{"id":3339673,"date":"2019-04-01T14:07:00","date_gmt":"2019-04-01T14:07:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/womensnetwork.org\/?p=3339673"},"modified":"2019-04-15T06:42:27","modified_gmt":"2019-04-15T06:42:27","slug":"kwn-organizes-workshop-on-the-role-of-the-ombudsperson-institution-on-the-treatment-of-violence-against-women","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/womensnetwork.org\/sq\/kwn-organizes-workshop-on-the-role-of-the-ombudsperson-institution-on-the-treatment-of-violence-against-women\/","title":{"rendered":"Activists Learn\u00a0How\u00a0to Hold Officials Accountable for\u00a0Treating\u00a0Violence\u00a0 against Women\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

On\u00a0<\/span>27<\/span>–<\/span>29 Mar<\/span>.,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>activists from Kosovo Women\u2019s Network (<\/span>KWN<\/span>)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>member organisations\u00a0<\/span>that are involved in assisting women who have suffered violence\u00a0<\/span>gathered in\u00a0<\/span>Durr<\/span>e<\/span>s<\/span>, Albania<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>to\u00a0<\/span>hone their skills in holding\u00a0<\/span>responsible\u00a0<\/span>institutions accountable\u00a0<\/span>for\u00a0<\/span>properly\u00a0<\/span>treating\u00a0<\/span>cases of\u00a0<\/span>violence<\/span>\u00a0against women.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The interactive workshop\u00a0<\/span>taught\u00a0<\/span>women\u2019s rights activists\u00a0<\/span>exactly where to refer women who have suffered violence<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>as well as\u00a0<\/span>how to assist women in instances when relevant\u00a0<\/span>instit<\/span>utions\u00a0<\/span>d<\/span>o<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>not\u00a0<\/span>perform their\u00a0<\/span>duties in accordance with the applicable legal framework.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

P<\/span>articipants\u00a0<\/span>shared their experience<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>and frustrations<\/span>, including concerns<\/span>\u00a0over how\u00a0<\/span>some\u00a0<\/span>representatives of relevant\u00a0<\/span>institutions have\u00a0<\/span>treated\u00a0<\/span>cases of violence against women and girls\u00a0<\/span>in the past.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>In t<\/span>he last few years<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0the Agency for Free Legal Aid opened its offices in our region<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0but they were later closed<\/span>,\u201d<\/span>\u00a0said\u00a0<\/span>Nevenka\u00a0<\/span>Rikalo<\/span>\u00a0from NGO\u00a0<\/span>Ruka<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/i>Ruci<\/span><\/i>.\u00a0<\/span>In addition, \u201cA<\/span>t the Agency in Pristina<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0there isn\u2019t anyone who knows the Serbian language<\/span>,<\/span>\u201d<\/span>\u00a0she added<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Other\u00a0<\/span>participants also raised issues of concern, including\u00a0<\/span>courts\u00a0<\/span>prolong<\/span>ing<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>the processing of\u00a0<\/span>cases<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0which\u00a0<\/span>leave<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0opportunit<\/span>ies<\/span>\u00a0for interference\u00a0<\/span>in case<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>and for mediation between the victim and the\u00a0<\/span>offender<\/span>, even though this is not foreseen\u00a0<\/span>in criminal cases<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>Sometimes, j<\/span>udges\u00a0<\/span>also\u00a0<\/span>provide\u00a0<\/span>punishments<\/span>\u00a0that are very low considering the crime<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>Further,\u00a0<\/span>participants criticiz<\/span>ed<\/span>\u00a0the unprofessional attitude of some social workers, their profession not aligning with their work description and their lack of timely response to cases of\u00a0<\/span>violence against women<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf institutions do not perform their duties, we\u00a0<\/span>as civil society have a\u00a0<\/span>responsibility<\/span>\u00a0to\u00a0<\/span>hold them accountable<\/span>,\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>emphasized<\/span>\u00a0Adelina Berisha, KWN Advocacy\u00a0<\/span>and Research Coordinator on Gender Based Violence<\/span>, who moderated the interactive workshop.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Valmira<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Rashiti<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>KWN L<\/span>egal\u00a0<\/span>A<\/span>ssistant<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0present<\/span>ed<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>and clarified\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>relevant\u00a0<\/span>legal framework.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

