Kosovo Women's Network

Ferizaj is the fifth stop of the exhibition “Break the Silence: Ending Violence Behind Walls”

25.09.2019

Citizens of Ferizaj gathered at Adem Jashari Square today to learn how to break the silence that allows domestic violence to continue. Hundreds of people visited the exhibition organized by Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) in partnership with Center for protection of women and children “My Home”- Ferizaj.

“Break the Silence: Ending Violence Behind Walls”, designed as a labyrinth, shows walls of a home covered with firsthand stories of women and men who have experienced domestic violence.

“As crime victim services, our mission and primary obligation is to treat victims as orderly and dignified as possible and to improve the services provided to victims”, said Gresa Bunjaku, representative of My Home, a center for the protection of women and children.

The traveling exhibition is part of a KWN awareness campaign that has been showcased in major municipalities across the country since June. Previously in Prishtina, Gjakova and Mitrovica, and today in Ferizaj, the event was designed with the aim of raising awareness of different forms of domestic violence, It provides citizens with detailed information about local support institutions and how to contact them.

Find the brochure of the exhibition HERE.

The director of the Kosovo Police, Ferizaj Emin Beqiri said there is an increase of incidents of domestic violence reported each year, even while many other incidents go unreported.

The exhibition organizers sought to encourage people to break the silence that hides violence behind walls, and to seek support from institutions when violence occurs.

The exhibition “Break the Silence: Ending Violence Behind Walls” is supported by the European Union (EU) through UN Women and the Austrian Development Agency (ADA).

01.04.26

Activists Advocate that EU Accession Contributes to Furthering Gender Equality

31.03.26

Igballe Rogova Awarded Presidential Medal for Lifelong Commitment to Women’s Rights

31.03.26

People Call on EU to Invest in What Matters in New EU Budget

27.03.26

Women’s History Month: Rachel Wareham Reflects on the Legacy of Motrat Qiriazi

26.03.26

KWN Honoured by NRAEWOK for Contribution to Advancing Gender Equality

26.03.26

Access Denied No More: Women in Skenderaj Advocate for Quality Gynecological Care

KWN Appeals: Vote for More Women in Parliament

24.09.2019

On 24 Sept. 2019, Kosovo Women’s Network held a coordination meeting with member organizations and volunteers taking part in the “Vote for more Women in Parliament” campaign.

About 200 volunteers, for five days (25-29 Sept.) went door-to-door talking to citizens in over 15 municipalities of Kosovo, including Serbian-speaking municipalities. They discussed with women and men voters the importance of voting for more women in the upcoming parliamentary elections scheduled for 6 Oct. 2019. Moreover, on October 1, KWN distributed flyers and met with citizens of Prishtina along with member organizations as follows: Art Without Limit, NGO – Open Door, Network of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian Women’s Organizations of Kosovo, United Women’s Association, Kosovar Gender Studies Center.

These activities are a follow-up of canvassing that KWN has already done in several cities. Through these visits, representatives of KWN member organizations have distributed flyers and have discussed with citizens the importance of electing more women in parliament.

At the beginning of the coordination meeting with member organizations and volunteers, Igballe Rogova, KWN Executive Director, informed the attendees that this campaign seeks equal representation in parliament.

“Since political parties are not implementing the Law on Gender Equality, which required 50% equal representation, this campaign enables citizens to vote for more women in parliament, hence implement this law,” Rogova said.

The Law on Gender Equality (LGE) guarantees equal gender representation in all areas, including politics. In violation of this Law, neither the parliament nor the government has ensured equal participation of women and men, defined by law as 50% of each. Therefore, it’s up to us as citizens to make equality happen! KWN encourages all citizens to vote for women who will represent our interests in the parliament and who will push for gender equality.

Supporting women’s participation in politics and decision-making is part of the KWN Strategy 2019-2022. KWN also campaigned for this issue in the previous elections held in 2017 and will continue to support, protect and promote the rights and interests of women and girls throughout Kosovo, regardless of their political, religious, ethnic, age, education, sexual orientation and ability.

