Hope and justice for women who've survived ISIS | Rabiaa El Garani

Prevodilac: Aleksandar Bošnjak Lektor: Ivana Korom

[This talk contains mature content]

[Ovaj govor sadrži sadržaj za odrasle]

When I was 14,

Kad sam imala 14 godina

my parents intended to marry me off to a man of their choosing.

moji roditelji su nameravali da me venčaju za čoveka po njihovom izboru.

I refused.

Odbila sam.

That choice to defy my family shaped everything in my life

Taj izbor da prkosim porodici je oblikovao sve u mom životu

and set me on the path to become who I am today.

i poslao me na put da postanem to što sam danas.

But it was very painful at times and continues to be so.

Ali, bilo je veoma mučno na trenutke a i sada je tako.

My parents were raised in traditional, uneducated Moroccan families

Moji roditelji su odgajani u tradicionalnim,

neobrazovanim marokanskim porodicama

where a girl's main value is measured by her virginity.

gde se glavna vrednost devojaka meri njihovom nevinošću.

They emigrated to Belgium,

Emigrirali su u Belgiju

and I was born, raised and educated there.

gde sam rođena, odgajana i školovana.

I did not accept their view of the world.

Nisam prihvatila njihov pogled na svet.

When I said no to them,

Kada sam im rekla ne,

I paid for it dearly in terms of physical and emotional abuse.

platila sam to skupo u smislu fizičkog i emotivnog nasilja.

But eventually, I escaped from their home

Ali naposletku, pobegla sam iz njihove kuće

and became a federal police detective

i postala federalni policijski detektiv,

who could help protect the rights of others.

koji bi mogao da pomogne da se zaštite prava drugih.

My specialty was investigating cases in counterterrorism,

Moja specijalnost je bila ispitivanje slučajeva u borbi protiv terorizma,

child abduction and homicide.

otmice dece i ubistava.

I loved that work,

Volela sam taj posao

and it was extremely fulfilling.

i bio je izuzetno ispunjujuć.

With my Muslim background, Arabic language skills

Zbog mog muslimanskog porekla, veština arapskog jezika

and an interest in working internationally,

i interesovanja da radim internacionalno,

I decided to seek new challenges.

odlučila sam da potražim nove izazove.

After decades of being a police officer,

Nakon što sam decenijama bila policajac,

I was recruited to become an investigator of sexual and gender-based violence

regrutovana sam da postanem istražitelj seksualnog i rodno zasnovanog nasilja

as a member of the Justice Rapid Response and UN Women roster.

kao član Pravde brzog regovanja i Žena UN.

Justice Rapid Response is an organization

Pravda brzog reagovanja je organizacija

for criminal investigations of mass atrocities.

koja se bavi krivičnim istragama masovnih zverstava.

They run on both public and private funding

Oni funkcionišu po principu javnog i privatnog finansiranja

and provide evidence and reports to more than 100 participating countries.

i obezbeđuju dokaze i izveštaje više od stotini država koje su uključene.

Many countries in conflict are often unable to provide a just process

Mnoge zemlje koje su u konfliktu su često u nemogućnosti da obezbede

to those who have been victims of mass violence.

pravedan proces onima koji su žrtve masovnog nasilja.

To respond to that,

Da se odgovori na to,

Justice Rapid Response was created in partnership with UN Women.

Pravda brzog odgovora je osnovana u partnerstvu sa Ženama UN.

Together,

Zajedno,

Justice Rapid Response and UN Women recruited, trained and certified

Pravda brzog odgovora i Žene UN su regrutovali, obučili i sertifikovali

more than 250 professionals

više od 250 profesionalaca

with a specific expertise in sexual and gender-based violence,

sa posebnim znanjem o seksualnom i rodno zasnovanom nasilju,

like me.

kao što sam ja.

Our investigations are carried out under international law,

Naše istrage su sprovedene po međunarodnom pravu,

and our findings eventually become evidence to prosecute war criminals.

a naši zaključci su naposletku postali dokazi za gonjenje ratnih zločinaca.

This mechanism provides hope to victims

Ovaj mehanizam obezbeđuje nadu žrtvama

that justice and accountability may someday be found

da se pravda i odgovornost mogu jednog dana naći

in the wake of war and conflict.

usled rata i konflikta.

