For more than twenty years, YIHR Kosovo has worked consistently to make dealing with the past a shared, inclusive and victim-centred endeavour. Through the Children of War Museum, the Virtual Museum of Refugees and its post-war conversations, the organisation has opened spaces where the experiences of all communities in Kosovo can be heard and acknowledged. It has also brought young people from Kosovo and the wider region together, not to forget, but to remember in a way that does not perpetuate division. Pro Peace is grateful for many years of close cooperation with YIHR Kosovo.
Together we created the Post War/Post Memory Talks at the Children of War Museum, moderated conversations in which younger generations of war-affected families, experts and practitioners reflect on trauma, memory and reconciliation. We jointly published Resistance: Women of Peace and Justice in the Former Yugoslavia and Albania, which records the testimonies of eleven women whose courage shaped truth-seeking and peace in the region. Each year, we also mark together the National Missing Persons Day (27 April) and the International Day of the Disappeared (30 August) to honour the missing and their families.
What unites this work is a shared conviction: lasting peace depends on acknowledging all victims, on accountability, and on young people who refuse to inherit hatred. This recognition belongs to the entire YIHR Kosovo team and to the many young activists, survivors and partners who have shaped its work.
“This prize recognises not only YIHR Kosovo’s work, but also the courage of survivors and young people who refuse to let silence and denial shape our future. At a time when nationalism and authoritarianism threaten our societies, remembering together is an act of resistance. We remain committed to demanding accountability and justice, recognising every victim, and building a future grounded in dignity, solidarity, and peace,“ said Marigona Shabiu, Executive Director of YIHR Kosovo.
“We are proud to call YIHR Kosovo our partner. Their work shows that dealing with the past is about creating the conditions for a shared future, in which the dignity of every victim is recognised. This prize is a well-deserved recognition of years of courageous work,” said Nehari Sharri, Country Director of Pro Peace Kosovo.
We congratulate Marigona Shabiu and the whole YIHR Kosovo team and look forward to continuing our work together.