Vasfije Krasniqi Goodman

Vasfije Krasniqi Goodman is a Kosovo Albanian activist, a politician serving in the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo, and a survivor of rape.

Life and career

Sexual assault and Kosovo War At the time of the Kosovo War, Krasniqi was living with her family in the small village of Stanoci i Ulet in Vushtrri. On April 14, 1999, when Krasniqi was sixteen years old, a Serbian officer arrived at their house and demanded to know where Krasniqi's father and brother were.

From Kosovo’s Wartime Victims: The Quest for Justice, Hearing Before the United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs, :

In 2012, the Basic Prosecution in Pristina issued an indictment for her case. In April 2021, Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani declared April 14, the day of Krasniqi's rape, the "Day of Sexual Violence Survivors ".

Activism and political career After the war, Krasniqi moved to Texas in the United States. On April 30, 2019, Krasniqi spoke to the United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs, in a hearing titled "Kosovo’s Wartime Victims: The Quest for Justice," testifying that the United States should push for justice for victims of war crimes. On March 9, 2020, Krasniqi spoke to the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo about how they could support survivors of wartime sexual violence.

In February 2021, Krasniqi ran for a seat in the 2021 Kosovan parliamentary election as a member of the Vetëvendosje Party. She received 61,885 votes, winning a seat, and Krasniqi moved back to Kosovo.

In April 2021, Krasniqi met with Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani to memorialize the day of Krasniqi's rape, with President Osmani declaring April 14 the "Day of Sexual Violence Survivors ".

Personal life Krasniqi has two daughters, who were born in the United States.