Violence against women continues to be one of the least punished forms of violence.

A few days ago, police officer R.Sh had been sexually abusing a minor for six months in Gjilan as reported by the media, as per today the Court of Appeals annulled the sentence of life imprisonment for Nuhi Mavrovqanin, who killed his wife with a metal bar back in July 2020 in  Berivojcë village, Municipality of Kamenica.

In both cases, as in many other cases of violence against women in Kosovo, institutions which are responsible to protect citizens’ lives are failing to do so. In addition, they are risking it.

We recall that, since 2019, domestic violence has been defined as a crime in the Criminal Code of Kosovo, owing to the efforts of women’s organizations. However, although many actions have been taken to criminalize domestic violence, judicial institutions are still reluctant to impose deserving punishments for murderers and rapists. On the contrary, following this culture of impunity, institutions encourage the continuation of violence, rape and murder of women.

With this press release, Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) expresses deep indignation over these two cases, pledging at the same time that it will raise its voice to seek justice for these women, as well as for all women violated, injured and killed.

KWN will not stop until the violence against women is not only treated as daily news or private matter.

 Justice for murdered women! Justice for every woman killed and violated!