American Journal of Public Health
Volume 91, Issue 12, 2001, Pages 2013-2018

A population-based assessment of human rights abuses committed against ethnic Albanian refugees from Kosovo (Article)

Iacopino V.* , Frank M.W. , Bauer H.M. , Keller A.S. , Fink S.L. , Ford D. , Pallin D.J. , Waldman R.
  • a Physicians for Human Rights, 100 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02116, United States
  • b Physicians for Human Rights, 100 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02116, United States
  • c Physicians for Human Rights, 100 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02116, United States
  • d Physicians for Human Rights, 100 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02116, United States
  • e Physicians for Human Rights, 100 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02116, United States
  • f Physicians for Human Rights, 100 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02116, United States
  • g Physicians for Human Rights, 100 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02116, United States
  • h Physicians for Human Rights, 100 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02116, United States

Abstract

Objectives. This study assessed patterns of displacement and human rights abuses among Kosovar refugees in Macedonia and Albania. Methods. Between April 19 and May 3, 1999, 1180 ethnic Albanian refugees living in 31 refugee camps and collective centers in Macedonia and Albania were interviewed. Results. The majority (68%) of participants reported that their families were directly expelled from their homes by Serb forces. Overall, 50% of participants saw Serb police or soldiers burning the houses of others, 16% saw Serb police or soldiers burn their own home, and 14% witnessed Serb police or soldiers killing someone. Large percentages of participants saw destroyed mosques, schools, or medical facilities. Thirty-one percent of respondents reported human rights abuses committed against their household members, including beatings, killings, torture, forced separation and disappearances, gun-shot wounds, and sexual assault. Conclusions. The present findings confirm that Serb forces engaged in a systematic and brutal campaign to forcibly expel the ethnic Albanian population of Kosovo. In the course of these mass deportations, Serb forces committed widespread abuses of human rights against ethnic Albanians.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

violence abuse household police refugee gunshot injury Albania ethnology sexual crime Article community care human rights interview soldier human Macedonia (republic)
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-0035193556&doi=10.2105%2fAJPH.91.12.2013&partnerID=40&md5=12f4f8c24dedaf2e8512f4558c417721
DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.91.12.2013
ISSN: 00900036
Cited by: 21
Original Language: English