KWN considers elections as an essential element of a democratic state, and gender equality as a fundamental human right, so we appeal to people to vote more women into parliament, as a necessary condition to combat the institutional tradition that has unjustly deprived women of their participation in politics and decision-making. Whichever party list you choose, vote for more women in parliament!

This campaign is part of the Action “Strengthening Women’s Participation in Politics,” which is supported by the European Union (EU) Office in Kosovo.

Organizations that support KWN in implementing this campaign are as follows:

ATO- Vushtrri

Aureola- Obiliq

Alma- Pejë

Bliri- Drenas

Women’s Centre for Rural Development – Novobërdë

Centre for Education and Development- Elita – Lipjan

Active Women of Gjakova- – Gjakovë

Handikos Mitrovica- Mitrovicë

Drugëza- Skenderaj

Organization of Persons with Muscular Dystrophy of Kosovo (OPDMK) – Prizren

Organization for Local Reforms- Viti

Psychotherapists in Action – Gjilan

Ruka Ruci- Uglarë

Independent Association of Women-Hareja- Rahovec

Association Women’s Initiative- – Dragash

Association for Education and the care of family – Gjakovë.

28.03.25

Reaction of the Kosovo Women’s Network to the Recent Killings in Kosovo due to illegal weapons

08.11.24

Press Release – Recommendations for the Kosovo Parliament

05.11.24

Response to Klan Kosova – Do Not Promote the Perpetrators

04.11.24

Violence Against the Minor is Intolerable – KWN Calls for Justice and Immediate Action

31.10.24

The Irresolute Resolution? After 24 Years, Resolution 1325 Remains Valid but Under-implemented

17.10.24

Letter to the Chairman of the Assembly of Kosovo, Glauk Konjufca

KWN Holds Membership Meeting

23.09.2019

Progress in promoting gender perspectives, women’s involvement in politics, and women overcoming disabilities and tragedies were central themes at the third regular KWN members’ meeting of the year.

Addressing more than 50 participants, KWN Executive Director Igballe Rogova opened the discussion by suggesting that attendees watch the film “Zana” by director Antoneta Krasniqi, which unfolds the tragedy and trauma that an Albanian mother underwent due to the war in Kosovo.

Given that we are on the verge of early parliamentary elections, Rogova highlighted the “Vote for More Women in the Parliament” campaign, which was conducted in more than 15 Kosovo municipalities, involving about 200 volunteers from KWN member organizations.

“We always say that there are a lot of strong women on all the (party) lists”, Rogova said. “Personally, I went out in the field and met with the citizens, and this was a very good thing because the citizens constantly said that it was time to vote for women”.

During this meeting held on 23 September, member organizations, representatives of the Gender Equality Lobby, Kosovo institutions and advocates of KWN work and causes discussed the priorities and challenges they face in their work.

Human rights activist Shqipe Malushi indicated that she had found a great cooperation in the field for the campaign in question.

“Every time I come to Kosovo, I am more and more surprised by your constant work”, Malushi said. “I am happy that KWN has gathered all of us, I am very glad that you are empowering me to decide for myself, with or without (supportive) conditions. We do the work, and conditions get created”.

Further, Nicole Farnsworth, program director and lead researcher at KWN informed the gathering about advocacy that KWN is doing in various places.

“We have worked hard with donors in Kosovo as well, and we are supporting them in order to incorporate the gender perspective into their programs”, Farnsworth said.

At this meeting, the participants had the opportunity to be closely informed about the Kosovo Women’s Fund (KWF), which has been involved in this year grants.

“We have received 43 applications in total, of which 14-16 will be beneficiary organizations” said Diellza Olluri, project coordinator of the fund. The KWF is in its 13th round of awarding grants. This year it is supported by the European Union Office (EU) in Kosovo and Austrian Development Agency (ADA).

