The Conflict Did Not Bring Us Flowers: The need for comprehensive reparations for conflict-related sexual violence in Kosovo

Reparations for conflict-related sexual violence remain a pressing issue in many parts of the world. Sexual violence has been a feature of almost all conflicts to date, yet remains under-reported and under-acknowledged. In recent years, increased emphasis has been placed on the issue, paving the way for prevention and accountability mechanisms, along with increased attention to the needs and rights of survivors of sexual violence.

In Kosovo*, significant efforts have been undertaken to enact a legal framework to provide comprehensive reparations to survivors of sexual violence in the lead up to, during, and immediately after the 1998 - 1999 armed conflict. However, survivors remain in difficult circumstances as the legal framework required to enable survivors to obtain reparations is yet to be implemented .

With the financial support of the European Union, UN Women Kosovo commissioned this study to complement the existing initiatives in Kosovo with updated research, focused on bringing survivor voices and perspectives to the forefront of future policy and programme design. It brings together best practices in the design and implementation of reparations, including those outlined in the 2014 United Nations Secretary General's Guidance Note on Reparations for Conflict-Related Sexual Violence, international law on the right to reparation, and the views, expectations and needs of survivors of conflict-related sexual violence in Kosovo. It aims to complement efforts to date, and to ensure the right to reparation for survivors of conflict-related sexual violence that is victim-centric, gender-sensitive and transformative.

* References to Kosovo shall be understood to be in the context of Security Council Resolution 1244 (1999)