Ana Matijević started her peace journey in 1991 in Bosanski Brod and continued as a refugee in Slavonski Brod and Germany. He came to Tenjo in 1999, where he continues his peace mission to this day under the motto, "Gestures and humanity are what bring peace.". In the community where she lives, Ana's contribution to building tolerance and establishing dialogue in Tenja and in the area of ​​the city of Osijek is recognized. He works tirelessly to reconcile the national communities of Croats and Serbs and tries to include, until yesterday, the marginalized Roma, as well as other minority groups, in the social life of the town. He pays great attention to the disabled, children, and the elderly. He selflessly tries to use his concrete examples to motivate his fellow citizens to actions of wider social significance. One of Ana's long-term colleagues says: "People have started to change; children compete together in tournaments; folklore groups have started; the village has come to life, thanks in large part to our Ana, a small woman with a big heart."

Tenja, a village only ten kilometers south of Osijek, in May 1997 (the time of peaceful reintegration), like many other post-war areas, was one village and two worlds.Separate worlds of yesterday's neighbors, Croats and Serbs, people traumatized by war, who, divided by imaginary lines of repulsion, play by the rules of their camp. Those "others" are the same ones from whom they used to borrow household items and drink coffee together, and today they go over to look at them and say hello when they meet on the street. Tenja has fear, accusations, and isolation. Both sides reject direct communication, avoiding exposing themselves to possible subsequent pain, humiliation, and anger.

Ana Matijević is trying to break through the wall of silence, connect the broken threads of interpersonal relationships, and not exclude anyone from the process of establishing a normal life. It does this with small, everyday attentions and showing respect and understanding for all people and their needs. She was the first Croatian woman who, after the war, went to the funeral of a Serbian grandmother, which met with disapproval and condemnation in the village. But Ana knows that she did the right thing.

Ana is known by her fellow residents as a peace activist, vice president of the association "Posavski prsten," and as their neighbor! She founded and helped in the founding of six citizens' associations and, in this way, threaded threads of peace in her community but also across borders—she is the co-founder of the international association MOST PRIJATELJSTVA, which connects Tenje, Berak, Bačka Palanka, and Derventa. Through his projects and work, he brings together people of different political views, religions, and ages. Thanks to Ana, the community gained a more positive and perspective dimension.

Ana Matijević says that for her work she received a lot of recognition and thank-you notes and made a lot of sincere friends, but also that she has crossed a part of the thorny road that still has no end in sight.

By recognizing "Krunoslav Sukić" for the promotion of peacemaking, nonviolence, and human rights, we want to confirm all those already expressed and unsaid thanks, and we want to say yes to sincere friendship, without which peacemaking could not exist.

The Accolade for non-violent action in 2010. "Ne damo Varšavsku" initiative was awarded. The initiative, action, website, slogan "Ne damo Varšavsku" became a symbol of citizen resistance, which was expressed so many times during the months-long protest in Zagreb during 2010. Several hundred representatives of civil society organizations and several thousand citizens took part in the action, who in this way opposed corruption, circumvention of the law, and the arbitrariness of the government, which in this case did not act in the public interest. She managed to obtain first-instance court rulings condemning the inappropriate behavior of the police, opened a series of discussions about the role of the police in Croatian society, and set new standards in civil nonviolent resistance in Croatia. It kept its original civil, non-partisan identity until the end. Although the immediate effects are seemingly questionable, the action "Ne damo Varšavsku" ushered in a non-violent, designed, long-lasting and creative rebellion, brought back hope that change is possible, that Warsaw i.e. Croatia belongs to everyone and not just some, significantly shook the image of the omnipotence of the 'chosen' .Varšavska is a warning to all who think that private interest is above the public and that the public is not capable of reacting. Now we know that it is, thanks to the emancipatory effect of this action, whose true reach and significance will only be understood with time.

The Award for nonviolent action of the year in 2009 was given to the Independent Student Initiative for the Right to Free Education (NSI).The independent student initiative for the right to free education was launched in April 2009 by students of the Faculty of Philosophy in Zagreb, and has spread to almost all faculties and universities in Croatia - in Osijek, Split, Zadar, Rijeka, Pula and other cities.

It is part of international student efforts against the commercialization of education, but with specific and innovative methods of non-violent action and decision-making - through direct democracy at student plenums and non-violent action.

"The thought that guides me is how to maintain coexistence after everything that has happened without anyone being excluded".

Milena Perčin from Drniš was awarded the "Krunoslav Sukić" Award for promoting peacemaking, non-violence and human rights in the local community as a thank you for the example of right living she gives us. With her responses to life circumstances that she could not influence, Milena Perčin conveys important messages to younger generations: in war, it is possible to remain human first; the experience of war suffering obligates to strive for lasting peace by confronting the negative legacy of the violent past, which should be done in the spirit of searching for the truth; by preserving cultural heritage, one's own identity is nurtured as wealth in diversity as opposed to mutual persecution and exclusivity.

Milena Perčin was born in 1949. in a mining family in Trbounje. He finished secondary medical school in Šibenik and higher medical school in Zagreb. She worked as a senior nurse until her retirement. During the war, she showed the personal courage necessary to remain faithful to ethical and humanistic values ​​despite the danger to her life - not what she would like, but what her conscience "drives" her to do. While the majority of the population has moved out, Milena, as the head nurse of the Health Center, remains in occupied Drniš with her patients, mostly old and infirm. During four years of living in the so-called She lived through torture in the Republika Srpska Krajina, suspicious of why, although a member of the Croatian nation, she stayed and for whom she was spying.

Although she was detained by the Knin police for 32 days in solitary confinement, mistreated and her arms were broken, and her son was killed as a Croatian soldier in the military-police operation Storm, Milena does not hate her. Moreover, her own suffering makes her sensitive to the suffering of others, and she obliges herself to do everything possible for the present without hatred and the future without wars. That is why he agrees to testify about his sufferings at a public meeting in Knin together with a member of the Serbian family who was killed by members of the Croatian army in Varivode after the military operation Storm.In his own community, not somewhere far away in the safety of a large international gathering, he shows that he respects the suffering of all victims. Encouraged by her example, a larger number of fellow residents decided to give statements about their personal memories of the war and suffering as a contribution to the collection of material for oral history. It mobilizes the local self-government of Drniš to join the Peace Building Platform.

Milena did not remain in the position of a victim but is permanently active in the community. She is the co-founder of the association "Zena" and the SUVEZ network of associations dedicated to solidarity with the needy and empowering women for entrepreneurship based on care for the environment while nurturing cultural heritage and old crafts.

In 2011, the recognition was awarded to the students and teachers of the Elementary School "Milan Brozović" from Kastvo - for connecting education for peace with civic involvement for the benefit of the community - for solidarity actions and for the introduction of student mediation.Their motto is "LET THE BATTLEFIELDS BECOME PLAYGROUNDS AND THE PLAYGROUNDS BECOME CENTRAL"

Elementary school "Milan Brozović" Kastav - the action "Seven kuna for safe play: Let battlefields become playgrounds, and playgrounds become peace places" was nominated for the non-violent action of the year.

The committee for awarding the award is of the opinion that this is something that goes beyond the category of 'action of the year'. It is a great example of work in the local community that is, so to speak, 'unchallenged'.

Although it may look like that, it is an action that is not primarily humanitarian - in the sense of repairing the consequences of war. The unification of education and activism is at work, which is the basic postulate of education for peace. The work is simultaneous on all levels: personal, narrow and wider community and global. Even much more experienced peace activists and educators often fail to do this kind of work, and that's why we can all learn from the example of this school.

"Seven kunas for a safe game" were rolled out in April. At the initiative of the school, the Croatian Center for Demining held a lecture on mine danger. After the education, the school's civic education team started with the students to prepare activities that result in the public collection of funds for demining "Let battlefields become playgrounds, and playgrounds become places of peace". The students made info-leaflets, magnets, monotypes and sold them at the stands for HRK 7 (the price of demining 1m2). HRK 10,000 was collected.

In October, the "Key to Peace" conference was organized, where civic education projects were presented to the public, and the importance of education for peace, developing empathy and active work in the community was emphasized. Additional funds were also collected. Elementary school "Vežica" also joined the collection campaign, whose students collected another 10,000 kn, and 4 other schools announced their participation. The action was covered by the media in Novi list, HTV, Nova TV, Kanal RI and Radio Trsat.

Basic education and work on mediation, values ​​in themselves, were expanded by the school's civic education team with the active action of male and female students in order to sensitize the public. With their commitment and value-based approach, the teachers were able to present peace to the students through a multi-perspective dimension, from mastering the skills of conflict transformation, mediating in it, all the way to involving the public.

Enthusiasm and dedication to work in the community can also be seen in the inclusion of the Kindergarten "Vladimir Nazor" from Kastvo in the Little Mediators program, establishing contacts with secondary schools, in cooperation with the Rijeka Mediation Center.

The work of the Elementary School "Milan Brozović" from Kastvo shows that through basic education for peace with a proactive attitude, direct benefits to the community and society can be achieved.

For the non-violent action "Week against racism in football,"

The FC Zagreb Bijeli anđeli fans' association was recognized for the non-violent action that contributed to the fight against various primitivisms in society and football: against hatred, violence, discrimination, racism, fascism, homophobia, and other things that have no place in disputes and football. By their actions in the auditorium and highlighting the banners "No one is illegal", "Football against homophobia" and "Let's show racism a red card", they expressed the culture of hospitality and respect for the other, different, compassion for those who are worse off than us.

