"Before becoming an activist, I did not have any support in confronting the injustices against women, which I noticed as a child. Only in activism I could find someone to be an affiliated with. I’m endlessly grateful to all feminists."
"The biggest problems of Roma women are lack of education, poverty, violence, the fact that mostly they just sit at home within their families, it is difficult for them to open up to others."
Zorica Zenulovic, activist, Association of Roma Women Osvit, Nis
"What once was a shame for a man to do in a traditional Roma family, my husband today does, there is no division between male and female jobs and that is why I now have more free time for myself, I have a much larger circle of friends."
Ana Saćipović, activist, Association of Roma Women Osvit, Nis
"What has attracted most Roma women to come to us, is the fact that we called them to join us and to get out of their homes, and now they bring their neighbors, relatives and friends."
Ana Saćipović, activist, Association of Roma Women Osvit, Nis
"We have never said - We do this because someone has to pay us. No, we're doing this because we love to, because we want to, we do it because tomorrow someone will say - Oh, these are women who have given us help and support in a situation when we had the hardest time."
"Many older women in rural areas can not remember their names. When I ask them how they can not remember, they say, "Well, nobody called me by my name." "So how do they call you?" "They call me anyway, or by my husband's name or" Hey You ". All women in the villages have the same name - Hey you."
"I am proud to have young people around me, to know what I fight for not remains and will not remain only in words, but will be more and more deepened. "
"I did not know at the beginning it was called feminism, just knew that I did not want to be nobody's victim; I did not want anyone treating me as a commodity, to marginalize me."
"Now if you go through shops, kiosks, bakeries, you will not find a Roma woman to work. They are seeking for a job, but could not get it, because they are Roma."
Sanja Nesic, activist, Roma Association Novi Becej
"When I became familiar with the peace activism of Women in Black, suddenly something cleared up in my head, seeing them as they have so much energy, how much enthusiasm, how long they fight, where they’ve been and planning to go and that they are constantly on the ground."
Danica Pupovac, activist, Roma Association Danica Pancevo
"Therefore I am Roma women and I went through all that Roma women are still going through today, I know how this tradition is negative ( brides sale, juvenile marriages, violence, isolation) and how it affects women, how women are treated in the family, as well as in institutions. I speak from personal experience and what I've survived I do not want for young Roma women to go through anymore."
Danica Jovanovic, activist, Roma Association Novi Becej
"Women who improved the quality of their lives and improved their chances for recovery from breast cancer, are actually the women who really started to change the relationships in their small communities, families, to change the gender roles."
Slavica Simic, activist, Counseling for Women with Breast Cancer Jefimija, Uzice
"Lesbians need to meet, to socialize, to see that they are not the only one, that they are not alone, that they can share experiences with those who will understand them better than other people."
Jelena Anđelovski, activist, Novi Sad Lesbian Organization
