The survivors of sexual violence seek to get involved in dialogue

However, representatives of the 20 thousand unprecedented voices of women and men who survived sexual violence insist that Kosovo be represented at the table in front of Serbia by this damaged part of society. On the contrary, they feel that no agreement should be reached.

After about 20 months, weeks ago the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia has resumed. At the negotiating table, Kosovo is represented by Kosovo Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti in front of Serbia's President Aleksandar Vuciq.

Representatives of sex violence survivors' organisations ask Prime Minister Hoti not to forget the 20,000 unmarked voices in front of the Serbian state.

The director of the Kosovar Centre for the rehabilitation of Torture Survivors Feride Rushiti says thousands of families who for more than two decades seek denied justice hide behind those victims.

After those 20 minutes, there are thousands of family members who today groan about their fate. Even today, there is no justice for criminals who committed this crime during the war. Therefore, we feel that dialogue is lacking only with the address of certain groups, while survivors of the sex violence of war do not appear or discuss how to process with them”, Rushiti claims.

Rushiti asks Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti to be in close co-operation with organisations that represent the pain of 20 thousand women and men who were violated during the war. Thus, according to her, Kosovo's requirements at the negotiating table in Brussels will be addressed as clearly as possible.

The first “is the approach to justice for survivors of sexual violence, and without any real cooperation between the two countries we know literally that justice cannot be realized for the survivors of sexual violence. This request now takes 20 years to continue with survivors and their families. Beyond that is the rapper should be part of the discussion that they are internationally obliged to pay the damages they caused during the war and in particular for the survivors of sexual violence. Public forgiveness should also be part of the discussion, for the fact that this means much to the survivors of violence”, Rushiti adds to Kosovas.

And director of the Centre for Promoting Rights in Drenas, Cadire Tahiraj, says the daily demand of surviving women is that the Kosovo delegation not sign agreements with the Serbian state, without the facts, and confessions of victims of sexual violence.

Unfortunately, 20 years these women have sought justice but unfortunately so far we have not found justice. We also demand that we have justice, but we never dare have dialogue with Serbia without mentioning these war crimes, which have become 20 years hurt, with tears, groanings, but, above all, have found the strength to survive”, Tahiraj claims.

At this negotiating table, Tahiraj says there must be survivors themselves. However, for the latter, it is “dead expectations”, that one day the Serbian state will apologise for the crimes committed.

“I don't believe, survivors already have a dead hope, but I am hoping if they have wills and really want the good of Kosovo, the good of the citizens, these crimes should be cited at each table, at every conference and every” dialogue, she adds.

Vasfije Krasniqi Goodman, is the first woman to publicly confess these crimes. Her brother, Justice, continues to look for his sister, who was only 16 years old when she was taken and violated by two Serbian paramilitaries.

Vasfije Krasniqi Goodman, is the first woman to publicly confess these crimes. Her brother, Nafi Krasniqi, continues to look for the sister, who was only 16 years old when she was taken and violated by two Serbian paramilitaries.

Krasniqi, who is also director of the organisation “Justice for all”, tells Kosovo that the Kosovo side should have a very serious platform when it comes to crimes and war damages that they have done in Kosovo.

“We have always estimated that violations have been organised crimes or that were systematically committed by the Serbian state camera. We believe that the Kosovo side should certainly include within the negotiations on this platform to negotiate with Serbia, even sexual violations. Because in Kosovo, according to the number that has been extracted from foreign organisations, there are reportedly approximately 20,000 violated. We talk about 20,000 families directly and indirectly affected by violations, where the number of indirect affected is much greater. Where we consider that discontent has been so accumulated and it's always the frustration that there are many elements that make us feel bad. One of them is justice”, Krasniqi declares.

Meanwhile, at the meeting, which is scheduled to be held Thursday between Kosovo delegations and Serbia in Brussels, the draft draft of the final agreement on the issue of missing persons will be drafted. After 20 months of interruption of dialogue, on 16 July this process resumed with the European Union's mediation. In Brussels, Kosovo Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti met with President Alexander Vuciq