"Working with victims and survivors of armed violence" Regional Review Conference on the Geneva Declaration on Armed Violence and Development Geneva, Switzerland | 8-9 July 2014

1. Working with victims andWorking with victims and
survivors of armed violencesurvivors of armed violence
Jasmina NikolićJasmina Nikolić
Victimology Sociey of SerbiaVictimology Sociey of Serbia

2. About VDSAbout VDS
 A not-for-profit, non-governmental organization,A not-for-profit, non-governmental organization,
founded in 1997 to unite academics andfounded in 1997 to unite academics and
professionals interested in victimology andprofessionals interested in victimology and
protection of victims of crime, human rightsprotection of victims of crime, human rights
violations and war, regardless of gender,violations and war, regardless of gender,
religion, ethnicity and other features.religion, ethnicity and other features.
 Three main typesof activities:Three main typesof activities:
 info and support to victims,info and support to victims,
 research and educationresearch and education
 Truth and reconciliation program.Truth and reconciliation program.

3. VDS info and victim supportVDS info and victim support
 Established in 2003, the Service aims to supportEstablished in 2003, the Service aims to support
victims of crime. Services offered to both femalevictims of crime. Services offered to both female
and male victims of crime include:and male victims of crime include:
 information about victims’ rights and how toinformation about victims’ rights and how to
realize them,realize them,
 emotional support,emotional support,
 referrals to other services depending on victim’sreferrals to other services depending on victim’s
needsneeds
 witness support and legal aid.witness support and legal aid.

4. VDS info and victim supportVDS info and victim support
 The only service of its type in Serbia,The only service of its type in Serbia,
providing assistance and support toproviding assistance and support to
victims of crime regardless of gender, age,victims of crime regardless of gender, age,
form of violence or any other personalform of violence or any other personal
characteristics.characteristics.
 In recent years most victims approachedIn recent years most victims approached
service with problems of domesticservice with problems of domestic
violence and violence at the workplaceviolence and violence at the workplace

5. Femicide in SerbiaFemicide in Serbia
 The newspapers articles collected andThe newspapers articles collected and
analyzed by Women against Violenceanalyzed by Women against Violence
Network show that in 2013, 43 womenNetwork show that in 2013, 43 women
were murdered in Serbia.were murdered in Serbia.

6. Femicide in SerbiaFemicide in Serbia
Number of womenNumber of women
murderedmurdered
Murdered by gunMurdered by gun
20132013 4343 12 (27,9%)12 (27,9%)
20122012 3232 9 (28,1)9 (28,1)
20112011 2929 9 (31%)9 (31%)
20102010 2626 7 (26,9%)7 (26,9%)

7. Femicide in SerbiaFemicide in Serbia
 Femicide usually happens in a home andFemicide usually happens in a home and
a third of women were killed by firearmsa third of women were killed by firearms
 Home ownership of weapons is connectedHome ownership of weapons is connected
to militarization Serbia in the 90s as wellto militarization Serbia in the 90s as well
as the demilitarization which took placeas the demilitarization which took place
after conflict cessation.after conflict cessation.

8. Femicide in SerbiaFemicide in Serbia
 Guns located at home are often used toGuns located at home are often used to
make threats or to physically harm familymake threats or to physically harm family
members.members.
 The trauma inflicted by threats of using theThe trauma inflicted by threats of using the
gun or death threats reduced the women’sgun or death threats reduced the women’s
capacity of resistance.capacity of resistance.

9. Femicide in SerbiaFemicide in Serbia
 In 3 out 11 cases where the perpetrator ownedIn 3 out 11 cases where the perpetrator owned
firearms, the women had reported violence priorfirearms, the women had reported violence prior
to the murder.to the murder.
 This shows that those women were notThis shows that those women were not
protected adequately and that the relevantprotected adequately and that the relevant
institution were inefficient and ineffective, or thatinstitution were inefficient and ineffective, or that
the relevant institutions failed to react at all.the relevant institutions failed to react at all.

10. Aftermath of femicideAftermath of femicide
 Violence leave many consequences on thoseViolence leave many consequences on those
who are indirectly exposed to it as well.who are indirectly exposed to it as well.
Indicators of suffering, pain and human miseryIndicators of suffering, pain and human misery
for those who suffer violence directly orfor those who suffer violence directly or
indirectly, are impossible to measure.indirectly, are impossible to measure.
 Out of the 38 people who lost their mother inOut of the 38 people who lost their mother in
2013, 22 were minors. Analysis of media data2013, 22 were minors. Analysis of media data
shows that there is growing trend of childrenshows that there is growing trend of children
witnessing the murder of their mother orwitnessing the murder of their mother or
grandmother.grandmother.

11. Support for victims in SerbiaSupport for victims in Serbia
 Our legal and health systems recognize andOur legal and health systems recognize and
support the victims of domestic violence,support the victims of domestic violence,
trafficking in people, robbery, human rightstrafficking in people, robbery, human rights
violation etc.violation etc.
 But the relatives and/or friends of the victims ofBut the relatives and/or friends of the victims of
homicide or trafic accidents are “hiddenhomicide or trafic accidents are “hidden
victims”.”victims”.”
 Victim support professionals feel a strong needVictim support professionals feel a strong need
to develop their basic knowledge so they are toto develop their basic knowledge so they are to
support the needs of these victims and families.support the needs of these victims and families.

12. RecommendationsRecommendations
 Strong control of arms in cases ofStrong control of arms in cases of
domestic violence in order to preventdomestic violence in order to prevent
femicidefemicide
 Training for professionals dealing withTraining for professionals dealing with
survivors and victims of armed violencesurvivors and victims of armed violence

13.  Victimology Society of SerbiaVictimology Society of Serbia
 www.vds.org.rswww.vds.org.rs
 E-mail:E-mail: vdsvds@eunet.rs@eunet.rs
vdsrbija@gmail.comvdsrbija@gmail.com