Open Letter to the Rector of the University of Prishtina, Mr. Qerim Qerimi

Honorable Rector of the University of Prishtina, Mr. Qerim Qerimi,

We the undersigned Civil Society Organizations are addressing you through this open letter to request immediate action in your role as the Rector of the University of Prishtina to address the denunciations of 27 students of the Faculty of Medicine for sexual harassment by Professor Xhevat Krasniqi.

We demand the immediate suspension of Xhevat Krasniqi until there is an epilogue to the case. There should be zero tolerance for cases when professors sexually harass their students, and even less when these professors are proven sexual harassers, such as Xhevat Krasniqi, suspended from the University of Gjakova for the same criminal acts. By remaining silent against this criminal act, you are collaborating with the perpetrator and are amnestying and promoting sexual crimes within the University of Pristina.

Enough is enough, we want justice and we want it now!

We do not tolerate the sexual harassment of Xhevat Krasniqi. His illegal acts cannot be normalized or minimized. Sexual harassment has no place at the University of Prishtina. The wellbeing of students must be prioritized.

We call on you, as the bearer of the highest position within this institution, to take over the solution of this case and put justice in UP on to your own hands. Anything less would be a betrayal to the trust placed in you to exercise this duty and a failure to uphold the values of integrity and respect within the public university.

Silence is not an option, inaction is unacceptable!

Stand in solidarity with us and demand accountability and justice for victims of sexual harassment. We will not stop until the University of Pristina is freed from the epidemic of sexual harassment.

We kindly ask you to keep us informed about the case. We remain in your disposal for further correspondence.

Thank you for your attention!

1. Youth Initiative for Human Rights Kosovo – YIHR KS
2. Kosovar Center for Gender Studies – KCGS
3. Student Feminist Movement – LFS 
4. Center for Equality and Liberty – CEL Kosova
5. Center for Social Group Development – CSGD
6. Kosovar Civil Society Foundation – KCSF
7. QIKA
8. ORCA
9. YMCA Kosova
10. Kosovo Law Institute – KLI
11. FOL Movement
12. Institute D4D
13. Kosovo Women’s Network – KWN
14. Bubble Foundation
15. Community Building Mitrovica – CBM
16. Dylberizm
17. Termokiss
18. KIPRED
19. Voice of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptians – VoRAE
20. Association of Journalists of Kosovo – AGK
21. Dokufest
22. Institute Sekhmet 
23. Institute Musine Kokalari
24. Integra
25. Kosova Rehabilitation Center for Torture Victims – KRCT
26. Humanitarian Law Center Kosovo – HLCK
27. Initiative for Progress – INPO
28. Kosovo Women 4 Women – K-W4W
29. Advancing Together – AT
30. Çohu
31. Kosovo Center for Security Studies – KCSS
32. Kosovo Disability Forum – KDF
33. Pishtarët
34. Hyjneshat
35. New Social Initiative – NSI
36. NGO CASA
37. Advocacy Center for Democratic Culture – ACDC
38. Civil Rights defenders
39. Instituti GAP
40. Advocacy Training and Resource Center
41. Anibar
42. Group for Legal and Political Studies – GLPS