The work of the National Council on justice issues, health and psycho-social assistance, economic empowerment and awareness-raising and international co-operation will be absolutely vital in supporting survivors and tackling impunity.
At the letter, addressed to President Jahjaga, Secretary Hague states:
Honourable Madam President,
The work of the National Council on justice issues, health and psycho-social assistance, economic empowerment and awareness-raising and international co-operation will be absolutely vital in supporting survivors and tackling impunity.
It represents important progress since I visited Kosovo last year, when you explained that your country continued to face a number of challenges in addressing issues of sexual violence during the conflict. Survivors had yet to be recognised in the Law on Martyrs, Veterans and Civilian Victims of the War. The rate of investigation and prosecution of conflict-related sexual violence remained low and the social stigma surrounding such crimes had also hampered the rehabilitation, access to justice, and socio-economic reintegration of survivors. I hope that your National Council will be able to look at these issues.
I am also delighted that you will also use the launch of the National Council to announce Kosovo’s support for the Declaration of Commitment to End Sexual Violence in Conflict, which I launched at the UN General Assembly last year. I understand the National Council will initially have a one year mandate and be used to engage key international and domestic stakeholders, which are crucial for comprehensively dealing with this issue. I welcome Kosovo’s contribution to global work on preventing sexual violence in conflict, including helping to develop the International Protocol on the Investigation and Documentation of Sexual Violence in Conflict.
The success of the global Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative continues to rely heavily on your support. I am grateful for all that you have done already, including the contribution of your officials throughout the process. I hope that you will continue to play an active part in our campaign, including in the run-up to the Global Summit which I will host in June, together with the Special Envoy of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Angelina Jolie.
As you know, this is an issue very close to my heart and I welcome all your work on driving forward this important initiative.”
Sincerely,
William Hague