The Kosovo Rehabilitation Centre for Torture Victims and the Office of the Kosovo Presidency alongside many students on Friday marched in Prishtina in support of survivors of sexual violence during the 1998-9 war in Kosovo.

The marchers stopped at the Heroniat memorial, where, at an installation with the number 14, which symbolizes the commemorative date for the survivors, they placed stickers reading: “Be my voice”.

Donika Kadaj-Bujupi, adviser of President Vjosa Osmani, declared that the survivors should be at the center of the healing process.

“The rape of more than 20,000 women i Kosovo during the war in 1998/99, but also what is happening in this century in Ukraine, proves that humanity continues to face and deal with sexual crimes. Survivors must be at the centre of the healing process. Despite this inhuman act, no one managed to break these men and women,” she stated.

The Minister of Justice, Albulena Haxhiu, who took part in the march, declared that together they will raise society’s awareness of the horror experienced by these people.

“We bow to your unparalleled courage and strength. We are together and will raise society’s awareness of the horror these people experienced. We must fight the stigma and stand by them. The war had serious consequences, with many crimes,” Haxhiu declared.

She emphasized that the Ministry of Justice will soon finalize a strategy for transitional justice which in particular addresses psycho-social assistance for survivors of sexual violence during the war, and will also push the Assembly to adopt a draft law that establishes an institute for the documentation of crimes against humanity during the war in Kosovo.

Meanwhile, one survivor of sexual violence during the war in Kosovo, Vasfije Krasniqi Goodman, asked for a minute of silence for another survivor who, according to her, died only a few days ago.

“April 14, 1999 was the worst day of my life, from today I want to turn this day into strength and courage,” she stated.

The Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, on Wednesday declared that commemoration of this day would recognize the pain and suffering of women and girls, but also of men and boys who survived sexual violence during the war in Kosovo.

On the proposal of President Vjosa Osmani, on Wednesday the government decided to designate April 14 as Memorial Day of Survivors of Sexual Violence during the war in Kosovo.

According to data presented by institutions in Kosovo, about 20,000 cases of sexual violence were perpetrated by members of Serbian forces in the war.

Since 2014, when the legislation was approved, survivors of sexual violence in Kosovo have been able to receive the formal status of victim of sexual violence and a monthly pension of 230 euros.

According to the data, over 1,000 people have since been recognized as victims of sexual violence during the war.