During the workshop, a<\/span>ctivists learned instances in which they could support women in referring cases of poor institutional performance to the Ombudsperson Institution.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Activists discuss, resolve scenarios involving various potential challenges in referring women who have suffered violence to the appropriate authorities, during a workshop in Durres on 28 Mar. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>It was important to see that one institution has higher and higher instances<\/span>,\u201d<\/span>\u00a0said Diellza Bezera\u00a0<\/span>from\u00a0<\/span>Arpolis<\/span>, referring to the information\u00a0<\/span>provided\u00a0<\/span>about how to report officials\u2019 poor performance to their superiors, and\u00a0<\/span>then, if not treated, to the Ombudsperson Institution<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>\u201c<\/span>Not all of us are jurists to know all of this information<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0and this\u00a0<\/span>[workshop] provided<\/span>\u00a0a good bas<\/span>is<\/span>\u00a0for all of us<\/span>,<\/span>\u201d<\/span>\u00a0she said.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cY<\/span>esterday\u00a0<\/span>I\u00a0<\/span>realized that I haven\u2019t gone to the end of things<\/span>, perhaps\u00a0<\/span>due to\u00a0<\/span>a lack of trust and tiredness<\/span>…<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u2018<\/span>go here<\/span>\u2019<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>\u2018<\/span>go there<\/span>\u2019.<\/span>..<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>m<\/span>aybe even\u00a0<\/span>due to\u00a0<\/span>a lack of information<\/span>,\u201d\u00a0<\/span>Xhejrane Lokaj<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>reflected in agreement<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u201c<\/span>If\u00a0<\/span>it is like this\u00a0<\/span>for\u00a0<\/span>me, what about those women who are not very educated?\u00a0<\/span>D<\/span>uring this workshop,\u00a0<\/span>y<\/span>ou have convined me\u00a0<\/span>that I have to take things to the end<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[<\/span>…<\/span>]<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>My message: Don\u2019t give up<\/span>!<\/span>\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

KWN will continue to support these diverse\u00a0<\/span>33<\/span>\u00a0activists from throughout Kosovo<\/span>, among others,<\/span>\u00a0in supporting women\u00a0<\/span>who have experienced violence in\u00a0<\/span>navigat<\/span>ing<\/span>\u00a0relevant institutions<\/span>, in order to seek justice and support.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This\u00a0<\/span>workshop\u00a0<\/span>was\u00a0<\/span>financed by the European Union\u00a0<\/span>through the UN Women<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u201cImplementing Norms, Changing Minds\u201d Program<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>via\u00a0<\/span>a<\/span>\u00a0KWN\u00a0<\/span>initiative\u00a0<\/span>on\u00a0<\/span>\u201c<\/span>i<\/span>ncreasing access to services for women\u201d.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

On\u00a027–29 Mar.,\u00a0activists from Kosovo Women\u2019s Network (KWN)\u00a0member organisations\u00a0that are involved in assisting women who have suffered violence\u00a0gathered in\u00a0Durres, Albania\u00a0to\u00a0hone their skills in holding\u00a0responsible\u00a0institutions accountable\u00a0for\u00a0properly\u00a0treating\u00a0cases of\u00a0violence\u00a0against women.\u00a0\u00a0 The interactive workshop\u00a0taught\u00a0women\u2019s rights activists\u00a0exactly where to refer women who have suffered violence,\u00a0as well as\u00a0how to assist women in instances when relevant\u00a0institutions\u00a0do\u00a0not\u00a0perform their\u00a0duties in accordance with the applicable legal […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":3339713,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_FSMCFIC_featured_image_caption":"","_FSMCFIC_featured_image_nocaption":"","_FSMCFIC_featured_image_hide":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[57],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3339673","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/womensnetwork.org\/sq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3339673","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/womensnetwork.org\/sq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/womensnetwork.org\/sq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womensnetwork.org\/sq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womensnetwork.org\/sq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3339673"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/womensnetwork.org\/sq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3339673\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3339813,"href":"https:\/\/womensnetwork.org\/sq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3339673\/revisions\/3339813"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womensnetwork.org\/sq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3339713"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/womensnetwork.org\/sq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3339673"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womensnetwork.org\/sq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3339673"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womensnetwork.org\/sq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3339673"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}