Scientist, professor, and activist Zilka Spahić Šiljak is the author of a regional study on gender-based violence and discrimination conducted at 18 universities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, and Montenegro. The biggest challenge was engaging educators and helping them understand that this is not merely a women’s issue.
Last Tuesday, at the Faculty of Law of the University of Zagreb, the results of a regional survey on gender-based violence and discrimination across 18 universities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, and Montenegro were presented. During this event, we spoke with Prof. Dr. Sci. Zilka Spahić-Šiljak, one of the editors of the scientific publication and a leading researcher, professor, and activist.
This concept is relatively unknown in these regions, and our research has shown that many people misunderstand it, often conflating gender-based violence with domestic violence. However, gender-based violence refers to violence committed based on someone’s sex or gender and can manifest in various forms. It may be psychological, verbal, or physical, with the most severe forms including sexual violence and rape. These issues are reported daily in the media, yet there is still a lack of effective solutions.
NATIONAL: Are there differences in the awareness of gender equality issues among universities based on the results obtained?
Of course, there are differences, though they are not significant. For instance, Croatia stands out compared to Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro in terms of greater awareness and information regarding gender equality and gender-based violence. However, these differences are not substantial.
It is essential to work equally across all universities, focusing primarily on changing the organizational culture and the dynamics of power structures within the university community. As revealed by both the interviews and the quantitative research, although mechanisms such as gender action plans, gender equality bodies, guidelines, and protocols for handling cases of gender-based violence exist, there is still inadequate accessibility and coordination among all actors when a specific act of violence occurs and is reported. This lack of coordination hampers the victim’s ability to navigate the process and results in ineffective sanctioning of the perpetrator.
Violence is often covered up and there is reluctance to discuss it openly. Power structures are hesitant to prosecute their staff because it tarnishes the university’s image. Older generations of teaching staff, in particular, seem to be shielded and are difficult to hold accountable. There have been cases in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and Serbia that have reached the courts, but these cases often drag on unresolved, discouraging victims from pursuing justice.
“The power structures are reluctant to prosecute their professors because it would damage the university’s reputation. Older generations of faculty members are particularly shielded, making it difficult to hold them accountable.”
NACIONAL: To what extent did the #MeToo and Nisam tražila movements influence the perception of the problem of gender-based violence?
Certainly, they had an impact. Both the #MeToo movement and the Nisam tražila movement, which began in Belgrade, encouraged many primarily female students, as well as female teachers from the university and academic communities, to openly discuss their experiences. We now have web portals featuring hundreds of testimonials from both students and teaching staff. The #MeToo movement also empowered women in these fields to find the courage to speak publicly about their experiences. It is challenging to address forms of violence that are not readily recognized as such, and difficult to process and prove unless they are the most blatant forms of gender-based violence. Therefore, the #MeToo movement has significantly influenced women to speak out. There are numerous portals with extensive testimonies, complete with identities and detailed stories. During our research, we even encountered female professors who told us, “We learned about cases of gender-based violence at our university from the portals where our female students shared their experiences.”
NACIONAL: One of the conclusions of the research is that gender-based violence exists in universities, but it remains unspoken due to a “culture of silence.” Could you elaborate on this?
First of all, the university community is hierarchically structured, with men predominantly holding positions of power. There are very few women in these roles, and even if they have their own opinions, they often choose not to express them publicly. They are reluctant to hold grudges or risk losing their positions of power. As a result, there is a culture of non-resistance, where individuals prefer not to be questioned or scrutinized, fearing repercussions. This fear and mistrust are significant. Research has shown a lack of confidence in the power structures. Although the system has formal mechanisms in place, there is no real trust in them. If people do not believe that processes will be transparent or that they will receive fair treatment and respect, they are unlikely to report issues, such as violence or harassment. Victims are deterred by the fear of mobbing, pressure, and stigma associated with coming forward.
