American congress members have proposed a resolution demanding justice for survivors of sexual violence during the Kosovo war, including the case of former deputy Vasfije Krasniqi-Goodman, who is also an American citizen, reports Rks News.
The resolution calls for the Government of Serbia to bring those responsible for the sexual war crimes to justice, including the crime committed on April 14, 1999, against Krasniqi-Goodman.
Additionally, the congress members are urging the U.S. Government to raise Krasniqi’s case in bilateral talks with Serbia, demanding accountability for war crimes committed against women and young people.
Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani expressed gratitude to the American lawmakers, emphasizing the importance of this commitment and underlining that justice for survivors has been a long-denied right.
“I thank the American lawmakers for demanding justice for the survivors of sexual violence during the genocidal war of Serbia against the people of Kosovo. The voices of our survivors—such as Vasfije’s and Shyhret’s—broke the silence and empowered thousands of others. For all of them, justice is not a choice—it’s a right that has long been denied. As we approach April 14th—Kosovo’s National Day for Survivors of Sexual Violence during the War—this recognition is a powerful step forward. I look forward to the passage of this resolution,” she wrote on “X.”
The full text of the resolution outlines:
The call to end the impunity of unpunished sexual war crimes committed by Serbian forces during the 1999 war in Kosovo, including the case of U.S. citizen and survivor of sexual violence Vasfije Krasniqi-Goodman and other victims of sexual and gender-based violence.
The resolution details the crime that took place on April 14, 1999, when a Serbian police officer abducted and brutally raped Krasniqi-Goodman, a 16-year-old living in Kosovo at the time, before subjecting her to additional violence.
It also discusses the failures of previous mechanisms, such as the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), UNMIK, EULEX, and Kosovo’s judicial system, in bringing perpetrators of sexual violence to justice.
The resolution calls for:
- The Government of Serbia to bring those responsible for the 1999 sexual violence crimes to justice.
- The U.S. Government to prioritize Krasniqi’s case in future bilateral talks with Serbia and continue its support for preventing gender-based violence globally.
- Strengthening efforts to hold perpetrators of sexual violence accountable, particularly those who committed war crimes against civilians during the Kosovo War.
This call for justice comes as Kosovo marks the National Day for Survivors of Sexual Violence during the War on April 14, recognizing the 20,000 victims of sexual violence committed during the conflict.
