Stigma is a hidden enemy that strikes survivors of sexual violence in war, said the director of the Kosovo Center for the Rehabilitation of Torture Survivors (KRCT), Feride Rushiti. According to her, its effect in many cases has devastated those who were raped in the last war in Kosovo. Twenty-five years after the war, she emphasized that justice is rehabilitation and not just punishment for what happened.
This is what she said at the roundtable on the topic "Advancing access to justice for survivors of conflict-related sexual violence".
"Sexual violence in war but also in countries where there are current armed conflicts, leaves deep and multiple scars. The impact is not limited to physical damage as is thought, but is also mental devastation and personal security. It includes a greater and more hidden effect, such as stigmatization that further aggravates the trauma of these people who are faced with sexual violence. Many times the effect of stigma has a devastating effect. Stigma is a hidden enemy that hits survivors after violence. It creates an invisible, but also severe barrier, isolating survivors from society, and causing a sense of shame, not only in her as an individual, but of course also in her family members", said Rushiti.She added that stigma for survivors also becomes an obstacle to seeking justice, for which she added that it is essential rehabilitation and return of dignity.
