Women that were raped during the war deserve justice and dignity, not charity and flowers

Minister of the European Integration, Vlora Çitaku has also been invited to discuss on the topic where among other she said that “8 March is a historical date of the advancement of the role of women in society but at the same time this date should raise awareness against women discrimination in the national level and I would like to use this opportunity to appeal on further advancement of the women’s rights and to raise awareness on gender equality in Kosovo’s society”.

Find below the full speech of the Minister Çitaku:
Honourable Deputy Prime Minister
Honourable Ministers, deputies,
Dear mothers, women and girls,
Ladies and Gentleman,

Theme: Access to justice for women and girls, victims of sexual violence during the war in Kosovo

Allow me to initially welcome you and congratulate International Women’s day 8th March. But we are not here today to discuss about International Women’s Day. Even though this is a historical date of the advancement of women role in the society at the same time this day raise awareness against women discrimination in the national level and at the same time I would like to use this opportunity to appeal on further advancement of the women’s rights and to raise awareness on gender equality in Kosovo’s society.

Because we still have to treat great sorrows of our society, such as the theme of this discussion table, we still have to fight domestic violence and yet have to fight for the education and emancipation of the women throughout Kosovo. At the same time we still have to fight prejudices that are being made to Kosovo women.

Honoured

The theme of this discussion table is much more complex, complicated and emotional because it is dedicated to women and girls raped during the war in Kosovo. For this reason this discussion table is of special significance since the elaboration and weight of this theme implies many factors and at the same time should convey a very clear and strong  message across the border  in order to raise the awareness of all inner and outer  public ; that this particular category will be provided with all necessary means  such as legal, social  , economic,  health and political to become  part of the Kosovo society and institutions and therefore an integral part of state-building and state formation of the Republic of Kosovo.

In this regard, there will be a range of initiatives on programmes or development projects for advancement of this category, although sometimes this category if I may say or express myself in this way were “forgotten” by the society, family and institutions. Since the post war time, the situation of these women not only in material terms but also in the social, health, legal and spiritually has been and remains miserable. We as a society and institutions must face this situation and find a solution for these women. For this reason, the purpose of the nature of these projects will be an opportunity for dignity and prosperity for this category of women.

Therefore, we are convinced that the situation of women and girls, victims of rape is not going to improve only with aid, but with concrete project and laws that have to do with development, education, training and emancipation. Only in this way we’ll reduce unemployment and poverty and in this way we will increase the welfare of this category.

As you can see from the government agenda, the issue of women and girls, victims of rape remains one of the objectives of the Republic of Kosovo. Therefore this discussion table should motivate and remind us to increase even more our commitment as a society.

For this reason Ministry of the European Integration in cooperation with Kosovo Women’s Network Groups since June of this year will begin with campaign for society awareness, (for women and girls that were raped during the war in Kosovo) that raped women are war victims and not only “someone’s wife’s and daughters ”but they are our mothers, sisters and our daughters and above all heroines of this nation: for which under one: we must seek justice for all women and girls raped during the war  and that criminals should be prosecuted and punished for the crimes done during the war and under two : to be as closer as we can to them in legal, social as well as human aspect.

Honoured/participants

The main task of the institutions and ministry of the integration is to promote, initiate and protect the rights of the women raped during the war in Kosovo. In addition, this means that the political will is very strong in order to support and assist this category in all aspects, especially in the legal aspects and thus institutional and social care will be maximal, productive, practical and efficient.

Our main objective is to offer dignity and justice and not charity and flowers.

Thank you for your attention!