“We are now at the stage when the Commission is considering the project proposals, and at the end of October we will select the organizations”, Olluri explained.

“Strengthening Women’s Participation in Politics” initative was a focus of the second part of the meeting, when members were sharing information about their activities. Resmije Rrahmani from the Muscular Dystrophy Organization of Kosovo (MDA) spoke more about the initiative which was part of the aforementioned campaign to vote for more women.

“The activities we have conducted during this period have been very successful because we have always had more participants with limited abilities who have been enthusiastic about engaging in activities” Rrahmani said. “There is discrimination toward our group as well, so this is a good opportunity for us to join hands during this four-year project”.

There is also a movie being made about Rrahmani, which Rogova praised as a project that helps empowering of other women.

Another important topic of the meeting was the exhibition “Break the Silence: Ending Violence behind Walls” which has been opened in Prishtina, Gjilan, Mitrovica, Gjakova, and Ferizaj.

Members were also introduced to the helpline that KWN recently launched for legal assistance and counselling for victims of domestic violence, who has not received appropriate institutional treatment.

This meeting was supported by the European Union Office (EU) in Kosovo and the Austrian Development Agency (ADA).

01.04.26

Activists Advocate that EU Accession Contributes to Furthering Gender Equality

31.03.26

Igballe Rogova Awarded Presidential Medal for Lifelong Commitment to Women’s Rights

31.03.26

People Call on EU to Invest in What Matters in New EU Budget

27.03.26

Women’s History Month: Rachel Wareham Reflects on the Legacy of Motrat Qiriazi

26.03.26

KWN Honoured by NRAEWOK for Contribution to Advancing Gender Equality

26.03.26

Access Denied No More: Women in Skenderaj Advocate for Quality Gynecological Care

Prishtina Joins the World in Global Climate Strike

20.09.2019

Prishtina became part of the Global Climate Strike which was marked worldwide on 20 September, demanding action against global warming.

Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) joined local and international activists as part of this march, which started at Skenderbeu Square. The crowd continued to parade in front of the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning.

“Help us save the earth”, “Our home is on fire”, “There is no plan B” were some of the slogans on signs carried in the hands of the protesters. There were calls to put public health ahead of private profit, to stop the construction of power plants, and to cancel the “New Kosova” project.

The wave of protests was part of a global strike inspired by Swedish climate activist, Greta Thunberg, 16.

The marches are believed to have been the largest protests against global warming in history, attracting as many as 7 million worldwide.

01.04.26

Activists Advocate that EU Accession Contributes to Furthering Gender Equality

31.03.26

Igballe Rogova Awarded Presidential Medal for Lifelong Commitment to Women’s Rights

31.03.26

People Call on EU to Invest in What Matters in New EU Budget

27.03.26

Women’s History Month: Rachel Wareham Reflects on the Legacy of Motrat Qiriazi

26.03.26

KWN Honoured by NRAEWOK for Contribution to Advancing Gender Equality

26.03.26

Access Denied No More: Women in Skenderaj Advocate for Quality Gynecological Care

KWN Responds to Consecutive Failures of Institutions to Protect Survivors of Domestic Violence

20.09.2019

In the village of Istog a woman who repeatedly reported her husband’s abuse was ignored by local institutions responsible for dealing with domestic violence. The failure of institutions to apprehend the man was documented Sunday on the RTV program”Udhëve” [ENG: “Roads”].

Journalist Kaltrina Rexhepi-Dragusha of Radio Television of Kosovo revealed that the woman experienced years of violence from her husband, who also has been accused of bigamy under Criminal Code, Article 237. The TV show clearly described successive failures of these institutions to protect and prevent domestic violence against the woman, her husband’s second wife, and the children.

In view of this failure, the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) calls upon institutions to attend to this and other cases of domestic violence, especially in cases of recidivism, where the risk to the survivors of domestic violence is especially high.

