Tonight in Konjic, the 4th Festival of Women’s Activism and Creativity “Planet ŽeNERA” was opened, organized by the Women’s Association “Nera” from Konjic. The three-day event will feature a rich and diverse program.
Konjic: The 4th “Planet ŽeNERA” Festival Opens Tonight
This year, the festival brings together women from the Netherlands, Serbia, Montenegro, and across Bosnia and Herzegovina. Among the special guests are activists from Grahovo, Bosanska Krupa, and Prnjavor, as well as three women who are recipients of international awards for ecology, humanitarian work, and human rights.
The slogan of this year’s festival, “We Are Ours,” reflects its focus on solidarity.
The festival began with the play “Activism Under the Stars” by the Dignitet Association from Mostar. At the official opening, held at the City Café, an award ceremony took place, with the awards presented by Ilvana Bakoš, a member of the “Nera” Association.
Special awards were presented to women from other cities who made significant contributions in helping people in flood-affected areas. They are: Biljana Gavran (Fojnica), Dr. Alma Budim-Hondo (Jablanica), and the Croatian Cultural and Artistic Society Gromiljak (Kiseljak).
The “Nera” Association awarded the “Solidarity in Action” Plaque to Ajša Šoljić from Konjic for her initiative to protect harem cemeteries in flood-affected areas.
This year’s “Super Nera” award was presented to Amra Gakić from Konjic.
The Women’s Association “Nera” awarded the traditional “Solidarity in Action” prize to Emina Bubalo, a medical student from Konjic.
This year, the organizer awarded the “Friendship Charter” to two activists, Dženeta Agović from Tutin and Ifeta Mejremić from Konjević-Polje.
On behalf of IOM, the festival’s sponsor, coordinator Vladana Vasić emphasized in her address that many women deserve recognition.
“When we talk about the role of women in the community in Bosnia and Herzegovina, it seems to me that women are the most underutilized resource and potential of society,” Vasić stated.
Elvedina Alić, President of the “Nera” Association, greeted the attendees and emphasized that it is important for women to stay connected.
“Here are the one hundred strongest women in the region. We have created an unbreakable bond among women in the region, a movement that has no name but exists nonetheless. Thank you for the miles you have traveled to be here; it is important to us because we believe that every mile is a mile of love and respect,” Alić expressed her gratitude.
During Saturday and Sunday, festival participants will organize panels in nature at the Visit Konjic Outdoor Resort, rock climbing, a visit to Tito’s bunker, a trip to Blace, informal conversations and experience exchanges among activists aimed at strengthening the women’s movement, attend film screenings, and host gatherings with poetry and a concert by Alma Abdagić.
The implementation of the feminist festival “ŽeNERA” is carried out through the project “Women Leading on the Path to Peace and Security in Bosnia and Herzegovina,” which is implemented with the support of the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) in partnership with the Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees of BiH. The project is led by the UN Resident Coordinator in BiH and jointly implemented by UN Women, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
The festival is also supported by the Ecumenical Women’s Initiative from Omiš and the Global Fund for Women.
Source of the text and photographs: Radio Konjic–https://radiokonjic.ba/konjic-veceras-otvoren-4-festival-planeta-zenera/
