. As a result, the needs of women with war experience—psychological, social, and economic—often remain unrecognized and unsupported by institutions and local communities.
Hence, the primary target group of the project consists of women with direct war experience – including civilians, former members of armed forces, victims of violence, family members of victims, and women belonging to national minorities. These women have often been excluded from official narratives and institutional support, and the project seeks to address their specific needs through recognition, documentation, and psychosocial support.
Main objectives of the project:
- To promote public recognition, understanding, and acknowledgment of women’s war experiences—both civilian and military—by collecting, documenting, and presenting their personal testimonies.
- To increase the visibility of women’s perspectives in collective memory, strengthen the capacity of local communities to provide gender-sensitive post-war support, and contribute to building a culture of remembrance based on truth, empathy, and inclusivity.
The project’s activities, results, and deliverables are interconnected, creating a long-term impact on collective memory, gender equality, and peacebuilding. It begins with the panel discussion “Behind the Front Lines: The Invisible Heroines”, exploring women’s authentic experiences in war—life under occupation, participation in armed units, post-war challenges, fear of sexual violence, marginalization, forced labor, and resilience—while highlighting their contributions to reconciliation and peace work. Desk research follows, analyzing global and local (Croatian) sources on women’s wartime roles, particularly in Osijek-Baranja, Vukovar-Srijem, and Požega-Slavonia counties. Based on this, a methodological framework will guide participant selection, ethical standards, and trauma-informed data collection, ensuring privacy and psychological support during interviews. At least ten in-depth oral histories will be recorded, transcribed, and made publicly accessible in Croatian and English. The project concludes with a multimedia traveling exhibition, “Days of Oral History”, presented in Osijek, Vukovar, and Požega, featuring portraits, testimony excerpts, maps, and personal artifacts donated by women as tangible memories of war and resilience.
