Archives for January 2020

Albanian Diaspora Alert: Italy and Germany response to Virus Outbreak

January 31, 2020 by dgreca

Italy Declares Emergency, and Germany Confirms a Sixth Case/

The Italian government declared a six-month state of emergency on Friday after the first two cases of coronavirus were confirmed in Rome, according to a government official…

A government statement detailed that it had allocated the “necessary funds” to begin precautionary measures. Official sourced have said on Friday that five million euros (about $5.5 million) had been set aside.

Two Chinese nationals were held in isolation at Rome’s Spallanzani Hospital, which specializes in infectious diseases, after they tested positive for the virus.

The two cases were announced on Thursday, capping a tense day in Italy, after thousands of passengers had been blocked from leaving a cruise ship that docked at an Italian port for more than 12 hours over concerns that someone aboard might have had the virus. That episode was found to be a false alarm as the Chinese national with a fever tested negative for the coronavirus, and the Italian authorities said that passengers were allowed to disembark.

In Germany, the Bavarian state Health Ministry confirmed a sixth case of the virus on Friday: the first child to be infected in the country. The child is related to another coronavirus patient identified this week. All six known cases in Germany are linked to a company based Starnberg, Bavaria.

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The State Department tells Americans not to travel to China.
The State Department on Thursday night issued a travel advisory telling Americans not to travel to China because of the public health threat posed by the dangerous new coronavirus. The department set the new advisory at Level 4, or red — its highest alert, reserved for the most perilous situations.
State Department officials stated : “Travelers should be prepared for travel restrictions to be put into effect with little or no advance notice. Commercial carriers have reduced or suspended routes to and from China.”
The World Health Organization on Thursday declared the outbreak a global emergency after cases were discovered in more than a dozen countries.

Lajm i rremë

January 31, 2020 by dgreca

Nga Astrit Lulushi/
Realiteti nuk ekziston, gjithçka varet nga këndvështrimi dhe dora e gatshme gjithmonë për të ndëshkuar. Tirania fshihet, dhe njerëzit e mirë nuk e dëshirojnë largimin e saj sepse asnjë nuk ka arritur t’i mbrojë ose tu largojë frikën; një për të gjithë të gjithë për një, një prej tyre të gjithë prej tij, njeri i keq mund të bëhet kushdo sepse rastësisht ai është dikush. Sapo ti fusni para në duar, ai do të bëjë gjithçka që dëshironi, mund ta shndërroni në atë që iu nevojitet, krijoni vetë sëmundjen tuaj, shkoni pas saj, por nuk vraponi nëse mund të rrëzoheni. Të jetosh ose të vdesësh nën akuza të gënjeshtra. Njerëzimi është ndeshur me lajm të rremë, që në fund është provuar i vërtetë, dhe me qeveri të riciklueshme që kompenson viktimat. Të thoje se plani nuk u realizua, se një sistem ka dështuar ose dyqanet ishin bosh, quhej jo e vërtetë dhe njerëzit dënoheshin, si dikur në Mesjetë kur Galileo persekutohej dhe Bruno digjej në turrën e druve për përhajen e lajmit “të rremë”.

KOSOVË – LIRI E PËRJETSHME NË PREKAZ

January 31, 2020 by dgreca

Shkruan-Korrespondenti i Diellit nga Prishtina Behlul Jashari: REPORTAZH NGA PREKAZI I PARA 10 VITEVE/

Gazeta DIELLI riboton sot (31 janar 2020) reportazhin nga Prekazi të korrespondentit në Kosovë Behlul Jashari shkruar para 10 viteve në mbrëmjen e 31 janarit 2010, botuar të nesërmen në 1 shkurt në Tiranë te Agjencia Telegrafike Shqiptare – agjencia shtetërore-zyrtare e lajmeve e Shqipërisë:

REPORTAZH*

KOSOVË – LIRI E PËRJETSHME NË PREKAZ

Dëbora, si një bardhësi paqeje, e ka mbuluar Prekazin, fshatin i cili 12 vjet më parë, më 5 mars 1998, u përball me egërsinë e makinerisë luftarake serbe kundër shqiptarëve, familjes së Jasharajve të fortifikuar në kulla për të mbrojtur pragun e shtëpisë dhe Kosovën.