Founded in 1999, the White Angels, in addition to following their club, also nurture a strong idea of ​​social activism.

There is a whole series of unpleasant associations when talking about fan groups. We do not want to generalize, but connecting fan groups with the values ​​of non-violence, the fight against discrimination, homophobia, advocacy for human rights and peace is by no means common. Acknowledging the White Angels does not work because they are different, although that would be reason enough in itself. They earned recognition by their consistent engagement in that diversity, their actions and conscious exposure to disparagement, hate speech, prejudice and violence aimed at them.

Football, as the most popular and most watched sport, also provides an opportunity to send positive messages. Fan groups influence the behavior of a large number of young people who identify with them, so the fight against racism in that milieu is all the more significant. The White Angels are a minority group in first-division Croatian football with zero tolerance against any form of discrimination. They show us that cheering doesn't have to be violent, fostering a cheering culture where hate speech has no place.

This year's FARE campaign, Football against racism in Europe, was the third in a row that the White Angels have marked. On October 16, they initiated a mini-football tournament on Jarun with the following teams: White Angels, Asylants, Asylum Seekers, Association of Young Anti-Fascists of the City of Zagreb "Antifa", qSPORT and the Center for Peace Studies. The tournament promoted the social integration of asylum seekers and asylum seekers, emphasized the richness of diversity and pointed out the problem of certain social groups.

We can and would like to say that Croatian culture and hospitality—respect for the other, different, compassion for those who are worse off than us—came to the fore in the best possible light with this action.

At the matches of FC Zagreb, the White Angels display the banner "No one is illegal", and on May 7, 2011, they initiated a friendly match with asylum seekers in Kutina.Last year in 2010, they provoked a whole series of reactions with the banner "Football against homophobia" at the match Zagreb -Rijeka and showed great courage considering the amount of fan violence as well as the homophobic statements of the president of the Croatian Football Association that preceded that action.

The banner "Let's show racism a red card" was their response to frequent racist shouts at black players. The White Angels are planning bigger and more media-supported actions, and we want this recognition to be an additional incentive for them.

"It is necessary to point out positive examples of coexistence with the Roma minority, because the current attitude and the growth of intolerance can only lead to disaster and violence."

Marina Kolar is not yet thirty years old and has ten years of activist work, thinking and learning—a well-rounded philosophy of life that she manages to achieve in her own community. An example is how one person can initiate positive social changes, an "avalanche"; how fulfilled is the life of a person who advocates for the weakest in his community (for the Roma minority, women victims of violence, socially excluded). The work and achievements of Marina Kolar become, in fact, her biography and they become the biography of her community as well. Through her activities and exceptional leadership of the "Zora" association, she contributes to the connection and cooperation of citizens, associations, institutions and local self-government in building a culture of human rights and non-violence, ennobling a socially engaged work and strengthening solidarity mechanisms in Čakovec and Međumura County.

Marina Kolar was born in 1983 in Čakovec, where she graduated from high school and teacher training college. He specializes in Montessori education. She expresses her identity as a human rights activist. The beginning of Marina Kolar's activism is connected with her involvement in the work of the international organization for the protection of human rights, Amnesty International in Croatia; she simultaneously participates in international and national campaigns as well as locally. It is under various pressures due to its involvement in the problem of discrimination against Roma, violence against women and in anti-corruption activities. The association "Zora", of which Marina is a co-founder, operates on the universal principles of human rights and empowerment for non-violent action. They do not bypass conflict issues in the local community and work long-term on prevention through education, promotion of gender equality and inclusion of marginalized groups.

With a permanent dedication to deepening her own understanding of nonviolent action and perfecting the necessary skills, she becomes an engaged communicator—she educates and advises citizens and marginalized groups. It encourages volunteerism. She herself is engaged as a volunteer in many associations as a consultant, trainer, videographer, photographer,...

People from the community approach Marina Kolar with the words: You have changed my life!

Daliborka Mikulić, Đorđe Gunjević, Krešimir Ivančić, Marica Kadić, Robert Kajušić, Vjera Solar and Zemina Jaroš

The award "Krunoslav Sukić" for the non-violent action of the year was awarded to the participants of the "Victims waited too long" campaign, because by testifying publicly about their personal suffering, they supported the media campaign to acknowledge the suffering and exercise the rights of hitherto neglected civilian victims of war. By joining the campaign, they are sending a strong moral message to Croatian society that they respect and demand respect for the suffering of every victim, regardless of ethnicity and the circumstances of the suffering. Their faces are seen on TV screens for about twenty seconds each, and they become recognizable not only on the streets of the places where they live, but all over Croatia.

We recognize the personal courage it took to publicly expose ourselves as individuals. We appreciate the solidarity and support they show to each other when they jointly advocate for the recognition of suffering and the right to compensation for all victims and sufferers - families of all killed and missing civilians, parents of all children killed in the war, mine victims, camp inmates and victims of rape and sexual abuse at war.

Daliborka Mikulić died as a child in the shelling of civilian targets.

Đorđe Gunjević was detained and tortured in Bučje and Pakračka Poljana camps, and his house was set on fire.

Krešimir Ivančić is the son of a murdered civilian from the vicinity of Daruvar. The perpetrators were not punished, and the VSRH verdict deprived him of compensation.

Marica Kadić is the daughter of murdered civilians from the vicinity of Petrinja. 21 years of searching for missing parents. The perpetrators were not punished. She lost the civil case for damages.

Robert Kajušić died 11 years ago as a boy from a landmine left after the war. Over 2,000 people died in Croatia during and after the war.

Vjera Solar is the mother of the murdered nineteen-year-old girl from Sisak. He has been waiting for a court verdict for 21 years. The perpetrators were not punished. She lost the civil case for damages.

Zemina Jaroš is the mother of the girl who died in the shelling of Osijek. For 20 years, he has been waiting for the realization of his rights and recognition of hers suffering.

The campaign for the rights of civilian victims of the Homeland War "Victims waited too long" was launched by Documenta - the center for dealing with the past in 2012. due to long-term neglect of the issue of civilian victims.

"I see the integration of the Roma community through civil involvement in work for the good of the whole community, learning - schooling and nurturing one's cultural heritage".

Duško Kostić was presented with an Award for his commitment to empowering the Roma community for integration by encouraging regular and lifelong learning; by supporting those in the community who are most vulnerable, especially the young, those without parental care and the poor; by connecting people through cooperation and solidarity, as well as by connecting the Roma community with institutions and local self-government.

And lastly, but not least: Duško Kostć empowers people from his community mostly with his own example of breaking down prejudices, constant learning and joy of living. While most of his peers from the Roma community dropped out of school early due to low expectations, poverty and lack of support, Duško Kostić studied wherever he was given the opportunity: not only during regular schooling, which he completed as a Master of Primary Education, but also through informal workshops , seminars and lectures in the field of non-violent communication, community organization and work with volunteers. He uses all his knowledge and skills, as well as his conviction of the empowering effect of taking an active role for the good of everyone in the community, for the empowerment, integration and inclusion of members of the Roma community. Duško Kostić is well known in the community, in schools, at the university. He is the winner of the international (world) student peace prize in Norway in 2011. We are honored to award him the "Krunoslav Sukić" Award.

"The importance of Srđ for Dubrovnik is a general place that should be recognized and mobilized, connected and supported by citizens in other local communities so that they are not second-class citizens who are not asked to participate in preserving the existing level of protection of public goods".

We award recognition to the civic initiative "Srđ je naš" for the non-violent, creative, persistent and systematic mobilisation, gathering and cooperation of citizens and civil associations in advocating for the preservation of the public good and for the right of citizens to participate in decision-making when it comes to public goods. It is the first initiative in the Republic of Croatia that is a referendum on, for the local community, important. really raised the issue. It gathered a wide spectrum of associated and non-associated citizens: from culture, ecology, civil and professional, including architects. About a dozen associations cooperated constantly, about two hundred volunteers worked over six thousand hours, over a hundred prominent Dubrovnik residents expressed their public support. The most important messages to the Croatian public of the "Srđ je naš" initiative are: (a) citizens want to participate in decision-making, (b) citizens do not agree to the non-transparent combination of big capital and political trade (corruption) at the expense of the public good, and (c) citizens want development in which there is no dubious favoritism, which is in the interest of the community, with care for the environment, respecting the laws and the customs of the democratic way of decision-making.

Due to legal provisions, the turnout of 31% of citizens and 84% of votes against the project to build a golf course and accommodation facilities on Srđ was not enough for the decision to become mandatory. The project was approved by the political decision of the current city council. However, in terms of its importance, this Initiative exceeded the limits of the local community - it is an example that inspires a number of similar initiatives and from which we can learn. With this recognition, we thank you for what has been done and we wish every citizen involved in this initiative to develop their own and their collective power of non-violent progress towards a more just society - thereby nurturing, maintaining and improving peace.

