Background
Memories of wartime terror, internment, abuse and sexual violence still deeply affect the lives of tens of thousands of Bosnian women. During the war (1992-1995), rape was used as a weapon against communities. This history is still shrouded in secrecy and shame, and little public discourse is devoted to the plight of these civilian victims.
Estimates vary between 20,000 and 50,000 thousand women who suffered in this way. As intergenerational trauma transmission is manifest, it becomes clear that effective long-term trauma recovery is urgently needed for survivors and their families.
In recent years, Bosnia, too, has seen an influx of migrants and refugees headed towards the EU and has been affected by the global “shadow pandemic” of domestic violence.
“I never thought that I would be able to talk with others about my private difficulties…Honestly, I didn’t! For me this is a big step! I feel better, I see now that my problems are not the biggest, I am not alone…”
OUR Initial work
In partnership with Bosnian women’s organizations Medica Zenica, Snaga Žene, Vive Žene, and Žene sa Une, Common Threads launched the Common Threads Bosnia project in 2015. Our training handbook was translated into Bosnian. Sixteen facilitators participated in an 80 hour experiential training and adapted the intervention for their communities.
In 2016, Common Threads Project women’s circles were established in urban and rural settings in and around Zenica, Tuzla, and Bihać, with over 65 women participating. Another 30 women make up the control group for the research study. Our clinical team returned to Bosnia in early 2017 to provide additional training, preparing facilitators to conduct Phase II of the program. In 2018, the initial round of Bosnia circles concluded.
“The approach is step by step, breath by breath, stitch by stitch. It’s a healing process that can’t be rushed.”
ADAPTING TO CHANGING NEEDS: COVID-19
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, our partners in Bosnia faced a growing crisis of domestic violence. In 2021, our partner Žene sa Une launched a new Common Threads circle for women living in their safe house shelter. In 2022, we continued the healing circles with women at ZSU’s safe house shelter and launched new circles that May.
“The pressure can be enormous when you see people suffering”
Supporting Staff resiliency
Like front-line workers around the world, staff at our partner Žene sa Une encountered intolerable levels of stress while responding to the related crises of COVID-19 and domestic violence.
With support from a USAID CARE-GBV grant, CTP faculty Catherine Butterly and Cynthia Uccello co-created a comprehensive program for staff care and resilience with Žene sa Une. This program continued into 2022, prioritizing wellness and comprehensive care for all ZSU staff who work with survivors of sexual and gender-based violence and with refugees.
View Story Cloths from Bosnia
