On human trafficking phenomenon at TV Pančevo

Anti Trafficking Center PR Manager Marijana Stojčić talked on human trafficking phenomenon and presented ATC’s program and activities at TV Pančevo show “Kod Stanka” on October, 7^th, 2007.

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the situation of Human Rights Defenders visited Serbia

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the situation of Human Rights Defenders, Ms Hina Jilani, visited Serbia from 17 to 21 September 2007.The Special Representative met Governments' representatives and human rights defenders, representatives of civil society organizations. At the meeting that took place in UNDP office, on 18 September, the Special representative met further organizations: Anti Trafficking Center, Labris, YUCOM and Women in Black. Organizations' representatives talked on attacks and hostilities against human rights defenders from YUCOM, Gay Straight Alliance, Labris and SOS Hotline in Novi Sad. They also talked about legal framework and the social environment in which defenders operate with special emphasis in women – human rights defenders, and defenders of sexual minorities. In addition they talked  about free access to finances, freedom of expression and of assembly and association.
For more information about the mandate of the Special Representative and copies of available reports, please consult the website of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights:
http://www.ohchr.org/english/issues/defenders/index.htm

PitchWise 2007, Festival of Women`s Arts, Sarajevo, September 06-11

ATC`s activist Jelena Djordjevic took part on PitchWise 2007, festival of women`s arts in Sarajevo. On Saturday, September 8th she carried out the Workshop for activists and interested parties and as co-author presented publication  ’What's the point of  revolution if we cannot dance?’ published by Urgent Action Fund for Women’s Human Rights.

Front Line - Protection of Human Rights Defenders delegation visiting Serbia

A Front Line delegation will be visiting Serbia between 8^th and 18^th July 2007 in order to meet with human rights defenders to discuss the environment in which they are working and the risks or threats that they face in carrying out their legitimate human rights work.The Front Line delegation will be made up of Caitríona Rice, Protection Coordinator and Researcher for Europe, and Jim Loughran, Head of Communications. Anti Trafficking Center in Belgrade is Front Line's local partner for this visit and is organising the schedule of meetings.

Lecture “Human trafficking in Balkan - problems and opportunities in providing human rights”

Anti-discrimination Coalition, add in Blic on June 27th

On Wednesday June 27^th 2007, Anti-discrimination Coalition placed an add in Blic newspaper. Members of the Anti-discrimination Coalition are: Anti Trafficking Center, CHRIS, Centar for the advancement of the studies of law, Gayten LGBT, Gay-straight alliance, Labris – group for lesbian human rights, Students with handicap association, Initiative for inclusion "VelikiMali", Youith initiative for human rights. Lambda and Duga Šabac also took part in the action. Action was supported by Urgent Action Fund for Women’s Human Rights and Swedish Helsinki Committee.

Propposed Law against discrimination by Antidiscrimination Coalition please find on:

Open call for basic training on gender based violence

Sex, Work and Society

“Sex, Work and Society”, project on the issue of sex work, economy of sex and sexuality – opening of the exhibition on Museum Night Saturday, May 19^th,06pm -02 am, KONTEKST Gallery in cooperation with Anti Trafficking Center.

Curators: Ivana Marjanović i Vida Knežević (Kontekst Gallery, Belgrade)
Participants (artists and activists from Belgrade and Vienna): Jelena Radić (Belgrade), Goca Belić (Belgrade), Milica Ružičić (Belgrade), Maja Savić (QueerBeograd, Belgrade), Julia Wieger (Vienna), Elke Auer (Vienna), Esther Straganz    (Vienna) i Eva Egermann (Vienna).

On Sunday, May 20^th, 06pm, Discussion on Sex Work and Sexuality.

Participants: Jelena Đorđević (Anti Trafficking Center Belgrade), Zoe Gudović (Žene na delu, QueerBeograd) and participants on Sex, Work and Society Project.

Film screening on sex work.

