Deputy Prime Minister and Acting Minister of Justice, Donika Gërvalla, attended the conference “Together for Knowledge and Support” today. The event was held in observance of April 19, the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence as a Weapon of War. During her address, Gërvalla highlighted the significance of the day, noting that it serves to commemorate all individuals who endured sexual violence during the war in Kosovo.
She used the occasion to reaffirm the institution’s ongoing commitment to achieving justice for these violations. A central point of her speech was the assertion that sexual violence perpetrated during the conflict was not an incidental byproduct of the fighting. Instead, she characterized it as a deliberate crime, systematically employed as a weapon of war.
Gërvalla stated, “Sexual violence was not a random or accidental part of the war. It was used as a weapon of war. It was used to degrade, to intimidate, and to leave deep wounds.”
The conference underscored the need to recognize the systematic nature of this violence.
By dedicating this day to remembrance, the participants reinforced the legal and moral imperative to prosecute and document all instances of sexual violence linked to the war. The discussions emphasized that acknowledging the deliberate use of sexual violence as a tool of warfare is crucial for supporting transitional justice efforts and preventing future atrocities.
Topics: #sexual #war #violence
This is a crucial reminder that institutional accountability is necessary to prevent such atrocities from being forgotten.
What specific actions or reforms are being implemented to ensure justice for survivors of sexual violence in conflict zones?