Kosovo legislature recognizes 20,000 wartime rape victims, entitles them to benefits

Published January 08, 2015

Kosovo's assembly has voted to remedy the plight of about 20,000 victims raped during the 1998-99 Kosovo war by amending a law on the status of civilian victims and veterans to include persons subjected to sexual assault.

The vote Thursday is the first tangible attempt to deal with the thorny issue of Serb forces engaged in the systematic rape of ethnic Albanian women, an aspect often silenced for fear of stigmatizing the victims. Victims will be entitled to health, housing and employment benefits.

Lawmakers voted 69-9 in favour of the amendment with one legislator abstaining.

The vote was welcomed by Kosovo's President Atifete Jahjaga and comes after months of debate that included pressure from human rights watchdogs like Amnesty International.

Serbia rejects Kosovo's 2008 secession.

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https://www.foxnews.com/world/kosovo-legislature-recognizes-20000-wartime-rape-victims-entitles-them-to-benefits