Mbi kullat legjendë valëviten dy flamuj kombëtar shqiptarë si në majën më të lartë të botës, të lavdisë, heroizmit, të sakrificësës e flijimit për liri. Flamuri kuqezi valon edhe lart në një kodrinë, ku prehen në amshim 60 heronj e dëshmorë të rënë në epopenë e Jasharëve, Prekazit, Drenicës, Kosovës dhe gjithë shqiptarëve. Pranë varrezave memorial, ngritur me mermer të bardhë, qëndrojnë në nderim të përhershëm ushtarët e forcës kosovare.

Ky është imazhi i parë nga Prekazi në prag të dyvjetorit të shpalljes së pavarësisë së Kosovës, 17 shkurtit.

Historia tregon se Jasharajt e Prekazit janë sulmuar tre herë. Sulmi i parë ishte më 30 dhjetor 1991, ndërsa i dyti më 22 janar 1998. Të dy herët sulmuesit u thyen dhe zmbrapsën para qëndresës heroike.

Sulmi i tretë i forcave serbe ishte ushtarako-policor, luftë kundër një familje.

Gjatë rezistencës, më 5, 6 e 7 mars 1998, plot tri ditë e dy netë, ranë heroikisht 20 anëtarë të familjes Jashari, prej 22 që ishin në rrethimin e forcave serbe. Ndër të rënët ishte edhe komandanti legjendar Adem Jashari. Shpëtoi djali i dytë i Rifatit, Bashkimi, dhe vajza e Hamzës, Besarta. Ndërsa në familjen e gjerë Jashari kanë rënë 56 dëshmorë. Mes tyre nëntë fëmijë dhe disa të moshuar deri 93-vjeç…

Kryefamiljari Rifat Jashari, në odën e tij kujton si i ka përjetuar ato ditë dramatike, i ndodhur atëherë jashtë vendit, në Gjermani, bashkë me të birin, Muratin dhe Lulëzimin e Bekimin, djemtë e Ademit dhe Hamzës.

“Do mbesim veç ne katër, pata thënë atëherë, atë ditë që ka krisë në Prekaz…”, thotë Rifati, i cili tregon se kishte bërë telefonata të shumta në Mitrovicë, Vushtrri, Prishtinë, Skënderaj… dhe kishte marrë versione të ndryshme për luftën e familjes së tij në Prekaz.

“Të vertetën drejt ma tregoi vetëm Sabit Istogu, që ishte shok i Hamzës”, vazhdon Rifati rrëfimin . “Rash në lidhje me Sabitin…Edhe m’u drejtua: Bac, kullat po i bombardojnë. Jemi në rreth të hekurt, tank pas tanku”.

Baca Rifat e vazhdon rrëfimin, flet për përtëritjen e familjes dhe të jetës, për njëmbëdhjetë fëmijtë e lindur pas zjarrit të madh të luftës, të cilët mbajnë emrat e të rënëve.

“Shpëtuan dhjetë anëtarë të familjes. Prej dhjetëve numri shkoi në 25. Që dy orë isha duke luajtur me fëmijët nëpër oborr… E çka po do pasuri më të madhe. Unë për veti pasuri më të madhe nuk di. Njëmbëdhjetë fëmijë i ka falë zoti, cilin ta kqyrësh më i shëndoshë se shoqi”.

Njeriu i familjes që ka dhënë 56 heronj e dëshmorë për lirinë e pavarësinë e Kosovës, thekson nderimin e madh e të gjithmonshëm të kombit.

“E falënderoj këtë popull, prej të gjitha viseve shqiptare, kudo që jetojnë, që kurrë nuk ka lënë vetëm…”, thotë Rifati.

Dhe, në veçanti, kryefamiljari i Jasharëve flet për Shqipërinë.

“Nga të gjitha qytetet e Shqipërisë, e më duket edhe nga secili fshat i Shqipërisë, kanë ardhë në këtë odë për të na uruar kur Kosova shpalli pavarësinë. Kanë ardhur edhe shumë herë të tjera…”

Rifati i Jasharëve të Prekazit kujton me shumë mirënjohje ndihmën e gjithmonshme të Shqipërisë për Kosovën edhe në kohët më të vështira të luftës, kur strehoi shumicën e rreth një milion shqiptarëve të dëbuar. Nuk thotë kosovarëve, se “komb kosovar s’ka”.

“Po mos të mos ishte shteti amë nuk e di ku do ishim sot. E gjithë Shqipëria i priti vëllezërit e motrat nga Kosova”.

Ai vlerëson lart të gjitha angazhimet e shtetit shqiptar, edhe në rrugën e Kosovës drejt pavarësisë, edhe tani me mbështetjen e diplomacisë shqiptare drejt njohjeve të reja.