V-Day in Belgrade, Thursday, February 15th, REX

V-day celebration in Belgrade

Thursday, February 15^th, REX ( Jevrejska str. 16)

Showing “UNTIL THE VIOLENCE STOPS“ film

Director: Abby Epstein

/ SAD, 2003, 73 min./

 +

Theatrical performance VAGINA MONOLOGUES recording

Director: Jelena Bogavac

/Serbia, 2006, 16 min./

 + 

Panel on power, politics and sexuality

Anti Trafficking Center from Belgrade is showing a film “V-DAY: UNTIL THE VIOLENCE STOPS”) and recording of last year’s performance Vagina’s Monologues, which was performed within a V-Day celebration, in Belgrade, on Thursday, February 15^th, REX ( Jevrejska str. 16)

Extraordinarily empowering and heartbreakingly funny, the Sundance  favorite V-DAY: UNTIL THE VIOLENCE STOPS chronicles how Eve Ensler's  hit Broadway solo show The Vagina Monologues grew into V-Day, an  international grassroots movement to stop violence against women and  girls. The first of its kind, The Vagina Monologues has been widely  recognized as "a celebration of women's sexuality and a condemnation  of its violation" (The New York Times) and praised as "frank, humorous  and moving" (Chicago Tribune). Over eight hundred cities around the  world have participated in V-Day by staging benefit performances of  The Vagina Monologues. From locales as diverse as New York, the  Phillippines and Kenya, director Abby Epstein's UNTIL THE VIOLENCE  STOPS features emotionally charged interviews and readings by everyday  and celebrity women (including Rosie Perez, Salma Hayek, Rosario  Dawson, Jane Fonda and LisaGay Hamilton), all of whom courageously  reveal their intimate experiences and bond together to break the  silence that surrounds abuse. More than just a group testimonial,  UNTIL THE VIOLENCE STOPS is a moving celebration of community  awareness that leaves us with the hope that change can happen.

At the panel after the projection, besides the „Vagina Monologues“ performance director Jelena Bogavac, actress Danica Maksimovic and other performance actresess, as well as other eminent public people would talk.

Why Vagina Monologues?

The author says that, at the beginning of performing of „Vagina Monologues“ each time, every place in the earth, women have approached to her after the performance. First she was delighted, thinking that she will hear inspiring and beautiful stories on the female part of the world, on female understanding of sexuality, relation towards their own bodies... There were some alike but mostly, women taled her how they had been beaten, raped, survived incest, and changed for good with the experience. Many of those women for the first time in their lives found strenght to speak on this.

And this is where the answer lies on a question how the performance that should celebrate female sexuality, body and life, grew to be a story on violence, shame, guilt and suffer. Millions of women around the world are becoming aware of their bodies, start thinking on their bodies just through violence, living it or living in it. The theatre performance empowered women to talk on their own experiences of violence and abuse, to overcome shame, feeling that this is happening only to them and that somehow guilt is theirs.

Violence against women is deeply embodied in society we live in. It shows in different ways – through underestimating almost all that women do, insult and humiliation, making fun rituals, economic exploitation and exhausting women resources, fear and disgust over female physiological needs, viewing female body and female sexuality as something dirty and dangerous, through suppressing female body and sexuality into the silence.

WELCOME   TO   REX  !

Panel discussion "Enhancing the rights of LBGT population in Serbia through adoption of anti-discrimination law"

Gay Straight Alliance and Anti Trafficking Centre supported by the Royal Netherlands Embassy from Belgrade organized a panel discussion inviting representatives of all political parties to discuss adoption of anti-discrimination law in front of the general public before the elections, which took place in Sava Center, Belgrade on January 15^th 2007.

