To his contemporaries in Osijek, Slavonia and Croatia, Ladislav Bognar provides an example of consistent commitment to the promotion of peacemaking, non-violence and human rights in his professional, activist and civic-political engagement.

 

His professional and personal commitment to alternative education dates back to before the war. The war did not "throw him out" of this attitude – on the contrary, it motivates him to offer elements of education for peace and non-violence and teach teachers in war-stricken Slavonia and Baranja, assessing how much, in post-war circumstances, it can help them in their task of educating children and young people.

 

Since then, he has been persisting in his efforts to make education for peace an integral part of the education system in Croatia. He participated in the defense of Slatina and Osijek, and immediately after demobilization, from 1992 he worked for a peaceful solution to the war conflict. It cooperates with local and international peace organizations to empower peace activists and to open communication with civilian and peace initiatives from the occupied territories. The opening of communication, dialogue and even cooperation with the "long side", across the dividing line, greatly prepared and facilitated the implementation of the peaceful integration of the Danube region, but at the time when such action was carried out was dangerous, it was called treason and collaboration with the enemy.

 

Although he was persecuted and threatened by the media, he showed his civic and political responsibility and courage when he supported the witnesses who spoke to him and personally testified before the judiciary about the circumstances in which war crimes against Serb civilians were committed in Osijek and in Paulin Dvor.

The "Krunoslav Sukić" Award for the Promotion of Peacemaking, Non-Violence and Human Rights in 2010 was awarded to Jadranka Reihl Kir for her unwavering, determined and courageous insistence on the investigation of the murder of her husband, Osijek Police Chief Josip Reihl Kir, and two representatives of the local government, Milan Knežević and Goran Zobundžija, and the attempted murder of Mirko Tubić on July 1, 1991 at a checkpoint between Osijek and Tenja.

 

Jadranka Reihl Kir did not allow this murder to be covered up or declared an act of blind revenge that should be justified by the pre-war atmosphere that inflamed such feelings, but that it was a political murder aimed at eliminating her husband's peace efforts. She managed to make the truth about the fate of Josip Reihl Kir part of the collective experience and principled attitude. Jadranka Reihl Kir was never a victim but a witness of her time, she never allowed a tragedy to turn into a judicial farce.

 

This farce is being deconstructed these days by the exhibition "Who is Reihl Kir to you", again by example Jadranka Reihl Kir reminds us that without personal exposure, or more precisely defiance against dominant, violent, social behavior, there will be neither peace nor prosperity.

 

Ljiljana Gehrecke, PhD, was awarded the Award for the Promotion of Peacembuilding, Nonviolence and Human Rights, for her dedication to alleviating war traumas, the recovery of people and society in Vukovar, which is not only directed towards tolerance, but towards true unity. The support it provides to people today is valuable for future generations.

 

Ljiljana Gehrecke was born in Vorkapić Selo near Glina in 1938. She finished elementary school and high school in the Vukovar area. In Belgrade, she graduated and received a master's degree in economics, and then a doctorate in the field of technical sciences. She has taught at the Faculty of Economics and the Faculty of Organizational Sciences in Belgrade and at the University of Karlsruhe. She is a lecturer at the Centre for Peace and Development at the United Nations University in Paris. She was the first, and now she is the honorary president of the European House Vukovar.

 

Shaken by the fate of the people and the city of Vukovar, Ljiljana Gehrecke and her husband return to Vukovar immediately after the end of the Homeland War. On Europe Day, May 9, 2000, they initiated the establishment of the European House Vukovar. In a community that suffered severe war suffering, and despite the opposition of the city administration, it was a great undertaking to gather fifteen citizens of Vukovar who differed not only in ethnicity, but also in political beliefs, religion, age, education and professional orientation – seemingly in many ways. But they were united in one thing - they had a common desire for Vukovar to heal its war wounds, to become a European city of spiritual and economic prosperity.

 

 

Peter Kuzmič was awarded the Award for his promotion of worldview and religious pluralism and dialogue – striving towards the truth through public dialogue, he contributes to the formation of a democratic and peaceful culture in Croatia.

