Citizens donate thousands of Skirts for “Thinking of youâ€
From May 9 to 6 July the National Council for the Survivors of Sexual Violence during the War organized several activities to contribute to the artistic installation “Thinking of you” by artist Alketa Xhafa-Mripa, which is dedicated to women survivors of sexual violence perpetrated during the war. Activities for collecting skirts for this exhibition were organized throughout Kosovo and more than five thousand dresses and skirts were collected, which were subsequently displayed at the Prishtina Stadium on 12 July.
“This skirt has a closed history since spring 1998. Dardania 1 Peja” was written on a blue skirt that was hanged on the fourth row of stadium. This skirt carries mysterious history of the woman who donated it, but that is not the only dress with a special history. All dresses have a story: someone donated their wedding dress, someone donated their deceased mother’s dress who kept and loved it for over 20 years; many others donated other special dresses in order to support survivors of sexual violence during the war in Kosovo.
“We found support beyond borders in Tirana, New York, in London, we found support from human rights activists, women’s organization that from the first day became the voice of survivors that gave them the unconditional support. Sevdija, Igballja, Feridja, Mirlinda, Veprorja, Kadirja and so many other women, thank you” said the President of Republic of Kosovo Atifete Jahjaga.