Participants were:
- Arthur Kibbelaar, Second Secretary of the Royal Netherlands Embassy
- Frank van Dalen, President of the Netherlands COC Foundation
- Boris Milićević, Gay Straight Alliance
- Saša Gajić, Anti-discrimination Coalition
- Jelena Milić (LDP-GSS-SDU-LSV), Member of the Main Board of the Civic Alliance of
- Milan Marković (DS), Vice President of the Serbian Parliament, deputy of the Democratic Party and the President of the Municipality Palilula
- Snežana Stojanović-Plavšić (G17+), Member of the Presidency of the G17 Plus and deputy of the G17 Plus.

Regarding 17 December: International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers

    Jelena Milic, activist of Anti Trafficking Center talked on the problem from the human rights aspect at radio B92 show on December 18^th.
    Giving attention to this day, Anti Trafficking Center performs the workshop in its rooms.

December 6, 2006 at 16h, at American Corner, Dom omladine Beograd,

Anti Trafficking Center and American Corner are inviting you on the panel

Behind the Walls: Should I Stay or Should I Go?

Open panel on visa and immigration policies of developed countries

On December 6, 2006 at 16h, at American Corner, Dom omladine Beograd,

Draft agenda:

• Introduction of the organizers and guests
• Short presentation of "Safe Migrations" program of the ATC
  
• Nexus of Trafficking and Migrations - expert of the ATC
  
• Security issues as element of visa regimes (borders and biometric passports) - expert of the ATC
  
• Representatives of foreign embassies
  
• Discussion with visitors, Q&A

This is unique opportunity for both parties to meet and have a constructive dialogue on visa and immigration regimes, embracing the same aim - easier and safer movement with full respect of destination country regulations.  The ATC will present a "Safe Migrations" program and approach. The embassy officers will present policies and regulations of their countries. The citizens will have a chance to get answers on some of the most frequent questions.

Panelists: Representatives of foreign Western embassies in Belgrade

               Experts of the Anti Trafficking Center

               Visitors of American Corner

ATC in Serbia Counter-Trafficking Community Mobilization

    As one of the three main partners in CARE International North West Balkans project aimed to strengthen key anti-trafficking organizations in Serbia, enhance raising of the public awareness and further promote cooperation with local and state authorities, within the new project Serbia Counter-Trafficking Community Mobilization the Anti Trafficking Center (ATC) plans to realize 30 Workshops in all major cities of Serbia (geographically balanced), meant for high-school population, primarily girls, on the issues of raising awareness on trafficking in human beings, gender-based violence, prejudices, discrimination, human rights, etc. starting from October 2006. Workshops are interactive, implying combination of different exercises and emphasising active participation of all attendees, held by licensed trainers with years of experience.
    Workshops would be organized in public high schools (with permission of schools’ councils), community centers, youth clubs, youth NGOs, community based organizations, partner organizations, in Loznica, Krupanj, Kraljevo, Vlasotince, Prijepolje, Leskovac and other cities.
    If you are interested for such education available for your staff, associates, partners, friends and other citizens, please contact Jelena Milic, ATC coordinator, on (011/3239002), by fax or e-mail (jelena.milic@atc.org.yu) for further arrangement.

FESTIVAL FLASH - UNTIL THE VIOLENCE STOPS: NYC BEGINS TODAY

1) UNTIL THE VIOLENCE STOPS: NYC BEGINS TODAY
2) DON'T MISS ANY ONE OF US: WORDS FROM PRISON AND A MEMORY, A MONOLOGUE, A RANT AND A PRAYER - TICKETS AVAILABLE
3) MEN@WORK - MEN'S WORKSHOP TO TAKE PLACE JUNE 24
4) PRESS CLIPS - CHECK OUT THE LATEST COVERAGE IN THE NEW YORK TIMES AND TIME OUT NY
5) OVER FIFTY COMMUNITY EVENTS IN ALL FIVE BOROUGHS
6) HAVE YOU SEEN IT? MESSAGING CAMPAIGN TAKES OVER NEW YORK CITY

