On 15 July, KWN members met with the Minister of Labor and Social Services, Minister Selmanaj, to bring his attention to the absence of appropriate legislation addressing gender-based violence.

KWN members noted that the Law on Social Services was not being fully implemented, and shelters were not included in the Kosova consolidated budget. They also informed the Minister that the United Nations Mission in Kosovo’s (UNMIK) Department of Justice is obliged by law to help and support persons who have suffered violence in reaching shelters. This means that the Provisional Institutions of Self Governance (PISG) and UNMIK use the services of the shelters without supporting them financially.

Minister Selmanaj said that the institutions are willing to support and help them, but the issue requires a commitment from both sides. He proposed and agreed to arrange a meeting with the parliamentarian group on Health and Social Welfare to address this problem in the highest lawmaking body.