President of the Republic of Kosovo, Mrs. Atifete Jahjaga, received today at a meeting the Minister of State at the United Kingdom’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office and UK Prime Minister’s Special Representative for Prevention of Sexual Violence in Conflicts, Baroness Joyce Anelay, who’s visit is undertaken as part of the continuation of excellent and amicable relations between the two countries and close cooperation in the field of human rights, respectively in provision of help for victims of sexual violence during the war.
President Jahjaga and Baroness Anelay discussed the progress which Kosovo has achieved in rehabilitation, reintegration and re-socialization of the survivors of sexual violence, under the auspices of National Council on Survivors of Sexual Violence during the War, and emphasized the need for continuation of institutional and social measures in order to guarantee an all-encompassing justice for the survivors.
President Jahjaga and Baroness Anelay also discussed other issues of political relevance in our country and engagements of institutions of Kosovo in the field of rule of law as well as challenges in Kosovo’s European path and the dialogue with republic of Serbia.
During her visit to Kosovo, Baroness Anelay will have a working lunch with the members of the National Council on Survivors of Sexual Violence during the war and will be visiting women’s NGO’s in Drenas and Gjakova.
After the meeting President Jahjaga and Baroness Anelay held a press conference.
At the statement made at this Press conference, President Jahjaga said:
I welcomed today, at her first visit to Kosovo, upon my request, Baroness Anelay, after the meeting we had few days ago in London, which marks the continuation of engagements on concrete issues in provision of help to the victims of sexual violence during the war in Kosovo. The visit of Baroness Anelay in Kosovo comes at a period of expansion of cooperation between Kosovo and United Kingdom, after the historic meeting I had with the Queen Elizabeth the II, last week in London.
I express my deep gratitude for the hospitality and an exceptional meeting with the visionary leader of the United Kingdom and for the continued support she continues to give to the people of Kosovo on their democratic development. This visit of the Baroness also takes place at an important period of our country and its role in the field of protection of human rights and security in general.
Together with Baroness we discussed the advances which Kosovo has made in establishment of an institutional and social approach under the auspices of the National Council on Survivors of Sexual Violence during the war, in guaranteeing of the rehabilitation of the survivors, with particular emphasis on the need to bring justice to the crime committed upon citizens of Kosovo at times of war. We have opened a new chapter for the victims of sexual violence, who for 15 years have been stigmatized in society, and finally by now their rights are being recognized by the law and will guarantee their rights, their dignity and their reintegration in society.
I expressed my gratitude to Baroness Anelay for the contribution which her state and the office which she leads have provided to the nongovernmental organisations in Kosovo through their programs and their expertise, as well as for their engagement on global level to not allow this kind of crime to go unpunished, wherever it occurs. The right of each victim of sexual violence during the war must be guaranteed, as should the access to justice help them find spiritual peace and fight the stigmatisation.
Kosovo must be part of international initiatives, and victims of sexual violence during the war in Kosovo must be recognised, as this way we fight the injustice towards them and help them win over humiliation they suffered during these 15 years. United Kingdom has been side by side with Kosovo and supportive and helpful to the victims, by making Kosovo part of the International Protocol for Investigation and Documentation of these heinous crimes.
Without discussion, Kosovo’s inclusion in these initiatives will contribute not only to exchanging of experience but also in bringing justice forward and prevention of these crimes.
I reiterate that Kosovo has proved itself to be an important partner on the international arena in other fields as well, especially those of security, fighting of extremism and radicalism and maintenance of peace worldwide.
Kosovo and its citizens will also demonstrate that they are dedicated to the fulfilment of international obligations in the field of justice and in respecting of the equal justice for all principle. With Baroness we emphasized our hope in discussions with Baroness, that the institutions of the country will find the opportunity to, in an expedite manner, vote pro establishment of the special tribunal, thus not allowing any other institution, in this case the UN Security Council, to build a separate judicial body for our country.