1) UNTIL THE VIOLENCE STOPS: NYC BEGINS TODAY
    After months of planning, UNTIL THE VIOLENCE STOPS: NYC begins today with a sold out opening night reading of Eve Ensler's Necessary Targets with Kathy Bates, Jane Fonda, Marcia Gay Harden, Emma Myles, Shiva Rose, Marian Seldes, and Kerry Washington. Inviting artists, community groups, city leaders, and all New Yorkers to participate, the festival will bring the issue of violence against women and girls front and center in the culture and the community. From marquee events, over 60 community events (find an event near you), a men & boys workshop, a run through Prospect Park, a messaging campaign on buses, subways, elevators, and now the digital screens at Yankee stadium, the festival message is everywhere - Join V-Day and 'Make NYC The Safest Place On Earth For Women And Girls.'

To learn more about the festival and the issue, attend events, and take action, visit vday.org

2) DON'T MISS ANY ONE OF US: WORDS FROM PRISON AND A MEMORY, A MONOLOGUE, A RANT AND A PRAYER - TICKETS AVAILABLE
    Additional seats have just been added for A Memory, A Monologue, A Rant and a Prayer. On Monday June 19 at Hammerstein Ballroom, world renowned writers including Edward Albee, Tariq Ali, Michael Cunningham, Ariel Dorfman, Michael Eric Dyson, Nicholas Kristof, Kathy Najimy, Anna Deavere Smith, Alice Walker, Howard Zinn and more, will come together to address the issue of violence against women, contributing original pieces and bringing their particular vision, talent and take on the issue. Performances by Sarita Choudhury, Kate Clinton, Rosario Dawson, Troy Garity, Hazelle Goodman, Shirley Knight, La Chanze, James Lecesne, Cynthia Nixon, Denis O'Hare, Victor Rivers, Isabella Rossellini, Lois Smith, Marlo Thomas, Nia Vardalos, Kerry Washington, and more. Charlotte Martin will be performing original music inspired by and written for A Memory, A Monologue, A Rant, And A Prayer through out the evening.
Click here to purchase tickets to A Memory, A Monologue, A Rant, and A Prayer.

    Rosario Dawson and Swoosie Kurtz have just joined Any One of Us: Words from Prison. On Wednesday, June 21 at Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center, V-Day, along with the American Civil Liberties Union and the New York Civil Liberties Union will present the evening which will bring forth raw voices of fierceness and honesty written by women from prisons across the nation, moving forward toward healing, understanding, and change, ultimately impacting laws and the treatment of incarcerated women. Performances by Rosario Dawson, Swoosie Kurtz, Rosie O'Donnell, Phylicia Rashad, Kerry Washington, and more. Country singer Mindy McCready will perform her song "Black & Blue" live for the first time. Sponsored in part by The New York Women's Foundation.
Click here to purchase tickets to Any One of Us: Words from Prison

3) MEN@WORK - MEN'S WORKSHOP TO TAKE PLACE JUNE 24
    Join us for this groundbreaking workshop - Men@Work: Men Working To End Men's Violence Against Women And Girls. Topics include: Redefining Masculinity; Recognizing Family Violence; "Beyond Beats and Rhymes: an exploration of sexism, homophobia and misogyny in Hip Hop"; Fathering: Finding the tools for breaking the cycle of violence, and becoming a leader in your community to end violence against women.
    Eve Ensler will introduce V-Day Men: Byron Hurt, Jackson Katz, David Jones, Don McPherson, Sanjay Rawal, Victor Rivas Rivers and Quentin Walcott, a dynamic group of men leading the first ever V-Day workshop by and for men.

Men@Work: Men Working To End Men's Violence Against Women And Girls
Saturday, June 24
11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (light lunch will be served)
Location: Columbia University School of Social Work, 1255
Amsterdam Ave., 3rd Floor, Rooms 311/312, Between 121st Street and 122nd Streets, NYC
Space is limited, RSVP to tony@vday.org or 212-645-VDAY (8329).
Sponsored in part by The Avon Foundation.