Female students have particularly highlighted their perception that teachers are untouchable. They believe that no matter what they report or say, these teachers act as if they are above accountability—like minor deities who control everything in the classroom and within the university. Consequently, they feel that their complaints will not be taken seriously, and no action will be taken against such teachers. Unfortunately, this perception is often confirmed in practice. When cases are brought to a judicial resolution, the outcomes are usually ineffective; offending teachers may even return to work or receive promotions.
NACIONAL: What is the current status of bodies and mechanisms for protecting against discrimination and abuse at universities?
There are regulations, protocols, guidelines, and various types of documents in place. Most universities also have trustees. However, the problem lies in the fact that the appointed commissioners serve only in an advisory capacity. While it is possible to report incidents of violence, these individuals and their offices cannot classify the act or provide legal assistance. There are no legal clinics or psychological counseling centers available.
Through the UNIGEM project, we have enabled partner universities to establish psychological and legal counseling centers for those reporting violence. Despite the existence of protocols, guidelines, and regulations, we have observed a disconnect between these laws, the university’s statutes and rules, and the newly established bodies. This creates a significant gap that needs to be addressed to ensure that individuals who report violence understand the process and know where to turn for help.
Additionally, we have identified another issue. There is not only a culture of non-responsibility but also a tendency to deflect. Everyone seems eager to distance themselves from responsibility due to the weight of it. This results in a constant passing of responsibility—from the ethics committee to the ethics council, from the ethics council to the disciplinary procedure, and so on—leading to a lack of cohesion. Although everything is theoretically in place, nothing is effectively connected.
After a year of the project, it has become clear that harmonizing and integrating all existing documents and regulations within the university is essential for streamlining the process and ensuring its effectiveness. We have all the necessary elements, but they are not functioning as a cohesive system.
“We don’t just have a culture of non-responsibility; we also have a culture of deflection. Everyone wants to distance themselves from responsibility.”
. PHOTO: Saša Zinaja / NFOTO
NACIONAL: How aware are students of the available protection measures against such types of abuse?
Very little is known about this topic. We have an entire chapter dedicated to it. Over 50 percent of both male and female students are unaware that there are bodies, regulations, and other documents related to this issue. They do not know that such entities exist within their university, highlighting the need for greater efforts to inform them. It is crucial to implement campaigns and enhance the education of both students and teaching staff. This information must be made more widely available. Therefore, we request that our partners include a dedicated section on their websites that features not only the project but also the gender action plan, guidelines, and protocols. This information should be distributed broadly. While details might be accessible in faculties such as philosophy, law, or political science, students from fields like electrical engineering or technical disciplines may struggle to find this information unless they are personally motivated. It is essential to increase transparency through the university’s social media channels and to utilize every opportunity within the university community to disseminate this information.
NATIONAL: The chapter by Alija Selimović and Ljubica Tomić Selimović examines experiences of gender-based violence and discrimination among university faculty. It addresses issues such as covert exploitation, professional degradation, belittlement, and conflict. Could you provide more details on these topics?
The chapter by Ljubica and Alija Selimović delves into the aspects of research that analyze the results of various forms of mobbing, exploitation, and abuse, emphasizing that not all violence is sexual in nature. Violence also manifests when an individual is unable to advance, when their standard of work is undermined, or when they are excluded from projects that could lead to career advancement. It includes instances where someone cannot progress professionally due to exclusion from important meetings, discovering after months that crucial discussions related to a project were held without their knowledge. This chapter highlights the more subtle forms of violence, which disproportionately affect women due to systemic exclusion. The authors reveal how these subtle forms of violence, often overlooked, impact the health, career, and overall well-being of teachers—primarily female teachers. Many female teachers aged between 30 and 50 have faced severe health issues and are retiring early due to the overwhelming pressure they experience.
NACIONAL: In the chapter on sexist humor and offensive comments at universities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia, and Serbia—authored by you and Jelena Ćeriman—what conclusions did you draw?
My colleague, Jelena Ćeriman from the Institute of Philosophy in Belgrade, and I analyzed part of the research related to sexist humor, and we symbolically titled our chapter “I’m Just Kidding” because it is a phrase we often encounter. When you confront someone who frequently uses sexist humor to demean, exclude, or ridicule others, that person often responds with “I was just joking.” They might also say, “Well, we’re people who appreciate humor; don’t take it too seriously, colleagues.” This puts you in a position where you find yourself apologizing and questioning whether you misunderstood the situation.
