Youth Protests in Serbia & Violence against Women and Girls: Are Women Paying a Higher Price for Justice?

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The article explores the aftermath of the Novi Sad railway station collapse in Serbia, which sparked nationwide student-led protests demanding accountability and justice. It highlights how women have been disproportionately impacted—both during the protests and in everyday violence—raising urgent questions about the cost women pay in the fight for justice. Featuring insights from an interview with Marija Petronijević of the Serbian organisation Fenomena, a WAVE member with over two decades of feminist activism, as well as reflections from the WAVE Regional Meeting in Croatia, the piece calls for stronger feminist solidarity and gender-sensitive support amid rising political unrest.

Written by

Teodora Milosavljević, 4^th generation WAVE Youth Ambassador (Serbia)¹

On 1 November 2024, the tragic collapse of a concrete canopy at the Novi Sad railway station claimed 16 lives, igniting widespread outrage across Serbia. Protests have surged across the nation, with students at the forefront, demanding justice for the victims, accountability for those responsible, and urging for transparent governance.²

Nearly six months later, closure remains elusive with none of the demands being met. On 15 March 2025, in the middle of a 15-minute commemoration for the, at the time, 15 lives lost in the tragedy in Novi Sad, an alleged sound cannon pierced the air and dispersed the protesters, sending a troubling signal to those demanding justice.³

In Parliament, tensions also escalated: Opposition MPs set off smoke bombs and clashed with security. Amid the chaos, three women parliamentarians were seriously injured — one suffered a stroke, another was hit in the head by a colleague from her own party, and a pregnant MP was hospitalised. Despite the severity of what had happened, the session continued.⁴

In another part of the capital, a son was strangling his mother to death, marking it the sixth femicide in Serbia since the beginning of the year and the fourth in which the perpetrator is her own child.⁵

These incidents raise a deeply urgent question: Are women paying a higher price for justice?

Serbia faces high rates of domestic violence. In 2023, over 28,000 cases of domestic violence were reported in Serbia, according to Interior Ministry data shared with the Autonomous Women’s Center, the highest number of recorded reports since 2018. In addition to this, femicide remains a crisis, claiming about 30 women’s lives each year. The lack of an official monitoring system and inadequate institutional responses, including ineffective restraining orders, worsen the situation.⁶

During the recent student-led protests, many women have been visibly present and active, standing alongside their peers in the fight for justice. Yet disproportionately, they have also been among those injured or affected during unrest—highlighting how women often carry a double burden in times of political tension. While the violence they face during protests may not always be gender-specific, its impact on women is shaped by broader patterns of structural inequality and violence against women and girls (VAWG).

In addition to physical violence, there is a concerning rise in digital gender-based violence, particularly against female journalists, activists, and public figures. The spread of misinformation, including the manipulation of AI, only exacerbates this issue. In Serbia, persistent sexist perceptions of women and girls in the media continue to make them more susceptible to abuse and targeted violence.

*Photo taken by Teodora at the WAVE Regional Meeting in Croatia*

As NGOs and activists step in to fill the gap where institutions fall short, it is essential to recognise the most urgent changes needed to combat VAWG. One recent space for regional reflection and coordination was the WAVE Regional Meeting: South East Europe, held this April in Croatia. The gathering brought together feminist organisations and advocates from across the Balkans, among other, to identify common challenges and strategise for stronger regional cooperation in combating VAWG.

Among the participating organisations was Fenomena⁷, a Serbian NGO based in Kraljevo, which has spent over two decades offering free legal assistance to survivors of violence. A decade-long member of WAVE, Fenomena shared its experience navigating shifting political climates while remaining steadfast in its mission to support women.

This WAVE Regional Meeting highlighted that in times of crisis—whether during armed conflict, the COVID-19 pandemic, or the current climate of public unrest—establishing feminist specialised services is crucial for ensuring survivors are met with gender-sensitive, survivor-centred support. Services like Serbia’s National SOS Helpline have proven effective when paired with robust social support systems that help women navigate institutional barriers and hold state agencies accountable during periods of heightened instability. In an interview with Marija Petronijević from Fenomena during the course of exploring this issue, she emphasised that sustaining progress in gender equality for future generations demands constant activism and vigilance. “Women must know there are no limits to what they can achieve—whether in education, politics, or any other sphere,” she said. However, she pointed out that real equality also means acknowledging the diverse experiences of women, including their economic status, background, and disabilities. True change will come only through solidarity and mutual support.

Marija also reflected on the broader context of the ongoing protests in Serbia. “While the current focus is on legal reforms and holding the government accountable, we can’t ignore the bigger picture. Capitalism, the exploitation of workers, and the role of corporations and the state must become part of the conversation,” she stated. She believes that the student movement, with its growing sense of purpose, has the potential to drive this wider societal shift — not just for gender equality, but for a fairer and more humane future.

The fight against violence, corruption, and institutional neglect is deeply intertwined with the struggle for gender equality and human rights. Women, who continue to fight their own battles as well as this one—often at great personal risk—are not just part of the movement; they are its driving force. Their courage and resilience illuminate the way forward. But lasting change will only come through collective strength, intersectional solidarity, and a shared refusal to stay silent in the face of injustice.

Interview with Marija Petronijević by Teodora Milosavljević

In this conversation, WAVE Youth Ambassador Teodora Milosavljević speaks with Marija Petronijević from the Serbian organisation Fenomena, a WAVE member with over two decades of feminist activism. Marija reflects on how feminist organising in Serbia continues in the face of political backlash, deep-rooted gender inequality, and escalating violence, sharing insights from the recent student protests and what they reveal about power, resistance, and the path forward.

