How often do we witness violence without even realizing it? How often does silence conceal what happens behind closed doors, while victims live with the consequences for years? These are the very questions at the heart of the play “For Her”, through which young people from Konjic have decided to speak out about a problem that society too often recognizes only when it escalates into tragedy.

The play “For Her”, directed by Armin Filipović and performed by the Youth Ensemble of the “Neretva” Amateur Theatre in Konjic, was staged as part of the campaign “A Safe Community Is Everyone’s Responsibility”, which highlights the importance of preventing violence and creating a safer environment for all citizens, particularly women.

Through artistic expression, the young actors raised issues that are often left unspoken, reminding audiences that violence is not limited to physical acts. It can be hidden in words, threats, humiliation, controlling behavior, and everyday actions that society often accepts as normal.

In a society overwhelmed by information, public attention is most often drawn to the most dramatic cases of violence. Yet behind statistics and media headlines lie countless personal stories, fears, and experiences that never reach the public. What may seem like an insignificant moment to an observer can leave lasting consequences for someone experiencing violence, restricting their freedom, dignity, and ability to fulfill their potential.

FROM THE THEATRE STAGE TO CONCRETE CHANGES IN THE COMMUNITY

The campaign “A Safe Community Is Everyone’s Responsibility” is led by the Youth Council of the City of Konjic, which seeks to encourage institutional and social changes in the field of violence prevention.

The campaign is implemented within the framework of the PRAGG – Proactive Citizens project, which supports civil society initiatives aimed at bringing positive change to local communities.

Recognizing that this problem cannot be addressed through isolated activities or occasional reactions to cases that shock the public, young people have launched an initiative to adopt a Local Action Plan for Violence Prevention.

The initiative aims to establish a systematic and long-term approach that would include, among other measures, education and public awareness-raising, early recognition of different forms of violence, stronger cooperation among relevant institutions, improved mechanisms for supporting and protecting victims, and a clearer definition of responsibilities for all stakeholders involved in preventing and combating violence.

Such an approach means that the fight against violence should not begin only after violence has occurred, but much earlier – through education, building a culture of nonviolence, empowering individuals, and creating an environment in which violence is recognized, reported, and never justified.

Through this initiative, the Youth Council of the City of Konjic seeks to move the issue of violence beyond occasional public condemnation and into the sphere of concrete institutional responsibility and long-term action.

A SAFE COMMUNITY IS NOT A PRIVILEGE, BUT EVERYONE’S RESPONSIBILITY

Art alone cannot stop violence, but it can create space for conversations we tend to avoid. It can confront us with the experiences of others, encourage empathy, and remind us that behind every form of violence is a person whose rights, dignity, and safety must be protected.

Through this performance, young people from Konjic have demonstrated that the theatre stage can be much more than a place for artistic expression – it can become a space for social reflection and a call to action.

The message of the play and the campaign therefore extends far beyond the theatre. It is addressed to institutions, families, educational establishments, and every individual, because the responsibility for creating a safer society does not rest solely with those directly affected by violence.

“For Her” – for every woman who deserves to live without fear, whose dignity must never be violated, and whose rights must never depend on the goodwill of others.

A safe community is everyone’s responsibility!