The Kosovo Women’s Network, in cooperation with the Department for Social and Family Policies and the Professional Council for Social and Family Policies, organized a training on the curriculum “Working with Victims of Domestic Violence: Treatment and Referral.”

This two-day (22 and 23 September) training brought together social service professionals from various municipalities of the Pristina region, providing an important space for learning, discussion, and exchange of experiences on handling cases of domestic violence and protecting victims.

During the sessions, participants had the opportunity to deepen their knowledge on:

• Understanding domestic violence, violence against women, and gender-based violence;
• The legal framework and recent developments under national laws and international conventions, including the Istanbul Convention;
• The roles and responsibilities of social service professionals in case management, from risk identification and assessment to referral and inter-institutional coordination;
• A victim-centered approach and the protection of children exposed to violence;
• Working with other vulnerable groups, such as Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian women, LGBTQ+ victims, migrants, and persons with disabilities.

“Trainings like this are very necessary for social workers because here we exchange different experiences, we learn from one another, and we also have the chance to learn from other practices through the lecturer,” said one social worker.

The training was delivered in an interactive format, combining lectures with discussions, practical exercises, and group work. Participants reflected on the daily challenges they face in the field and shared ideas for improving institutional responses.

This activity is part of the project “Institutionalization of Quality Rehabilitation and Integration Services for Survivors of Violence,” funded by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) with the support of the Austrian Development Cooperation.