We present the "Krunoslav Sukić" Award to the students and teachers of the Elementary School "Eugen Kumičić" from Rijeka for their solidary, inclusive and collaborative efforts for good, for the well-being of people and their community. They bring us closer to the vision of the community we strive for - where quality of life, a desirable future and common hope are based on human connection and trust, where human potential is not developed at the expense of others but, on the contrary - through solidarity, inclusion and cooperation - of ordinary people, young people and the elderly, people with special needs and those with special responsibilities in the community (schools, health institutions, associations, local self-government...). The elementary school of Eugen Kumičić from Rijeka directs its students and employees in exactly that direction. Their coming out into the community makes life more beautiful and joyful for many of their fellow citizens with special needs and enriches them in many ways, the most important of which is the following: once we get close enough to the suffering and/or diversity that scares us - the dams are removed and we abundantly irrigate the potentials we possess - for compassion, for courage, for creativity and for wisdom! Congratulations and thanks to our dear wise men from the Eugen Kumičić school.

For personal contribution and video documentation of peace activism.

Ana Kvesić, from Vukovar, has lived at two addresses since her exile - in Vukovar and in Zagreb, and she participates, supports and monitors all initiatives and activities that contribute to post-war peace building and the restoration of trust in Croatia (and beyond as much as possible). Selflessly, self-initiated and self-financed, she invests her time and effort to be present, record, document, store and distribute video materials on all important events that thematize and are intended to build peace. In the twenty years of her dedication, she produced and edited meters and meters of video material - the value of which has yet to be recognized.

We hope and wish that these materials get, as they deserve, a place in the archives and Ana's trademark. And Ana, we ask that, receiving this recognition and thanks, accept to be the cameraman of the "Krunoslav Sukić" Award.

The Centre for Peace Studies was recognized for their many years of work on the issues of asylum, immigration policies, integration and direct work on the refugee crisis.

and for the way in which he incorporated his work on the issue of asylum in Croatia in a natural and responsible, inclusive, collaborative and non-violent manner into the "Welcome" initiative.

Thus, the recognition deservedly goes to persistent work on dissolving prejudices about migrants, encouraging an atmosphere of tolerance, formulating more humane public policies and creating organizational assumptions for the creation of the "Welcome" initiative.

Through public advocacy, research and education, CMS works on developing integration policies, improving the extremely weak social inclusion of asylum seekers and asylum seekers, involving citizens, civil society organizations, the media and other social actors in providing direct support to refugees, and developing sustainable cooperation with local organizations and institutions in providing information and social services to asylum seekers and asylum seekers.

Since September, when Croatia faced a large wave of migrants/refugees, CMS has launched the "Welcome" initiative, which plays an important role in organizing assistance to refugees/migrants and is an excellent example of civil self-organization. The initiative gathers 60 organizations that, by volunteering in the camps, collecting aid, monitoring and public advocacy, follow the column of refugees in its passage through Croatia, and exchange information and cooperate with similar initiatives from the countries of the so-called Balkan routes and from European countries.

When providing assistance on the ground, CMS achieves excellent cooperation with government institutions and with similar local and international non-governmental and humanitarian organizations, in constant public appearances it presents positions on key issues of the right answers to the causes and consequences of the refugee crisis and proposes changes to existing practices. All of this contributed to a more humane treatment of refugees/migrants and a significantly different approach by the Croatian public and the government than the approach used by neighboring countries.

The work of CMS is encouraging and collaborative, which is the only way to solve problems at the local and international level that are the causes of wars, instability and insecurity of individuals, and consequently threaten human rights. It perfectly illustrates the effectiveness of CMS engagement in solving problems and crisis situations like this year's refugee crisis.Their example of action is encouraging and motivating. Thank you!

For many years of work connecting young people from Croatia, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, by which they promote, encourage and contribute to the building of peaceful, cooperative and friendly relations and thus lay the foundations for lasting peace.

Youth united in peace

This sentence sounds unreal.

In this time and space, surrounded by national chauvinisms of all kinds, which consider that looking into the future is abolished as a right for anyone who does not first look at the past and not through their own eyes, but through the eyes of their ideology, youth united in peace looks like a platitude. And it would be platitudes if real, living, young people were not behind these words.

They are not afraid to look into the past. It takes courage to look at what happened in our area, but in a way that opens up space for a different future. It takes courage to meet, to get close, to get to know each other, to be honest, to do something together, to cross the boundaries set in advance with the legacy that has been placed on their shoulders...

Their peace story has been going on for over 20 years, bringing together young people from Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia. It was initiated by civil society organizations: Humanitarian organization Prijateljice from Tuzla, Association SARA-Srebrenica from Srebrenica, Youth Center Gornji Vakuf-Uskoplje from Gornji Vakuf, informal group "Activators" from Sombor and European Home Vukovar.

Members of the network got to know each other, made friends and started cooperation in work with and for young people thanks to the "Holiday from War" project, supported for years by the Committee for Human Rights and Democracy in Cologne.From 1993 until today, within the framework of this project and other activities, members of the network have conducted over 30 peace camps with over 80 shifts; about fifteen weekend visits; five peace walks each in the cities of the network and a large number of workshops, seminars, exhibitions, trainings and actions aimed at building and preserving peace.

These activities are a meeting place—a social island—where young people are empowered to become agents of change in their local community. They become that!

They live in peace. They are here to thank them and to celebrate that peace together!

In 2017, we gratefully presented the recognition for promoting peacemaking, nonviolence and human rights "Krunoslav Sukić" to Jadranka Brnčić, scientific associate in publishing and professor of biblical hermeneutics, Ana Raffai, peace activist, Catholic theologian, and Vesna Zovkić, Jesus' little sister

for their action that empowers believers in publicly expressing disagreement with those messages from the church that are contrary to the message of faith, equality, solidarity and justice.

Jadranka Brnčić, Ana Raffai and sister Vesna Zovkić were jointly nominated for the Recognition for the Promotion of Peacemaking, Nonviolence and Human Rights for their joint expression of disagreement with the views and public statements of some church officials of the church they belong to. Their message is clear - nationalism and chauvinism must never become the normative speech of their (Catholic) religious community in Croatia."As Christian women and citizens, we want to say our NO: we do not want the liturgical and media space to be misused to promote ideas that are in complete opposition to the Gospel, and we are concerned about any public or tacit support of them. We speak in the name of our conscience and out of the desire that the altar remains a place of preaching the message of Jesus and that we remain faithful to it as a Church."

Their voice breaks the silence, it is a voice that overpowers the noise. This noise is not only loud, it is restraining, limiting and threatening. Their voice is all the more precious and gives us reason to learn from their example with gratitude, admiration and hope.

Jadranka Brnčić, Ana Raffai and sister Vesna Zovkić are powerful and important for all of us, they draw their power from their own faith and contribute to the common good, the whole society.
Coincidentally or not, after their letter we note less and less shy disagreement of believers with exclusive messages from individual priests in Croatia. In their wake, a number of initiatives with a related vision of empowering the faithful to express disagreement with the messages from the altar if they are contrary to the message of faith, equality, solidarity and justice are emerging.

Their voice is powerful because even if they say nothing, their lives speak.

For their selfless support and solidarity with refugees stopped at the border of Serbia and Croatia.

No Name Kitchen is a group of independent volunteers from various parts of the world brought together to support the forgotten people in the refugee crisis and their basic needs of food and friendship.Man to man is their way.

No Name Kitchen volunteers come to refugees in need, cook them hot meals and stay with them. They build togetherness and friendship on the principles of integration, respect and non-discrimination. Their activities rely on other people, small donations and volunteer help - every hand is important and welcome.

In the last few years, Serbia has become a transit country for many refugees. After moving out of the barracks in Belgrade, since February 2017, volunteers and activists of No Name Kitchen have been providing breakfast and dinner for 150 people in Šid. But their Kitchen without a name is not only a place to distribute food and other items, but also a social island, a meeting place to share stories, play games, sing….

With this symbolic recognition, we want to thank you for being there, along with the refugees stopped at the border of Serbia and Croatia, for the support and hope in humanity and friendship that you give them. What you show is that borders between people do not exist, that human connection goes beyond barbed wire and raised walls. Thank you.

The Peace Award goes to Jelka Glumičić for her courage and perseverance in advocating for all victims of war, for preserving anti-fascist values ​​and fundamental human and women's rights - for her contribution to a more humane and just society; for her correct living, which is why colleagues at work used to call her a "social worker" in the former SFRY, and today we say of Jelka Glumičić that she is a humanist and anti-fascist. Some with appreciation, most without true understanding, and some as a stigma.

Jelka Glumičić was one of the founders, president and active member of the Civic Committee for Human Rights in Karlovac since its foundation in 1992. She initiated and participated in helping the citizens, above all of her Karlovac and its surroundings, who were discriminated against in obtaining Croatian citizenship due to their ethnicity, she participated in non-violent, but also courageous opposition and prevention of illegal and violent evictions, she helped Croatian citizens of Serbian nationality who did not escape in "Bljesko" and "Storm", as well as refugees who tried to return after 1995.In this way, over 25,000 people of all nationalities received legal help and support, starting with Serb returnees, Croat settlers from BiH, Roma, social cases... Jelka organized forums, press conferences, signed petitions, followed trials for serious violations of human rights. ... She is the co-founder of the women's group KORAK. She was a member of the Coalition for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights and UNITED (European Network Against Nationalism, Fascism and Racism). She is an active member of the Association of Anti-Fascist Fighters and Anti-Fascists of Karlovac County and often leads commemorative gatherings and anniversaries of important dates from World War II. Jelka helps the Association of the Blind, is the secretary of the Esperanto Society in Karlovac. Collecting and reciting anti-war poetry is her great passion. In 2005, she was nominated together with others for the Nobel Peace Prize as part of the "One Thousand Women for the Nobel Peace Prize" project.

