March in New York for victims of sexual violence in Kosovo

Krasniqi-Goodman is the first woman in Kosovo to openly show that she has been sexually violated by Serbian forces during the recent war in Kosovo.

In March of this year, she has been elected deputy in the Kosovo Assembly, as a member of the Vetevendosje Movement, and has said the priority will have the fight for human rights and war victims.

In an interview for Radio Free Europe on 21 October, it has shown that victims of sexual violence from Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina will also take part in the march.

March is the initiative of New York City counselor Mark Gjonaj. We are co-operating that the organisation will turn out best and the victims will seek justice in front of Serbia's Consulate in New York”, she has said.

The march has been supported by many Kosovo Assembly deputies, members of civil society and artists of various fields.

Finally, with a call (March for her justice) #rallyforherjustice has been seen in the hands of even Kosovo-born artist I want Lipa.

Krasniqi Goodman has said he was very happy to see the Lip call.

For me it's very big when you support a world star like I want Lipa and I get excited when I talk about it”

“I talk to victims every day”

Vasfije Krasniqi Goodman is honoured in 2018 at the “Bosnian citizen award of the Republic of Kosovo”, following the history he shared with the world for what he experienced during the war.

Now when it is part of Kosovo's public institutions itself, she has said during the interview that she enjoys the fact that the victims have a voice that represents them and that they turn to it more freely to share the experiences of war.

I talk to victims every day. I'm in constant contact with them. Whether they are victims of sexual violence during the war or victims of modern times. They find their reliance on me, and they trust to speak freely. I understand what they're dealing with”, she stressed.

On 5 July this year's Constitutional Court in Pristina has sentenced him to ten years in prison, former Serbian police spokesman Zoran Vukotic, for committing the criminal act of sexual violence during the war in Kosovo.

This was the first case anyone has been convicted of such a crime by Kosovo courts.

She has said she is concerned with recent cases of violations in Kosovo against minor girls, citing the latest case, which authorities suspect a person has violated a 12-year-old.

Krasniqi Goodman has said that for rapists there must be higher sentences.

I've talked to Justice Minister Albulena Haxhiu the day before to change the article that concerns these cases. Punishment isn't enough. Punishments are too low for such cases. Donors need to know that it's enough and that they need to get the due sentence”.

She has said she finds it reasonable for authorities to publish the names and surnames of rapists.

Kosovo's “usually blame is remaining on victims, not on violators. When they come out with names and surnames and are ashamed, I believe there will be a huge change of”.

According to Article 227 of the Republic of Kosovo Criminal Code, anyone who forces the other person to commit sexual acts without the consent of such a person is sentenced to imprisonment of two to 10 years.

According to data presented by institutions in Kosovo, about 20,000 members of Serb forces have been sexually violated in the last war in Kosovo.

According to the United Nations, more than 20,000 women were violated during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, while by April of this year only about 160 perpetrators of this criminal act have been sentenced.

As for Croatia, authorities have not yet come up with accurate figures for these victims.