Nga oda e Jasharëve në Prekaz Baca Rifat jep mesazhin se Kosova, edhe udhëheqësit e saj, edhe të gjithë, duhet të punojnë edhe më shumë për Kosovën e kombin.

“I lumi është ai që punon për komb të vet, për vend të vet…”, thotë ai.

Ai jep edhe mesazhin për unitet të shqiptarëve kudo që janë për çështjet madhore, për bashkëpunim mes partive, pozitës dhe opozitës.

Kryefamiljari tregon se në Prekaz dhe në odën e Jasharajve vizitorët e shumtë janë nga gjithë Kosova, Shqipëria, Maqedonia, Lugina e Preshevës, Mali i Zi e nga shumë anë të botës, mes tyre edhe personalitete të njohura.

Ndërsa, ciceroni i Kompleksit Memoral në Prekaz, Xhevat Imeri, thotë se gjatë 11 vjetëve të pasluftës ka patur më shumë se tetë milionë e gjysmë vizitorë.

Ndër personalitetet më të larta që kanë vizituar Prekazin është edhe Kryeministri i Shqipërisë, Sali Berisha.

“Në Prekaz janë themelet e lirisë së Kosovës”, u shpreh Kryeministri Berisha në vizitën e parë më 16 qershor 2006.

“Vizita në Prekaz është vizita në tempullin e lirisë, flaka e të cilës këtu nuk u shua kurrë. Është vizita në vendin, në shtëpinë e tribunit të lirisë, komandantit legjendar të luftës së shqiptarëve të Kosovës për liri, dinjitet njerëzor, nder, dinjitet kobëtar. Në Prekaz janë themelet e lirisë së Kosovës. Në veprën e Adem Jasharit e familjes së tij, familje që sakrifikoi sa asnjë tjetër në historinë e kombit, për lirinë e Kosovës, mbetet flaka, mbetet simboli i madh i shpresës, i besimit të shqiptarëve tek një e ardhme e shkëlqyer”, u shpreh atëhere Kryeministri Berisha, duke shprehur bindjen se kombi shqiptar në liri do të ndërtojë të ardhmen më të shkëlqyer, si në Shqipëri, ashtu edhe në Kosovë.

Në Prekaz ishte edhe kryeadministratori i parë i Kosovës, Bernard Kushner.

“Dua ta them një të vërtetë të madhe, Prekazi lëvizi të gjithë mekanizmat botërorë që ndikuan për të vepruar konkretisht. Dhe, sikur të kishte pasur Çmim Nobel për Liri, atëherë ai do t’i takonte familjes Jashari”, ka theksuar Kushner, cituar në një nga librat në muzeun e kompleksit memorial.

Ndërsa, mijëra e mijëra vizitorë në Prekaz kanë shkruar e kanë firmosur në librin e përshtypjeve, që është një libër i madh, gjithmonë i hapur dhe i pafund.

Ndër të nënshkruarit në atë libër është edhe shkrimtari i madh shqiptar Ismail Kadare.Dhe, këtë shkrim nga Prekazi, që mund të jetë edhe i pafund, po e mbyllim në mbrëmjen e fundjanarit me një theksim nga ajo që ka shkruar Kadare: “Ndodhem në familjen e Jasharëve, atje ku nisi një flakë e madhërishme, flaka e lirisë që e ndriçoi krejt Prekazin, e pas tij Drenicën, e pas saj mbarë Kosovën. Ajo shkrepëtimë e zgjoi nga gjumi Evropën e botën. Shekujt kalojnë, drita e lirisë, drita e atyre që ranë për të nuk zbehet kurrë”…

*Me shume fotografi shihni ne FB dielli vatra

Coronavirus declared a Global Emergency

January 30, 2020 by dgreca

The World Health Organization declared on Thursday that the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak poses a global health emergency, acknowledging that the disease now represents a risk beyond China, where it emerged last month.

The decision reversed the organization’s decision just a week ago to hold off such a declaration.

Since then, W.H.O. officials said, thousands of new cases in China and clear human-to-human transmission in several other countries — now including the United States — warranted a reconsideration of that decision by the agency’s expert committee.

Although the agency’s declaration — officially called a “public health emergency of international concern” — does not have the force of law, it serves notice to all United Nations member states that the world’s top health advisory body thinks the situation is grave. It is up to the governments to make decisions whether to close country’s borders, cancel flights, screen people arriving at airports or take other protective measures.

