For the first time publicly, a woman who survived sexual violence during the Kosovo war has shared her harrowing story, shedding light on the lasting trauma and silence endured by many survivors of wartime rape.
Speaking to Dukagjini Television, the woman recounted how, after being raped by Serbian forces, she returned to her family without revealing what had happened.
“When I came back, everyone asked what had happened to me. I told them only that I had been beaten—nothing more,” she said. “I didn’t leave the house again until June 13, when we returned [to our home].”
Her experience left deep psychological scars that altered the course of her life. She avoided romantic relationships and deliberately distanced herself from any possibility of marriage.
“Whenever the opportunity for marriage arose, I would do things on purpose to ensure I wouldn’t get involved with anyone,” she explained.
Despite these struggles, she eventually married and had a son. But the happiness was short-lived, as she later lost her husband. Today, she lives with her son, whom she calls her greatest joy.
“I live as a very happy mother with my son,” she shared, her voice carrying both pain and resilience.
Yet the trauma of war continues to haunt her. She experiences recurring nightmares and physical pain in her hands—reminders of the brutal assault she endured.
“One of them held me down with his boots. There were two of them. I still remember one of them—the criminal,” she said.
When asked whether she remembers the face of one of her assailants, a man referred to as Goran, she replied simply:
“Yes.”
Her testimony offers a rare and powerful glimpse into the silent suffering of thousands of survivors of sexual violence in Kosovo, many of whom continue to live with the consequences in silence.
