UPDATE: Two prominent NGOs, the Center for Civic Education (CGO) from Montenegro and the Association for Social Research and Communication (UDIK) from Bosnia and Herzegovina, have urgently called for the termination of a contract with the controversial rehabilitation center Vilina Vlas near Višegrad. This announcement comes as authorities are urged to remove the center from the pension recovery program offered to retirees.
In a joint statement released yesterday, CGO and UDIK emphasize the ethical implications of selecting partner facilities that reflect sensitivity to historical injustices. They highlight that Vilina Vlas, located approximately 5 km from Višegrad, was a site of severe human rights violations, including systematic sexual violence against non-Serb populations during the Bosnian War in 1992.
The NGOs remind the public of the tragic history of Vilina Vlas, where around 200 women were subjected to rape, and many were killed or took their own lives. They reference a report from a UN Special Committee, detailing the horrific events that took place in this facility. Furthermore, the center has continued operations without any acknowledgment of its past, lacking memorials or markers that would inform visitors of its dark history.
The statement underscores the responsibility of public institutions, such as Montenegro’s Pension and Disability Insurance Fund (PIO), to consider the ethical ramifications of their partnerships. CGO and UDIK assert that sending pensioners—potentially survivors of war trauma or family members of victims—to a site known for severe atrocities amounts to a tacit acceptance of historical revisionism.
Authorities confirm that this issue has gained renewed attention within Montenegro, following coverage by local media. The NGOs argue that promoting Vilina Vlas as a tourist and rehabilitation destination, devoid of context about its past, constitutes a denial and normalization of the atrocities committed there.
In their call to action, CGO and UDIK demand that the PIO initiate the process of canceling the existing contract with Vilina Vlas. They stress the need for clear criteria in future partnerships that honor the dignity of war crime victims and acknowledge the legacy of the past.
The NGOs warn that failure to act could imply complicity in the erasure of historical truths. They note that the regional REKOM network for reconciliation has publicly condemned the normalization of such sites without addressing the full narrative of suffering and violence.
In a powerful statement, they assert, “It is unacceptable for a public institution to direct pensioners to a location symbolizing systemic sexual violence and crimes against humanity.” The Islamic Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina has also echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that places of suffering should not be marketed as tourist attractions without full disclosure of their past.
As the situation develops, CGO and UDIK hope that their initiative will serve as a catalyst for responsible action by the PIO, reinforcing Montenegro’s commitment to confronting its history and recognizing the experiences of victims. They conclude that the termination of this contract would send a strong message against the trivialization of historical atrocities, promoting a society that is respectful and accountable to its past.
This urgent appeal highlights not only the importance of ethical tourism but also the profound need for collective memory and acknowledgment of the victims of war.
