Heroines Among Us: Women Religious Leaders Supporting Survivors and Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina

In a small hall in Vareš, women religious leaders from different local communities gathered around the same table to speak about what has long remained unspoken: the personal stories of survivors of conflict-related sexual violence, the trauma that did not end with the cessation of the conflict thirty years ago, and the strength that emerges only when their testimonies are acknowledged and voiced openly.

According to the Report of the UN Secretary-General, in-depth study on all forms of violence against women, an estimated 20,000 women and men were raped or sexually abused during the 1992–1995 war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, leaving deep and lasting scars not only on individuals, but on the social fabric of entire communities.

Three decades later, stigma against survivors of sexual violence remains a profound social challenge. A UNFPA study Stigma Against Survivors of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence in Bosnia and Herzegovina from 2015 shows that survivors, most often women but also men, continue to live with judgment, marginalization, and deep feelings of shame. These realities discourage survivors from speaking about what they endured or seeking support, reinforcing patterns of exclusion that weaken trust and make peaceful coexistence harder to sustain.

Facing Trauma, Face to Face

In response to these enduring patterns of silence and exclusion, the UN Secretary-General’s Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) initiative “Women Lead the Way Toward Peace and Security in Bosnia and Herzegovina” has engaged with women religious leaders from different confessions and communities across the country, recognizing their unique role as trusted voices capable of fostering dialogue, challenging stigma, and reshaping narratives that undermine societies.

By working through faith-based leadership and survivor-centered approaches, the initiative strengthens social cohesion at the most local level, helping communities rebuild relationships grounded in dignity, empathy, and mutual respect.

“Today we opened a dialogue that rarely happens in small communities. A lot is said about the war, but not in this way—face to face, among people who know one another and live side by side.” says Saudina Beganović, Coordinator of the Department for Marriage and Family of the Islamic Community Council of Vareš.

For her, the power of these encounters lies in the courage of women who choose to bear witness within their own communities.

“These women are heroines among us. Their testimonies are a lasting record, shared in the hope that no one will ever again experience such violence.” Saudina adds. 

Faith as Refuge and Responsibility

Similar reflections emerged during a gathering of women religious leaders in Banja Luka. Stojana Valan, a theologian and Orthodox religious education teacher, emphasized that women’s voices within religious communities are crucial for breaking silence and preventing the normalization of violence.

“It is essential that women’s voices are heard, especially from within religious communities, when we talk about preventing and stopping violence. The violence born of war has yet to find its end.” she notes. 

She also addressed one of the heaviest burdens survivors continue to carry: moral stigmatization.

“We must clearly state that sexual violence has nothing to do with sexual morality. It is violence, and it is absolutely unacceptable in any context.”

Interreligious Dialogue as a Foundation of Society

Sister Marija Blanka Ruža Jeličić of the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul participated in the dialogue held in Sarajevo, reminding that religious communities play a vital role in society beyond spiritual care alone.

“This is not just an interreligious encounter. This is an encounter of humanity, women and men together. Our civil laws often have their foundations in religious values, which is why it is important for each of us, within our communities, to be responsible and constructive members of society.”

Women as Peace Leaders

At the Sarajevo gathering, participants also contributed key inputs for the development of a joint document, “Initiative: Women Believers in the Building of Peace and Security in Bosnia and Herzegovina”, grounded in UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security (WPS). 

The initiative connecting women affected by war with women religious leaders is rooted in the WPS agenda, which emphasizes that women are not only victims of conflict, but also agents of peace. Although women are still rarely included in formal peace processes, they have been building peace at the local level for decades, through families, communities, and networks of mutual support.

Peace Built Through Dialogue 

The gatherings in Vareš, Banja Luka, and Sarajevo form part of a broader series of local initiatives across Bosnia and Herzegovina. By bringing together women of different religious backgrounds and generations, these encounters create spaces for trust, healing, and new narratives of dignity, responsibility, and coexistence. Each serve as a reminder that peace is a process that must be built and renewed every day.

“Dialogue must not only be opened, but it must also be built. Without trust and truth, there is no future.” says Saudina Beganović. 

Thirty years after the war, women, through solidarity and collective action, are emerging as one of the strongest foundations of sustainable peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

This work is part of a broader efforts to institutionalize survivor-centered approaches in partnerships with theological faculties. It is led by UNFPA in BiH, under the PBF's Women Lead the Way Toward Peace and Security initiative—jointly implemented with UN Women and IOM, in partnership with the Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees of Bosnia and Herzegovina— to ensure that future religious leaders, women and men alike, are empowered to respond to violence in ways that meet the needs of their communities and contribute to lasting peace.