Everything that Jelka Glumičić did in her almost three decades of peace and human rights activism, she did, as she states, out of her own deep anxiety caused by the rise of exclusivity, nationalism and violence. Disquiet because, for Jelka, the natural state and the deep need for true peace, which implies friendship, respect and cooperation between the Croatian and Serbian people, was being destroyed wantonly, needlessly and extremely cruelly towards people.

Out of her anxiety, Jelkica did an unimaginable amount, courageously, persistently to help people and, at the same time, calmed the conscience of her own environment ..... because for the sake of peace sometimes, we simply must not give peace! Thank you Jelka for teaching us that!

We gratefully present the Peace Award to the members of the RODA association for their persistent work over many years, which contributes to the realization of a necessary need - the gradual change of Croatian society into a society responsible for children, parents, future parents and families, and especially for the #StopSilence campaign, to which we attach the title of non-violent action of the year!

You are that change! Thank you. From you,we learn democracy, which begins with civic engagement to fulfill the needs of concrete people (women, men and children) and, at the same time, leads to positive social changes.

It is more than enough to say that what you put as your, FAMILY's, ID card on your portal is what makes you recognizable and present in many homes and in the Croatian public. We know you as a group of interested citizens who stand up for dignified pregnancy, parenthood and childhood in Croatia; we know you through your activities in the areas of realizing the right to adequate maternity benefits and the right to maternity leave, medically assisted fertilization, pregnancy and improving birth conditions;we know you for promotion, education and counseling on breastfeeding, education and support for parents and future parents, safety of children in traffic and advocacy of the rights of children and parents during hospital treatment of children. You contribute to informing and educating the target group of society and actively (and activist) influence system changes and government structures in order to ensure infrastructural, legal and other prerequisites for the changes you advocate!

In 2018, through the campaign #Break the Silence, RODA invited women to "break the silence" and to share their stories about the violence they suffered, unrecognized and ignored, during obstetric procedures in Croatian maternity hospitals and hospitals - exposure to pain without sufficient / effective analgesia and denial of information about the procedure, possibilities and risks. In the first weekend of the campaign alone, more than 400 stories were collected and the Ministry of Health initiated the implementation of surveillance in hospitals throughout Croatia. A big step towards change that requires persistence. We are counting on her at your place!

With this recognition, we want to support the efforts that are ahead of you - that the action #StopShutnja continues as an action # StopPractice until a different practice is adopted - for the benefit of women, which, we are convinced, will also be for the benefit of medical personnel and Croatian society. as a whole because the practice of the health system in the Republic of Croatia returns to its essence - the improvement of health as a process of strengthening people in order to take control of their environment and their health and thereby improve (change or adapt) it (Ottawa Charter). Thank you! Solidarity!

For his pioneering work in the promotion of animal protection and veganism as solidarity with animals, people, our planet and future generations.

Luka Oman is one of the founders and president of the Animal Friends association, which has been a pioneer in the protection of animal rights and the promotion of veganism for 17 years.

Throughout those years, Luka Oman showed exceptional self-sacrifice and care for others. He is always equally engaged and ready to help - both when it comes to lobbying for animal rights in the ministry, and when he needs to pave the shelter, and when he needs to wade through the floods in Gunja and get dogs and other animals to safety, and when he needs to cook a vegan lunch and to feed many people, and when an old woman needs to change the faucet in the kitchen and take the dog to the vet... Modest and self-effacing, he is always ready to direct his inexhaustible energy to improving the situation he finds himself in and creating a world without violence, cruelty, and the exploitation and killing of the weak who are not in a position of power.

Stopping experiments on beagles from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, ban on breeding animals for fur, ban on killing animals in shelters, ban on keeping wild animals in circuses, ban on keeping dogs on a chain, promotion of sustainable vegan nutrition through the ZeGeVege festival for 11 years in a row and through other activities and campaigns, are just some of the achievements not only for animals, Animal Friends and Luka, but for all of us.

With his example, Luka invites us to expand the concept of peace and peacemaking from an anthropocentric to a holistic approach; calls for the responsibility that we as a civilization question the spirit of unconscious and pervasive cruelty towards animals including the way they are raised for food; shows how only by spreading compassion and solidarity towards animals and nature as a whole, we can reach the necessary understanding of our responsibility for the planet today and for future generations, which is also confirmed by scientific research: the ecological harm that comes from the cultivation of animals in the food industry and how change (and mala) of the diet is an effective way that every person can contribute to stopping global warming!

Luka Oman is a contemporary conscientious objector! Let this Acknowledgment be our small contribution to Luke's brave steps towards a great goal, which is, ultimately, a world without violence and a world based on the principles of coexistence and peace.

We gratefully acknowledge the #spasime initiative for resisting violence and initiating the unimaginable creative power of giving from the heart, solidarity, connection and cooperation, which we use non-violent methods to advance towards social relations of equal dignity for women and girls.

The #spasime initiative was started as a reaction to an unimaginable act of violence in which a father threw his four minor children out of the window of the family home on February 28 from the first floor. Many reacted to that act, among others the actress and screenwriter Jelena Veljača, who posted a modest and honest status on her Facebook profile on March 1, "...And as I have written many times that being a "public person" is an obligation, now time to do something about it, apart from salon writing. So here, clumsily and for the first time, without politicians, but with people who support me, I will try to organize a #spasime protest in the name of all the children and all the women we failed to save. We are responsible. The Facebook group is called #spasime. Anyone who wants to, should apply for membership."

In the first two weeks, the Facebook group "exploded", and the seven women of the Initiative's core team are launching a series of activities and actions that complement each other synergistically; they connect and cooperate with actors in society who deal with violence in the family and against women, primarily with women's organizations and experts. The #spasime initiative is:

- launched a group of citizens #spasime on Facebook, which has 55,816 members and becomes a space where victims of violence decide to share their experience, where they receive support from people who are (or were) in a similar situation, as well as professionals the advice of female volunteers who are available to them. Violence, most often family and gender-related, ceases to be 'my and your private matter' and a taboo topic and is dismantled together through support and cooperation,

- gave the "wind at the back" of two big protests, #spasime and "Justice for girls" (16.03. and 19.10), which showed that the time has come to clearly oppose violence,

- had a decisive influence on the creation of strong public pressure that resulted in the tightening of legislation dealing with cases of domestic violence and gender-based violence, In cooperation with the Foundation for Human Rights and Solidarity SOLIDARNA, the #spasime fund was established for emergency assistance and protection of victims of domestic violence for which in a two-month campaign, collected almost HRK 400,000 in donations from citizens.

The initiative started a critical dialogue about the position of women in Croatian society, violence is finally being talked about as completely unacceptable; legal changes, ensuring financial security for victims of violence and creating a support group for women offered concrete solutions. The women initiators of the Initiative have in a short time managed to initiate various social actors—primarily women from the world of culture—and to unite experts who have been dealing with the topic for many years, to mobilize a large number of citizens across the country, to inspire initiatives in neighboring countries, and to bring decision-makers to the table. It could be guessed (which we wish) that the #spasime Initiative in Croatia and the region is the catalyst of a strong movement that is peaceful in its nature because it contributes to positive peace—a society where all individuals and individuals can realize their full potential in freedom.

You gave many—the hurt, the weak, the confused, the bitter...—but also the community as a whole the opportunity to experience the power of non-violence. you showed that compassion and non-violence are the first step into a new space—a space of giving from the heart, solidarity, connection and cooperation. You have shown how the power "with" disables the power "over" and liberates unimaginable creative power with which we as a society use non-violent methods to advance towards a more solidary, more just, peaceful and peaceful community.We celebrate that with this Peace Recognition! Thank you!

For many years of non-violent work involving individuals, special groups and veterans from all sides of the war in peace education, dialogue, cooperation and commemorations that open and conquer the emancipating space of an inclusive culture of memory that leads to reconciliation.

The Center for Nonviolent Action has existed for 22 years, has offices in Sarajevo and Belgrade, built its reputation with its indigenous, regional, ten-day trainings, Trainings on nonviolent conflict resolution, later renamed Peacebuilding Trainings. They are pioneers in working with war veterans, from Tribin 4 views "Where did I come from in the war?" How to permanent peace?" to the joint tours of the killing grounds of veterans of all armies, which finally, recently, were adequately covered by the media in Croatia as well.

Dedication to non-violence, extremely high-quality, original education, regional approach, bold steps forward in the Facing the Past programs are hallmarks of the Center for Non-Violent Action.

From empowerment and questioning for non-violence, CNA has grown into a relevant, innovative, stable organization with a large network of its associates, participants of intensive, multi-day and even multi-month programs. Combining visual art, documentaries and photographs, almost "mining" work of patient work with war veterans, publishing, mentoring, networking, work on oneself, the Center for Nonviolent Action is a real example of peace work much wider than the area of ​​this part of Europe.

For her contribution to recognizing the need and opening the space and atmosphere of cooperation between the academic community and society in creating institutional support for the construction, preservation and promotion of peace.

Academic excellence in community service—from vision to action.