Feminism in Serbia often faces backlash, with some conservative groups labeling it a “foreign agenda” and the NGO sector fighting for women’s rights as “foreign mercenaries.” What is foreign in feminism to Serbians?

Marija: The term ‘feminism’ itself might seem foreign to people because it has long been promoted with a negative connotation by conservative politicians and sensationalist media. However, the struggle feminism represents is not unknown to the people of Serbia. Essentially, in the territory of Serbia—and especially in post-war Yugoslavia—feminist activism has continuously existed through grassroots actions, often without even mentioning the term ‘feminism’—from promoting women’s participation in the National Liberation struggle against fascism, to women’s agricultural cooperatives in rural communities, anti-war women’s actions in the 1990s, informal and formal feminist collectives fighting patriarchy and violence, to the strong participation of women in academia and politics.

Women are at the forefront of the student-led protests and strikes, standing equally alongside men. How do these movements contribute to the broader fight for gender equality?

Marija: From my perspective, the student protest does not have a visible gendered character, which can be a positive thing. I think the protest activities of today’s students embody the aspirations of earlier generations of feminists. For instance, during public actions, young women and men equally participate in the protests, even serving as stewards. In media appearances, there might even be more women than men. However, since the plenums are closed to the public, I cannot assess whether there is equal participation between female and male students, nor whether men are equally involved in hygiene maintenance and food preparation during the faculty blockades. Those would also be indicators of a deep shift in gender roles for this generation, at least among young people who are future academic citizens.

Unfortunately, many of the victims in recent protests have been women. These individuals have suffered injuries from car accidents, chaotic situations in parliament, and violent acts such as the stabbing of the dean of the Faculty of Philosophy. While these women are not necessarily targeted because of their gender, they are nonetheless bearing the harm. Could this be a coincidence, or is there a connection between protests and violence against women and girls?

Marija: I don’t think statistics are ever really about coincidence. Women and girls in our society are still generally perceived as the weaker sex, and therefore they are easier and “safer” targets for perpetrators. By rule, perpetrators rarely attack someone stronger than themselves—they don’t want to risk their own safety but rather want to demonstrate power over those they can dominate safely. I believe these protests have shown us, among other things, a new direction for women’s empowerment—through enhancing physical readiness, strength, and self-defense skills. In previous programs that Fenomena implemented with girls, like “The Power of Change,” it was shown that acquiring self-defense skills significantly benefits girls’ self-esteem and confidence.

Apart from the violence on the streets, there is a rise in digital gender-based violence, especially against female journalists and activists, including a lot of misinformation and AI manipulation. Is this more or less concerning than violence on the street?

Marija: I believe that physical violence is, obviously, the most dangerous as it can lead to femicide. However, we must not neglect other forms of violence, as they are all manifestations of power abuse that threaten women’s health and lives and can ultimately lead to physical violence. There are different methods to assess the risk of violence, used by police, women’s specialist services, etc. However, every activist who has worked long on the topic of male violence against women knows that the murder of a woman, solely because she is a woman, is always a risk—no matter how the violence starts. That’s why it’s important to react both to the first slap and to the first online threat.

NGOs and activists often step in where institutions fall short. At this time when many issues are being sidelined, what are the most urgent changes needed to strengthen the fight against violence against women and girls, and who is responsible for making those changes?

Marija: As always during crises, I think the feminist movement and women’s and allied organisations should consolidate for mutual support, and that we should invest time and money in developing the resilience of women’s organisations. In its 20 years of existence, Fenomena has witnessed several political regime changes (unfortunately, not enough—since power turnover is still not a democratic norm in Serbia), yet we as an organisation, along with others, continue working beyond regime changes. Also, like during the COVID-19 pandemic, there should be special crisis services for reporting violence, such as the feminist National SOS helpline established last year in Serbia and run by the national Network Women Against Violence. This service must be accompanied by social support services to assist users in accessing institutions (police, emergency services, legal aid, etc.) and reporting violence in institutions to monitor the work of state services during protests. Past experiences show that women’s rights are always diminished in times of crisis, and this kind of monitoring and support service would help ensure that victims of violence still receive legally guaranteed public services and protection from relevant authorities.

What role do you see the current events having for future generations in continuing the fight for gender equality, and how can we ensure that today’s progress is sustained for the women of tomorrow?

Marija: The sustainability of positive change is only possible through constant struggle and the expansion of freedom. We learn from everything happening today and remain alert and active tomorrow. History has shown that as soon as we become satisfied with the rights achieved, regression inevitably begins. That’s when space opens up for those who want to see women confined to the home, in the kitchen, broom in hand, without a voice or public activism—to spread those distorted values through society. Female students who are publicly visible during the protests are excellent role models for younger girls. It’s important that girls know they can do anything in Serbian society, that there are no limits to their aspirations. We must not forget that gender equality isn’t only about education, politics, or media—it’s essential that today’s female students are not later restricted by traditional gender roles in their private lives. The domestic sphere must not become a prison in their future.

Let’s also remember that women are not a homogeneous group. So, for me, sustainable and fair change means better conditions for all women—including political and social participation for women who are not academics. To ensure the sustainability of change, we must make sure awareness of social change and activism does not depend on one’s level of formal education. Real progress also requires connection and support among women from different social groups—not only different education levels but also those in different life circumstances, economic statuses, ethnicities, physical and health conditions, and so on. Ultimately, emancipation means the abolition of exploitation—economic and gender-based. To return to your question—the current protests are focused on making the existing legal system function. However, I think that for the future, it would be very useful if issues of capitalist exploitation of people by the state, corporations, and businesses were also brought to the table. We’ve made significant progress on environmental and nature exploitation issues in Serbia, but the topic of human exploitation is still missing. I think the current student movement could play a significant role in that regard.