The notion that only those who actually fought and helped the war are civilian war victims and that those who experienced sexual violence during this period are different, has made some women MPs feel morally burdened for betraying the cause of this war category.
A year ago, there was a fierce debate on the topic of sexual assault during the war as this category has not been included in that of civilian war victims protected by the status on rights of heroes, disabled, veterans and members of the Kosovo Liberation Army.
However, on Thursday, the draft law on KLA veterans was approved in its first reading while the issue of raped victims was not raised at all by anyone.
MP from Alliance for Future of Kosovo (AAK), Donika Kadaj-Bujupi, told Radio Free Europe that there is no harm in the issue being treated separately in the legal aspect.
However, Kosovo Democratic League (LDK) MP, Vjollca Rexhepi, disagrees. She said that from the moral aspect, the approach is a big mistake. Her fellow-party MP, Armend Zemaj, leaves the fault for this also with the MPs and not exclusively the Government.
Zemaj explains that during the debate a year ago, many MPs had provided their opposition to dividing these issues into two laws but, he added, it seems everything was forgotten.
On 7 March, President Atifete Jahjaga established the National Council for Survivors of Sexual Violence during the War. She said on the occasion that the Council will aim at coordinating activities of institutions and agencies within their scope of activity and competencies to rehabilitate survivors of sexual violence during the war.
