behaviour
In all FGDs, domestic violence was mentioned as a widespread problem, but one little talked about. Key informants working with young people described domestic violence as one reason why young people displayed and accepted aggressive behaviour more easily, as many who had experienced violence at home saw it as a normal way of behaviour: “Violent boys learn this behaviour from their fathers, they consider violence against women as normal” (KII, Foundation of Local Democracy, 12 May 2011, Sarajevo). Key informants emphasised that many young people do not ‘recognise’
violent and aggressive behaviour because they never receive any guidance on what is right or wrong from their family and society. Thus, young people can easily become victims of violence without being aware that they are treated in a way that is unacceptable, or even perpetrators of violence without knowing that this is morally wrong and constitutes a criminal offence.
Families at risk were often described as ‘dysfunctional’: for example, families under high economic and social pressures/hardship or families in which one or both parents were abusing alcohol, drugs or illegal substances (KII, Foundation for Local Democracy, 12 May 2011, Sarajevo; KII, NDC Prijedor, 19 May 2011; KII, police representative, 19 May 2011, Sarajevo). BiH’s recent history adds an extra dimension to this; with war veterans constituting a vulnerable group, often traumatised by their war experiences and unable to deal with the stress. In addition, they are often unemployed and have problems functioning in society. Research on how insufficient reintegration and rehabilitation/war trauma impacts on domestic violence in post-conflict situations is inadequate.88 The assumption made by key informants is that these are factors that favour the development of violent and aggressive behaviour at home. Thus, as in other contexts, domestic violence is passed on from one generation to the next as victims become perpetrators. Our respondents believe that it is likely that this will have repercussions for wider parts of society as the economic and social downturn continues. It is estimated that real numbers for domestic and gender-based violence are much higher than the official statistics, as it is still a socially stigmatised subject that is not talked about openly.
The abuse of substances, particularly alcohol and drugs, was mentioned by key informants and FGD participants as one reason why young people, particularly men, become aggressive and violent, and commit drug-related crime. “The availability of alcohol is behind the rise in the number of young people who are violent” (KII, ToPeeR, 14 May 2011, Doboj). “The acts conducted are more severe, more violent, with extensive usage of drugs and alcohol” (KII, OSCE, 14 May 2011, Bratunac). The social and economic context is also seen as playing a considerable role, either because people drown their frustrations in alcohol, or because they use aggression and violence to let off steam: “That’s the way they express their frustration, by using more drugs and alcohol, because otherwise they are silent. The violent incidents are … also due to bad social and economic background” (KII, “Party for BiH“, 26 May 2011, Sarajevo).
“The social framework needs to be considered: transitional problems, drugs, access to information, unemployment and lack of goals” (KII, police representative, 13 May 2011, Banja Luka). If the economic and employment situation continues to deteriorate, social problems are likely to affect more young people in BiH.
Respondents felt that aggressive behaviour was perceived as normal by some young people, and is often not condemned by peers. On the contrary, particularly for young men, displaying such behaviour or carrying weapons (see below) is in some cases seen as a status symbol and a way to earn respect from others: “… young people believe that by having weapons they immediately become important” (FGD participant, female,
88 catani c, War at Home – a Review of the Relationship between War Trauma and Family Violence (university Bielefeld, 2010).
Domestic violence
Social problems and substance abuse
Acceptance of aggressive behaviour
26, Bosnian Croat, unemployed, Novi Travnik). Some key informants expressed worries that movies or music, particularly turbo folk, might further promote such kinds of behaviour, and that young men might feel pushed to correspond with these (perceived) social expectations and resort to violence and criminal behaviour to make quick money.
The cultural acceptance (in some circles at least) of aggressive and ‘macho’ behaviour is particularly worrying when coupled with the availability of small arms and light weapons. Weapons in the hands of young people seem to be perceived as normal by young people themselves. Many young people and key informants we talked to told us about their own experiences of peers or students bringing weapons (both firearms and cold weapons such as clubs or knifes) or explosives such as grenades to cafés, school or university. “The problem is that everything you get on the street, you can also get at university. You can get drugs, weapons, sex/prostitution” (KII, Atlantic Initiative, 24 May 2011, Sarajevo). “We have a lot of weapons but families don’t know that we carry weapons; parents generally do not know much about what happens with their children. The problem is that carrying weapons is not sanctioned by the state” (June workshop participant). Many of these weapons are said to be remnants of the war and can be found in many families; and taken by young people (particularly young men) without their parents knowing. It also seems to be easy to buy weapons. “Weapons are cheap here and easy to buy” (FGD participant, male, 17, Bosniak, high school student, Novi Travnik). The link was also made to feelings of insecurity: “All kinds of weapons are possible to find here. Most young people have some kind of weapon because they feel unsafe” (FGD participant, male, 25, Bosniak, unemployed, Novi Travnik).
It seems that for young men in particular, weapons act as a status symbol, enabling them to be accepted and admired by peers and to feel important: “I think that the system of values is disrupted in general. People pretend to be important, and bring weapons into the bar and they easily become aggressive if they are drunk” (FGD participant, male, 18, Bosnian Serb, high school student, Drvar). Weapons, particularly firearms, are seldom used in fights between young people. However, weapons are often found in connection with other crime and offences. “There are not many cases of young people using weapons, but sometimes we find weapons in young men’s cars. If we search for drugs, we often find weapons” (KII, police representative, 20 May 2011, Mostar). “We face a disturbed system of values, young people believe that by having weapons they immediately become important.” (FGD participant, female, 26, Bosnian Croat, unemployed, Novi Travnik). This easy availability of weapons contributes to a feeling of insecurity among youth, and citizens in general,89 and increases the risk of conflicts leading to violence.
89 Kii police representative, 13 May 2011, Banja Luka; Kii police representative, 14 May 2011, doboj ; Kii police representative, 17 May 2011, ngo and school representative novi travnik ; Kii police representative, 19 May 2011, sarajevo; Kii police representative, 20 May 2011, Mostar.
The availability of small arms, light weapons and cold weapons