Let me tell you about the most challenging work I have ever done.

Dozvolite da vam kažem o najizazovnijem poslu koji sam ikada imala.

This was in Iraq.

To je bilo u Iraku.

Since the rise of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, or ISIS,

Od uspona Islamske države u Iraku i Siriji, ili ISIS,

this group has systematically attacked and tortured

ova grupa je sistematski napadala i mučila

many religious minorities and ethnicities,

mnoge nacionalne i verske manjine,

such as the Christians,

kao što su hrišćani,

the Shia Turkmen, Shia Muslims, Shia Shabaks and the Yazidis.

irački turkmeni, šiiti, šiiti šabaki i jezidi.

The persecution of the Yazidis has been especially horrific.

Gonjenje jezida je naročito užasavajuće.

On the 3rd and 15th of August 2014,

Trećeg i 15. avgusta 2014. godine,

ISIS attacked approximately 20 villages and towns in Sinjar, Iraq.

ISIS je napao približno 20 sela i gradova u Sinđaru, Irak.

They executed all the males over the age of 14,

Pogubili su sve muškarce koji su imali preko 14 godina,

including the elderly and disabled.

uključujući starije i onesposobljene.

They divided up the women and girls,

Razdvojili su žene i devojčice,

raped them

silovali su ih

and sold them into sexual and domestic slavery.

i prodali u seksualno i kućno ropstvo.

One month later,

Mesec dana kasnije,

a UN Human Rights Council resolution led to the fact-finding mission on Iraq

odluka Saveta UN za ljudska prava dovela je

do misije za utvrđivanje činjenica u Iraku

to investigate and document alleged violations and abuses

kako bi istražila i dokumentovala navodne prestupe i zloupotrebe

committed by ISIS and associated groups.

koje je počinio ISIS i pridružene grupe.

I was sent to investigate the atrocities committed against the Yazidis,

Poslata sam da istražim grozote koje su počinili nad jezidima,

with a focus on sexual and gender-based crimes.

sa fokusom na sekuslane i rodno zasnovane zločine.

The Yazidis are a Kurdish-speaking ethnoreligious community

Jezidi su kurdska etnoreligijska zajednica

based in Northern Iraq.

bazirana u Severnom Iraku.

Their belief system incorporates aspects of Judaism, Christianity,

Njihov sistem verovanja uključuje aspekte judaizma, hrišćanstva,

Islam and Zoroastrianism.

islama i zoroastrizma.

For hundreds of years,

Stotinama godina,

Muslims and Christians who do not understand their beliefs

muslimani i hrišćani koji ne razumeju njihovu veru

have condemned the Yazidis as devil worshippers.

su osuđivali Jezide da su obožavaoci Đavola.

ISIS thought of them in this way and vowed to destroy them.

ISIS ih je posmatrao na ovaj način i zakleo se da će ih uništiti.

OK, let's do an experimental thought here.

Okej, hajde da uradimo mali eksperiment ovde.

I want you to think about your worst sexual experience

Želim da mislite o vašem najgorem seksualnom iskustvu

and recall it in detail.

i da se prisetite svih detalja.

Now turn to the person to your right

Sada se okrenite ka osobi koja sedi do vas

and describe that experience.

i opišite to iskustvo.

(Laughter)

(Smeh)

I know it's difficult, eh?

Pa da, teško je, zar ne?

(Laughter)

(Smeh)

But, of course, I don't expect you to do that.

Ali, naravno, ne očekujem od vas da to uradite.

You would all be uncomfortable and embarrassed.

Svima bi vam bilo neprijatno i bilo bi vas sramota.

And so imagine an 11-year-old girl in the Middle East

Onda zamislite devojčicu od 11 godina na Srednjem istoku

who was not educated about sexuality,

koja nije edukovana o seksualnosti,

who was taken from her comfort zone,

koja je uzeta iz svoje zone komfora,

her family,

svoje porodice,

who witnessed the execution of her father and brothers,

koja je prisustvovala pogubljenju svog oca i braće,

having to describe in detail

i koja mora da opiše u detalj

the rape that she faced in a culture where talking about sexuality is taboo.

silovanje koje je doživela u kulturi u kojoj je pričanje o seksu tabu.

