The government commission for recognizing and verifying the status of raped persons during the recent conflict in Kosovo [1998-1999] has so far received over 780 applications from persons claiming to be victims of sexual violence. The status of the victim of sexual violence is facilitated through the relevant law. Minire Begaj, chairman of this government commission says in an interview to Radio Free Europe that out of this number, the status of the victim of sexual violence is recognised to 144 women.
Begaj explains that from the total number of applications, most of them are women, while applications for 15 men have been reviewed, with 6 of them have already got the status of a victim of sexual violence. According to her, from the applications that have been reviewed so far, 103 cases have been rejected. "All those who have been denied their status may apply with a request for reconsideration in the Commission if they have any new evidence. The reason of why we have rejected has been insufficiency of evidence they have brought. But that does not mean that we have finally rejected thembecause there are other possibilities for review," Begaj says.
This number of applicants is considered small based on the data presented by Kosovo institutions, where it is noted that during the last war there have been about 20 thousand cases of sexual abuse. Sexual violence during the last war in Kosovo for years has been a taboo in Kosovo society because of the prejudices that it is shameful for the family and society to report them. These prejudices point out that there may be another reason why a number of these victims have not been presented at all.