In the still confused and unfinished process of transformation of Croatian post-socialist and post-war society, Rector Prijić - Samaržija is an encouragement because she gives direction: her vision of the University of Rijeka is "an open university for an open society," whose responsibility is to enable academic excellence in order to serve the community. At the same time, it recognizes the need for building, improving and preserving peace as one of the key needs of the community.

assuming the responsibility of rector, Mrs. Prijić - Samaržija continues and further strengthens the partnership of the University of Rijeka in the multi-year project (since 2013) of the Summer School on Cres, which brings together scientists, practitioners and activists from all over the world around topics such as dealing with the past and schools for peace .

Furthermore, already at the very beginning of her mandate, she launches an initiative and includes in a broad platform interested scientists, politicians, representatives of civil society and religious communities, influential people in the community, and ambassadors—all with the aim of assessing needs and possibilities, a collaborative process of articulating concepts and content and gaining allies and support for the establishment of peace and conflict studies. After two years of persistent, inclusive and creative work, the Senate of the University of Rijeka gave its support and in October 2019, the Center for the Study of Peace and Conflict of the University of Rijeka, which has secured funds to start the program and a reputable international partnership with the Peace Institute from Donkey,.

With this recognition, we would like to thank and support Rector Prijić-Samaržija, as well as the team of the Center for the Study of Peace and Conflict in Rijeka: you have encouraged the hope that peace efforts at all levels of society, as well as learning processes from practice, will have the institutional research and scientific support that is missing . Thank you!

Snježana Prijić - Samaržija, Croatian philosopher (Rijeka, October 21, 1964), graduated from the Faculty of Philosophy in Belgrade (1988), master's degree at the Faculty of Philosophy in Ljubljana (1992) and doctorate at the Faculty of Philosophy in Zagreb (1996). . She worked as a teacher of philosophy, logic, politics and economics, and ethics at several high schools in Rijeka. Since 1999, she has been a professor at the Department of Philosophy at the University of Rijeka, where she teaches, among other things, history of philosophy, theory of knowledge, epistemology, philosophical anthropology, bioethics, and philosophy of gender. Since 2009, vice-rector, and since 2017, rector of the University of Rijeka. She has published numerous scientific works, especially in the field of cognitive theory and epistemology. Main works: Eye and World (1995), Society and Cognition (2000), Practical Ethics (co-author Elvio Baccarini, 2007), Ancient and Modern Epistemology (co-author Ana Gavran Miloš, 2011).

The first posthumous recognition is gratefully given to pedagogue and peace activist Marijana Mitrović (1945–2008).

Marijana Mitrović was born in Osijek, where she finished high school and studied pedagogy at the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Belgrade. Driven by the needs of her pedagogical and, later, peace engagement, she completed a series of formal and informal educations in the field of psychotherapeutic approaches in the treatment and prevention of mental disorders of children, adolescents and families and obtained the status of consultant in the field of mental health and Gestalt therapist at the Gestalt Institute Würzburg; a one-year education in empathic communication and non-violent conflict resolution, as well as a number of other shorter educations and courses.

She began her work experience (in the 70s) and spent her entire working life as a teacher in several elementary schools in Osijek and the surrounding area. She tirelessly, dedicatedly and joyfully supported teachers and students in their daily work of teaching, learning and growing up. There are her work diaries that you can learn from. And entries in student notebooks. However, from her modest office with the inscription TEACHER, she reached the vastness that the nomination for the Peace Prize is only beginning to understand a little more clearly.

She joined the Center for Peace, Nonviolence and Human Rights, Osijek, in 1992, when she was an exile from Darda, and during her professional and activist work she collaborated with a number of schools, organizations and institutions in Croatia, the region and internationally (Society for Psychological Help (Zagreb), SOS village Ladimirevci, Nansen Dialogue Center Osijek, UNICEF, Kulturkontakt Austria, Freudenberga Stiftung-Germany, Stability Pact, Federal Republic of Germany, peace study MIRAMIDA plus (Zagreb), International network of mental health helpers (Medical Network ), World Committee Teachers for Peace and others).

The experience of wartime violence gives Marijana the pedagogue confirmation of what, in a peacetime environment, she may have only intuitively sensed, and since then she lives and teaches with unceasing inspiration and determination in her attitude and practice: that education necessarily conveys the ideas of peace, nonviolence and tolerance because only such an environment is suitable for teaching and developing the creative potential of a person and the community. Thus, she devoted her life's task to building peace through education and action for peace, in which, recognizing the needs of war/post-war times, she also included work on trauma.

Expressed over the years - these were projects that empowered the gathered number of teachers, youth, peace activists or people from war-torn communities and veterans and their families to build peace in themselves, family, school and community. In this process of empowerment, they were monitored and mentored—always over many years—so that they could "walk" from the safe environment of the workshop (and Marijana's warm embrace) and become the leaven and bearers of peaceful relations in life situations.

In numbers—from a few teachers to several hundred, from twenty to thousands of students, from one school to ten in Osijek and fifteen in Podunavlje (in the first five years); from one community, starting from Osijek and then Darda, Vukovar, Županja, Pakrac, Okučani, Zenica, Fojnica, Tuzla, Banja Luka, Mostar.

Marijana selflessly and persistently disseminated a list of new literature and preparations for workshops. She is the co-author of two important manuals: 1. Za Damire i Anemire: the door to non-violence: a manual of peaceful problem solving at school and alleviating trauma, Zagreb, Mali korak, 1997; 2008. 2. Trauma and self-help: a manual for working with veterans, presentation of the program with examples of workshops and work materials for group leaders, Osijek, Center for Peace, Nonviolence and Human Rights, Osijek, 2004.

She facilitated the process of consultation and curriculum design for the New School in Vukovar (which, unfortunately, is not yet in use)—starting from the "bottom", the needs of students and parents. She was in the team that created the curriculum of the intercultural subject Cultural and spiritual heritage of the homeland, which was introduced as a subject in schools in 2007, lives and develops, primarily in schools in Eastern Croatia but also more widely, from Istria to Čakovec and Tavankut in Serbia; more than 30 schools and 60 teachers were involved in the implementation, and more than 1,500 students went through the program.

However, more than any numbers and statistics why Marijana Mitrović should be joined by the peace medal is the story related to the nomination process. Sometime in October, several teachers came to check the nomination procedure and immediately explained why they were convinced that Marijana should be recognized. I said that the practice of the Award Committee in ten years was not to award posthumous awards, but that there were no formal obstacles; that I am personally touched and delighted; and I directed them to the archives of the Center for Peace. The nomination has arrived, which is signed on behalf of a group of 40 nominators by a person who says that everything she learned, she learned from Marijana, and that she is "beaten by the voice" of the best teacher in Osijek; is attached to the nomination 33 letters of support/recollection were attached to the nomination. I remember and relate: Marijana was sometime in 1992. She came to the Peace Center for one of the meetings on Mondays and said that she follows and observes what and how we do, that she considers it important and necessary, and that she will join us. "But I will bring us "my" teachers," she said and brought them. In fact, the vast majority of the active membership of the Center for Peace during the difficult nineties were teachers. Marijana empowered and trained them and followed their work in schools and in the field, in war-torn communities. Today, a decade after Marijana died, 40 of them come to propose her for the peace medal!

With this recognition, we gratefully celebrate the flourishing of life, joy, and self-awareness of students, colleagues, veterans, peace activists, and people from war-torn communities whose lives were changed and permanently enriched by meeting Marijana. She is the torchbearer of what today we call a relationship of equal dignity—both in life and in the processes of upbringing and education. Her unselfish human and professional support in the desire that we all continue to learn and make the world a better place made her a cornerstone of modern education in Osijek, Slavonia, and much wider.
But there is more: today, on the occasion of the publication of this peace recognition, we are aware that this is another precious gift of Marijana to us—we are encouraged that we can testify that her legacy lives on in our life circles and in the community. Encouraged as when, while you can't see it yet, but just feel that spring is waking up: my people, education for peace and non-violent action WORKS; it MAKES SENSE!

That is why we, those who nominated Marijana, the Award Committee, colleagues, and peace activists, will continue to sort out her legacy in order to encourage scientific research into the concrete contribution of civilian peace activists, especially Marijana Mitrović and teachers, in post-war peacebuilding—in the recovery of war-torn communities in eastern Croatia—in peaceful reintegration. Because there is something to learn about people, relationships, and peace!

For a spontaneous reaction of solidarity translated into an organized, coordinated, collaborative enterprise of a network of people ready to help their neighbors in a sudden situation of threat and need - for peacemaking in action that returns to those involved and the entire community as encouragement, motivation and incentive to work for non-violent social change, it brings true community to life and has transformational potential.

Peace is a community where solidarity is a spontaneous reaction to people's needs. The "Jedni za druge" initiative brought this to life for us: in the sudden situation of the pandemic, and then the earthquake in Zagreb, they quickly and timely organized a network of intergenerational and interpersonal solidarity; they connect people ready to help isolated and lonely people of risk groups and in need and institutions that care for them.

At the beginning of March, several students from the University of Zagreb started the Facebook group "Jedni za druge" which immediately attracted 1,500 members and soon reached 15,000 members, operating, apart from Zagreb, in Osijek, Rijeka, Zadar, Split and Slavonski Brod.

