Kosovo Women Network (KWN) asks for reactions from Kosovo and Albanian institutions, regarding two brothers who kidnapped, held hostage, and raped a 20-years-old woman from Kosovo. She was reported missing for some time and is believed to have been held captive by the perpetrators where she was sexually assaulted.

Based on media reports from both Albania and Kosovo, the two brothers have already been handcuffed by the Kukes police, and the evidence been taken to the Prosecutor’s Office in Kukes.

“Their arrest was made after it is suspected that they raped a Kosovar citizen, 20 years old, taking advantage of her physical and mental incapacity”, it is stated in the notification by the Kukes police. Kosovo Women’s Network would like to add, that this is the definition of rape, not sexual intercourse, and the Kukes police should be more careful in how they talk about victims of assault.

Through this statement, KWN demands that this case must be taken seriously by the justice institutions of both countries, taking all necessary measures to address it and punish those responsible.

The rape of women in our society remains a main concern, for which we must all raise our voices, constantly and without any compromise. However, the mishandling of these cases by police, advocates, judges, and other justice institutions effects reporting to and trust in these institutions.