Contributing to an environment without stigma for the victims of sexual violence

Raising awareness of sexual violence during the war and increasing civic responsibility to contribute to an environment without stigmatization are challenges that Kosovan organizations are trying to address. Recently Atifete Xhemaj, an expert from Belgium, began working with the  Rehabilitation Center for Torture Victims (KRCT), the lead organization on this issue, to improve the communication of sensitive information and outreach pertaining to KRCT’s work with the victims of wartime sexual violence.  

Ms. Xhemaj’s work is part of USAID Citizen Engagement Activity efforts to match diaspora professionals with local civil society organizations in Kosovo to help address their challenges. Specifically her efforts will be tailored toward developing appropriate communication methods that would raise awareness, which is an issue as the topic has not been discussed openly for more than two decades following the war. 

Feride Rushiti, founder and Executive Director of KRCT, emphasized that their mission is basically social transformation towards a future without torture. "In order to achieve this goal, we must be very effective in our public communication, so that society as a whole joins this emancipatory cause,” she added. 

As 16DaysofActivism against Gender based violence are being marked annually in Kosovo, it is important that Kosovans understand the problem correctly and participate constructively in the discussion.