 

Peter Kuzmič, PhD, was born in 1946 in Nuskovo (Slovenia). He was educated in Slovenia, Croatia, Germany, Great Britain and the United States of America; He graduated in theology, pedagogy and humanities. He received his master's degree from the Wheaton Graduate School in Chicago and his doctorate from the Catholic Faculty of Theology in Zagreb. He was one of the founders of the Biblical Theological Institute (Zagreb, 1972) – today the Faculty of Evangelical Theology in Osijek, where he is a professor and rector. He is a visiting professor at a number of universities in the USA, Korea and China. He chaired the Theological Commission of the World Evangelical Alliance and the Lausanne Committee. The theological, scholarly and ecumenical work of dr. sc. Peter Kuzmič have worldwide achievements and recognitions. In the Republic of Croatia, he was awarded the Order of Danica Hrvatska with the image of Katarina Zrinski (1988), the Coat of Arms of the City of Osijek (2000) for a special contribution to the international affirmation of the city of Osijek and the Coat of Arms of the City of Osijek (2008) for lifetime achievement.

 

 

Dr. Kuzmič is an atypical, non-traditional, in fact a peculiar theologian, ethicist and humanist who shows how to resist any exclusivity, i.e. all ideological, ideological and religious monopolies, and how to promote worldview and religious pluralism while striving for truth. In his opinion, the truth must be witnessed - the truth is complex and it is not just mere dogmatic terminology. And it is precisely the dialogue, not only with God but also with every person, that is an essential determinant of the believer's existence, but also of the existential existence.

 

 

Veljko Vičević was awarded the Award for opening and establishing a dialogue between associations of Homeland War veterans and civil society organizations, especially in relation to regional processes of dealing with the past and initiatives for RECOM (Regional Commission for Establishing Facts on All Victims of War Crimes and Other Serious Human Rights Violations Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia in the Period from 1991 to 2001).

 

Veljko Vičević was born in Zagreb in 1956, where he still lives today. A political scientist, proud to have known the Praxis family - professors Sutlić, Supek and Kangrga, he was active in the work of the Alliance of Socialist Youth of Croatia, where he began to engage in politics professionally in 1981. Since 1983 he has been the president of the City Conference of SSOH Zagreb. The actions "You have a house, return the apartment", and the launch of the Youth Radio, today's Hundred Unit, are the most famous of many in Veljko's mandate.

 

In 1991, he became involved as a volunteer in the preparation and organization of the National Guard Corps and the Croatian Army. He is an active participant in the Homeland War, commander of the 148th Brigade of the Croatian Army, "one of the longest-lived", retired with the rank of active colonel of the Croatian Army as a 50% war invalid.

 

"Nonviolence is neither passivity nor attacking one's opponent, but a resolute struggle for justice through the power of love, cooperation and truth." - H.Goss Mayr

 

Ana Marija and Otto Raffai were awarded the "Krunoslav Sukić" Award for the Promotion of Peacebuilding, Nonviolence and Human Rights for deepening the understanding of nonviolence and empowering people and communities for nonviolent action, connecting spirituality, nonviolence as an attitude and action, open dialogue and interfaith cooperation, and lifelong learning.

 

The Raffai couple live what they believe in every day. Although Ana teaches foreign languages at school, meaning 'she also has a normal job', it is difficult for an uninformed observer to tell what they do. Peace work, education and interfaith dialogues, certainly, but these are only forms of content much more important than them.

 

Ana and Otto Raffai live by witnessing the commitment to non-violence, the power of true faith and love. The participants of their trainings, students of the Zagreb Peace Studies, believers of various religions, are immensely grateful to them for this. We won't say that they adore them, because that's exactly what it is, as inappropriate as it is - there is no cult in them. Raising a family, raising their three children Judit, Gustav and Ruth, running a household in which German and French are spoken in addition to Croatian and Hungarian, the pleasure of preparing food for the family and guests, conversations filled with careful listening to the interlocutor, dilemmas, searching for answers, learning, humor, all these seem to be things that have no place in such serious explanations.

