Serbian forces should be punished
for 70,000 wartime rape atrocities
criminals failed to realize is
that Vasfi je would survive and
become an incredible person
who fi ghts for justice, not only
for herself, but for all the victims
and survivors of wartime
sexual violence. As I stood next
to her that day in Prishtina, I
committed myself to helping
these survivors in their fi ght
for justice.
There are approximately
70,000 women that were raped
by Serbian forces in Kosovo,
Bosnia and Croatia during
the 1990s war. Astonishingly,
nearly 20 years later, the perpetrators
of these crimes remain
unpunished. Although,
article 27 of the 1949 Fourth
Geneva Convention explicitly
prohibits wartime rape and
UN resolutions clearly categorize
rape and other forms of
sexual violence as war crimes,
international and local courts
and government alike have
failed to hold the perpetrators
of these horrible crimes accountable.
Wartime rape and
sexual violence continues to
be treated as a ‘normal’ consequence
of war. These institutions
continue to behave
as if these women are merely
a casualty of war. As if their
rights, suffering and lives do
not matter.
Whether you talk to women
activists in Bosnia, Croatia, or
Kosova, they will tell you the
same thing. The survivors of
these horrendous crimes feel
abandoned in their quest for
justice.
While I will always support
reconciliation between warring
nations, we should not aim
to achieve peace at the expense
of the victims. Peace without
justice is not a true peace nor is
it a sustainable one.
We must make sure that the
perpetrators of these crimes, in
Serbia and around the world, realize
that these women are not
alone. That the use of rape and
sexual violence as a weapon of
war will not be tolerated.
That is why on Tuesday, October
29 I call on all my fellow
New Yorkers to come and rally
for justice for survivors of sexual
violence in front of the Serbian
consulate general in New
York on 62 W. 45th Street. How
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BRONX TIMES REPORTER, O BTR CTOBER 25-31, 2019 33
BY COUNCILMAN MARK GJONAJ
April 20, 2019 is a day that I
will never forget. I was speaking
in Prishtina, Kosova at a
ceremony remembering the
thousands of women who were
raped by Serbian military and
paramilitary forces during
the brutal war of 1998. Several
hundred women were in attendance.
In the crowd, I could see
the unimaginable pain on their
faces.
When we speak of confl ictrelated
sexual violence, we frequently
refer to data. We use
numbers and statistics to tell
a story. However, what we often
fail to portray is that we are
speaking of people. People with
lives that have been changed
forever. I have seen the misery
and stigma that they live with.
But I have also witnessed their
strength, courage and spirit.
Such a brave person is Vasfi
je Krasniqi, who was only 16
years old when she was taken
from her family and raped by
Serbian forces. “We will not
kill you” they told her, “because
you will suffer more if
we keep you alive.” What these
Today is yours for the taking. And AARP is here in our community,
helping you make the most of it. Whether you’re a family caregiver
looking for some support or have ideas to help improve your
neighborhood, we’re here to connect you to the tools you need.
So go make today and every day the best it can be, New York City.
many times must we say Never
Again before we fi nally take
action? Now is the time for justice.
Now is the time to fi ght injustice.
We must be relentless in
our fi ght against all forms of
sexual violence, whether it be
in our own home, community
or anywhere in the world. That
responsibility lies with each of
us. If you or someone you know
needs assistance with escaping
an abusive environment,
please contact my offi ce at
(718) 931-1721. We have staff, resources
and organizations that
are ready to help.
(Mark Gjonaj represents the
13th District in the Bronx.)
/nyc