The Shame Is Not Yours: Breaking the Silence and Supporting Survivors of Childhood Abuse

Belgrade, May 12, 2025

Representatives of Atina NGO, alongside other members of the Network of Organizations for Children of Serbia (MODS), took part in events held on May 8 and 9, 2025, in Belgrade, as part of the international exhibition SHAME—European Stories. This exhibition sheds light on the experiences of childhood abuse survivors from across Europe. This initiative, under the patronage of the Council of Europe, calls for solidarity, recognition, and systemic change in child protection.

The exhibition was opened with a performance of the play "I Didn’t Report It," directed by Selena Ristić and produced by the Children’s Center Zaječar, a MODS member. The play touches upon the mechanisms of silence, fear, and shame that follow survivors of violence while also sending a powerful message: survivors are not alone, and they are not to blame.

During the event, the results of the regional survey “Our Voice”, aimed at survivors of childhood sexual violence, were presented. The survey was conducted in cooperation with the Finnish organization Protect Children. The findings revealed patterns of institutional silence, a lack of adequate support at the time of disclosure, and the deep-seated shame and stigma that many survivors carry for decades after the abuse.

As part of the segment dedicated to regional exchange, Malik Garibija, National Director of SOS Children’s Villages Bosnia and Herzegovina, shared Bosnia’s experiences in working with children who have survived abuse and the institutional efforts toward systemic reparation. Garibija emphasized the importance of intersectoral cooperation, involving survivors in decision-making processes, and the urgent need to rebuild trust in institutions that often fail to protect those most in need.

One of the central parts of the event was an open discussion among stakeholders from various sectors—civil society representatives, child protection experts, institutional actors, and survivors themselves. The goal was to identify priorities for implementing Council of Europe Resolution 2533 in Serbia, which calls for acknowledgment of victims’ suffering, systemic reparations, and strong preventive measures.

Participants highlighted several ongoing challenges in Serbia: the lack of specialized services for survivors, ineffective reporting mechanisms, a slow judicial system, and the absence of comprehensive education on sexual violence in schools. Nevertheless, there was a strong sense of possibility for progress through strengthened cooperation between civil society and state institutions, the adoption of support models proven effective in the region, and the assurance that the voices of survivors were actively included in policy-making.

“The Shame Is Not Yours” – Breaking the Silence as an Act of Resistance

At the panel titled “The Shame Is Not Yours: Breaking the Silence and Supporting Survivors of Childhood Abuse”, speakers shared both personal and professional insights into working with trauma that is too often swept under the rug. Psychologist Dr. Tijana Mirović, actress Milena Radulović, and mental health activist Anesa Vilić explored how shame is internalized and can be identified, named, and ultimately overcome with the community's support.

The SHAME – European Stories exhibition remains open at the Balkan Cinema Gallery in Belgrade until May 22, 2025. Through deeply personal testimonies of survivors from different European countries, the exhibition invites visitors to reflect, empathize, and recognize their collective responsibility. After Belgrade, the exhibition will continue its European tour.

Učešće članica MODS-a na događajima u okviru izložbe „SHAME – European Stories“ - Mreža organizacija za decu Srbije