In a room with colors resembling a domestic setting, the voices of men and women seeking justice will now be heard. From this space, victims of sexual violence during the war will testify in court about the horrors they experienced during the recent war in Kosovo, but without confronting their perpetrators directly. The “Safe Room” was made operational on Monday in Pristina with the support of the British Embassy, KosovaPress reports.
Feride Rushiti, the director of the Kosovo Rehabilitation Center for Torture Survivors (QKRMT), considers this a historic day for the men and women seeking justice. She explains that the room is now functional and a necessary step.
“Today is a historic day for survivors of sexual violence, especially for those who have sought justice. Previously, survivors, whether women or girls, had to legitimize themselves, entering a space where both the accused and the victim would be present, often in front of the media, which for most victims caused distress and stigmatization. Therefore, the opening of the Safe Room, supported by the British Embassy and in close cooperation with the Basic Court in Pristina, is an important step towards a sensitive approach in relation to sexual violence, which we as an organization have been advocating for, and it is also requested by the survivors of sexual violence,” said Rushiti.
Along with the victims of sexual violence, as Rushiti tells KosovaPress, representatives of legal and psychosocial services will also be present. “Twenty-five years after the war, coming to testify and share your story before a court is very re-traumatizing. Therefore, through this room, which we have found understanding with the Basic Court and is now operational, survivors of sexual violence will be able to enter without any need for legitimization. They will have easy access, without going through the official channels. The room also provides a homely environment, with a TV screen where they are informed about their rights and how the courtroom looks. This is important because entering the courtroom can be a moment of re-traumatization. For those women and men who do not wish to face the accused, they also have the opportunity to give their testimony electronically from this room,” she explained for KosovaPress.
The inauguration of the Safe Room was also attended by the British Ambassador, Jonathan Hargreaves.
This space can also be used by other victims of violence, including minors and adults. The President of the Basic Court in Pristina, Albina Shabani Rama, stated that the opening of this room for testimonies is of great importance for the advancement of victims’ rights. “Today, we officially opened the testimony room or ‘safe room,’ which is not just a symbolic issue. It is a physical space that has been created for victims but carries great significance due to its importance in advancing the protection of victims’ rights, which includes the preservation of privacy, the psychological support provided in this space, and the testimony that can be given while victims are protected. It was deemed necessary to have a space where victims can come beforehand, prepare, and testify, as judicial procedures are always tough, especially in these cases that are more specific,” she said.
The exact number of people raped during the last war in Kosovo is unknown, but reports suggest around 20,000 victims. So far, only Zoran Vukotić has been convicted for sexual violence during the 1998-1999 war in Kosovo.
