In December 2020, the Center for Protection of Women and Children (QMGF), published the research “What comes after the shelter? Reintegration of women survivors of violence”. This research was conducted in the framework of the initiative “Empowering the women victims of gender-based violence through reintegration programs”, thanks to the support received from the 14th round of the Kosovo Women’s Fund (KWF). This report aimed to make a comparison of the reintegration programs and other services offered by institutions in Kosovo.   

QMGF also held an online meeting with key stakeholders such as representatives from the Ministry of Social Welfare, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry Youth and Sports, the Agency for Gender Equality within the Office of the Prime Minister, as well as representatives of the Municipality of Prishtina, Obiliq and Fushë Kosovë. This meeting discussed the findings from the research, as well as recommendations on improving the current situation in the country. 

At the closing meeting of the project, the Executive Director of the Organization, Zana Asllani spoke about the overall purpose of this initiative. 

“The reintegration of victims of domestic violence is a very important link in preventing gender-based violence in all its forms. The lack of reintegration programs in centers that provide assistance to women and children victims limits the opportunities for them to be provided with more sustainable and long-term security and support even after the initial intervention”, said Asllani. 

 The recommendations are as follows: 

Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare 

• Provide sufficient funding for shelters. 
• Increase the capacity of shelters throughout Kosovo to provide sufficient services to all communities in Kosovo. 
• Support the design and implementation of a reintegration strategy for the long-term social inclusion program for survivors of domestic violence. 

• Improve coordination between shelters, Vocational Training Centers and Employment Offices, by identifying skills required in the market as well as suitable jobs for abuse victims, in particular women. 
• Support the design and implementation of standards and staff training in Community Centers to improve the quality of social and family services for girls and women through capacity building of public and non-governmental providers (in line with the MLSW Sector Strategy 2018-2022). 

Center for Social Work 

• Create and implement a plan for the inclusion of social assistance beneficiaries in employment programs. 
• Support the design and implementation of standards and staff training in Community Centers to improve the quality of social and family services for girls and women through capacity building of public and non-governmental providers (in line with the MLSW Sector Strategy 2018-2022). 

Vocational Training Center in Prishtina Region 

• Develop cooperation with employment offices and vocational training centers, as well as with the Centers for Social Work in order to provide specially developed training and professional development courses for victims of domestic violence, as part of their rehabilitation plans. 
• Provide training for beneficiaries of social categories as well as engage in employment programs, based on individual beneficiary reintegration plans. 

Center for the Protection of Women and Children, Prishtina 

• Develop cooperation and coordination with employment offices and vocational training centers, as well as with social work centers in order to provide specially developed training and professional development courses for victims of domestic violence, as part of their plans for rehabilitation and reintegration. 

• Strengthen cooperation with local institutions to launch revenue-generating programs that would financially support shelters and improve victims’ professional skills. 

This initiative was funded by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) and co-financed by UN Women.