Declaring an emergency is an act that adds urgency to any W.H.O. appeal for money. The countries most affected — China, Japan, Germany, South Korea, the United States and Vietnam — can afford to wage their own battles against the virus. By contrast, the Democratic Republic of Congo has needed large infusions of cash and medical expertise to fight an ongoing Ebola outbreak, and the need for money was one of the reasons the W.H.O. declared an international emergency in that case, even though Ebola has not spread outside of Congo except in a few patients who briefly entered Uganda.

China has now confirmed cases in every province and region. The agency praised China’s leadership for its aggressive response to the virus, effectively walling off Hubei Province, which stranded more than 30 million people, at the height of the New Year holidays. China official said on Thursday that another 38 people had died from the disease, bringing the total to 170. Nearly 8,000 cases have been reported worldwide, almost all of them in mainland China. On Thursday, Russia closed its 2,600-mile border with China and stopped all trains except for one between Moscow and Beijing. In efforts to contain the Coronavirus: Countries evacuate their nationals and limit travel to China. There been reports of disinformation about Coronavirus on Social Media Platforms.

U.S. Evacuates Citizens from Wuhan as Death Toll Mounts

The airlifting by foreign governments of their citizens out of Wuhan is under way. A chartered plane carrying 240 Americans from the Chinese city at the epicenter of a coronavirus outbreak landed in Alaska on Tuesday night. The passengers, including diplomats and businesspeople, will undergo medical screening and quarantined, depending on their health condition before continuing on to their final destination in California. According to US authorities, the screening of travelers is expanded to 20 ports of entry. Governments and businesses around the world issues fresh warnings today and Americans are now discouraged from visiting China. United Airlines and Air Canada said on Tuesday that they would reduce flights to China, canceling dozens of scheduled trips over the coming days and weeks because of a sudden drop in demand. Health officials in the United States have also warned against all nonessential travel to China.

“The passengers will be screened and go through the immigration process,” US officials said. “They will re-board their flight and head to their final destination.”

However, any passengers found to have a cough, fever or shortness of breath in Anchorage will be further assessed by medical experts, according to a statement released by Alaska’s Department of Health and Social Services. If the medical team determines that special care is necessary, it will refer those passengers to a nearby hospital. Alaska has had no cases of the new coronavirus or people suspected of having it. But after officials announced on Monday that the plane would be taking Americans to Alaska from Wuhan, the health department said that it had activated its emergency operations center to help coordinate detection and response efforts.

Other countries that have evacuated or plan to evacuate their citizens from Wuhan include France, South Korea, Japan, Morocco, Germany, Kazakhstan, Britain, Canada, Russia, the Netherlands, Myanmar and Australia. British Airways cancels all flights to and from China amid fears of the outbreak. A dearth of test kits has hindered health officials’ ability to accurately diagnose and track the illness.

The Spread of Outbreak Outside China:

Thailand has reported 14 cases of infection; Hong Kong has eight; the United States, Taiwan, Australia and Macau have five each; Singapore, South Korea and Malaysia each have reported four; Japan has seven; France has four; Canada has three; Vietnam has two; and Nepal, Cambodia, Germany and the United Arab Emirates each have one. Cases recorded in Taiwan, Germany, Vietnam and Japan involved patients who had not been to China. There have been no reported deaths outside China.

SARS, or severe acute respiratory illness, was a coronavirus that rapidly spread across China in 2003 and killed 774 people in 17 countries. The Wuhan virus was later determined to be a different disease, the new coronavirus.

Scientists Race to Develop a Coronavirus Vaccine

According to an article published in the journal Science Advances, Swiss and British researchers who had previously produced a gold-based anti-viral, have succeeded in developing an antiviral using natural glucose derivatives, called cyclodextrins. They have **modified sugar molecules to enable to destroy viruses that they come in contact, without toxicity to humans. The method could apply, for example, to the new coronavirus in China. “**So-called “virucidal” substances, such as bleach, destroy viruses by simple contact, but they cannot be applied to the human body without causing serious damage,” noted the University of Geneva (UNIGE) in a statement.

‘Silent No More’ – Ambassador Teuta Sahatqija Speech at the Event

January 30, 2020 by dgreca

National Committee on American Foreign Policy in partnership with Kosovo Consulate General New York hosted a discussion on Perspectives on Combating Sexual Violence in Conflict. The Tuesday event was moderated by Susan Elliot, President and CEO of National Committee on American Foreign Policy and featured Ms. Vasfije Krasniqi-Goodman, Her Excellency Ms. Pramila Patten, UN Special Representative of Combating Sexual Violence in Conflict, Ambassador Teuta Sahatqija, Consul General of the Republic of Kosovo, New York.