 

Thanks to Ana and Otto, today we know that this is where they belong. "Be the change you want to see." is a saying that we have the honor to reward today.

 

We are proud to say that Otto and Ana Maria Raffai are among the most prominent trainers of thinking about nonviolence and nonviolent action in Europe and beyond, but that is not the real reason why we are awarding them this award. They also published a number of professional papers, so when asked by the Peace Studies in Zagreb if someone could come to explain the significance of the peace message of Christmas, they responded in 1997 with sincere amazement: "But you already have Ana Raffai." Their peacekeeping activity began spontaneously, it took both faith and courage to refuse to carry weapons in 1991 during mobilization, with Otto's explanation: "My Christian faith does not allow me to do that."

 

 

Šerif Isaković was awarded the "Krunoslav Sukić" Award for the Promotion of Peacebuilding, Nonviolence and Human Rights for his twenty years of commitment to post-war peacebuilding in the region, for his tireless advocacy for the right of all people to return to their homes and, especially, for the recovery of war-devastated and devastated Posavina. Speaking loudly about the suffering of Posavina and the people of Posavlja, never about his own (although he himself lost two brothers, several members of his extended family, all his property and home). It analyzes and criticizes the entity division of Bosnia, but at the same time acts in accordance with all legal possibilities and encourages the creation of new and better opportunities for return. Šerif Isaković expresses the political program of his activities clearly, publicly and persistently: everyone has the right to their own home – each to their own home – a unified Bosnia and Herzegovina with three constituent peoples –Bosnia and Herzegovina in the European Union. He wisely and skillfully connects horizontal and vertical power - he acts from below (connecting people, associations, church and local communities) and through local government while at the same time trying to influence decisions made at the highest political levels, nationally and internationally.

 

Šerif Isaković was born in 1939 in Stolac, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Twice in his life he was a refugee. During World War II, his family was expelled, and after the war they settled in Derventa. He was expelled from Derventa and then from Bosanski Brod together with his family in 1992, when he settled in Slavonski Brod. However, it lives equally on both banks of its own. He is a lawyer with diverse professional experience, and has been working as a lawyer for the last twenty years. He does not miss the opportunity to express his gratitude for the solidarity with which the exiled people of Posavina were accepted in Sl. Brod and the feeling of belonging to a new home. It participates in the cultural and political life of the city. He holds the position of councilor in the City of Slavonski Brod and in the County Assembly of Brod-Posavina County, he is the president of the County Committee for Interstate and Inter-County Cooperation and a member of the County Council for European Integration. He is active in the Association of Intellectuals "Matija Mesić".

 

People recognize Šerif Isaković as a peacemaker and friend. His peace potential is "attached" to his love for every person, for his homeland and the nurturing of the Posavlje identity, culture and music. On his way back to Posavina, he works by being with people in their most difficult moments when they go to the burnt sites of their houses and graves for the first time and when they need to decide to coexist with yesterday's enemies. With them, he permanently, consistently and persistently builds a new type of security – one that relies on the establishment and strengthening of broken interpersonal and social ties, friendship, tolerance, interreligious dialogue and cooperation. On an interpersonal level, between war-torn communities and local politicians, and internationally.

 

He connects refugees and refugee associations so that together they can more effectively help everyone return to their homes: he is a co-founder and president of the still active Community of Returnees of Bosanska Posavina, which has been operating since 1994, and the Coalition for Return, which consists of 200 refugee and displaced persons from Bosnia and Herzegovina, the region and the diaspora.

 

He is the founder and president of the association "Living Together" of the Municipality of Derventa, co-founder and active member of the regional association "Bridge of Friendship".

 

He says what he thinks publicly and writes it – is a columnist for the weekly Posavska Hrvatska from Slavonski Brod and the magazine Tolerance, published by the Friendship Society from Bačka Palanka. He is the author of the book "Bosnia and Herzegovina from Dayton to Brussels" in which, in addition to chronologically arranged events, he also publishes his reflections on them - as a document of the time as he saw it, lived it and how he responded to the challenges of the time. With ease and joy, he stands behind his words and deeds. And in this way, he also deals with the inconveniences and pressures he experiences because of his work.

