Pristina – Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) on May 16 through a Press Release expressed its deep concern due to a publication of a photograph showing a group of soldiers raping a woman in front of her family, which was made public by Member of Parliament Florina Brovina.  

KWN considers that Brovina by this action has violated the principle of dignity of the survivors of the wartime sexual violence , recalling that the body of the survivor of Kosovo Wartime sexual violence is also exposed by this photography. Besides, Mrs.Brovina has violated the Article 23 of the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo, which stipulates that human dignity is inviolable and is the basis of all human rights and fundamental freedoms.  

The picture showing the woman being raped in front of her family, besides being emotionally difficult and disturbing, can also affect the deterioration of this survivor’s emotional and psychological state. Furthermore, it may discourage other wartime sexual violence survivors from  reporting and also serve as a dangerous precedent for all women and girls reporting sexual violence what they can expect from the process.  

Through this Press Release KWN seeks from Kosovo’s Parliament Members that in order to fulfil obligations within their mandate to demand accountability from the Courts, both national and international, for the lack of institutional response and dignified treatment of wartime sexual violence cases committed during the recent war in Kosovo.