There are eight safe houses in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Five of them are in the Federation of BiH and three in the Republika Srpska entity.
Safe houses are located in Sarajevo, Mostar, Tuzla, Bihać, Zenica, Modriča, Banja Luka and Bijeljina. All safe houses were established and managed by non-governmental organizations.
The Safe House in Sarajevo was founded by the Local Democracy Foundation back in 2000. They are now entering their 26th year of existence and operation, and from 2000 to the end of 2025, 2,569 users have passed through the Safe House of the Local Democracy Foundation. Within the Safe House in Sarajevo, there are three types of support for victims of violence.
The shelter for women and children victims of domestic violence has been operating continuously since October 2000. The primary goal is to ensure the physical protection and safety of the victims, as well as psychosocial treatment in order to overcome traumatic experiences and reintegrate into the social community. The capacity of the shelter is 25 users (10 women and 15 children).
Shelter for girls/girls victims of incest, sexual abuse, rape, domestic violence and violence by other persons. A continuous program since 2002 that refers to the protection of girls aged 12 years. The capacity of the shelter is up to 10 people. The primary goal of the program is to ensure the direct protection of girls. In the shelter, girls are provided with psychosocial rehabilitation (group and individual therapy), as well as resocialization (continuation of education and reintegration into social life).
In addition, there is an SOS red line, a telephone for reporting violence established in 2004. The number is 033 222 000.
How they help victims of violence
– It is important to note that the Safe House is the only shelter for victims of violence on the territory of Sarajevo Canton. In the Safe House, victims of domestic violence are provided with physical protection and security, as well as a whole range of other services that achieve the rehabilitation and resocialization of victims of violence.
Victims of violence can stay in the Safe House for up to six months, and if the need arises, their stay can be extended. After leaving the Safe House, the Local Democracy Foundation continues to provide free legal, psychological and socio-economic support to the beneficiaries at the Women’s Center, so that even after leaving, they are not left alone and left to fend for themselves.
During 2025, 1,301 were provided to female users. free support service at the Center for Women – Lejla Lojo-Karamehmedović tells Faktor PR of the Local Democracy Foundation.
Our interlocutor points out that the number of users of the Safe House is variable, but the capacities of the Safe House in Sarajevo are on average 70 percent full. Each safe house maintains its own database on the number of users.
Last year, from January 1 to December 31, 2025, 110 beneficiaries were housed in the Safe House in Sarajevo. This is the official information of the JU Cantonal Center for Social Work through which the reception and placement of victims of violence in the Safe House is carried out. An important fact is that during the year 2025, the number of overnight stays in the Safe house amounted to 6,151.
Since its establishment, until today, it has never happened that the Safe House was without beneficiaries, which best speaks of its necessity to operate and exist.
We were interested in how a woman victim of violence gets to the Safe House.
– Victims of violence are admitted to the Safe House in Sarajevo exclusively through social work centers or the police, based on the Protocol on cooperation in support and protection, which the Foundation of Local Democracy signed with the Cantonal Ministry of Labour, Social Policy, Refugees and Displaced Persons, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Sarajevo Canton and the Ju Cantonal Center for Social Work back in 2001.
The Safe House in Canton Sarajevo is located in a secret location and the victim cannot come to the Safe House alone. By reporting violence to the police or the Center for Social Work, a police officer or an employee of the Center for Social Work offers the victim of violence the possibility of accommodation in a Safe House, in order to ensure the victim’s physical safety and protection, but also to provide an opportunity for psychosocial treatment and longer-term recovery – Lejla Lojo-Karamehmedović tells Faktor.
Safe house in Tuzla
16 people are currently housed in the Safe House in Tuzla. Of these, there are five women and 11 children – (six boys and five girls). The capacity of the house is 24 beds for accommodation distributed in seven rooms.