Her only way of recovering her honor is to hide the crime,

Jedini način koji je imala da povrati čast je da skriva zločin,

believe she was married against her will,

da veruje da je udata protiv svoje volje,

or deny the events out of shame and fear of being rejected.

ili da poriče događaje iz sramote i straha od odbacivanja.

I interviewed a girl who I will call "Ayda."

Intervjuisala sam devojčicu koju ću zvati Ajda.

She was purchased by an ISIS leader, or emir,

Kupio ju je vođa ISIS-a, ili emir,

together with 13 other girls aged between 11 and 18 years old.

zajedno sa ostalih 13 devojčica koje su imale između 11 i 18 godina.

Amongst the group were her three nieces and two cousins.

U toj grupi su bile njene tri sestričine i dve rođake.

The 14 girls were taken to a house full of ISIS fighters.

Četrnaest devojčica je odvedeno u kuću punu boraca ISIS-a.

An imam was present who made it clear that their religion was wrong,

Imam je bio prisutan i rekao je jasno da je njihova vera pogrešna,

and the only good path was to accept Islam and marry a Muslim man.

i da je jedini ispravan put prihvatanje islama i udaja za muslimana.

The emir wrote the names of the girls on 14 small pieces of paper.

Emir je napisao imena devojčica na 14 malih papira.

Two ISIS fighters would pick a piece of paper each.

Dva ISIS borca bi izvukla po papirić.

They would call out the name written on the paper,

Pozvali bi ime napisano na papiriću,

and those girls were forcibly taken into another room.

i te devojčice su silom odvedene u drugu sobu.

While the emir and the imam heard the two girls screaming

Dok su emir i imam slušali kako dve devojčice vrište,

as they were being raped,

dok su bile silovane,

they began laughing.

počeli su da se smeju.

Obojica su govorila ostalim devojčicama

Both were telling the other girls

that the two girls should enjoy the experience instead of screaming.

da te dve devojčice treba da uživaju u tom iskustvu umesto da vrište.

After a while, the girls were brought back into the room.

Malo kasnije, devojke su dovedene nazad u prostoriju.

They were in shock and were bleeding.

Bile su u šoku i krvarile su.

They confirmed that they had been married and suffered a lot of pain.

Potvrdile su da su se venčale i da su pretrpele puno bola.

It is important to consider the fact that they had been raised

Važno je uzeti u obzir činjenicu da su one bile vaspitane

to believe in sexual intercourse with one man in their lifetime:

da veruju u seksualni snošaj sa jednim čovekom u svom životu,

their husband.

svojim mužem.

The only connection that they could make in their shocked state

Jedinu vezu koju su mogle da povežu u stanju šoka

is to define their rape as marriage.

jeste da definišu njihovo silovanje kao brak.

Before the next two girls were taken to be raped,

Pre nego što su druge dve devojčice odvedene da budu silovane

Ayda made a terrifying decision.

Ajda je donela zastrašujuću odluku.

As the oldest of the group, she convinced the emir

Kao najstarija u grupi ubedila je emira

to let them use the bathroom in order to wash themselves before marriage.

da im dozovli da koriste kupatilo kako bi se oprale pre braka.

Ayda had been told by one of the girls

Ajdi je jedna devojčica rekla

that she noticed rat poison in the bathroom.

da je primetila otrov za pacove u kupatilu.

The 14 girls decided to end their suffering

Tih 14 devojčica je odlučilo da prekine svoju patnju

by drinking the poison.

ispijajujući otrov.

Before the poison took full effect,

Pre nego što je otrov krenuo da deluje,

they were discovered by ISIS and taken to the hospital,

ISIS ih je otkrio i odvedene su u bolnicu,

where they survived.

gde su preživele.

ISIS decided to separate the girls

ISIS je doneo odluku da razdvoji devojčice

and sell them individually.

i da ih proda individualno.

Ayda was taken to another house and brutally raped

Ajda je odvedena u drugu kuću i brutalno je silovana

after she attempted again to kill herself with her headscarf.

nakon što je ponovo pokušala da se ubije svojom maramom.

She was beaten and raped every two days.

