Pristina, October 17, 2022
In a meeting with the representatives of the global network of victims and survivors of sexual violence during the war, SEMA, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, expressed regret for the data about the crimes of sexual violence reported in Ukraine.
Reports indicate that Russia is using sexual violence as part of its military strategy in Ukraine, Prime Minister Kurti said, expressing deep regret for the dire situation there.
Prime Minister Kurti said that this reminds us of our 1998-1999 war in Kosovo, and as happened here, and in all other wars, the number of survivors is likely to be much higher than the official figures suggest, because the crimes sexual crimes are often not reported, due to the stigma that surrounds them.
The representatives of the SEMA network, Mrs. Iryna Dovgan and Mr. Volodymyr Shcherbachenko from Ukraine, as well as Mrs. Pilar Rueda and Mrs. Angela Maria Escobar from Colombia, expressed their gratitude for the support and the opportunity to exchange experiences related to documentation and justice for crimes of sexual violence during the war.
Prime Minister Kurti emphasized that the Government of the Republic of Kosovo is working closely with institutions and civil society organizations in comprehensive transitional justice processes, focused on victims and with gender sensitivity, that meet the needs and demands of survivors of sexual violence.
He mentioned the work of the Governmental Commission for the Recognition and Verification of the Status of Survivors of Sexual Violence during the War, which enables survivors to apply for status recognition, and which guarantees safe treatment of information and the protection of their rights. He also emphasized that in order to facilitate access to justice, the Government has increased the budget for 4 prosecutors, 6 professionals and 2 additional interpreters for war crimes.
During the joint meeting with the Deputy Minister of Justice, Nita Shala, and representatives of non-governmental organizations, joint work to support survivors, their rights and dignity was emphasized. Highlighting the contribution of Mrs. Vasfije Krasniqi, the necessity of further joint commitment to fight the stigma surrounding sexual violence during the war was emphasized.
Last modified: October 17, 2022