Silence no more, Combating sexual violence in conflict

Sexual Violence as the tool of war

Sexual violence regardless the cause comprise the crime against the individual. But if the rape in war is used as the pre calculated, premediated action of the state structures with the chain of command against ethnic or religious group, than it does not hurt solely the individual who experience the rape, but it becomes the weapon that aims the disintegration of the patriarchal families and the fabric of the society they live in, bringing all together the long lasting devastating impact to population.

War in Kosova 1998-1999 and statistics

During the 1998-1999 war in Kosovo, an estimated 20,000 women and men were sexually abused by Serbian military and paramilitary forces[1].

The massive rape of uniformed individuals against, mostly, but not solely women and girls in Kosova, in many cases happened in front of the family members. Torturing and killings of children of young age to old women, went hand by hand with massive killing, burning of houses and entire villages, ending with expulsion of the rest of population. All together completing the picture of ethnic cleansing seen in Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo at the end of 20^th century.

This targeted organized rape as the horrible war weapon that turns women’s body to the battlefield, is finally treated by UN as the war crime, identifying rapists as war criminals.

While most war rapists still run free, thousands of victims had to live for many years in isolation- imprisoned by shame, stigma, discrimination and fear. They still struggle with social ostracism, emotional torment, psychological damage, physical injuries and- in many cases- disease.

Unfortunately sexual abuse during the war as case, is almost not present at the persecution of war criminals.

In Kosovo only three prosecutions on allegations of war crimes of sexual violence in Kosovo have been completed, releasing the perpetrators[2] for lack of facts and continuing the impunity of the criminals and their commanders. Thus, there has not been any single conviction for war rape in Kosovo! The same goes to Serbia which didn’t persecute or convict any war criminal for sexual abuse, despite having complete documentation of these cases gathered from UNMIK and EULEX, delivered to Serbia’s judiciary.

The actions to reintegrate survivors and combat sexual violence during conflict happening again

For ages war rape existed surrounded by silence, negligence, and the lack of willingness to deal with it. Stigma in Patriarchal societies acted against the victims instead of embracing them and fighting against the perpetrators

The War rape cannot stop by neglecting it, acting as it doesn’t exist.

The war rape will stop by fighting stigma, preparing societies for accepting them and reintegrating to the society, helping in economic empowerment of the survivors, stepping ahead of the survivors, fighting for justice to prevent future incidents. Success in each country contributes to success in other countries too.

Talking for war rape and survivors in Kosovo was not an easy task either. I remember that even mentioning war rape in Parliament of Kosova caused strong reactions and denial not only from men parliamentarians, from women too.

It needed persistent efforts of women Parliamentarians, women Civil Society, President Jahjaga, President Thaqi, religious leaders and media to change the perception and turn this taboo issue to public issue that need willingness to deal with.

Today Kosovo can introduce the best practices to the world. I will mention some.

–Installation “Thinking of You” by artist Alketa Xhafa and producer Anna di Lellio, made under the patronage of President Jahjaga was presented in 2014. The installation was set in the football stadium in Prishtina. 5000 dresses were hanged in the stadium, filling it completely, showing the volume of the crime committed against innocent people. Those dresses were collected all over Kosovo and abroad and each and every one of them personalized a body and an empty soul that cannot talk but keep the horrible secret inside, screaming in silence. The installation and all supporting events and media coverage definitely broke the silence on sexual violence during the war in Kosova.

Women Parliamentarians Cross Party Caucus supported the proposal of MP Alma Lama to vote and fund the Monument for women and their sufferings in the war in Kosovo. Monument is a typographic sculpture that has a face of the woman and it consist of 20,000 medallions each with the distinctive portrait, representing women during the war. Monument was unveiled on the liberation day on 12 June 2015 and is situated in the center of Prishtina.

The marching in the center of Prishtina to support the survivors of sexual violence during the war in Kosovo

June 2018 the march for the support of the survivors of the sexual violence during the war gathered highest government officials, Ambassadors, NGOs, Parliamentarians, artists, citizens male and female. President Hashim Thaqi, Former President Atifete Jahjaga, The Head of EU Mission, gave the speech to support and encourage women and men, survivors of sexual violence to stand up. Each speech started with the reading of testimonial of a survivor.