 

Šerif Isaković has already received a number of recognitions and letters of appreciation, but incomparably more handshakes, hugs, smiles and joyful encounters with people. We want our "Krunoslav Sukić" Award to shed more light on the beneficial peacefulness of the Šerif's life and work. Thank you.

 

Veselinka Kastratović was awarded the "Krunoslav Sukić" Award for her twenty years of brave, persistent, human and professional dedication to the protection of human rights and post-war peacebuilding in war-torn parts of Croatia.

 

Although poorly visible to the public, the value of her commitment to preserving the human dignity of displaced persons and refugees, returnees, victims and victims of war crimes is invaluable. As a lawyer, monitor of court proceedings, researcher of human losses, she supports victims and families of victims in their search and aspiration to discover the truth about the suffering. At the same time, through public advocacy in favor of a professional and impartial trial for war crimes, it contributes to the creation of a social atmosphere and political framework for the transformation of a totalitarian and wartime society into a democratic and peaceful society. He does it selflessly, without reservation, despite pressure, misunderstanding or malicious attacks, he does it in such a way that by his example and availability he represents support to colleagues, associations, institutions and the process itself. For that, we express our gratitude to her!

 

The "Krunoslav Sukić" Award is presented to Barbara Matejčić for her rarely seen example of engaged investigative journalism, through which she has questioned and explored topics and processes extremely important for peacebuilding in the last few years. With her research and writing, Barbara Matejčić makes visible the unacknowledged injustices related to social exclusion, inequality and the negative consequences of war violence, as well as the efforts that connect people towards unity in solidarity.

 

Barbara Matejčić writes about a wide range of topics, about everything that provokes her, what she wants to clarify for herself and others, what answers she wants to come up with, and she does not get them from the media. When he works on post-war topics, he always goes to the field and talks to people who connect the community, and do not divide it, he finds people who are unrecognized, civilian victims of war. He describes his work with the following words: "I try not to do, not to condemn, not to cheer, but to put together a mosaic of different voices and images that speak for themselves, give a different picture than the usual narrative of war."

 

With the Award, we want to show how much we appreciate Barbara's work, thank her and encourage her to go further!

The "Krunoslav Sukić" Award is awarded to Bojan Glavašević for his readiness to witness and live his life choice – I don't hate but I care – and live in a time of growing misunderstanding, conflict and intolerance. Bojan Glavašević's actions from this attitude contribute to the appreciation of the suffering of the victims, but without manipulation, and frees them from being closed in the circle of a national myth that makes it impossible for people, the community and even the post-war generation to live on.

 

It is precisely the attitude: I do not hate but I care that can become a common ground, a starting point for dialogue, agreement, cooperation on those issues that are shaking Croatian society today. Bojan Glavašević shows us that this attitude is a sure landmark and a source of strength for making brave, unusual choices for today's Croatia.

 

His choice is not to be a victim locked in hatred or fear, even though he and his family were badly damaged in the war. He refuses to accept the assumed role of a symbol of suffering if it would not help the victims, the veterans or all of us to free themselves from that suffering. He shows his choice by accepting a job in a demanding position in the state structure in a difficult time of crisis, inherited disorder and growing dissatisfaction of the veteran population and civilian victims of the war he cares for.

 

He shows his choice when he advocates respect for the different, respect for diversity and tolerance in the public and media space - aware that part of the public does not want to hear that from him.

 

Bojan does not meet the imposed expectations of others, but manages to be himself. And the more he is himself, the more he is ours, all of us, and there are not a few of us, who see hatred as a temporary state, and concern for the well-being of others as a permanent attitude to life. Bojan Glavašević opens a page of a new reality for a generation of children from the war who have the right to a good, solidary and stimulating social atmosphere.

