American Congress members have submitted a resolution proposal to the House Foreign Affairs Committee, calling for an end to the impunity of wartime sexual crimes committed in Kosovo by Serbian forces.

The resolution, spearheaded by Democrat Julie Johnson and Republican Keith Self, highlights the case of Vasfije Krasniqi Goodman, who was raped during the Kosovo war, with no individual ever held accountable for the crime.

“Calling for an end to impunity for unpunished Serbian wartime sexual crimes during the Kosovo war in 1999, in the case of American citizen and wartime sexual violence survivor Vasfije Krasniqi Goodman, and for other survivors of sexual and gender-based violence,” is the title of the draft resolution.

The resolution states that Krasniqi-Goodman reported her rape to the KLA (Kosovo Liberation Army) a day after it occurred on April 15, 1999. In September that same year, she reported the case to UNMIK, and later also to the French KFOR, but without any result.

“Ms. Krasniqi reported her case to UNMIK on September 10, 1999, without any result, as well as to the French KFOR on April 21, 2004, but inaction by both bodies caused additional difficulties and delays in her case.”

The resolution continues, “While Kosovo declared independence on February 17, 2008, and since then has been recognized by over 100 countries, including the United States and 23 of the 28 EU member states, Serbia still refuses to accept such a claim.”

The resolution also notes that Krasniqi-Goodman reported her case to EULEX and was interviewed five times between August 2010 and July 2012, with witnesses involved from February 2011 to August 2021.

“On November 12, 2012, the Special Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of Kosovo (SPRK) filed indictment PPS no. 89/2012 against the perpetrators Jovica Dejanović (DOB 11/09/1954), a Serbian police officer, and Djordje Bojković (DOB 11/13/1940), an elderly and disabled Serbian man, at the then Mitrovica District Court.”

“The main trial was held from April 4 to April 15, 2013, and on April 17, 2013, the Basic Court of Mitrovica rendered a verdict acquitting both defendants of war crimes against the civilian population (rape), punishable under Articles 22 and 142 of the SFRY Criminal Code.”

“However, on October 31, 2013, prosecutors from Kosovo’s Special Prosecution filed a joint appeal proposing that the first-instance court verdict be overturned and that Jovica Dejanović and Djordje Bojković be convicted for the war crime against the civilian population, or alternatively, the case be returned to the first-instance court.”

“The Court of Appeals accepted the special prosecutors’ appeal and issued its verdict on May 27, 2014, finding Jovica Dejanović and Djordje Bojković guilty, sentencing them to 12 and 10 years in prison respectively for war crimes against civilians under Article 14 of the Kosovo Criminal Code (KKPFJ).”

“In July 2014, Jovica Dejanović and Djordje Bojković filed appeals against the Court of Appeals verdict PaKr 503/13 dated May 27, 2014, and the Supreme Court of Kosovo issued a ruling for their immediate release. Jovica Dejanović and Djordje Bojković were released, and no one has been held accountable for the wartime sexual crimes committed against Vasfije Krasniqi Goodman,” the resolution further states, as reported by Klankosova.tv.

The resolution goes on to state that given all previous mechanisms for pursuing accountability for wartime crimes in Kosovo have failed to bring perpetrators of sexual violence to justice—including the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague, UNMIK, EULEX, and the Kosovo judicial system—and given that the United States recognizes that preventing and responding to gender-based violence globally is not only a human rights issue but also a strategic national interest, the resolution proposes that:

1. It condemns the fact that no individual has been found guilty of the wartime sexual crimes against Ms. Krasniqi Goodman;

2. Strongly condemns the use of rape and other forms of sexual and gender-based violence as weapons of war;

3. Underscores the importance of transparent, accountable, and independent investigations of war crimes and gender-based atrocities; praises the Government of the Republic of Kosovo for its tangible, multisectoral approach in addressing wartime sexual violence in the country;

4. Urges the Government of the Republic of Kosovo to uphold its commitments expressed and accepted in the “Protocol for Handling Cases of Sexual Violence in Kosovo,” and to prioritize and expedite the cases of rapes and sexual assaults from the 1999 Kosovo War;

5. Urges the Government of the Republic of Serbia to:

   (A) Bring to justice those responsible for the wartime sexual crimes committed on April 14, 1999, against U.S. citizen Vasfije Krasniqi Goodman in Kosovo, in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1820 and 2467;

   (B) Cease the protection and glorification of individuals involved in war crimes during the Kosovo conflict and prioritize the investigation and prosecution of such individuals;

   (C) Enforce laws ensuring that known perpetrators of gender-based violence are held accountable and brought to justice; and

   (D) Prioritize the creation and support of proper mechanisms to track and investigate, with the aim to extradite to Kosovo the known and convicted perpetrators of gender-based violence during the Kosovo War in 1999 to face justice in accordance with all conventions;

6. Urges the Government of the United States to:

   (A) Support and reinforce its commitments to oppose and prevent gender-based violence;

   (B) Raise the case of Vasfije Krasniqi Goodman in future bilateral engagements with the Government of Serbia, particularly in the context of accountability for wartime crimes committed against women and youth;

   (C) Identify specific factors that increase the risk of gender-based violence and undermine access to services and safety;

   (D) Monitor efforts by the Government of Serbia and its relevant ministries and offices to investigate and prosecute cases of sexual violence during the Kosovo War; and

   (E) Allocate sufficient funding to implement a range of educational, research, and advocacy projects in Kosovo, including training for the judiciary and law enforcement, as well as funding for a rehabilitation center focused on physical rehabilitation…