In a short time, a network of people was created ready to share useful information about the functioning of the system during the pandemic. Communication on the Internet and social networks has been extended to advertisements in haustor and neighborhoods, towards those outside the virtual world. An avalanche of solidarity was launched: delivery of necessities and medicines without charge and with all precautionary measures, pet walking, emergency transport and similar minor services along with the most valuable - the message that lonely, uninformed, confused fellow citizens are not alone. Their neighbors are there for them.

The recognition is for creating a feeling of acceptance and equality in society, giving the opportunity to fellow citizens to be useful by helping people who suddenly found themselves isolated, in need, lonely, afraid, thus ensuring the latter feel that they are an equal part of the community that cares for them when it is most difficult.

At the same time, the "One for Others" Initiative opens up and connects the question of what kind of city we want with what kind of people we want to be, what kind of social relations we seek, what kind of everyday life we ​​want. This kind of activism through the expansion and rooting of decentralized horizontal networking strengthens our resilience as citizens and society. It shows that we want and can organize for each other when it is most needed. And it raises the question, what in all other situations and why our city and state administrations are too often sluggish and ineffective.

The initiative "For each other" has shown us that togetherness, cooperation and enormous creativity already occur during the undertaking of solidarity - solidarity is, in fact, all of that. And it is additionally returned to those involved as encouragement, motivation and incentive to work on non-violent social change. With thanks, we wish this to the members and to everyone whom the "One for Others" Initiative has touched or will touch!

For the support and promotion of women as initiators and subjects of change in religious communities and society in the field of women's human rights, building peace and reconciliation, ecumenical dialogue and cooperation between religions and worldviews in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo, Macedonia and Serbia. The nomination and the series of letters of support that we received show that EIŽ has built trust and connected a number of women's initiatives in the region over twelve years of work, has an influence on donor policies at the European level, and its designed activities testify to what it strives to strengthen through financial support, education and connections - to be a believer and a citizen.

The Ecumenical Initiative of Women (EIŽ) fund was founded in the Republic of Croatia in 2007 on the basis of the Ecumenical Women's Solidarity Fund of the World Council of Churches (WCC EWSF), which has been supporting women affected by wars in the Western Balkans since 1993. EIŽ as a fund decided to support peace building, guided by the principles of faith and feminism.

EIŽ supports women's, peace-making, ecumenical and human rights-promoting associations working with women, youth and the elderly, multiple marginalized persons and groups, etc. From 2007-2019. EIŽ developed a network of more than 135 local organizations in the Western Balkans whose leaders are women, and represents a potential resource for more than 7.5 million women in this region; it procured more than 2 million euros to allocate to associations for the implementation of 256 projects; she organized more than 40 different events, empowering women activists and building their capacities, and she also awarded 30 scholarships for scientific and research work to female theologians, scientists and activists.

They are encouraged and inspired by the stories of women who talk about how much an EIŽ activity has empowered them, literally changing their worldview(s). For example, that elderly woman who, after a seminar on violence against women, declares that she waited 70 years for her eyes to open, or the statement of a teenage girl who, on the same occasion, declared that it is violence when her father does not let her go to school. Among the women leaders supported by EIŽ are also theologians, activists and scientists, locally and internationally awarded for their activist and professional achievements.

EIŽ carefully and carefully adapts its support to the individual needs of women and/or the specifics of associations that would be left not only without support for their work and life, but also without faith in their capacities and hope for any improvement.

They are an example from which to learn how to carry out consistent, persistent actions with integrity led by women, without entering into conflicts with the most powerful social discourses that the work of this organization tends to deconstruct - conservative-extremist ones with (misinterpreted) religious admixtures.

In addition to providing support to one of the most marginalized groups of women with great potential for social engagement - theologians, EIŽ throughout the Western Balkans consistently advocates and demonstrates positive, constructive patterns of religiously motivated peace-making activities, particularly important in these areas after the wars of the 1990s, thereby deconstructing one of the key pillars of patriarchy - tendentially interpreted and narrow, misunderstood religious teaching. Through his work, he restores faith in faith to believers and to all of us in sustainable, permanent peace.

Can we imagine our today and our tomorrow without the Ecumenical Initiative of Women from Omiš? We don't want to!

A big THANK YOU to the small group of women from Omiš and all their many friends and colleagues.

For persistent and unwavering non-violent resistance and action by which they achieved the right of same-sex partners to adopt, improved opportunities for children without parental care, preserved their own dignity and contributed to the expansion of the space of an inclusive society in Croatia.

The long, exhausting, dignified and unwavering struggle of Mladen Kožić and Ivo Šegota bore fruit. Life partners Ivo and Mladen achieved the right to adopt children. Driven by a sincere desire to enlarge their family and to provide children without parental care with a home, quality upbringing and love, they stand up against the bureaucratic institutions of the state, bad legal frameworks and their applications. With patient, argumentative, courageous and public appearances, using all legal and humane means, they won a double achievement. First of all, at a time when the process of adoption and fostering in Croatia is threatened due to bureaucratic sloppiness or corruption and when violence in the so-called "normal" families, thousands of abandoned children are still waiting for a chance for a dignified life. Kožić and Šegota want to give those children that chance. Also, no less important, is their contribution in the fight against discrimination to which the LGBT community in Croatia is still exposed today - both through official institutions and in everyday life. We appreciate their decisive and self-deprecating appearance in public, without the intention of self-promotion or triumphalism, with which they set an example of non-violent social action. We believe that they encouraged other individuals and groups of disenfranchised and unfairly marginalized Croatian citizens in the opinion that the goal of a just society can be reached. This Recognition is our big THANK YOU.

Special 2020 "Krunoslav Sukić" Accolade for the promotion of peacemaking, non-violence and human rights 

with gratitude we present

because it shows us the liberating and healing power of empathy in action - how it transforms the "invisible", "forgotten", oppressed, ashamed... into brave, solidarity, dialogic and creative action; with his life, actions and words, he testifies and models the much-needed, non-violent type of leadership.

And where are we?- the first step in nonviolence is to say NO to violence. Ajna was born in September 1993 in the safe house "Medica" in Zenica. She learned the truth about being a child of rape from her mother as a girl at the age of fifteen. Fifteen years of ignorance and another ten years of confusion, pain, shame, anger, exposure to peer and structural violence. It is estimated that between 25,000 and 50,000 girls, women and men were raped in BiH during the war in the 1990s. Nowhere, no one, in any way talks about them - the children of war. They are called "invisible children of war" because they are all around us, but we don't know it. Many of them do not know the real truth about their origins, and even those who do rarely talk about it.And where are we?In the shadow of the cruel stigmatization of our mothers?

Ajna stepped forward to help her mother and fought her way through together - so that the voice of raped mothers and children born because of war would become their therapy, just as, Ajna says, her voice is her therapy. Their need for their own integrity and to realize their own uniqueness does not endanger anyone. On the other hand, when realized, it leads to a new community on "healthy legs". That's what Ajna strives for, that's what she's working on!

In two years: in order to support mothers and children, regardless of their ethnicity or their fathers, Ajna gathers them around the establishment of the organization "Forgotten Children of the War"; starts documenting, initiates preparations for legal solutions that would be unique in the world, launches the "Name of one parent" initiative, connects with women from Uganda, Rwanda, Congo, presents at the UN podium... the public is the voice of the invisible children of wars heard, it's not like before!

Ajna is also special in that she chooses and has the gift to communicate her message through art, thus reaching more people and touching them more deeply: her story inspired the film "The Hunchback" and two other documentaries, and the world exhibition "Breaking Free"; she is the co-author and takes part in the performance of the dance-drama theater performance "IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER".

With Ajna, we are grateful and ready to support! Let's stay connected!

For a step forward from a palliative, humanitarian approach, towards inclusive, developmental and peace-building work with children from families with lower financial status and successful cooperation with the community in which they live.

The My Place under the Sun program is special for several reasons: for encouraging the development of children's abilities so that they can successfully get out of the vicious cycle of poverty; for creating a community that engages in the problem of solving poverty and cares for the well-being of its members; for advocating for changing policies and seeking an institutional solution to the problem of child poverty.

The My place under the sun program was launched in 2015, but already in 2018 it was threatened with closure due to lack of funding. Then it turns to the community, develops, grows and achieves a public fundraising campaign, but more importantly, it raises public awareness. The campaign brought the topic of social inequality and child poverty into the public space, which requires a systematic solution, involving everyone, not just social assistance.

A whole series of small entrepreneurs and craftsmen have the logo of this program on their doors in Rijeka and continuously contribute to the implementation of its activities in various ways. Such a way of acting strengthens the community as a place that truly cares for the well-being of its members, not only on a local patriotic level, but by actively insisting on ensuring equal opportunities as a true value that the community lives by.

• for 30 years of uninterrupted creation, affirmation and practice of a culture of peace,
• for a key role in the beginnings of the anti-war campaign in the Republic of Croatia,
• for connecting peace policies with strategies for the protection of human rights - especially the rights of the most vulnerable,
• for inspiring civil initiatives, within and outside the borders of Slovenia, by theoretically formulating the idea of ​​civil society
• for spreading the concept of peace, which is not only the absence of war, but is connected with contemporary trends of non-violent community organization - as a community of interests and communication, groups and individuals, regions and worldviews, lifestyles and traditions.
  Peace Institute - The Institute for Contemporary Social and Political Studies was founded in June 1991 in Ljubljana as a continuation of the Movement for the Culture of Peace and Nonviolence from the eighties, in which the first director Marko Hren, Vlasta Jalušič, Tonči Kuzmanić, Rastko Močnik and other. The cooperation between the founders of the Institute and activists from Croatia began in 1986, at the time of joint actions advocating peace policies, stopping the construction of nuclear power plants in Yugoslavia and supporting conscientious objectors.

