In times of war, history is often written by those in power, while the voices of those who suffer and resist are left to the margins. Valentina Krcmar refused to remain silent, and her letters serve as unwavering proof of her determination to ensure that the truth would not be lost in the chaos of war, politics, and bureaucracy.
From the early 1990s, as the wars in Croatia and Bosnia erupted, Krčmar became a tireless advocate for those who did not have the means to have their voices heard—the displaced, the imprisoned, the murdered. She wrote as a participant in history, challenging the world’s most powerful humanitarian organizations, journalists, and politicians to acknowledge the atrocities unfolding in the Balkans. With each letter, she pressed for accountability, demanding action from the Red Cross, condemning media bias, exposing war crimes, and pleading with governments to recognize the suffering of innocent civilians.
Her letters are more than just historical documents. They are evidence of how an individual, armed only with conviction and a typewriter, can disrupt the foundations of institutions built on complacency. She challenged the Canadian Red Cross to confront its complicity, pushed the media to expose hidden truths, and called on politicians to stop treating genocide as just another diplomatic inconvenience. When world leaders hesitated, she insisted. When organizations refused to act, she fought harder.
Krčmar’s correspondence spans over a decade, each letter a battle in an ongoing war against injustice. Through these writings, we see the world not as it was officially recorded but as it was experienced by those who bore witness to its darkest moments. Her words demand remembrance—not just of the crimes committed but of the responsibility to act when history repeats itself.
As you explore this collection, let it serve as more than just a timeline of letters. Let it be a reminder that the truth has champions, even in the face of overwhelming indifference. Valentina Krčmar was one of those champions. And now, through her letters, her fight continues.