This call is published in the frame of Module 5 of the Project “Amplifying Voices of Women affected by war-related SGBV in the Western Balkans – For a culture of Recognition and Reconciliation” (June 2024 – August 2027). Aim of the project is to contribute to creating a culture of recognition and reconciliation in the Western Balkans, which enables women survivors of war related SGBV to live in dignity and free from violence. It is implemented by Medica Zenica and Vive Žene (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Kosova Rehabilitation Centre for Torture Victims and Medica Gjakova (Kosovo), Women in Black, Autonomous Women’s Centre and Youth Initiative for Human Rights (Serbia), together with medica mondiale e.V. (Germany). 

At the beginning of September, the Ministry of Justice initiated a public debate process on the Draft Law on Amendments and Supplements to the Criminal Code. The draft proposed the introduction of the criminal offense of Sexual Intercourse Without Consent, which would be considered a less severe crime compared to Rape. In response, the Autonomous Women's Center organized an ad-hoc campaign against this proposal, arguing that it is unnecessary to introduce a lesser offense and that the definition of the basic form of the criminal offense of rape should be amended so that it includes any non-consensual sexual intercourse, including cases where there was no physical resistance from the victim. This is also the only way for the Serbian Criminal Code to align with the provisions of the Istanbul Convention on sexual violence, which the country ratified back in 2013.

The Autonomous Women's Center submitted its comments and proposals on the Draft Program for the Control of Small and Light Weapons, Ammunition and Explosive Substances in the Republic of Serbia for the period 2025-2030 with the accompanying Action Plan.

As part of the public hearing on the Draft of the new Law on juvenile offenders and protection of juveniles in criminal proceedings, which was held as of September 10 until October 1, 2025, the AWC submitted its comments and proposals to the Ministry of Justice, the most important of which are those concerning opposition to the provisions of the proposed new Law, which reduce the level of protection achieved by minor victims.