Jadranka Miličević was photographed by Almira Mehić at CURE Foundation premises, in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, in July 2026, for the fourth edition of the “Portraits of Strength” photography series.
Why did you become a human rights defender?
I became a human rights defender because I felt a profound sense of guilt after leaving my besieged hometown of Sarajevo in June 1992 and moving to Belgrade, the city from which the aggression against Bosnia and Herzegovina was orchestrated. I felt a moral responsibility to do what I could by joining Women in Black, a peace and anti-war organisation, participating in anti-war campaigns, and supporting refugees in Serbia in exercising their fundamental rights.
What is the nature of your work, and what challenges do you face as a Woman Human Rights Defender?
My work is primarily focused on advancing women’s human rights, including women’s right to live free from violence, the right to bodily autonomy and free choice, and the promotion of peacebuilding and trust-building. One of the greatest challenges is the inadequate implementation of existing laws in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as international human rights instruments such as UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), and the Istanbul Convention.
Through advocacy, research, educational initiatives and direct support to women, I strive to contribute to the protection of human rights. However, in today’s political climate, defending these rights is becoming increasingly challenging.
As a woman human rights defender, I face gender-specific risks. Women human rights defenders are frequently targeted by gender-based violence. This is, in part, because we are often perceived as challenging entrenched social norms, traditions and stereotypes about femininity and the role and status of women in society. Our work is also frequently portrayed as a threat to traditional notions of the family and established gender roles.
What is the current human rights situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
Although Bosnia and Herzegovina has a comprehensive legal framework for the protection of human rights and has ratified the major international and regional human rights instruments, the greatest challenge remains their consistent implementation. Women, LGBTIQ+ people, Roma, persons with disabilities and other marginalised groups continue to face discrimination and unequal access to their rights.
Many people do not feel safe expressing their opinions or openly living their identities. Human rights defenders are increasingly subjected to threats, smear campaigns, hate speech and online harassment, particularly through social media and online news platforms. Civil society organisations face increasing financial, political and bureaucratic pressures that restrict civic space.
Another major concern is the lack of effective investigation and prosecution of attacks against human rights defenders. Insufficient coordination between the police, prosecutors and other public institutions, together with inadequate media reporting, contributes to a climate of impunity and makes the work of human rights defenders even more difficult.
While Bosnia and Herzegovina has strong legal commitments on paper, their effective implementation remains the missing link in ensuring the protection, safety and dignity of human rights defenders.
What kind of human rights situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina would you like to see in the next 30 years?
I hope that, over the next 30 years, the human rights situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina will be significantly better than it is today. I would like to see a society where everyone enjoys equal rights, equal opportunities and equal dignity, regardless of age, skin colour, sex, sexual orientation, place of residence or any other personal characteristic.
What continues to inspire my work is the determination to ensure that the rights our grandmothers, great-grandmothers and mothers fought so hard to secure are never diminished or taken away, but instead protected and further advanced for future generations.
Do human rights still matter? Why?
Human rights matter profoundly because they are never permanently secured; they must be protected, defended and advanced every day.
What is your motivation to be a human rights defender?
My motivation is simple: I believe that only a society built on mutual respect and acceptance of diversity can achieve true equality, and that the hard-won rights of women must be protected and strengthened for future generations.
Photographing Jadranka was a very special experience for me. Through photography, I had the chance to get to know her and capture a small part of her story, as well as her strength and dignity. What I appreciated most was that the photographs were not just about showing the person in front of the camera, but about capturing the feeling and the story behind her. For me, photography in moments like this becomes a way to get to know someone and listen to their story, rather than simply taking a picture. I really enjoyed being part of this project, and I’m happy that these photographs will continue to tell Jadranka’s story through the interview and the exhibition.
Almira Mehić
About Portraits of Strength
Women human rights defenders (WHRDs) work to protect and advance freedoms while facing discrimination and stereotypes about their role and participation in society.
HRHF’s “Portraits of Strength” photography series honours the vital role that women play in defending human rights, and portrays women human rights defenders from across the Network of Human Rights Houses.
The exhibition, now in its fourth edition, shares portraits taken by local women photographers and tells the stories from WHRDs working on a variety of issues, including the documentation of human rights violations and alleged war crimes, rule of law, women’s rights, political prisoners, freedom of expression, and more.
Find out more here.
