How do survivors of war perceive Kosovo's path to Europe? by Veprore Shehu

Working towards rehabilitation and empowerment of women survivors of sexual violence during the war, many issues have been raised about the advantages of integration into the EU and what specifically women benefit from this process.

But will this process ensure social and legal justice for these women to be seen as actors of development of peace and democracy, not as victims who still await punishment of perpetrators of sexual crimes and other crimes during the war in Kosovo? These were main concerns that women raised after news of the signing of the Stabilization and Association Agreement between the EU and Kosovo earlier this year.

Although integration in Europe is the goal of every citizen in our country, women are right to ask whether it will fulfill their needs for justice, as the most important issues of transitional justice have remained pending due to pretended pro-European policies of Serbia in relation to Kosovo.

Some of them are still waiting arrestment of criminals who raped and tortured Albanian women in the most barbaric manner to leave behind their further victimization by families and communities.

While women lack access to justice and the culture of impunity continues over war crimes, organized crime and corruption, women do not expect major changes to their position on the ground.

They see the integration process more as a natural walking of Kosovo towards EU after many years of isolation and exclusion from freedom of movement in a Europe already troubled politically because of the crisis of refugees from Asia and global threats of violent extremism and climate changes.

Therefore more than ever before, women require that the path of Kosovo to EU provides them access to justice for overcoming  their bitter experience of the past and embrace the future in a United Europe.

Published in "KOHA DITORE" 08.03.2016