4) PRESS CLIPS - CHECK OUT THE LATEST COVERAGE IN THE NEW YORK TIMES AND TIME OUT NY
    Newspapers and media including Associated Press, Brooklyn Rail, El Diario, Good Day NY, New York Amsterdam News, New York Daily News, The New York Times, Queens Times and TIME OUT New York and have covered the festival, spreading the word to New Yorkers and the world.

To read today's article in The New York Times, visit http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/12/arts/12ensl.html

Read TIME OUT New York 's coverage http://www.timeout.com/newyork/Details.do?page=1&xyurl=xyl://TONYWebArticles1/558/around_town/antiviolent_femme.xml

V-DAY FINALLY CELEBRATED IN BELGRADE

On Saturday, April 22^nd, in Belgrade, project “Until the Violence Stops” reached its culmination in whole-day program within V-DAY worldwide movement.

During the day, at the Student Cultural Center, the Vagina Workshop was organized for all interested activists and guests from Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, etc., carried out by Rada Boric, regional V-DAY coordinator.

With an opening at 20p.m. Eve Ensler’s "The Vagina Monologues" played to a sold out, ovating crowd in Yugoslav Drama Theatre Auditorium, directed by Jelena Bogavac. The most notable actresses from our country such Mirjana Karanovic, Danica Maksimovic, Ana Sofrenovic, Anita Mancic, Natasa Markovic, Danijela Vranjes, Jelena Ilic, Vladislava Djordjevic and Hristina Popovic, took part at this groundbreaking, award winning play.

Contributing as special guests, there were Anita Matic, actress form Zagreb and two international celebrities form abroad who accepted ATC-s invitation to support this event, Beatriz Luengo - popular Spanish actress ( Lola from UN PASO ADELANTE - UPA DANCE ) and Myleene Klass - famous English pianist ( ex - singer from pop group "Hear's say" ).

At the very ending of the play, ATC representatives thanked publicly to all who helped that V-DAY in Belgrade come true, to partners, donors and visitors, and called on the stage women’s organization KOLO to whom all raised funds from the occasion are directly donated.

Evening ended with cocktail for the invited at the YDT lobby, where visitors could contribute with donations and by T-shirts with the “Until the Violence Stops” campaign printed sign.

See our photo section ”Gallery” for event pictures       

http://www.atc.org.yu/violence/Gallery/index.html .

"The Vagina Monologues" in Belgrade

The preparations for the unique performance of "The Vagina Monologues" in Belgrade, at the Yugoslav Drama Theater (YDT), Saturday, April 22nd are almost finished.

As it is already well known, the director of this famous Eve Ensler's play will be Jelena Bogavac, and the top cast that will perform includes such big names as:

• Mirjana Karanovic
• Danica Maksimovic
• Ana Sofrenovic
• Anita Mancic
• Natasa Markovic
• Danijela Vranjes
• Jelena Ilic
• Vladislava Djordjevic
• Hristina Popovic
• Anita Matic, Croatia
• and many others...

Special guests from abroad:

• Beatriz Luengo - popular Spanish actress ( Lola from UN PASO ADELANTE - UPA DANCE )

• Myleene Klass - famous English pianist ( ex - singer from pop grupe "Hear's say" )

We would like to inform all interested that tickets for the play "The Vagina Monologues" can be bought at the YDT ticket-office (phone: 011 3061 957, 644 447). The price of the ticket is 700.00 Serbian dinars (about 8 euros) and we strongly encourage you by purchasing tickets contribute to this benefit project.

Accommodation in Belgrade

On the web page of the ATC list of recommended hotels and hostels which are located nearby the venue of the “V- DAY"  event is published, and visitors there can easily book their reservation for the event period (April 20-22).

Link for this page:

http://www.atc.org.yu/violence/Accommodation_in_Belgrade/index.html

Activities and Initiatives of Women Worldwide

A compilation of events celebrating Women's History Month (March) ... [more]

OSCE Conference Calls For Better Co-ordination In Battle Against Human Trafficking