Under the new Criminal Code enacted in April, domestic violence is a criminal offence punishable by imprisonment of up to three (3) years. KWN therefore calls upon the Basic Court in Deçan, which is dealing with this case, to punish this person in accordance with this Code, and not just through the Law on Protection Against Domestic Violence. The KWN also requests that institutions impose on the perpetrator the effective prison sentences for all offences listed, including: Domestic violence reported from 2015 through 2019, unlawful possession of a weapon, light bodily injury , bigamy, causing general danger, theft, and others.

We also call upon the Centers for Social Work not to play the role of mediator in cases of domestic violence, as this is not their mandate.

We request security be provided for both wives of this person and other family members to whom he may pose a risk or day-to-day threat. KWN will closely monitor this case to ensure that justice is implemented and to eliminate risk of fatality for the members of this family. Otherwise, for every failure, we will hold institutions accountable for the inefficiency and impunity of abusers of women. We will exert public pressure if the appropriate legal steps are not taken.

#NoExcuses

#ConvictionForRapists

#JusticeForWomen

28.03.25

Reaction of the Kosovo Women’s Network to the Recent Killings in Kosovo due to illegal weapons

08.11.24

Press Release – Recommendations for the Kosovo Parliament

05.11.24

Response to Klan Kosova – Do Not Promote the Perpetrators

04.11.24

Violence Against the Minor is Intolerable – KWN Calls for Justice and Immediate Action

31.10.24

The Irresolute Resolution? After 24 Years, Resolution 1325 Remains Valid but Under-implemented

17.10.24

Letter to the Chairman of the Assembly of Kosovo, Glauk Konjufca

truAktiv Summit Youth get Inspired by Account of ’90s Feminist Activism

20.09.2019

“I am very lucky,” Igballe Rogova told the 50 young participants at truAktiv Summit 2019 from all over Kosovo. She began her lecture with childhood stories and the importance of her family support that raised her to become a feminist.

Rogova spoke about the feminist activism in 90’s at the 3rd edition of truAktiv Summit held September 19-21. This year the event focused on the theme “Community Organizing”, aimed at improving critical thinking through debates, talks, lectures and workshops.

The executive director of KWN, Rogova, continued by describing an initiative she undertook with her sister, Safete Rogova, on the empowerment of rural women and girls. They accomplished this by challenging the patriarchal establishment within traditional Albanian culture and responding to educational needs. The two sisters formed the Motrat Qiriazi (Sisters Qiriazi) Association in the Has region dedicated to building schools and opening libraries.

Young participants also got to hear about Rogova’s first acquaintance with Lepa Mladjenovic, one of the founders of Serbia’s Women in Black association, an anti-war movement that faced enormous pressure for its protest against Serbia’s wars in Kosovo, Bosnia and elsewhere. Rogova described Mladjenovic as her mentor, who taught her the power of protesting in silence. She recalled going to Belgrade in the mid-90s to visit one of the Women in Black protests, a group of feminist women protesting in the city center by neither moving nor talking, just standing. This group of feminists kept protesting peacefully even though they endured considerable backlash to the point where one of the citizens spat on Mladjenovic’s face and she didn’t even flinch.

”That was one of the most powerful moments I have ever seen”, Rogova said, “Every time that I am protesting I think of that moment and it helps me not to be bothered by the negative comments”.

Bread for Drenica protest and the protest with white sheet of paper, organized by women in March ’98, were the next topics that Rogova talked about at the TruAktiv Summit 2019.

“I remember there were snipers all around us and we didn’t feel fear,” Rogova recalled. “The mobilization was amazing. We saw snipers and we’d go around within the crowd telling everyone not to go home alone. Hence, all women returned home united, walking hand-in-hand.”

The young participants at truAktiv summit 2019 expressed interest in the mobilization of protests during 1990s activism. Young participants were curious to know more about how civil society in Kosovo was functioning at that time as well as Rogova’s personal experiences with the early years of feminist activism in Kosovo. There were many questions about whether Rogova is going to write a biography on her dedication to feminism in Kosovo. The lecturer emphasized that she had always thought of writing a book about the days preceding her work with Kosovo Women’s Network.

