Empowering new survivors with old lessons? Insights from the Bosnian war aftermath applied to upcoming Ukrainian post-realities

Abstract

ABSTRACT In the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, media narratives drew stark parallels with the violent disintegration of the former Yugoslavia, instigating discussions on historical similarities and current sociopolitical relations. This paper explores the responses of Bosnian war rape survivors and activists to the gender-based violence during the invasion and draws insights or potential lessons learned for application in Ukraine. As survivors and activists advocate for documentation and warn of the prolonged journey to justice, they navigate triggering narratives reminiscent of Bosnia’s past. Utilizing qualitative content analysis of English and Bosnian-Croatian-Serb language media articles from March to December 2022, the study identifies recurring themes and patterns, referencing the Bosnian conflict as a point of comparison. Using “post” as a temporal and analytical framework, the focus narrows to trauma narratives, the dynamics of breaking the silence, and the distinctive feature of mass digitization in the Ukrainian context. The empowerment of survivors through digital platforms is explored, shedding light on the evolving nature of information dissemination. The paper aims to provide a foundation for understanding the challenges and opportunities for post-conflict recovery and gender trauma healing in the Ukrainian context, based on social factors rather than clinical ones.