Authorities Ban Women Peace March

10 March 2008

The Women in Black strongly protest the decision by the Ministry of Interior (MUP) to ban the Women Peace March to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of March 8, International Women Day and see it as an attack on their elementary human rights.

According to the decision of the MUP, ... the march could lead to disruption of public traffic, threats to public health, safety of people and property. The ban was introduced, emphasize WIB, although the organization submitted the official request within the proper legal deadlines.

- We find this action of the authorities an attack on our elementary civil rights, including our right to public gathering and free movement. The state uses that approach to produce fear, insecurity and siege mentality among the citizens. This ban is an attack on the fragile democracy and civil society in the country, and especially an attack on women rights, accuse WIB in a public statement.

They add that it is forbidden to women in Serbia, in the heart of Europe, to take to the streets and fight for their rights on March 8, a global action, even in most brutal dictatorships.

- The decision shows that we still have a low-intensity war in Serbia targeted against those who think differently, especially human rights defenders that fight for break-up with the policies of a criminal regime and responsibility for war and crimes committed in our name, say Women in Black emphasizing that they will continue their non-violent struggle for democracy, civic liberties and human rights.