With the continuous increase in the use of the Internet and ICT, cyber violence has become a serious threat, especially for women and girls. This form of violence includes harassment, threats, defamation, publication of intimate material without consent, and other forms of abuse that occur through online platforms. Currently, the criminal legislation in Kosovo does not specifically include cyber violence, leaving a legal vacuum in the protection of victims of this form of violence.

In April 2024, the Council of Europe adopted the Directive on Combatting Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence, marking a significant step towards ensuring the safety and protection of women and girls in all aspects of life, including online. This policy brief aims to inform the process of amending the Criminal Code of Kosovo by emphasizing the need for consistent definitions and penalties for cyber violence.

Based on the Directive and the existing legal framework, Kosovo should incorporate the following offenses and punishments into the Criminal Code, taken from international experiences.

Kosovo Women’s Network proposes that this article be placed in Chapter XXI of the Criminal Code, adding a new article Article 249 Gender-Based Cyber ​​Violence.