Meanwhile, Rogova recommended to the young participants relevant books regarding the feminist activism in Kosovo:

KGSC, History is her story too, 2008

Howard Clark, Civil resistance in Kosovo, 2000

01.04.26

Activists Advocate that EU Accession Contributes to Furthering Gender Equality

31.03.26

Igballe Rogova Awarded Presidential Medal for Lifelong Commitment to Women’s Rights

31.03.26

People Call on EU to Invest in What Matters in New EU Budget

27.03.26

Women’s History Month: Rachel Wareham Reflects on the Legacy of Motrat Qiriazi

26.03.26

KWN Honoured by NRAEWOK for Contribution to Advancing Gender Equality

26.03.26

Access Denied No More: Women in Skenderaj Advocate for Quality Gynecological Care

The Exhibition “Break the Silence: Ending Violence Behind Walls” is welcomed in Mitrovica

18.09.2019

Hundreds of citizens gathered today at Isa Boletini Square to visit the exhibition “Break the Silence: Ending Violence behind walls” organized by Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN).

This traveling exhibition presents a symbolic home labyrinth that reveals some of the stories gathered by KWN regarding women and men who have experienced domestic violence.

“The Center for the Protection of Women and Children – Raba Voca” – the organization that supported this exhibition has highly appreciated the role that the exhibition carries with it.

“We believe that our citizens will become aware of where to report cases of domestic violence”, said Fidane Hyseni, director of the shelter. We are grateful to KWN for this exhibition and for the opportunity to come together and organize this event” Since the beginning of this year a total of 42 victims of domestic violence have been housed at the shelter.

The “Standing Walls” part of the exhibition raised much curiosity among the citizens. Through inscriptions on these walls, Mitrovica residents were informed on key institutions that tackle such types of violence and how citizens can reach out to these institutions to exercise their rights.

Find the brochure of the exhibition HERE.

Kosovo Police (KP) representative Fitim Zahiti spoke about the need for institutional cooperation for a more efficient treatment of domestic violence cases.

“All of these institutions, organizations, and the shelter function as a chain,” Zahiti said, “and if one of these steps do not work then domestic violence will not be properly addressed”

The exhibition “Break the Silence: Ending Violence behind walls” unfolded last month in Prishtina, Gjilan, and Gjakova.

This exhibition is supported by the European Union (EU) through UN Women (#EVAW) and the Austrian Development Agency (ADA)

01.04.26

Activists Advocate that EU Accession Contributes to Furthering Gender Equality

31.03.26

Igballe Rogova Awarded Presidential Medal for Lifelong Commitment to Women’s Rights

31.03.26

People Call on EU to Invest in What Matters in New EU Budget

27.03.26

Women’s History Month: Rachel Wareham Reflects on the Legacy of Motrat Qiriazi

26.03.26

KWN Honoured by NRAEWOK for Contribution to Advancing Gender Equality

26.03.26

Access Denied No More: Women in Skenderaj Advocate for Quality Gynecological Care

Communication Workshop with Member Organizations

17.09.2019

Psychology of persuasion, creativity through brainstorming, and Facebook practices were the focus of the Workshop on Communication with member organizations of Kosovo Women’s Network.

The KWN headquarters organized a workshop session on building public relation strategy on 13th September. The session was led by public relations expert and journalism Prof. Martine Robinson Beachboard, who introduced to the members the best practices in exposing their organizations to a wider audience through professional writing and improving social media presence.

Representatives of twelve member organizations of Kosovo Women’s Network gathered together to discuss strategic planning of delivering key messages to the public. Apart from the theoretical part, participants also had the opportunity to work in pairs on elaborating why their organizations need PR, later by practicing brainstorming techniques, they developed a strategy on promoting an event with media and the general public.