Tukli su je i silovali svaki drugi dan.

After four months in captivity,

Nakon četiri meseca u zarobljeništvu

Ayda found the courage to escape.

Ajda je skupila hrabrosti da pobegne.

She never saw the other 13 girls again.

Nikada više nije videla ostalih 13 devojaka.

I interviewed Ayda multiple times.

Intervjuisala sam Ajdu više puta.

She was willing to speak to me because she had heard from other victims

Bila je voljna da priča sa mnom jer je čula od ostalih žrtava

that there was a woman from the UN who understood her complicated culture.

da postoji žena iz UN koja razume njenu komplikovanu kulturu.

I looked into her eyes

Pogledala sam je u oči

and listened deeply to the stories of her darkest hours.

i pomno slušala priče njenih najgorih trenutaka.

We established a personal connection that continues to this day.

Ostvarile smo ličnu vezu koja traje i danas.

My upbringing made it easy for me to understand her extreme sense of shame

Moje vaspitanje mi je pomoglo da razumem njen izuzetan osećaj sramote

and her fear of being rejected.

i njen strah da bude odbačena.

These types of investigations are not only about gathering information and evidence,

Ovi tipovi istraga nisu samo za skupljanje informacija i dokaza,

but they're also about victim support.

tu se radi i o podršci žrtvama.

The bonds I established with the victims

Veze koje sam ostvarila sa žrtvama

strengthens their confidence and willingness to seek justice.

ojačavaju njihovo pouzdanje i volju da traže pravdu.

As she considered her escape,

Kad je razmatrala o bekstvu,

Ayda, like all Yazidi survivors,

Ajda, kao i svi jezidi koji su preživeli,

faced a dilemma:

suočila se sa dilemom -

Should she continue to suffer the abuse of her captors,

treba li da nastavi da trpi zlostavljanje,

or would it be better to return home,

ili bi bilo bolje da se vrati kući,

where she would face shame, rejection

gde bi se suočila sa sramotom, odbacivanjem

and possibly honor killing?

i možda ubistvom zbog časti?

Dobro poznajem bol kad ste odbačeni,

I know all too well the pain of being rejected

by my Moroccan community in Belgium,

kao kad je mene odbacila marokanska zajednica u Belgiji,

and I did not want this to happen to the Yazidi community.

i nisam želela da se to desi zajednici jezida.

So a group of concerned entities,

Tako da je grupa zabrinutih entiteta,

including the UN, NGOs, politicians and members of the Yazidi community

uključujući UN, NVO, političare i članove zajednice jezida

approached a religious leader,

prišla verskom vođi,

Baba Sheikh.

Babi Šeiku.

After many meetings,

Nakon mnogo sastanaka,

he realized that these girls had not disrespected their religion

shvatio je da ove devojčice nisu ukaljale svoju religiju

by being forcibly converted to Islam

tako što su prisilom preobraćene u islam

and married to ISIS fighters.

i udate za borce ISIS-a.

Instead, they have been abducted, raped and sexually enslaved.

Umesto toga, bile su otete, silovane i sekusalno potčinjene.

I am happy to report that, after our meetings,

Drago mi je da izjavim da, nakon naših sastanaka,

Baba Sheikh announced publicly

Baba Šeik je javno saoštio

that the survivors should be treated as victims

da preživeli treba da budu tretirani kao žrtve

and embraced by the community.

i prihvaćeni u društvu.

This message was heard throughout the community

Ova poruka se čula širom društva

and eventually reached the survivors being held captive by ISIS.

i naposletku je došla i do preživelih koje je ISIS držao u zatočeništvu.

After his declaration of support,

Nakon njegove izjave podrške,

the survivors were motivated to escape from ISIS

preživeli su bili motivisani da pobegnu od ISIS-a

as Ayda has done,

kao što je Ajda uradila,

and many young Yazidi women took the bold step

a mnogo jezidi žena je učinilo hrabar korak

and returned home to their communities.

i vratile su se kući svojim zajednicama.

Baba Sheikh's public pronouncement

Baba Šeikova javna izjava

saved the lives of many young Yazidi women,

je spasila živote mnogih mladih jezidi žena,

both in captivity and after their escape.

i onih u zatočeništvu i onih nakon njihovog bekstva.