 

Bojan Glavašević testifies to non-violence by opposing injustice, exclusivity, violence, while respecting the dignity of those who attack him and not giving up communion with them. It does not come from religious circles or peace associations, and thus reminds us that nonviolence is a path, a choice of freedom, of love for every human being, and not a set of rules or ideologies. It reminds us that in order to build peace, it is important how we do something – that peace is the way, as Mahatma Gandhi said.

 

The award with the name of our Kruno goes into the hands of a man who lives and testifies to what was important to the humanist Kruno, no matter how many temptations, dilemmas and threats there are on that path. And they are not small in the life of Bojan Glavašević.

 

That is why the significance of Bojan's choices and his engagement is greater.

 

We present the Award to Staša Zajović and the Women in Black from Belgrade for their long-term, public, consistent and recognizable anti-war and peace-building engagement. From the first war campaigns in 1991 to the present day, Women in Black have become a symbol of resistance to wars in this region. By their example, they show, pave and lead us on the way out of the spiral of violence that has been recycled in our countries for centuries.

 

Resistance: Staša Zajović and the Women in Black persistently, constantly and tirelessly create opportunities for their unequivocal rejection of war to be heard. They are recognizable by their black color and silence, which is eloquent. They are often exposed to violent reactions of a part of the public because of their clearly articulated and always repeated: NO IN OUR NAME - no to the war, NO to Serbia's role in the war, NO to the genocide in Srebrenica, NO to the destruction and crimes in Vukovar, Dubrovnik, NO to the war in Kosovo... NOT IN OUR NAME to glorify the war and to deny, justify and abolish the crimes organized and carried out by the regime!

 

YES to accepting our share of responsibility: "We can condemn every war and every crime, but we can only be ashamed, ashamed of the one that was committed in our name!" Thus, Staša and the Women in Black talk about their part of responsibility and visit the places of suffering in Croatia, Bosnia, Kosovo to tell the victims: "We are sorry!".

 

Compassion and appreciation for the suffering of the victims: Their walk in the column of remembrance, in Vukovar, in Lovas, in Srebrenica, in Višegrad – is an expression of emotional, moral and political support to all victims of crime. A balm on the wound of the victims, their families and society, salt on the wound of those responsible, a blow to the stereotype of collective guilt and primordial hostility, a demanding call to politics! And, most importantly – it restores togetherness!

 

And last but not least, Staša Zajović and the Women in Black expose patterns of domination and violenceinfamily, gender, social, economic, political relationships. Understanding cultural, structural, gender-based violence is the basis for building a more just society, an alternative. They are already doing this, they are an example of the power of non-violent resistance and non-violent action that is already beneficial, stimulating, inclusive, collaborative, and certainly deserves to be a textbook example for new generations. Thank you!

With this Award, we thank Clive Fowell for his long-term support to war-torn people and communities in Eastern Croatia (Osijek, Vukovar and several places in Slavonia and Baranja) on their path of recovery, restoration of trust and reconciliation.

 

Since his youth, Clive R. Fowel has been committed to dialogue between Western and Eastern Europe in order to contribute to the great project of a peaceful Europe. In the eighties, before the fall of the "lead curtain", he went to East Germany. Since the war, for about 20 years, he has been walking alongside people and communities in war-torn Eastern Croatia. He does this from where he stands – the pastor of the Methodist Church in Great Britain, encouraging understanding and involving his parishioners and his church organization in the process. Thus, in 2012. Clive's peace work has been accepted as part of his pastoral ministry, and the parishioners of this community have been raising funds for his work in Croatia for two decades, organizing visits and hospitable groups from Croatia.

 

Almost imperceptible, but persistent, ethical and sincere peaceseeker, he develops and constantly deepens his own understanding and empathy for those affected by war. On this basis, and with the help of local associates and organizations, he is designing a program of workshops in order to meaningfully, with a holistic approach, leave a long-lasting mark on the participants and reduce the negative consequences of the war on future generations. In the workshops that she conducts 6 to 7 times a year, she wants to make the participants feel safe and free to express their injuries that are recognized and accepted by everyone. Pain and anger are thus transformed into understanding, compassion and hope. Only a part of the experiences of about 250 participants of Clive's workshops were published in a book of personal stories, but as the title of the book says, they have in common the name Wounded by War – Touched by Hope!

