Prishtina, 28 October 2026

Dear Prime Minister Albin Kurti,

Dear Minister of Finance, Hekuran Murati

Dear Second Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Justice, and National Coordinator for Protection from Domestic Violence, Violence against Women and Gener-Based Violence, Donika Gërvalla Schwarz,

Dear Minister of Education, Hajrulla Çeku,

Dear Minister of Labour, Family and the Values of the Liberation War, Andin Hoti,

Dear Members of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo,

We thank you for organising the parliamentary debate concerning violence against women and for announcing that some steps will be taken. 

We observed that some of the statements made during the session involved finger-pointing and/or suggested elements of shock and surprise. 

We are deeply saddened by the continuous loss of women’s lives. We are angry. But, we are not surprised. And you should not be surprised. This epidemic of violence against women, resulting in death, is neither new nor unpreventable.  

For nearly three decades, we have warned you and other prior government officials, parliamentarians and justice institutions about the risks of inaction. Based on thorough research, we have provided clear, evidence-based recommendations for prevention of violence and protection of women. Yet, our recent recommendations have been largely ignored. 

The murder of women because they are women, also internationally termed and known as femicide, is a direct result of comprehensive, systematic institutional failures. No single ministry or department is solely responsible; it is the failure of the entire system that has allowed violence to continue without proper, comprehensive action. A more comprehensive approach is needed. 

We implore you to utilise the evidence and recommendations that we have given you, often undertaken together with institutions. Since 2008, we have warned of these issues and laid out a roadmap of what is needed. We have worked closely with institutions at all levels towards achieving this, but we must reiterate some key recommendations that you have not mentioned, although we have raised them with you previously on several occasions. 

First, you must immediately criminalise femicide and establish a Femicide Watch to continuously follow, analyse, and identify systemic issues. – 13 October 2026 

Second, the Ministry of Education must immediately integrate gender-transformative education into the curricula and, more importantly, into pedagogical approaches, with the aim of transforming socialised gender norms that contribute to unequal power relationships between women and men and allow violence to continue. – 28 August–3 September 2025 

Third, social workers are on the front lines of addressing gender-based violence, identifying risks, and providing comprehensive services tailored to meet women’s needs so that they may become autonomous and not reliant on their abusers. This system is incredibly weak, as we and other actors have warned for years. Without sufficient social workers to undertake comprehensive case management, including risk assessments and prevention, recidivism, violence, and femicide will continue. – 20 October 2022 – Advocacy letter concerning funding for Centres for Social Work and at least two additional social workers in every municipality. 

Therefore, we reiterate the urgent need for the Ministry of Finance to collaborate closely with municipalities to allocate funding for at least two additional social workers in every municipality, starting in 2027. This will require increasing the number of staff positions permitted in each municipality, as municipalities are underfunded and lack other essential personnel, including teachers, healthcare professionals, and other experts. – 24.09.2026 

Yes, we agree that an assessment of positions is needed and must be finalised. But should this happen at the peril of women’s lives? Please take immediate action to allocate a budget for more social workers who can provide comprehensive case management. 

Fourth, institutionalise gender-responsive budgeting and use it to assess and allocate adequate resources for shelters and other services, using our costing model, which we have developed and shared with institutions. 24 September 2026, 30 July 2026 

Fifth, hold individuals within institutions accountable through immediate disciplinary action. – 26 August 2021 — “Protest in Pristina: Murder of Women Must Be Treated as a National Emergency.” 

We remain your partners. Please continue to engage with us and draw on our expertise so that, together, we can end femicide and violence against women in all its forms. 

Based on our more than 30 years of experience, extensive research, and daily monitoring and work with institutions across Kosovo, we are writing to request that you take additional steps urgently. Without proper protection, including victim-centred case management and thorough risk management, women remain at great risk of recidivism.