Sadly, not all religious leaders agreed to talk with us.

Nažalost, nisu se svi verski lideri složili da pričaju sa nama.

Some victims had far worse outcomes than the Yazidis.

Neke žrtve su imale mnogo gore posledice od jezida.

For example, only 43 of the 500-600 victims

Na primer, samo 43 od 500-600 žrtava

from the Shia Turkmen community

iz zajednice iračkih turkmena

were able to return home after escaping ISIS.

su bile u mogućnosti da se vrate kući nakon bekstva od ISIS-a.

Some of them were advised by their family

Neke su porodice savetovale

to stay with ISIS

da ostanu sa ISIS-om

or commit suicide in order to save the honor of the family.

ili počine samoubistvo kako bi sačuvale čast porodice.

Germany established a project to support survivors of ISIS

Nemačka je zasnovala projekat da podrži preživele

by providing psychosocial support and housing for 1,100 women and children,

tako što će obezbediti psihološku podršku i krov nad glavom za 1.100 žena i dece,

including Ayda.

uključujući i Ajdi.

I visited Ayda several times during my work.

Posetila sam Ajdu nekoliko puta tokom mog rada.

I am so proud of her and the other victims.

Toliko sam ponosna na nju i ostale žrtve.

The progress they have made is remarkable.

Napredak koji su ostvarile je izvanredan.

It is really moving to see how many of them,

Zaista je dirljivo videti koliko njih,

despite their struggles,

uprkos svojim borbama,

have benefited from this program.

je imalo korist od ovog programa.

The program includes individual and group counseling,

Program uključuje individualno i grupno savetovanje,

art therapy, music therapy,

art terapiju, muzičku terapiju,

sport activities,

sportske aktivnosti,

language courses,

kurseve jezika,

school and other integration efforts.

školu i ostale načine integracije.

What I observed was that removing the victims

Ono što sam primetila je da kada odstranite žrtve

from an area of conflict to a country at peace

iz zone konflikta i pošaljete ih u državu koja je u miru

had a positive impact on all of them.

ima pozitivan uticaj na sve njih.

This project caught the attention of other countries,

Ovaj projekat su zapazile druge države,

and they were interested to help more Yazidis.

i bile su zainteresovane da pomognu mnogim jezidima.

The Yazidi women and girls still call and text me

Jezidi žene i devojke me i dalje zovu i šalju poruke

to tell me about their grades at school,

da mi kažu o svojim ocenama u školi,

fun trips they've taken,

zabavnim putovanjima na koje su išle

or to inform me about their future dreams,

ili da me obaveste o njihovim budućim snovima

like writing a book about what they have faced with ISIS.

kao što je pisanje knjige o tome sa čime su se suočile sa ISIS-om.

Sometimes they are sad

Ponekad su tužne

and feel the need to talk again about the events.

i imaju potrebu da pričaju ponovo o tim događajima.

I'm not a psychologist,

Nisam psiholog,

and I have faced secondary PTSD from their horrific stories.

i dobila sam sekundarni PTSP od njihovih užasnih priča.

But I keep encouraging them to talk,

Ali i dalje ih ohrabrujem da pričaju

and I keep listening,

i stalno ih slušam,

because I do not want them to feel alone in their suffering.

jer ne želim da se osećaju usamljeno u svojoj patnji.

Through these anecdotes,

Kroz ove događaje,

I see a bigger picture emerging.

vidim stvaranje nečeg većeg.

These women and girls are healing.

Ove žene i devojke se oporavljaju.

They are no longer afraid to seek justice.

Nisu više u strahu da traže pravdu.

Without hope there can be no justice,

Bez nade ne može biti pravde,

and without justice there can be no hope.

a bez pravde ne može biti nade.

Every 3rd and 15th of August, it's my remembrance day,

Svakog 3. i 15. avgusta je moj dan sećanja,

and I reach out to the Yazidis to let them know that I'm thinking about them.

i stupam u kontakt sa Jezidima da im stavim do znanja da mislim na njih.

They're always happy when I do that.

Uvek su srećni kad uradim to.

It's an emotional day for them.

To je emotivan dan za njih.

This past August, I spoke with Ayda.

