The President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, stated that the issue of verifying the status of victims of sexual violence from the recent war in Kosovo should not have a time limit.
“As the crime of rape is part of war crimes, against humanity and an element of genocide under international law, there is no statute of limitations. We have cases where crimes committed during the Second World War are still prosecuted, so institutions responsible for verifying the status of victims should not have a fixed mandate,” Osmani said during a discussion organized by the Office of the Ombudsperson on survivors of sexual violence during the war in Kosovo.
Osmani further criticized the Government’s Commission for Recognizing and Verifying the Status of Persons Victimized During the Liberation War for rejecting the applications of dozens of women seeking recognition as victims.
“Rape during war is the most heinous weapon known to humanity, and more brutal than the act itself is its purpose. The Serbian police and state used violence with the aim of creating pain that would span generations. The rapes in Kosovo occurred in front of children, and with this goal, they sought to destroy a people,” Osmani said.
Osmani described the issue of survivors of sexual violence as a matter of national importance. She emphasized that those who have triumphed over such horrors have shown the indomitable strength of the human spirit.
“As President, I am proud of the work that Shyhretja and Vasfija are doing as special presidential envoys in supporting survivors, not only in Kosovo but also in Ukraine, Iraq, various African countries, and the Middle East. Moreover, through our continuous efforts, the Republic of Kosovo has become a global reference, especially through the International Forum on Women, Peace, and Security. In the latest edition of this forum, the resonance of these war survivors’ stories has transcended our national borders,” she concluded.