This is why we analyzed the data: we observed that sexist humor is pervasive, with Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina being particularly notable in this regard. Our analysis revealed not only a high prevalence of sexist humor but also that it is not seen as problematic but rather as an integral part of the culture. Responses such as, “For heaven’s sake, are we going to lose our spontaneity in communication? Are you turning everything into an issue of violence?” exemplify this mindset.
Sexist humor can also be directed at men, but there is a significant difference in how it affects men and women. For instance, labels applied to women—such as “babushka,” “gossiper,” or “climacteric woman”—undermine their essence, nature, and rationality. In contrast, comments aimed at men often label them as “womanizers,” “careerists,” or “henpecked,” without questioning their rational abilities or work capacity. Women, on the other hand, are frequently reminded that their roles as mothers are natural and that menstruation, childbirth, and hormonal changes render them less capable. This discrepancy highlights the unequal impact of such humor on women compared to men. For example, when a colleague dismisses a comment about the curriculum by saying, “You must be having those days,” it serves as a constant reminder of one’s biological role as a disadvantage.
“When a specific act of violence occurs and is reported, there is no effective coordination within the university community to support the victim and hold the perpetrator accountable.”
NACIONAL: One of the key aspects of this research is its intersectional approach, which involves examining the specific challenges faced by vulnerable groups across multiple dimensions…
Since this research focused not only on gender-based violence but also on gender equality in general, we dedicated a section to intersectionality. We aimed to explore how these issues affect minorities—whether they are ethnic, national, gender, or other minorities—and particularly individuals with disabilities and those with learning and developmental disabilities. What kind of violence do they experience? We found that awareness of these issues is severely lacking. The university community shows the most empathy toward people with disabilities and developmental difficulties, but this often only extends to whether or not there is a ramp at the college entrance. Beyond that, questions of adapted support, specialized programs, and responses to instances of violence that these individuals may struggle to articulate are largely ignored. Even people without such difficulties often struggle to articulate their experiences of violence, as society tends to overlook many forms of it. So, how can people with disabilities or developmental difficulties express what is happening to them? There are no specialized counseling centers or programs for them. In our interviews, we heard that these individuals often face insulting comments, are excluded, and are essentially rendered invisible. That is the core issue—these people are invisible. Everything hinges on the presence of a ramp, as if that alone solves the problem.
NACIONAL: Do you think this research will have an impact on institutions and lead to some changes?
We certainly hope so, especially since the project is still ongoing—nearly three to four years now. Our goal is to collaborate with partner institutions after these results to improve areas within the university community that need attention, focusing on specific problem points. We aim to change the organizational culture and develop policies of zero tolerance toward gender-based violence, which will be completely unacceptable—not something to be laughed at or made the subject of jokes in everyday communication. We are committed to working on this and hope to see changes, at least within the partner institutions we collaborate with. However, there are no guarantees. Much will depend on the dedication and enthusiasm of individuals within these communities who are committed to making a difference.
The challenge lies in the fact that most of the teaching staff are not engaged. This is a common issue across various topics, not just this one. People often do only what is necessary within their specific areas of responsibility, with little interest in anything beyond that. We’ve observed that in faculties with an activist orientation, where there is a strong effort to initiate change and organize events, the biggest challenge is engaging the teaching staff. It’s crucial for them to understand that this issue affects all of us, not just women or certain groups.
Gender-based violence is a significant social, economic, and health problem. It impacts all of us and strains the state budget. Few consider that violence incurs costs—from reporting and services to social work centers and health institutions, including the costs associated with taking sick leave. If we were to quantify it—something some countries have already done—we would likely approach it differently. We are deeply entrenched in neoliberal capitalism, where everything is viewed through the lens of profit, and this issue is costly. It’s not just a matter of health; it’s also economically unsustainable.