Ovog avgusta pričala sam sa Ajdom.

She was so happy to announce

Bila je presrećna da izjavi

that one of her nieces who was abducted with her

da je jedna od njenih sestričina, koja je oteta zajedno sa njom,

was finally released out of ISIS hands in Syria

napokon puštena iz ruku ISIS-a u Siriji

and returned to Iraq.

i da se vratila u Irak.

Can you believe that?

Možete li da poverujete u to?

After four years?

Nakon četiri godine?

Today, her biggest wish is for her whole family,

Danas njena najveća želja jeste da se njena cela porodica,

now located across three continents,

koja se sada nalazi na tri kontinenta,

to be reunited.

opet sastavi.

And I hope they will.

A nadam se da hoće.

When I think about the survivors I work with,

Kada mislim o preživelima sa kojima radim,

I remember the words of an Egyptian doctor, writer

prisećam se reči egipatske doktorke, spisateljice

and human rights activist,

i aktivistkinje za ljudska prava,

Nawal El Saadawi.

Navale El Sadavi.

In her book, "Woman at Point Zero,"

U njenoj knjizi „Žena u nultoj tački”,

she wrote, "Life is very hard,

napisala je: „Život je težak,

and the only people who really live

i jedini ljudi koji zaista žive

are those who are harder than life itself."

su oni koji su čvršći od samog života".

These victims have been through unimaginable pain.

Ove žrtve su prošle kroz nezamisliv bol.

But with a little help,

Ali uz malo pomoći,

they show how resilient they are.

one pokazuju koliko su otporne.

Each has their own perspective on what kind of justice she seeks,

Svaka ima svoju perspektivu o tome kakvu pravdu traži,

and I believe deeply

i duboko verujem

that a credible justice process is key

da je verodostojni proces pravde ključ

to how she reclaims her dignity

ka tome kako ona može da povrati svoje dostojanstvo

and finds closure with her trauma.

i nađe završetak svoje traume.

Justice is not only about punishing the perpetrator.

Kod pravde ne radi se samo o kažnjavanju prestupnika.

It's about victims feeling that crimes committed against them

Radi se i o tome da žrtve osete da su zločini počinjeni nad njima

have been recorded and recognized by the rule of law.

zabeležni i prepoznati pod zakonom.

For me, it has been the experience of a lifetime

Za mene, rad sa ovim preživelima

to work with these survivors.

je bio životno iskustvo.

Because I share their sorrow,

Zato što delim njihovu tugu,

their language and their culture,

njihov jezik i njihovu kulturu,

we connect on the deepest human level.

povezujemo se na najdubljem ljudskom nivou.

This itself is an act of healing:

Ovo je samo po sebi oporavljanje,

to be heard, to be seen,

biti saslušan, biti viđen,

to be given compassion instead of condemnation.

dobiti saosećanje umesto osude.

When we get so close to people in pain,

Kad se približimo ljudima koji pate,

it creates pain for the investigators, too.

to takođe stvara bol i istražiteljima.

My work is challenging, heartbreaking and trauma-inducing.

Moj posao je izazovan, srceparajuć i izaziva traume.

But let me tell you why I do it.

Ali dozvolite da vam kažem zašto ga radim.

When I meet the survivors of these mass atrocities,

Kada upoznam preživele ovih masovnih zverstava,

when I hold their hands and look in their eyes,

kada ih držim za ruke i gledam u oči,

it does not erase my own pain,

ne briše moj bol,

but it does make it almost worthwhile.

ali ga čini nekako vrednim.

And there's nothing I would rather be doing.

I ne postoji ništa što bih radije radila.

When I see these brave survivors

Kada vidim ove hrabre preživele,

struggling to connect again to their own self-worth,

koji se bore da se opet povežu sa svojim samopouzdanjem,

to their families, to their place in a society that values them,

sa svojim porodicama, sa svojim mestom u društvu koje ih ceni,

it is an honor to bear witness;

čast je svedočiti;

it is a privilege to seek justice.

privilegija je tražiti pravdu.

And that is healing, too --

A to je oporavljanje, takođe,

for all of us.

za sve nas.

Thank you.

Hvala vam.

(Applause)

(Aplauz)