Women Security Forum - Meeting in Suhareka

3/03/2022

Takimi në Suharekë me komunitetin e grave dhe përfaqësuesit e institucioneve lokale

KCSS has started the implementation of activities in the framework the project "Women, Peace and Security" against violence against women in Kosovo, which aims to identify the challenges faced by women and create an environment as safe and fair for girls and women in Kosovo.

Kosovar Centre for Security Studies (KCSS) has begin with the implementation of the activities in the framework the project "Women, Peace and Security" against violence against women in Kosovo, which aims to identify the challenges faced by women and create an environment as safe and fair for girls and women in Kosovo. The violence against girls and women in Kosovo, whether in the family or other environments (work, roads, etc) is a phenomenon that’s is increasing from year to year, KCSS through this project is advocating for security for women, preventing and combating any kind of violence against them and their more active and genuine involvement in public and social life in general and in the security sector in particular (Kosovo Police and Kosovo Security Force) to the levels high decision-making.

To this end, KCSS is organizing meetings in all municipalities of Kosovo with the community of women to discuss their concerns in the field of security and protection when faced with domestic violence and other forms of violence, protection of victims of violence, integrating them into society and addressing all the other problems and challenges they face. For these meetings, KCSS has consolidated the Security Forum with Women to openly discuss the concerns faced by women in the field of security. Therefore, within this project, KCSS held the first meeting on Thursday, March 3, in the Municipality of Suhareka with girls and women of rural and urban areas of Suhareka, women of minority communities in Suhareka, representatives of the Kosovo Police and officials of the Municipality of Suhareka.

According to the representatives of local security institutions, in Suhareka there is an increase in the number of cases of domestic violence during 2021 and the period January-February 2022, while there is an increasing tendency to report cases to the Police. Municipal officials stressed that the Municipality of Suhareka has its mechanism against domestic violence established several years ago that gives concrete recommendations for the prevention of violence against women. The women who participated in this meeting stated that the patriarchal mentality still dominates in Kosovo and that there is still a lot of work to be done by all to raise awareness of women about their rights to work, inheritance, common property, and other issues with importance. Women also called on municipal institutions and the police to provide more security and protection for women, especially those who are victims of domestic violence and other forms of violence. While, some of the recommendations issued during the meeting were that there should be such meetings even more often to promote communication and open discussion between women with municipal institutions, Police, Prosecution, and other local mechanisms.

KCSS throughout this project, will organize meetings in every municipality of Kosovo to sensitize and raise awareness against violence against women in Kosovo and the greater integration of girls and women in Kosovo society.

This activity is supported by Kosovar Civil Society Foundation (KCSF) program ‘EJA Kosovo’, cofinanced by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Sweden, and Government of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.