– According to the Law on protection against domestic violence and violence against women in the FBiH, victims of violence are placed in most cases based on the decision of the Center for Social Work or at the request of the police. Victims can also request accommodation in the Safe House on their own initiative, which is implemented in most cases, and then the responsible Center for Social Work provides a decision on accommodation – says Danijela Huremović, manager of the Safe House in Tuzla.
According to her, in the Safe House run by the Vive Žene Association, there are various types of therapy to empower women.
The first psychological assessment for treatment – an initial questionnaire that measures symptoms of depression, anxiety, PTSD and general functionality, which, with the observation of a psychologist/psychotherapist, is the basis for creating psychosocial support.
Then, social and legal counseling with the preparation of various submissions to the court, requests or requests, recommendations. Individual psychotherapy, psychological support, crisis intervention, group body therapy, psycho-educational group, and social counseling group are very important for women victims of violence.
Health and sanitary interventions are also provided, with the organization of specialist-consultative examinations with doctors, as well as work-occupational and creative therapy.
There is also pedagogical work with children – individually, in pairs or in groups, with regular attendance at school.
Women are provided with economic empowerment and recommendations for employment, along with contacts and cooperation with institutions.
What after writing Safe House
We were interested in what happens to the women after they leave the Safe House.
– According to the Law on protection against domestic violence and violence against women in the FBiH, accommodation can last six months, but at the request of the Safe House, with the decision of the competent center for social work, it can be extended if there is still a need for psychosocial treatment, if there is a high risk from the perpetrator to the victim, or if all the conditions for an adequate life after leaving the Safe House have not been ensured.
Experiences are different. Some victims continue their married or cohabiting relationships after treatment, some of them have the support of relatives and continue their lives with their support in the form of providing housing, some with our support find a job and can continue their independent life based on that, for some victims, relatives or the competent center for social work find alternative accommodation that meets their needs – Danijela Huremović tells Faktor.
She also emphasizes that, unfortunately, despite numerous psychological treatments, they cannot prevent the victim from returning to the abuser. He adds that the abusive father has the right to see the children he has with the victim, if there is no restraining order against the children. But if he has a restraining order against the mother, that is, the victim, there is no obstacle for the abuser to see the children. Huremović emphasizes that these meetings take place at the Center for Social Work, and that abusers are prohibited from coming to the Safe House.
Safe house in Bihać
Women victims of violence in Bihać are cared for by the Safe House, which is run by the “Women from Una” Association.
Unfortunately, the number of cases of violence against women is not decreasing, but increasing.
– Just from the beginning of this year until today, we had 10 new cases – Aida Nanić, head of the Safe House in Bihać, told Faktor.
The procedures and rules are the same as in the two previously described cases.
However, Nanić points out that the fact that women victims of violence return to the abuser several times, and then to the Safe House, is very worrying.
– They always say he is better, he has calmed down. We cannot forbid anyone to return to the abuser, if they are adults, we can only if they are minors. Then the Center for Social Work reacts. Basically, we don’t give bullies anywhere near a Safe House. I’m very sorry if the woman goes back to the abuser, after everything we’ve done. You have various cases. If the abuser has a restraining order against the children, in that case the woman cannot return to that house with the children. She can only do it alone. But everything is a matter of agreement. If the offender has a restraining order against the mother, they often allow him to see the children. It happens on some neutral ground. I’m also glad that the law is in a way now more on the side of the woman, because in many cases these abusers are in prison, so they don’t even have the opportunity to approach the woman and children – Aida Nanić tells Faktor.
Because of all that you’ve read, you’re teaching your girls that a slap is never “just a slap,” as a movie line says. The slap will not happen just once and “never again”.
Older generations grew up in a culture where this was “normal”. In Yugoslav cinematography, we saw slapstick slaps, as if it were the most normal thing.
In the former Yugoslavia, violence against women was treated as a “private matter”, so even the police could not react.
Now, when things are different, when we have systems and mechanisms to protect us, teach your children not to suffer and that your little girl never experiences a slap, it says Factor.