In the last phase, the workshop focused on professional writing where all participants got to improve their writing process. The purpose of these exercises was to enable participants to provide feedback in order to further improve member organizations’ communication strategy.

“Even though I knew a lot of things about public relations, this training was very practical and helpful,” said participant Ms. Venera Ismaili from NGO Artpolis.

This support to KWN and its members in identifying and implementing innovative communication strategies was provided by an Academic Expert from the United States, Dr. Martine Robinson Beachboard (PhD), supported by the United States (US) Embassy in Prishtina, as part of Fulbright Specialist Program which promotes linkages between U.S. academics and professionals and their counterparts at institutions abroad, and Austrian Development Agency (ADA).

01.04.26

Activists Advocate that EU Accession Contributes to Furthering Gender Equality

31.03.26

Igballe Rogova Awarded Presidential Medal for Lifelong Commitment to Women’s Rights

31.03.26

People Call on EU to Invest in What Matters in New EU Budget

27.03.26

Women’s History Month: Rachel Wareham Reflects on the Legacy of Motrat Qiriazi

26.03.26

KWN Honoured by NRAEWOK for Contribution to Advancing Gender Equality

26.03.26

Access Denied No More: Women in Skenderaj Advocate for Quality Gynecological Care

Women Economic Forum writes open letter to political parties

13.09.2019

Dear MP Candidates for the Parliament of the Republic of Kosovo,

Dear Political Parties,

Taking into account the approaching campaign for the early elections for the Parliament of the Republic of Kosovo, representative organizations of Women’s Economic Forum invite all political subjects to demonstrate their commitment to the inclusion and gender equality in social, economic and political spheres by means of policies and concrete measures in political curriculums. Women Economic Forum calls upon political parties to engage in promoting the rights of women by:

Addressing discrimination and absence of women in market force,

Women in Kosovo remain underrepresented and marginalized in labour market.

Only 13.3% of women of working-age are currently employed, according to an analysis of the first trimester of 2019 Labour Force Survey.

This means that Kosovo ranks among the states with the lowest rate of women’s activity in labour market in the region and in Europe as well. Research regarding this matter shows that the main challenges are: care of children and the elderly, gender-based discrimination in the workplace, fewer opportunities for women compared to men, and lack of programs designed to update the abilities accordingly to market requirements.

To address these issues, it is of crucial important to promote concrete and inclusive policies, which will encourage greater participation of women. Policies as follows:

Offer ffordable services for child care
Offer education and rehabilitation schemes for women who have been unemployed [out of the labor market] for a long period of time, by offering training in accordance to the labour market requirements
Award scholarships for girls, provided by the public sector and corporations with a strategic role in developing the country
Support the women’s entrepreneurship programs, specially self-employment schemes
Encourage the increase of businesses owned by women, by offering administrative and financial benefits for them
Support women’s participation in the workforce through active labour market policies, such as: wage subsidy programs, training and short-term interventions that strengthen and improve job search skills

Paid parental leave

In addition to guaranteeing the right of fathers to play an active role in child care, equal and effective family policies are also crucial in harmonizing the disproportional employment space between women and men and the promotion of gender equality in Kosovo. Current law, as well as the proposed bill on maternity leave and parental leave, discriminate against men by failing to give them equal rights to be with their children while lowering women’s participation in the nation’s economy. According to the Law on Gender Equality, in order to achieve balance between parents in their equal role, the economic and social rights and responsibilities, then some policies should be established, the implementation of these policies would create a fundamental basis for equal role of parents.

Policies should support working parents in three ways: (i) ensuring that parents are entitled to parental leave to care for their children; (ii) providing or supporting child care; and (iii) providing financial support for childcare costs. Women’s Economic Forum advocates changing the current system by adopting a model that guaranteed maternity and paternity leave and non-transferable allocation paid paternal leave for both parents, along with overall paid and unpaid model scheme.