Testimonials

In October 2018, the survivor Vasfije Krasniqi, spoke openly at the interview in RTK, Kosovo public television about her experience. In spring of 1998 she was 16 years old. She was taken from her family home and raped by a Serbian policemen and another civilian. Broken after barbaric act, she begged them to kill her. The answer of the rapists was that they will leave her alive to let her suffer all her life.

Vasfije didn’t choose to pursue the role of victim, rather she addressed it to UNMIK after the end of the war to seek the justice. Three trials that took place ended without the charges toward the rapist. They still live in Kosovo unpunished.

Her interview and the courage to speak openly, refusing the role of the victim and embracing the role of the fighter for justice, moved deeply everyone, portraying her courage as the heroic act.

President Thaqi gave her the Presidential Medal for courage

Vasfije gave the voice and the courage to every survivor. After her sexual violence was not any more the taboo issue in Kosovo.

The support and the steps toward recognition of sexual violence during the war

NGO as Medica Kosova in Gjakova and other worked immediately after the war with the survivors, providing them with gynecological and psychosocial services. Later they enriched their services with providing the survivors trainings and possibilities for economic revival. Some of projects were as providing the survivors with bee-hives, cows, helping them to establish small farms and giving training. They tried also to help those women by building the small factory for producing the cheese and yogurt, but due to the insufficient funds, this project stopped.

March 9^th, 2012 Recommendations by Women Parliamentarians Cross Party Caucus were voted in Parliament, obliging Parliament for special treatment of women sexually abused during the war. The recommendations also urges domestic and international justice to deal with the perpetrators treating this kind of crime as the genocidal crime.

In 2014, the Law 04/L-054 on the rights and the status of the Martyrs, invalids, Veterans, was amended to 04/L-172 the Law on the rights and the status of the Martyrs, invalids, Veterans, Victims of the Sexual violence, civilian victims and their families recognizing the category of sexual violence during the war survivors. This new law made a significant success for this category of citizens of Kosova.

In 2014, President Jahjaga established the National Council for the survivors of Sexual Violence, giving the survivors the voice and visibility as the existing part of the society, but also institutional response.

2017 Government established the verification commission was formed and the budget for pensions was dedicated. The time line of 5 years was offered for application through 4 NGO that worked during all the time with the survivors.

In December of 2017, the budget of € 1 Million was dedicated for the compensation of survivors of sexual violence during the war in Kosovo for the year 2018, continuing with the amount of annual € 800,000.00 for 2019, and 2020.

The verification Commission approved the status of the survivors to 900 persons, mostly women, but also men gained the status of the survivor and the rights for the benefits.

Justice

Unfortunately, although 20 years passed from the war, non of rapist was persecuted or arrested, leaving them free of charges and letting them live normal life.

“Failed by UNMIK, failed by EULEX, it is not surprising that few survivors have any faith in Kosovo’s own justice system,” the Amnesty International report says.

Economic empowerment

The most important support for women survivors is to provide them with ability to be economically independent. Economic independence will give them social strength and possibility to seek for justice and speak freely.

Kosovo women NGOs are working through different programs to offer the survivors possibilities to economic empowerment as the tool for their social and individual empowerment.

Having all this in mind, Kosova is the good example of fighting stigma, of the joint work of different parts of the society to achieve success in recognition and support of sexual violence.

Teuta Sahatqija

New York Jan 28,2020

[1] Michelle Hynes and Barbara Lopes Cardozo estimated that between 23,200 and 45,600 Kosovar Albanian women were raped between August 1998 and August 1999 (“Sexual Violence Against Women in Refugee Settings,” Journal of Women’s Health and Gender-based Medicine, 9, no. 8 (2000): pp. 819-824, cited by WWC et al., p. 12. Corrin cited estimates ranging from ten to thirty thousand war-related sexual assaults (“Post-Conflict Situation in Kosovo,” p. 93). CPWC estimated that “at least 20,000 women and girls were raped” during the war (Annual 2003, p. 136). CPWC used estimates made by Physicians for Human Rights that one percent of unprotected intercourse results in pregnancy for its estimate. CPWC assisted 1,960 war rape survivors (pp. 120-137).

[2] Amnesty International (2017). “WOUNDS THAT BURN OUR SOULS” COMPENSATION FOR KOSOVO’S WARTIME RAPE SURVIVORS, BUT STILL NO JUSTICE.

[online]

London: Amnesty international, p.7. Available at: https://www.amnesty.org/download/Documents/EUR7075582017ENGLISH.PDF