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.

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