How it's carried on children's trauma by mothers-victims of sexual violence

In Pristina today, the findings of the first epigenetic study on inter-human trauma in Kosovo have been presented.

Research reveals that nearly 30% of children have abnormal levels of the primary stress hormone that is promoted in response to stress or major trauma. According to the study, children born to mothers with post-traumatic stress disorders during pregnancy were more likely to have high levels of the main stress hormone.

The purpose of this study by the Kosovo Centre for the rehabilitation of Torture Survivors, the Danish Institute Against Torture in Denmark, and supported by the Copenhagen University Hospital and the disease epigenetic unit at Manash University in Australia, with financial support from the British Embassy in Kosovo, is early investigation and intervention in the second generation into a post-conflict environment.

In a study that has investigated potential mechanisms that explain how the effects of trauma from one generation to another can be overcome, 130 women who had experienced sexual violence during the war in Kosovo have been interviewed. Meanwhile, blood samples from the 120 youngest children born from each woman have been collected.

The study involves, not children born of sexual violence, but children born after the war period.

Research highlights the importance of early examination of women born during the war, especially those born of post-traumatic stress mothers.

QKMT Director Feride Rushiti said that the mother victims' concerns have caused such scientific research to take place so that she can see how her mother's trauma was carried to children.

She also confessed parts of Vasfije Krasniqi's story, the woman who dared to speak publicly about the trauma experienced during the recent war in Kosovo.

Rushiti: The perpetrators wanted the victims to stay alive and carry the trauma through generations

Well, the rapists had left a message, they had it forgiven their death for the fact that this (Vasfie Krasniqi) had to carry trauma through generations. And the order of the bully was: If you are alive, you will remember us, not only you, but also the family and generations that follow. For this very reason, we are gathered here today, we are gathered to give light and dimension to this generation crime, we are gathered here to try in a scientific way to debate and find the connection of the trauma from the mother, which has been exposed to the rape during the war period, to her children, who may even be six years old now six months, so that carrying into the period of pregnancy that many times is hidden and is not discussed in society”, she said.

The conference on the inter-resident Trauma theme also brought to Kosovo the Wessex County, Sophie. She said Kosovo society should accept and support all survivors of torture.

Sophie: Victims Need Consistence and Justice

I can't imagine how difficult it has been for them and their families to rebuild their lives after these traumas. Traumas they're carrying with them every day in a row. Their message to me was that despite the courage, which they had to find within themselves to move forward, they need more support, acceptance, they need justice, they need us. We have to accept and understand that the pain and consequences of sexual violence related to conflict do not disappear over time, the years here have no meaning. And in fact, if the issues and needs of the survivors are not addressed in an adequate and timely way, in many cases, over time, they only increase. Conflicts leave many wounds, but the biggest wounds of all, I believe, are the unfair stigma with which so many survivors --” -- she said.

Vasfije Krasniqi-Godman, the woman named Ambassador of Courage, once again spoke of her terrible story, where among other things, she highlighted the difficulties she had in raising her two daughters, blaming herself for what happened to her.

Krasniqi-Godman: As under two girls, it's hard to talk about the trauma I've experienced.

For me it's very difficult to talk about the traumas I'm facing, like a mother of two girls. I've often blamed myself on doing the right thing or not while raising children. Knowing I've been through these experiences and it's been hard for me to deal with my life. But since we are here today, in a way I am happy that science has proved that my trauma was carried through pregnancy, not because I was not a good mother”, she said.

Of the 130 women who have been interviewed, and 120 children's blood samples, an estimated 30% of children have abnormal levels of cortisol, which is the principal stress hormone that is driven in response to stress or major trauma, reported in the study published today.

According to the study, children born to mothers with post-trametic stress disorders during pregnancy were more likely to have high levels of cortisol compared to mothers without post-trammatic stress disorders during pregnancy.

This is the first study of women experiencing sexual trauma and resulting in post-traumatic stress disorders suggesting inter-resorous transmission of trauma in the form of epigenetic changes in children.