Dr. Feride Rushiti: A Life Dedicated to Human Rights and Healing

Dr. Feride Rushiti is a distinguished human rights advocate, renowned for her unwavering commitment to supporting survivors of wartime sexual violence and other vulnerable populations. As the Founder and Executive Director of the Kosovo Rehabilitation Centre for Torture Victims (KRCT), Dr. Rushiti has been instrumental in transforming the landscape of rehabilitation, justice, and human rights advocacy in Kosovo. Her pioneering work has not only impacted her home country but also resonated globally, making her a beacon of resilience and compassion.

From Medical Expertise to Human Rights Advocacy

Dr. Rushiti began her professional journey as a trained gastroenterologist, earning her medical degree from the Medical University of Tirana, Albania. However, her career took a pivotal turn during the 1999 Kosovo War when she served in refugee camps in Albania. Witnessing firsthand the profound physical and psychological trauma inflicted upon forcibly displaced individuals, particularly women who had endured wartime sexual violence, ignited her passion for human rights. This transformative experience catalyzed her transition from traditional medical practice to holistic trauma rehabilitation and advocacy.

In response to the urgent needs of war survivors, Dr. Rushiti founded the KRCT in 1999. Under her visionary leadership, the organization has pioneered a multidisciplinary approach to healing that integrates: Medical Treatment, Psychosocial Counseling, Legal Aid, Policy Advocacy, and scientific research.

A Legacy of Compassion and Resilience

Dr. Rushiti has directly impacted the lives of over 18,000 individuals, including more than 10,000 trauma survivors. Her work challenges the stigma surrounding wartime sexual violence, emphasizing survivors’ strength and dignity. By amplifying survivors’ voices, she has transformed societal attitudes and fostered a culture of empathy and justice.

KRCT has also served as Kosovo’s primary national human rights organization monitoring correctional facilities for over 17 years, conducting more than 250 monitoring visits, interviewing over 4,000 inmates, and ensuring compliance with European Union human rights standards. Its monitoring reports have influenced national policies and are regularly cited in international human rights reports, including those from the U.S. State Department, the European Union Commission, and other international mechanisms for human rights.

Pioneering Legal and Policy Reforms

Dr. Rushiti’s commitment to justice extends beyond direct survivor support. She has played a crucial role in driving major reforms within Kosovo’s legal and social frameworks, ensuring survivors receive the recognition, protection, and support they deserve. Her advocacy has led to several significant milestones:

• KRCT introduced psychosocial services to the community for the first time, at a time when they were not widely recognized or accessible (1999).
• KRCT has played a key role in advancing human rights for detainees in correctional institutions by contributing to legal frameworks, shaping mental health legislation, and promoting safeguards against ill-treatment (from 2006).
• Official Legal recognition of wartime sexual violence survivors as civilian victims of war (2014) and securing the right to reparation.
• Facilitating the establishment of the Government Commission to formally recognize survivors and secure their right to monthly pensions by developing and implementing guidelines and protocols for the application and identification process (2017).
• KRCT launched the national campaign “Be My Voice“, creating a platform that unites four NGOs authorized to represent and advocate for the rights of survivors of wartime sexual violence (2018).
• Establishing April 14 as the National Memorial Day for CRSV Survivors in Kosovo (2023).
• Creating Kosovo’s first database documenting wartime sexual violence crimes, strengthening justice and accountability efforts (2019).
• Initiating the first-ever conviction for wartime sexual violence in Kosovo, setting a crucial legal precedent (2019) as well as the initiation of 9 additional indictments by the Special Prosecution.

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• Securing the right to double pensions for CRSV survivors, ensuring access to both survivor and age-related pensions (2024).
• Advocating for and achieving the adoption of the Law on Mandatory Health Care Insurance (December 5, 2024), guaranteeing state-funded health insurance for CRSV survivors without conditions.
• As a result of advocacy efforts, the application period for official survivor recognition was extended by two years, with the possibility of an additional two-year extension (2023), while continuing to advocate for this right to be upheld unlimited, ensuring long-term access to reparations and rehabilitation.

Dr. Rushiti has played a crucial role in advocating for administrative reparations for survivors of wartime sexual violence and other human rights abuses in Kosovo. Her work has been instrumental in shaping policies that provide survivors with recognition, support, and financial compensation. She has also been pivotal in developing survivor-centered guidelines based on dignity and justice, ensuring survivors’ voices shape the policies that impact their lives.

KRCT has also assisted survivors of war from Mitrovica North, including minority communities, providing critical support and advocacy to ensure their rights are recognized and upheld.

Global Advocacy and International Impact

While Dr. Rushiti’s work is deeply rooted in Kosovo, her influence extends globally. As an active member of the SEMA Network, led by Nobel laureates Dr. Denis Mukwege and Nadia Murad. She is also a member of the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT), where she collaborates with global leaders to combat sexual violence in conflict. She has shared her advocacy models and Kosovo’s experience in the reparation process with a survivor-centered approach in countries such as Iraq, Ukraine, Colombia, and Guinea.

KRCT is also part of the regional project called the Amplifying Voices Program, which promotes a culture of recognition and reconciliation in Southeast Europe. This program integrates the perspectives and needs of women affected by war-related sexual and gender-based violence into national and regional Dealing with the Past initiatives.

Her contributions also include pioneering research on transgenerational trauma in partnership with Monash University and Copenhagen University Hospital, advancing understanding of how wartime trauma affects subsequent generations.

Awards and Recognitions

• U.S. Secretary of State’s International Women of Courage Award (2018)
• Woman of Excellence Award (2019)
• Leadership Excellence Award, University for Business and Technology, Kosovo (2020)
• Nobel Peace Prize Nominee (2025)

Publications

Dr. Rushiti has authored several influential studies and reports, including:

• Human Rights in Kosovo Correctional Institutions (2024)
• Family Therapy for Kosovar Mothers Who Experienced Conflict-Related Sexual Violence and Their Children (2024)
• How Male Survivors of Wartime Sexual Violence Navigate Silence and Voice (2023)
• Intergenerational Effects of Maternal Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (2021)
• Quality of prison life, violence, and mental health in Dubrava prison

A Vision for the Future

Dr. Rushiti envisions a world where survivors of conflict-related trauma are not defined by their experiences of violence but celebrated for their resilience and strength. Through her leadership, advocacy, and research, she has built a lasting legacy that champions justice, healing, and the fundamental dignity of all individuals.

Her story is not just one of professional success but of profound humanity. Dr. Rushiti’s unwavering commitment to the most vulnerable serves as a powerful reminder that change is possible when compassion meets courage. Her and KRCT’s work exemplify the power of compassion, courage, and relentless advocacy in the face of unimaginable adversity.