HCONRES 26119th CongressIn Committee

Calling for the end of impunity of unpunished Serbian sexual war crimes during the 1999 Kosovo war in the case of United States citizen and sexual war crime survivor Vasfije Krasniqi Goodman and other survivors of sexual and gender-based violence.

Introduced: Apr 10, 2025

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

This is a non-binding concurrent resolution in the U.S. House (introduced April 10, 2025) that condemns sexual war crimes and the ongoing impunity surrounding them from the 1999 Kosovo war, focusing on the case of Vasfije Krasniqi Goodman and other survivors. It recounts the survivor’s allegations and the broader history of investigations and prosecutions (or lack thereof) in Kosovo, and it acknowledges Kosovo’s efforts while urging concrete actions by Kosovo, Serbia, and the United States. The resolution is a statement of U.S. policy and urges related actions, investigations, and funding; it does not itself create new legal obligations or authorize spending.

Key Points

1Condemns sexual violence as a weapon of war and calls for accountability for sexual war crimes from the 1999 Kosovo conflict, highlighting the Krasniqi Goodman case as emblematic of impunity.
2Urges the Government of Kosovo to uphold obligations under the Protocol for the Treatment of Sexual Violence Cases in Kosovo and to prioritize and expedite rape and sexual assault cases from the 1999 war.
3Calls on the Government of Serbia to bring those responsible for Vasfije Krasniqi Goodman’s abuse to justice in Kosovo under relevant UN Security Council resolutions (1820 and 2467), end protection/glorification of war-crime perpetrators, enforce accountability, and pursue extraditions of known offenders.
4Encourages the United States to strengthen its counter-violence commitments, elevate Krasniqi Goodman’s case in bilateral talks with Serbia, monitor Serbia’s investigations and prosecutions, identify risk factors for gender-based violence, and fund education, research, and advocacy programs in Kosovo (including judiciary/law enforcement training and a rehabilitation center for trauma, violence, and vocational needs).
5References broader international and Kosovo-specific mechanisms (UNSC Resolutions 1820 and 2467; EULEX; SPRK) to frame accountability efforts and the ongoing pursuit of justice.

Impact Areas

Primary affected group/area: Survivors of sexual and gender-based violence from the Kosovo war, including Vasfije Krasniqi Goodman and other victims seeking justice and recognition.Secondary affected group/area: The governments of Kosovo and Serbia, Kosovo’s judicial and rule-of-law institutions, international bodies involved in Kosovo (UN, EULEX, SPRK), and U.S. foreign policy actors.Additional impacts: U.S. government funding and programming for education, research, advocacy, judiciary and law-enforcement training, and rehabilitation services in Kosovo; potential influence on bilateral diplomacy and international pressure to pursue accountability.

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