Among the greatest achievements of the Peace Institute is the successful advocacy of the rights of 25,671 citizens deleted from the register of permanent residence in 1992. Only a lawsuit to the European Court of Human Rights brought a binding verdict. These people lived for years, some still today, without any documents, social and health insurance, the possibility of legal employment, education or leaving the country, in constant fear of the police and deportation.

The work of the Peace Institute constantly brings it into conflict with government institutions. Very uncertain financial support and the threat of taking over the premises where they work are serious difficulties they have to deal with.

The Peace Institute was and remains an inspiration, support, source and support for all of us who have chosen peace work, non-violence and human rights as the basis of our lives and activities. This recognition is our big THANK YOU.

We dedicate the recognition to the deceased co-founder of the Peace Institute, Tonči Kuzmanić.

The recognition was awarded posthumously.

For creative, wise and persistent activism, which contributed to the betterment of society and which inspires and encourages new ways of fighting for a fairer future - ProBudiJednakost.

Melanija Mešić is a member of the Roma national minority, who destroys prejudices. She enrolled at the University of Split, which was the first such case in Split. She studied the Korean language and danced. She acted in the theater play POGLEDAJME, which talks about the problems faced by members of the Roma national minority in Croatia. She dedicated herself to creating video content on social networks, which she opened the door to on important topics - the fight for equality and the fight against hate speech. In various media, she proudly highlighted her identity and encouraged young Roma men and women, as well as all young people who are marginalized by society, to do the same.

Melania's profile on the TikTok social network had over 67,000 followers, and her posts were liked by more than 1,500,000, mostly young people. She showed a lot of patience for those who think differently from her. She dealt with attacks and difficulties, as well as with her illness, with dignity, with a touch of humor and with immense positivity. Unfortunately, Melania lost her battle with leukemia on August 6, 2021 at the age of 26.

Melania's untimely departure left a huge void. But her activism and ideas are the foundations on which we can build and develop a fairer society - her belief that a better tomorrow is possible for everyone is summed up in the maxim by which she lived #ProBudiJednakost.

This recognition cherishes the memory of Melania and strengthens the awareness of what she left us as a legacy. Thank you very much!

For successfully linking the professional and civic engagement that resulted in the introduction of school meals for children in all primary schools in Croatia. It contributes to health and development of all children, their equality and social inclusion, and to preventing stigmatization of poor and at-risk children.

The initiators of the initiative are four associate professors of the Faculty of Law in Zagreb, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sc. Olja Družić Ljubotina, Assoc. Prof. Ph. D. Ivana Dobrotić, Assoc. Prof. Ph. D. Marijana Kletečki Radović and Assoc. Prof. Ph. D. Antonija Petričušić.

They were motivated to take action after conducting research, which revealed that every fifth child in Croatia lives at risk of poverty, receives social assistance as a result of it and is socially excluded. Ensuring an adequate nutrition of children is a significant difficulty for these vulnerable groups, especially for families with a single parent, for families with three or more children and families in urban areas.

The members of the Initiative decided to address these problems. Aside from the additional data gathered, they persistently advocated and appealed to the Croatian government and relevant ministries, to systematically address the issue of school nutrition, which basically affects every student.

The "child's right to a proper meal" is recognized as a need and as a prerequisite for achieving other fundamental children's rights, such as their dignity and their right to education. Therefore, they aimed to establish a state-funded system of free school meals for every elementary school student through the initiative. Furthermore, a petition was launched, and constant public awareness was maintained about the importance of this right.

Today we celebrate their success!

We are grateful to the members of the Initiative for their commitment, determination, and perseverance, for advocating the values of equality and social justice. It's a great example of how scientists can become socially engaged and advocate for social change in everyone's benefit. They additionally inspire those who simultaneously feel powerless, to take to act against injustice.

Thank you!

Because with their courageous peaceful resistance, they demonstrated the power of nonviolent action, encouraged broad social solidarity and initiated change.

Even though they do not have a history of activism behind them, the situation they advocated for certainly has one - it involves an already institutionalized ruthless power that denies women health care guaranteed by law.

Mirela and Vanja showed courage in the face of unimaginable suffering and vulnerability. By speaking out to the public, Mirela helped many women who had experienced something similar get rid of shame, humiliation, repressed grief, and anger. Further, Mirela's and Vanja's measured struggle and non-violent resistance to injustices, were an inspiration to thousands of women and men.

Peaceful protests took place in nine cities, releasing sadness, anxiety, bitterness, disappointment, and a feeling of powerlessness that had accumulated over the years due to the way in which Croatian society and politics approach the health profession and the education system which fails to address women's reproductive rights.

Mirela and Vanja have changed the course of history. The public has heard the voice of women, the institutions have been held accountable, and the process of clearing and abandoning the illegal has been initiated in order to overcome an atmosphere of fear, exclusivity, and hatred in Croatian society. Those women showed us the peace-making power of non-violent action, and we are grateful for that.

Thank you!

A law student (from Turkey) with asylum status – for his inclusive, creative, non-violent advocacy for the preservation of personal integrity and integration, as well as his accomplishments in improving higher education opportunities for refugees.

In Barbara Matejčić's film, Semih is described with the words "asylum seeker, law student, Muslim, worker". Yet he is so much more. He is a law student and demonstrator of the Department of European Law, a member of the Advisory Group of Third Country Citizens and Persons of Migrant Origin, Government of the Republic of Croatia, an artist, a performer in a theater performance and a pool player in a cinema. And, if we might add, a human rights fighter, advocate, colleague, and friend.

After six months in the reception center, he applied for asylum after coming to Croatia as an exchange student (third-year law student) in 2017. He decided to continue his studies, which meant - due to Croatian bureaucracy - enrolling in the faculty and starting from scratch. Since theoretical rights and practical implementation differ, he faced many barriers. It is common practice to treat asylum seekers as foreigners when enrolling, which means paying high tuition fees, and not even being able to enroll in some colleges due to lack of quotas.

In order to point out discrimination within the system, Semih wrote hundreds of letters. However, he is not a person who points out problems, but does not offer constructive and convincing solutions. His proactivity paid off - the Ministry accepted the amendment of the rulebook for scholarships and is planning to change the rulebook on food and housing. In light of his success, the Faculty of Law is changing its statute to become more inclusive, with the aim of inspiring other faculties to do the same. The progress his struggle has brought is a benefit for the refugee community as a whole and all those who will come after him.

Today, we celebrate Semih's courage, daring, constructiveness, and optimism in the face of discrimination due to his status. It is great to see that educational opportunities in this field can be and have been improved. Thank you!

The 2023 "Krunoslav Sukić" Accolade for the Promotion of Peacebuilding, Nonviolence and Human Rights
is awarded with gratitude to: Members of the CROATIAN MEDIATION ASSOCIATION

For twenty years of enthusiastic, persistent, professional and creative peace-building work on disseminating the idea and vision of mediation. We are grateful for all those, and there is an abundance of them, who, in meeting with the members of the CMA, with mediation, mediators and teaching about mediation, were empowered to change their perspective and view of the world. For a world of cooperation in which conflict is not only a threat, but also an opportunity for everyone to be better and to become better. The CMA is not only the first mediation association in Croatia, but also the first to start with numerous activities to raise awareness of the importance of mediation in the context of out- of-court dispute resolution, in the everyday life of groups and individuals and in the community (in schools, with students, representatives of local governments and trade unions). In its twenty years of existence, hundreds of participants in over 300 conflicts and as many as 2,242 mediator training participants have given their trust to the CMA. The CMA
participated in the articulation of all three reconciliation laws; organized eleven Mediation Weeks during which citizens are offered pro bono mediation in order to bring mediation closer to them and make it accessible. Additionaly, it is a place to recognize, connect and give recognition to everyone who contributes in distinct ways to the spread of the concept and practice of mediation – up until now, the CMA has awarded as many as 83 mediation awards. Members of the CMA say they are a part of the CMA family. They indicate that their greatest achievement is the creation of a space and a valuable experience where conflicting parties can express their thoughts, emotions and perspective without fear of being judged, ignored or appraised and where they have the necessary support to understand and connect with the person on the other side, because through mediation they further empower each other in dealing with conflict in a non-violent and cooperative way. The CMA helps individuals to find their voice, teachers to apply mediation skills with colleagues, students and parents and to teach students to solve problems peacefully, students and volunteers to master communication skills, business partners to find their development path, and families to find the love that they had towards each other, but had forgone it along the way.

Congratulations to this remarkable group of people! It is time to celebrate!

The „Krunoslav Sukić“ 2024 Acknowladgment for the Promotion of Peacebuilding, Nonviolence and Human Rights

Is awarded with gratitude to

PAX for Peace from the Netherlands, Peace Action from North Macedonia, Integra and New Social Initiative from Kosovo, Civic Initiatives from Serbia and the International Center for Transitional Justice for bringing together organizations of war victims for successful cooperation that resulted in harmonization of the principles of transitional justice of the Western Balkans that they advocate.

