Press Release of the History Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina Regarding Inaccurate Media Claims about the Exhibition “Naša žena”

In response to inaccurate media claims that the exhibition “Our Woman” glorifies a war criminal, the History Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina wishes to clearly state that such allegations are unfounded and do not reflect the content of the exhibition.

The exhibition contains no material that affirms, justifies, or glorifies individuals convicted of war crimes. On the contrary, within the historical overview – which represents only one segment of the exhibition – it is explicitly stated that Biljana Plavšić pleaded guilty to crimes against humanity before the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY). The mention of certain individuals in this context serves solely to document historical facts and forms part of a broader chronological overview of the socio-political circumstances in Bosnia and Herzegovina in two post-war periods.

The exhibition “Our Woman” is structured in three segments. The first presents a large chronological wall outlining key years and events from the post-war periods after 1945 and after 1995, with the aim of providing a broader social and historical context. This historical overview is intended to provide broader social and historical context for understanding societal changes, rather than to evaluate or promote individual figures or events. The second segment features documentary stories and materials highlighting women’s contributions to the development of society, focusing on specific biographies, initiatives, and positive examples from different communities. The third segment includes works by contemporary women artists exploring women’s experiences in post-conflict societies in the periods following 1945 and 1995.

The exhibition “Our Woman” is the result of several months of research, fieldwork, and archival work, which significantly enriched the museum’s collections with new materials. It represents the first museological presentation dedicated to documenting the heritage of women and highlighting their roles and contributions during two post-war periods. To date, the exhibition has been presented in three locations and has received positive feedback from the public, the professional community, and the media.

The History Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as a public and professional cultural institution, is committed to presenting history in its full context and to maintaining a responsible and professional approach to historical facts.

We invite the public to view the exhibition “Our Woman” within its full museological and historiographical context and to engage directly with its content.

We would also like to clarify that the City of Tuzla and the Mayor of Tuzla are not organizers of this exhibition, contrary to claims made in some media reports.