The silence that once dominated classrooms in Drenas was slowly giving way to honest voices, nervous at first, then growing stronger with time. Through an initiative involving awareness sessions, open discussions, and interactive workshops in schools, young people began to talk about something that had long been kept quiet: sexual harassment and assault. For too long, uncomfortable comments, unwanted touches, and subtle pressures had been brushed off as “normal,” leaving students unsure of what was acceptable and what was not.
During more than five months, Humanus Vita’s initiative reached 672 students, 432 girls and 239 boys, across 24 sessions in schools in Drenas, Llapushnik and Nekoc. Through interactive discussions and learning activities, students learnt what sexual harassment really means, how it affects lives, and why speaking out matters.
“I didn’t know sexual harassment is a crime,” one student admitted. “Or that there are places where I can report it safely.”
That simple realisation carried weight. According to the latest Kosovo Gender Country Profile by UN Women (2024), about 29% of Kosovar women have experienced sexual harassment at some point in their lives. Yet awareness and reporting remain very low; an earlier OSCE study (2019) found that only 1% of women experiencing violence report it immediately. These numbers illustrate why early awareness is crucial, yet before the initiative, most young people in Drenas didn’t know their rights or where to seek help.
Humanus Vita went beyond schools, reaching deeper into the community. In rural areas such as Krajkovë and Paklek i Ri, 70 women took part in specially designed sessions that combined personal stories with structured discussions on legal rights, harassment definitions and early reporting. Meanwhile, workshops at local schools observed how topics like puberty, sexual identity and unwanted touching were (too rarely) addressed in biology classes, and brought together teachers, principals and students to challenge gender stereotypes and taboos.
One participant reflected, “We were taught to stay quiet. Now I understand that silence doesn’t protect us — it only shields those who cause harm.”
Humanus Vita also brought the discussion into the public eye. Through radio, TV and social media outreach, over 30,000 residents of Drenas learned about gender-based violence, how to report it, and where to seek support. During the 16 Days of Activism, powerful messages and interviews reminded people that help exists and that silence protects only the abuser.
The impact was clear and deeply felt. Students began to recognise harassment, understand its effects, and see how silence and stereotypes allow harm to continue. Teachers, psychologists and school leaders became active allies, guiding discussions on respect, empathy and equality. Schools are now better prepared, and local institutions understand their role in protecting young people.
As per the effects, they are already visible. Students notice behaviours they once ignored and feel empowered to seek help. Cooperation with local authorities, including social services and the police, has strengthened, ensuring harassment and violence are addressed quickly. Slowly, a culture of silence is being replaced by a culture of courage, one voice at a time.
Humanus Vita’s initiative “Awareness of young people about sexual harassment and assault and the importance of early reporting” was carried out with support from the Kosovo Women’s Network’s (KWN) Kosovo Women’s Fund (KWF), financed by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) and co-financed by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), in the amount of €4,754, from October 2021 to February 2022. The initiative contributed directly to KWN’s Programme “Gender Transformative Education.”
