Participants of the march on International Women’s Day in Pristina, Kosovo, hold a banner that reads “women are murdered, the state stays silent”, March 8, 2023. Photo: BIRN
Domestic violence cases have increased in Kosovo over the years and human rights organizations have often condemned the way institutions treat victims and process cases. We would like to learn more.
The reported number of domestic violence cases has increased in Kosovo in recent years, with the majority of the victims being women who often do not find justice and live in fear for their lives.
The number of cases of domestic violence reported to police has risen steadily, from 1,915 in 2019 and just over 2,000 in 2020 to over 2,400 in 2021.
In 2022, over 2,700 cases of domestic violence were reported in Kosovo, with 2,289 of the victims being women. In 2023, until February, 320 women were domestic violence victims.
The increase in numbers shows the level of violations of human rights in Kosovo and also brings to the surface a lack of institutional competencies in dealing with such cases.
In October 2022, Kosovo’s government backed legal changes to impose stricter sentences for rape, sexual assault and domestic violence, as well as enabling the publication of convicted sexual abusers’ identities. However, the current situation remains dire.
Women’s rights organizations have condemned the lenient court sentences issued in gender-based violence cases in the country as well as the problematic treatment of victims by the police.
Victims of domestic abuse also face potential re-traumatization due to having to repeat their testimonies multiple times from the first stages of reporting, and often are asked to forgive and forget for the sake of the family.
We would like to hear from survivors of domestic violence in Kosovo – children, partners, family members, to report on systemic institutional problems in dealing with these cases.
Scroll down for more information about how to take part.
The key things we want to know:
Our team will not publish any case, name, example or other information from this questionnaire without prior consent.
We will focus on the patterns of the cases of domestic violence in Kosovo based on the information provided in answering the questions below. Your responses are secure and encrypted.
Your stories will be used to help us with an ongoing investigation.
How to take part?
To submit your experience, just fill out this form. The questionnaire is available in English but also in Albanian.
You can also contact us via email: [email protected].
Or you can reach us on social media…
FB: @balkaninsight
TW: @balkaninsight
14 March 2023 - 11:28
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