Our Mission
Our History
The war in Kosovo (1998–1999) left behind a deep and painful legacy that numbers alone cannot fully describe. It is estimated that at least 20,000 people were victims of sexual violence — a systematic tactic used not by chance, but as a planned weapon of war to break the spirit of an entire population. But the suffering didn't stop there. Thousands more lived through the nightmare of torture and the heavy weight of psychological trauma caused by systematic oppression. For too long, these survivors were forced to carry their pain in silence. Their stories are a stark reminder that while the fighting ended years ago, the battle to heal their wounds and win back their dignity is still being fought today.
In response to this humanitarian crisis, the Kosova Rehabilitation Centre for Torture Victims (KRCT) was established in 1999. Founded as an independent, non-governmental organization, KRCT's mission was born out of the immediate need to provide specialized treatment and rehabilitation for those who endured torture and trauma during the conflict.
The roots of KRCT are found in the urgent emergency interventions of the 1999 refugee crisis. As families began returning to a liberated Kosovo, it became clear that the physical return was only the first step; the invisible, psychological wounds of war required immediate and professional attention. Recognizing this vacuum in care, Dr. Feride Rushiti — alongside a team of dedicated medical professionals who had already been serving survivors in Albania — spearheaded the mission to bring specialized trauma care to the region.
With the vital support of the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims, KRCT was formally established as the first professional mental health entity in Kosovo dedicated specifically to torture survivors. What began as a group of doctors working under grueling, state-of-emergency conditions has since evolved into a leading institution for human rights. Over the decades, KRCT has transformed from a frontline medical response into a permanent pillar of rehabilitation, ensuring that those who endured the unimaginable are never forced to walk the path of recovery alone.
Our Programmes & Services
Rehabilitation & Treatment
KRCT provides a holistic approach to recovery by merging medical care with mental health support. We offer comprehensive medical assessments, physiotherapy, and pain management alongside trauma-focused therapies like CBT and EMDR. This survivor-centered model helps individuals heal their invisible wounds, regain their physical health, and successfully reintegrate into society.
Human Rights & Advocacy
We provide critical oversight for human rights by systematically monitoring prisons, police stations, and mental health institutions to prevent abuse. Our team provides legal aid to those deprived of liberty and lobbies for systemic policy changes. We are proud to have led the historic fight for the legal recognition and reparations of wartime sexual violence survivors in Kosovo.
Research & Documentation
Our research serves as a pillar for justice and historical truth. We document cases of torture and sexual violence to build a solid evidence base for legal proceedings and historical records. By studying intergenerational trauma and the long-term effects of war, we translate survivor stories into data that shapes national policy and innovative therapy models.
Capacity Building
We strengthen the entire support system by training the people who care for survivors. Our programmes equip healthcare providers, legal professionals, and social workers with trauma-informed skills. We also empower survivors with leadership and vocational training, transforming them into active advocates who lead the movement for justice.
Transitional Justice
We tackle the heavy legacy of war by promoting accountability and reconciliation. This programme focuses on four pillars: pursuing legal justice, securing reparations, seeking the truth through documentation, and preserving memory. Through oral history projects and community dialogue, we fight against the denial of past atrocities to build a stable, peaceful future.
Our Impact
Milestones
- ✓2025 Nobel Peace Prize Nomination: KRCT and Director Feride Rushiti were nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for their twenty-year commitment to survivors.
- ✓Secured three convictions for sexual violence and obtained retroactive compensation for survivors, including individual awards of €24,000 and €13,000.
- ✓Strategic legal representation has secured final judgments totaling 58 years of imprisonment for perpetrators of sexual violence.
- ✓Supported the first male survivor of conflict-related sexual violence in Kosovo to speak publicly — a critical milestone in reducing entrenched social stigma.
- ✓Inaugurated the 'Safe Room' at the Basic Court of Pristina to protect the dignity and privacy of survivors during judicial testimony.
- ✓Trained 80 professionals in 2025 alone to implement trauma-informed approaches across Kosovo's institutions.
- ✓Director Feride Rushiti was named European of the Year by the EU Office in Kosovo and received the International Human Rights Award 2025.
- ✓38 child victims of sexual abuse received psychosocial and legal support.
Vision for the Future
KRCT envisions a future where every survivor of torture and wartime sexual violence in Kosovo and beyond has access to comprehensive, high-quality rehabilitation and justice. We are dedicated to a world where torture is prevented, perpetrators are held accountable, and survivors are fully empowered to reclaim their lives with the dignity they deserve. Our commitment is to expand our reach and develop innovative treatment approaches while continuing to advocate for survivors' rights at the local, national, and international levels.
Our strategic focus centres on scaling the impact of our proven psychosocial and legal support to serve a greater number of survivors. We are determined to strengthen access to reparations and justice through persistent policy advocacy, ensuring that legal frameworks remain survivor-centred and accessible. Simultaneously, we will extend our family and intergenerational trauma support to address the complex, long-term impacts of war-related violence on families and communities.
Finally, we are committed to improving our data systems to clearly measure results and impact, ensuring our work continues to deliver measurable, life-changing change.