While you prepare your governance platforms, representative organizations of the Women’s Economic Forum remain at your disposal for advice and assistance in advancing programs that promote the rights of women in Kosovo, strengthening their position in the labour market and society in general.

Sincerely,

Women’s Economic Forum

Women’s Economic Forum is an independent body, which is comprehensive and unifying, which gathers around itself stakeholders, organizations and individuals of society that have an interest, play an active part and are engaged in the development of women in the economy. The Forum is jointly founded by eleven organizations throughout Kosovo that are actively involved in improving the position of women in Kosovo.

Members:

Democracy for Development (D4D)

Kosova Women’s Network (KWN)

Kosovar Gender Studies Centre (KGSC)

Kosova – Women 4 Women

Riinvest Institute

Network of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian Women’s Organizations of Kosovo (RROGRAEK)

28.03.25

Reaction of the Kosovo Women’s Network to the Recent Killings in Kosovo due to illegal weapons

08.11.24

Press Release – Recommendations for the Kosovo Parliament

05.11.24

Response to Klan Kosova – Do Not Promote the Perpetrators

04.11.24

Violence Against the Minor is Intolerable – KWN Calls for Justice and Immediate Action

31.10.24

The Irresolute Resolution? After 24 Years, Resolution 1325 Remains Valid but Under-implemented

17.10.24

Letter to the Chairman of the Assembly of Kosovo, Glauk Konjufca

Domestic Violence Behind Walls Exhibition Hosted in Gjakova Yesterday.

11.09.2019

GJAKOVA, 11 September 2019 – In a city that has already seen 90 reported cases of domestic violence this year, residents of all ages were exposed to an exhibition detailing the problem and offering helpful resources in Gjakova today.

Shtëpia e Sigurtë and Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) cooperated to bring “Break the Silence: Ending Violence Behind Walls” to the town square “Nëna Terezë” this afternoon and evening. The three-dimensional structure walked visitors through displays of information, experiences and effects of violence that can hide in the private lives of people anywhere.

“Our MPs have voted for the Istanbul Convention, which highlights the role of shelters and the duties and obligations they have to support their work financially”, said Sakibe Doli from Shtëpia e Sigurtë shelter in Gjakova. “So we call on the MPs we elected to carry out their duties through monitoring, and to support the work of the shelters”.

According to official data from the Kosovo Police, in 90% of reported cases the victims are women.

“Domestic violence continues to be a problem affecting Kosovar society”, said Adelina Berisha from KWN. “Through this exhibition we want to show you the feeling of a home where violence is being used. This way we can all have a better understanding of the suffering of each victim”.

Berisha added, “We want to inform every citizen of Kosovo of the assistance they can ask from local institutions, and where they can complain if these institutions fail to provide services to victims of domestic violence”.

The traveling exhibition is part of a KWN awareness campaign that has been showcased in municipalities across the country since June. It will continue for several months at a range of locations. The aim is to raise awareness of different forms of domestic violence and to provide citizens with specific information about local support institutions and how to contact them. Visitors also were reminded of their legal obligation to report domestic violence and support its victims.

Luke Perlalaj, Kosovo Police investigator from the local Domestic Violence Unit, offered insights into alarming statistics. He told the gathered crowd that reports of domestic violence have been increasing recently.

“Maybe we are raising awareness and that is causing us to receive so many reports today,” Perlalaj said. “Maybe the use of domestic violence has increased, but official datas show that this number has truly increased”.

A representative of the Kosovo Police Inspectorate in Gjakova told the audience about resources available to victims of violence.

“We have various complaint opportunities where you can report cases of domestic violence”, said Bajram Fetahu. He mentioned the website https://ipk.rks-gov.net/forma-per-ankesa/ and added, “or even go to the nearest police station”.

Other speakers giving opening remarks at the exhibition were Elvane Shehu, social worker at the Center for Social Work in Gjakova; Judge Iliriana Hoti; and prosecutor Dëshirë Jusaj.

For more information, see the exhibition booklet HERE.

01.04.26