27 June 2014

On behalf of the SPRK, the Prosecutor is fully satisfied with the judgment of the Court of Appeal in this highly sensitive case. The defendants committed a serious war crime against a vulnerable 16 year old female civilian. This case is a demonstration of the international community's resolve to end impunity for all who commit such crimes.

Both defendants in this case were convicted of rape as a war crime, making it the first such verdict in Kosovo. Whilst it took great courage for all the prosecution witnesses to give evidence, this was even more so for the survivor of the rape. Throughout the procedure her identity was protected and she was permitted to give evidence in closed court. The Prosecutor hopes that this conviction will encourage other brave women and men to speak out about the sexual violence they suffered during the war, regardless of who the perpetrators of that violence were.