Calls for justice and for breaking the silence were made by Vasfije, Shyrete and Ramadani.

Their testimonies are evidence of the horror experienced by around 20,000 women and men from Kosovo. On the Memorial Day for Survivors of Sexual Violence, they shared their reflections on this issue, also speaking about their decision to publicly share the trauma they endured.

The first woman to speak publicly, Vasfije Krasniqi, on the very day marking the anniversary of the horror, said that April 14 changed her life forever.

“Today is April 14. For many of you, it is just another day on the calendar, but for me it is a day that changed my life, that ruined my childhood. I want to speak from the heart because I know what it means to face injustice from the internationals and from our own state. I was only 17 when I reported the case and sought justice, and I never stopped until 2018, when justice was denied to me by the internationals and our state. But I decided to speak publicly in 2018 about what happened to me. That’s when the changes began, and it shows how even a small change for someone can make a big difference for others. Since I spoke out in 2018, we now have four cases that have been prosecuted—something that did not exist before, neither by our state nor by the internationals,” Krasniqi said.

The “Ambassador of Courage” spoke at the regional conference marking April 14, themed “Advancing access to justice for survivors of conflict-related sexual violence: Criminal accountability and the right to reparations.”

She said she feels proud of the changes that have taken place since she spoke publicly, but also called on justice institutions to prioritize the handling of these cases.

“For me, nothing has meaning—not even state recognition—without justice. My soul will find peace when justice is served. Not only for my case, but for 20,000 other victims,” she said.

Another courageous woman is Shyrete Tahiri, who one year after Vasfije publicly filed a criminal complaint with the Special Prosecution.

“History never dies, one day we will. I knocked on the doors of justice and was the first to file a criminal complaint publicly. The decision to raise my voice was not easy, but it was necessary, because silence has never protected us—silence has only protected the criminals. Every voice that speaks breaks the wall of silence little by little; every step toward justice is a step toward reclaiming oneself and healing. Today, I am not here only for myself, I am here to represent the pain of many mothers, sisters, and families who still carry this wound in silence,” Tahiri said.

Survivor of sexual violence, Shyrete Tahiri, called on all women and men who still hesitate to seek justice, saying: “Let us turn our fear into courage.”

“Let us turn our pain into strength, let us turn our silence into a voice, let us turn our fear into courage. I have taken my step, I have sought justice and I will never give up until I achieve it. I do not want anyone else to remain silent as I once did. Today, I encourage you to take your step as well. Seek justice, because when one speaks it is courage, when all speak it is change,” she added.

A year ago, on April 14, the first male survivor to speak publicly was Ramadani Nishori from Drenas.

Today, he said he took this step to encourage all men who continue to remain silent.

“Exactly one year ago today, on April 14, I decided to speak publicly. A date that for me is not just symbolic, but a turning point in my life. A date that marks not just a testimony, but a decision to no longer remain silent. For many years I kept within myself a story that is not easy to tell. But silence does not heal the pain—it only pushes it deeper. These crimes must not be silenced because they know no age, no gender, no status. They do not choose whom to affect. Therefore, I seek justice. Justice is strength, courage, responsibility, and a step toward healing,” he said.

April 14 is the date when Vasfije Krasniqi was sexually assaulted, and in 2018 she publicly spoke about the horror she experienced.

The exact number of people subjected to sexual violence during the last war in Kosovo is unknown, but reports estimate around 20,000 women and men.