 

These individual hopes have already been translated into many, new life, family and social expressions. We quote one: "I gained self-confidence, peace, my own spiritual progress... I discovered the possibility of reconciliation and forgiveness, which I am now trying to share with my loved ones in my family, association and community."

 

The "Krunoslav Sukić" 2015 Peace Award is presented to Marijan Gubina as a contribution to his choice of correct living, which makes him an example, encouragement and support to the people around him – young people, veterans, teachers, believers, politicians, artists...

 

Marijan Gubina is Anne Frank whose dreams come true; Fortunately, Marijan survived the captivity, but he was also freed from it. He came out of confinement into fear, hurt, hatred and unforgiveness and found his place and his way. Catharsis or relief happens first of all through writing, and then through active action with which she tries to contribute to the building of the world that Anne Frank only dreamed of – the world of freedom from violence!

 

As a ten-year-old boy, he, together with his family of six, was imprisoned in Dalj for 260 days, exposed to violence and humiliation. Getting out of the accident wasn't quick or easy. It is rounded off with the book 260 Days, in which Marijan Gubina describes his difficult experience of suffering, but also the experience of support related to some fellow villagers of Serbian nationality. The book comes from a heart that does not hate, is not bitter and does not generalize. It does not generate hatred, but, on the contrary, it becomes a peaceful inspiration for many: it has been translated into 15 languages, including Arabic and Chinese, and an inspired theatre play was made based on it, which won the director, screenwriter, actors – the play as a whole – the Croatian Theatre Award in 2015.

 

Marijan testifies to his experience of coming out of the spiral of violence, about his contribution to building a better, fairer, inclusive and developmentally sustainable community with a series of lectures for young people. With these lectures, he covered almost 80% of schools in the war-torn area of Croatia, but also in other parts of Croatia, and he is also a guest in the wider region and abroad.

 

Marijan works for the good of his community by showing in practice that it is possible to replace the main determinants of the culture of war with the determinants of the culture of peace: instead of violence and force – non-violence and respect for human rights, instead of authoritarian structures and exploitation – democratic participation and sustainable development of humanity, instead of the idea of hostility and distrust towards others – understanding, tolerance and solidarity among the peoples and cultures of the world.

 

On these foundations, Marijan gathered a large number of volunteers who are present in the life of Osijek through humanitarian actions, humanitarian and educational programs for addicts and residents of the Home for the Education of Children and Youth, and around the platform for cooperation with smaller ones - FRIENDS OF MINORITIES.

 

Marijan, we want you and your colleagues to continue to walk this path!

 

Marijan Gubina receives a plaque from H.E. Ellen Berends, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Croatia

 

For his many years of peace engagement in mediating between different cultures - by his own example, volunteering, as an intercultural interpreter, activist - but also institutional, self-effacing - but also in the media, but always directly, non-violently and deeply human. With such actions, Prince Wale Soniyiki contributes to the integration of immigrants and changes in the attitudes of the Croatian public towards asylum seekers. By doing so, it fosters the good in us.

 

Prince Wale Soniyiki is a peace activist, volunteer, human rights activist, refugee and immigrant rights activist, founder of the Society of Africans in Croatia, associate of the Centre for Peace Studies, enthusiast and optimist. He fled Nigeria from the militant group Boko Haram after being tortured and his brothers were killed. He crossed Africa and the Mediterranean. He was granted asylum in Croatia on June 20, 2012, on World Refugee Day. On that occasion, he responds to the minister who hands him the decision on asylum, when asked if he needs anything. "Not me, I'm okay now. But other refugees do. They have been waiting for a long time. Conditions, uncertainty, that's what it takes. Not for me. For them".

 

Prince is continuously connected with immigrants, supporting them in the process of seeking asylum and integration, as well as trying to bring the issue of asylum seekers closer to the general public, dispel prejudices and fears, and contribute to a friendly social environment.