As part of the “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence” Campaign, a series of activities aimed at promoting nonviolence, respect, and the creation of a safe school environment were implemented at the Sarajevo Medical High School from November 27 till Dece,ber 01, 2025. All activities were run by teachers Selvira Mašnić, Marija Knežević and Dr. Medina Mujić.
On 27 November 2025, the Student Council and the school section “Peace Promoters” organized a roundtable discussion dedicated to the fight against gender-based violence. Students actively discussed prejudices, stereotypes, and ways in which everyone can contribute to a safer, more inclusive environment and a culture of zero tolerance for violence. A special symbol of this activism was the “Wall of Prejudices,” which was transformed into a sparkling “Wall of Stars of Nonviolence and Respect.” Each star placed represented a personal commitment by students to creating a safe space free from violence.
The continuation of activities took place on 1 December 2025, when professors Selvira Mašnić and Marija Knežević delivered a lecture entitled “16 Days of Activism and the Prevention of Gender-Based Violence.” The lecture was not held merely to mark a date on the calendar, but as a clear and strong call to break the silence surrounding violence. It was emphasized that gender-based violence affects individuals, damages communities, and hinders social progress, and that every individual has the power to react, support victims, and contribute to building an environment of zero tolerance for violence.
Strong support for the activities was also provided by the TPO Foundation, which received special thanks for its many years of dedicated work in combating all forms of violence, with a particular focus on gender-based violence. This session was marked by an atmosphere of open dialogue, powerful messages, and active student participation, once again confirming the readiness of young people to confront this serious social problem.
A special contribution to the programme was made by guest lecturer Dr. Sci. Medina Mujić, who delivered a lecture entitled “The Normalization of Violence: Media, Religions, and Everyday Practices” for the school’s Student Council. The lecture represented a deep, critical, and necessary confrontation with the mechanisms through which violence is sustained in society.
The focus of the lecture was not only on violence itself, but on the narratives that justify it. Dr. Mujić critically addressed sensationalist reporting by certain media outlets, which contributes directly to the normalization of violence through shocking details rather than education and responsible reporting. Special emphasis was also placed on victim-blaming, where responsibility is subtly or openly shifted onto the victim, while perpetrators are portrayed in a more positive light, thereby diminishing their accountability. Part of the lecture was also dedicated to the misuse of religious texts and authorities, and their wrongful identification with tradition.
The aim of the lecture was to develop critical awareness of the processes and mechanisms through which violence—openly or implicitly—is accepted, justified, and maintained in society, through the influence of media, religious narratives, and deeply rooted everyday practices.
These activities at the Sarajevo Medical High School once again demonstrated that young people possess the knowledge, courage, and willingness to be active agents of change in the fight against gender-based violence.