Pax for Peace, the Dutch Peace Organization, has decades of rich experience working in various crisis areas around the world. It was also present here in Croatia, more precisely in our eastern part of Croatia when, after peaceful reintegration, it contributed to the post-war peacebuilding by supporting the newly formed local self-governments. In the last years of its continuous presence in the post-war and transitional post-Yugoslav countries of the Western Balkans, Pax has been exploring the possibilities of how to support the processes of prevention of intergenerational transmission of war traumas, and strengthen the positive processes of dealing with the violent past – because it is an unavoidable part of building sustainable peace.

Pax for Peace invited organizations with which it has previously collaborated in a consortium that jointly designed and implemented a 2.5-year program called "Strengthening Inclusive Voices of Victims – Transforming Narratives" STRENGTHENING INCLUSIVE VICTIMS' VOICES IN THE WESTERN BALKANS. Through an inclusive process, they developed and agreed on REGIONAL PRINCIPLES OF TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE that are relevant to the daily lives of victims at the national and regional level of the Western Balkans. They have issued a document in four languages and advocated for these principles through a series of creative public events and exhibitions... And to return to the key point, in this process, members of victims' organizations from Macedonia, Kosovo and Serbia met in politically tense situations and despite the lack of wider social support, or even despite the unfavorable social environment.

With this Acknowledgment, we would like to thank you for the work that has connected victims' organizations and laid the foundations for their further bold steps, their cohesive and meaningful action towards justice beyond the war and sustainable peace in the Western Balkans. We want to support them!

"Krunoslav Sukić" 2024 Acknowledgment for the Promotion of Peacebuilding, Nonviolence and Human Rights

 Is awarded with gratitude to

Alma Džinić-Trutović, a fighter for the rights of the most vulnerable and a successful peace activist and worker in the field of empowering and connecting young people in post-war peacebuilding in the Western Balkans. 

We rarely encounter a successful peace story that can be supported by measurable data on the impact of the implemented activities on the direct participants of the activities, on the immediate and on the wider community. Peace activism and the work of Alma Džinić-Trutović, a long-time coordinator of the peace network "Youth United in Peace", is such an example.

In her early youth, spurred on by the violence of war and chaos, Alma chooses to be with the victims, and then with the youth. She was involved in activities through which she helped children, young people and women in Tuzla and Srebrenica, and the establishment of organizations and associations with this task.  She had no idea to what extent her work would go. It has expanded to the area that includes three countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of Croatia and the Republic of Serbia. With communication, the ability to listen to the interlocutor, feeling what is hidden in young people and, especially, perseverance in the implementation of a seemingly banal activity – youth camps "Break from War" – which created spaces for gatherings of numerous generations of young people. Today, all over the world, they remember the support they received then.  Behind Alma's nomination for this Award are over a dozen of them. Some of them are now parents and have brought the acquired values into their new families, woven into their communities (for example, in building trust in war-torn Vukovar), bringing them into their professional and political work; Some of them became inseparable friends, and some of them continued to engage in peacemaking work. From the project Break from War - Peacebuilding, an informal network Youth United in Peace (YUPeace) was created,  from the cities of: Tuzla, Srebrenica, Gornji Vakuf - Uskoplje, Sombor and Vukovar. Over 25,000 young people participated in the activities of this network, several hundred meetings were organized, dozens of organizations were involved and hundreds of coordinators were empowered. This year, the YUP Informal Youth Network celebrated its 30th anniversary! These are the facts and figures that illustrate the organic growth of this remarkable peace venture!

And here's how the stakeholders of this venture talk about it and how they see Alma's contribution:

" Alma doesn’t work on the project, she lives the project. With dedicated work, she managed to connect the hearts of young people and raised generations of peacekeepers for more than 30 years. Today, it is these peacekeepers who take over the organization of future camps. Isn't that visionary work in peace? For me, Alma is the heroine of our time because she gave her whole self for peace among young people."

"Alma was the wind in my back, so that from a girl who could not speak in front of a group, today I can stand with great confidence at the head of a large regional project."

"I met Alma back in 2006 when, looking for adventure, I got on the bus for my first trip to the camp, to the seaside. Then, by getting on the bus, I entered the world of peacemakers... My thirst for adventure has grown into a thirst for a just society, for a present day in which we look at each other with respect and appreciation. Alma knew that she nurtured this new thirst in us. And now, not only are we still thirsty, but we are still holding hands tightly, trusting each other, we are going to meet the clear water that gives us peace and coexistence."

Alma, we thank you for remaining faithful to your choice from an early age; for the imprint you have left on the lives of so many young people, which is unknown to the general public; and for what is very visible – for the regional initiative Youth United in Peace. Thank you for proving that investing and working with young people is not only an investment in their present, but also in the future of the community. Thank you.

“Krunoslav Sukić“ 2024 Acknowledgment for the promotion of Peacebuilding, Nonviolence and Human rights

is awarded with gratitude to

Goran Matijević, a police officer we need, because he is willing to both expose himself to risks and continuously learn to make the community safer for vulnerable groups, more resilient against vigilante justice, and stronger in preventing violence.

Dr.sc. Goran Matijević is a crime prevention officer at the Požega Police Station. He holds degrees in law and road and rail traffic engineering, as well as a doctorate in economic sciences. Born, living, and working in Požega, he maintains familial, professional, and academic ties with Bosnia and Herzegovina. A lifelong learner, his academic focus is on violence prevention and the protection of victims and the most vulnerable groups. Over the past two years, he has conducted an evaluation of violence prevention activities and measures for the protection of vulnerable groups in Požega and the Požega-Slavonia County. This work has contributed to advancing community safety measures and capacities, earning him the Annual Award of the City of Požega this year.

He is an active participant in the public and social life of his community.

What distinguishes Goran Matijević’s excellence is precisely what community members recognize in him: his unwavering and courageous commitment to his mission—ensuring community safety, especially for vulnerable groups, raising awareness about violence, and preventing violence while fostering community openness to diversity.

His contributions to building trust between the Serbian community and institutions are well-known, whether through assistance in administrative procedures, property protection, organizing safe gatherings, or preserving cultural and religious rights. Despite pressures and risks, he has remained consistent and courageous, upholding legality, protecting victims of violence, and advocating for minority rights. This includes handling sensitive cases such as the prosecution of public displays of HOS flags and addressing attacks on a journalist of Serbian nationality by the mayor.

We particularly value Goran’s work with children and youth through school programs. He is not only an educator and practitioner but also a role model in the field of violence prevention, nonviolent conflict management, solidarity with vulnerable groups, and respect for diversity.

With this recognition, we express our deep respect and gratitude to Goran for his extraordinary contributions, for what he does and how he does it, and especially for being an inspiration and role model. We joyfully welcome him into the family of laureates of the "Krunoslav Sukić" Award.

"Krunoslav Sukić" 2024 Acknowledgment for the Promotion of Peacebuilding, Nonviolence and Human Rights

 Is posthumously awarded with gratitude to

 Spasenija Moro, a friend, teacher and peacemaker who touched many with hope and was one of the pillars of the Centre for Peace, Nonviolence and Human Rights - Osijek.

We are grateful and proud of her great contribution to building peace, human rights and restoration of trust among war-torn people; for the values of peacemaking, humanity, which she lived daily and consistently; for her kindness, energy, selflessness and love that she gave to people, members of the Center for Peace-Osijek, beneficiaries, friends and associates.

In 1992, Spasenija joined a small group of intellectuals who founded the Centre for Peace, Nonviolence and Human Rights in war-torn Osijek.  Over the past three decades, we have walked and worked together to contribute to the reduction of trauma and the post-war building of a democratic society based on a culture of peace and non-violence.

Guided by the peace logic of responding to the perceived needs and opportunities, Spasenija thus turned her friendship with Manda Prišing from Sombor and her colleague Svjetlana Nenadović from Bilje (then under the control of Serbian forces and UNPROFOR) into the opening of communication and cooperation with peace initiatives on the other side of the dividing line in the processes of peaceful reintegration of the Croatian Danube region.

She was personally engaged in supporting displaced women in the Friendship Settlement in Čepin. She launched the project Summer Holidays for Children in Živogošće (1997 – 2001), where children and teachers from villages and towns in eastern Croatia spent their summer holidays in the first post-war years. Immediately after Operation Flash, she visited Pakrac and launched the project "Return and Restoration of Trust – Pakrac (1996-2001). In Pakrac and several settlements in Baranja, she worked with individuals and groups to restore trust and establish communication between members of the local community, empower them to return, and create minimal economic conditions for the reconstruction of life in war-torn and impoverished communities.

She was the bearer of peace cooperation and contacts with foundations from Germany and Switzerland; translator at the Center for Peace for German and participated in the reflection and realization of other peace activities of the Center for Peace. Thus, we recall, it was Spasa who suggested that we introduce the category of the PEACEBUILDING SCHOOL Award into our peace award, bearing in mind and at heart young people and education for peace.

The engagement of our Spasenija has also been recognized by the Croatian Women's Network, which in 2005 nominated six peace activists from Croatia for the Nobel Peace Prize. One of these six brave women was our Savior.

We are honored to give the Accolade to Spasenija Moro, and it will add splendor and warmth to the "Krunoslav Sukić" Peace Award.