YOUTH INITIATIVE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS – KOSOVO (YIHR KS) IN 60-DAY-NUTSHELL
Ilustration: Studio Permanent
‘Open Call – Program & Communications Assistant,’’ read the post.
It’s the 1st of August. It’s my first day at work. Mondays are dreadful. But the first time at the YIHR office was nothing less than one of the sweetest welcomes. Mondays equal team meetings, so we went around sharing our plans for the week. I had no idea what was on my plate for me. I said, ‘I am excited to work in whatever comes along.’
Two months later I am still excited and in awe of the diversity and multitudes of goals and activities YIHR KS holds onto with full dedication.
For those who don’t know, the Youth Initiative for Human Rights – Kosovo (YIHR KS) was established in 2004. YIHR KS works to protect and promote human rights and democratic values not only in Kosovo but also in the region. In particular, YIHR KS is focused on the process of dealing with the past, protecting human rights and the rule of law, and strengthening youth at the local and regional levels.
There are two key things that attracted me to join YIHR KS. Obviously, the first thing is the focus on human rights. But the second element, and the most important one, is the intersectional and cross-field approach to going about human rights’ protection. Because social issues do not exist separately from one another, I believe our solutions should also not isolate issues. I fit right in at YIHR KS’ vision.
We are a cute big team of 16 complex individuals, and we all work on somewhat different tasks, activities, and projects. What you will read next is not even close to the full picture of the work YIHR KS covers.
“When is it going to get better?” was the slogan of the first street action, since I joined, our team implemented on August 12th for Youth Day addressing youth migration. Seeing the boulevard covered in suitcases was such a powerfully evocative image. LGBTQI+ flags, construction worker’s wardrobe, and doctor’s white coats were put on top of the suitcases. I really was excited about what was coming along!
As an artist and activist, I felt so proud and in place at YIHR. ‘The Waiting Door’ was another street action following my weeks here. On the International Day of Enforced Disappearances, we painted a door in black in the middle of the boulevard standing in solidarity with the pain and revolt of the family and the wider society for establishing justice and finding the truth for the 1,621 missing persons.
Fast-forward, terrifying, core-shaking and disturbing events happened in August. An 11-year-old girl was raped by 5 men. Turned out she was a victim of sexual trafficking prior to that, and the institutions were aware. I remember crying with my gal-pals in the office, I remember we were fuming with anger. I was truly happy when we joined as co-organizers of the massive protests “PROTECT GIRLS & WOMEN.” After 5pm in our office, so many people painted and wrote slogans in banners. We were all ready.
The entire team left the offices and protested against sexual violence in the streets the next day. We stayed out the whole day protesting in the street and sitting-in in front of the Government building. We did so in the second protest as well. I felt seen in my anger and supported in my desire to work for social change.
The YIHR KS team, besides supporting all feminist and queer causes, simultanously promotes dealing with past processes and inclusive decentralized war narratives. For 6 days, 30 young people from the Albanian and Serbian communities in Kosovo came together in the 7th edition of the Youth Exchange Program. They learned about peace, types of conflicts, transitional justice, dealing with the past, reconciliation, and emotions. It was my first time being on the organizing side of such programs. Hearing all the young participants discuss in their final group reflection on how much they’ve learned, how their perspectives have changed and how dedicated they are to continue working as peace-builders, made all the exhaustion worth it.
In retrospect, 60 days ago, I was not wrong to say I’m excited for whatever comes along. YIHR KS’s work in the field of human rights and dealing with the past has not only been exciting but truly empowering. Seeing values and desires for an equal society made a reality piece by piece makes my heart grow bigger, and hopes feel more realistic.
(P.s. I invite you all to check out our website and social media to not only read more about what YIHR KS does, but to also find exciting opportunities to engage in critical thinking and creative ways to fight social injustice.
About the author: Uresa Ahmeti, on behalf of YIHR KS
This project is supported by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports
