An artistic performance dedicated to the fight against femicide and gender-based violence against women was held at the Roma Cultural Center in Pirot. This public event was organized by the Roma Association “Zora” from Babušnica, in partnership with the citizens’ association “Ternipe” from Pirot, marking May 18 – the Day of Remembrance for Victims of Femicide.

The activity is part of the project “The Right to a Life Without Fear,” implemented within the broader program of the Ecumenical Humanitarian Organization (EHO) “Empowering Local Roma Organizations,” with financial support from HfO-Hoffnung für Osteuropa Diakonie Württemberg. The aim of this program is to build capacities and support local initiatives of smaller Roma associations across Serbia.

The performance, carried out by local activists, aimed to raise awareness within the community and highlight the harsh statistics reminding us that violence is never a private matter.

Data collected from 2010 to May 2024 reveal the scale of this problem in our society:

°             406 women were killed in cases of femicide across Serbia.

°             In more than 70% of cases, the perpetrators were current or former partners.

°             In over 60% of cases, violence had been reported to the relevant institutions before the murder occurred.

°             More than 250 minor children were left without their mothers.

At the local level, in Pirot and the surrounding area, three women have been killed since 2010, and in all cases the perpetrators were their partners. A special focus of the performance was placed on the stories of Roma women who were killed by their partners within the Roma settlement in Pirot itself.

This public action was preceded by an intensive cycle of educational workshops and training sessions for girls and women. Through these meetings, participants learned how to recognize the first signs of psychological violence, how to react in dangerous situations, and where to seek institutional support.

The message sent from Pirot resonates both as a warning and as a call for solidarity: violence is never the fault of the person enduring it, and silence only protects the abuser. Change begins with recognizing the problem, supporting victims, and reporting violence in a timely manner.

SOS helplines for support and reporting violence:

°             SOS hotline: 0800 100 007

°             Police: 192