Presidentical Council of Social Justice on civilian war victims

Presidential Council for Social Justice held a thematic session on
civilian war victims on September 10 in the premises of the Presidential
Office.

At the opening, the Croatian President I.Josipovic has
emphasized the importance of discussion and positive political decision
towards improving problematics of the civilian war victims. Member of
the Council and Programme Coordinator of Documenta, Emina Bužinkić
presented the civilian victims needs assesment. Victims figures range
from 4000 to 8000 killed, wounded and abused persons and includes 400
killed and 1044 wounded children. Number of cases show double
discrimination and marginalization of civilian victims by the fact of
their losses and latter non-prosecuted crimes, paying high expenses
after damage compensation trials and long waiting of the public
acknowledgment of their suffering.

On behalf of the civilian war
victims, the Council was addressed by Marica Šeatović, President of the
Association of Killed, Missing and Abducted Families, whose husband was
killed, Đurđa Gmaz, mother of a killed daughter and president of the
Coordination of the Croatian Homeland War Civilian War Victims of the
County of Sisacko-moslavacka and Jovica Brkić, secretary of the
association Pravda and a victim of a terrorist acts.

Eugen
Jakovčić, Documenta’s media coordinator presented the media campaign
Žrtve su predugo čekale (The victims have waited too long). Campaign
presents personal stories of eight civilian victims of war who have been
waiting for years for their suffering to be recognized; Daliborka
Mikulić from Slavonski Brod, Ðorđe Gunjević from Pakrac, Krešimir
Ivančić from Daruvar, Marica Kadić from Petrinja, Robert Kajušić from
Zagreb, Vjera Solar from Sisak, Zemina Jaroš from Osijek and anonymous
P.Z.

The video clips and web site www.civilnezrtve.hr are a sign
of solidarity with civilian victims who are facing difficulties and
humiliation in realizing their rights, even after so many years since
the war has ended.

Documenta’s Director Vesna Teršelič addressed
number of proposals and recommendations emphasizing importance of
public acknowledgement and reparation of all civilian war victims as
well as urgent deduction of litigation costs for the victims and
granting social rights based on principles of social solidarity, equal
social rights of military and civilian war invalids and establishment of
the Fund for rehabilitation, reintegration and reparations.