Ending Domestic Violence in Kosovo One House at a Time
Awareness of the right to information and education is the first step
Kosovo, Europe’s youngest democracy, passed its first laws protecting citizens from domestic violence seven years ago, but laws alone are not enough. For these laws to have an impact, citizens must understand their rights and feel empowered to demand them.
Last year, Kosovar authorities received nearly 1,200 reports of domestic violence out of a population of 1.8 million, nearly all of which were investigated by prosecutors. Yet this number hardly represents the reality. Cultural, ethnic and family pressures conceal the extent of the problem by keeping survivors from reporting abuse.
Despite pressures to remain silent about violence at home, the number of official cases that are reported has begun to grow.
Domestic violence is underreported nationwide, but the problem is especially dire among minority communities. Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities — where people tend to have lower levels of education and higher rates of unemployment — are disproportionately affected by domestic violence. Child marriage also remains commonplace in these communities, further compounding vulnerability to violence.
The first step to support these vulnerable community members is to ensure they understand their right to live free of violence and the services available to protect them.
In Kosovo, only a few small groups are working on this enormous challenge. USAID partner RROGRAEK is one of the local NGOs working with vulnerable minority groups on public awareness about domestic violence against women and children, and early marriage. Throughout the western region of Peja, RROGRAEK strives to educate and mobilize women and youth in minority communities to overcome domestic and gender-based violence.
The organization is also focused on engaging other stakeholders critical to the prevention of violence against women: police, judges, doctors, men and others. Their work ensures that all elements of society understand the extent of the problem and that they can help to end it by encouraging people to report domestic violence and raising awareness about consequences for victims and perpetrators.
“Only by raising awareness of the [whole] society — women and men, judiciary, police, youth and everyone involved, [can] a reduction of domestic violence be achieved.”
Domestic violence is followed by severe consequences for the victims, family and the whole society, especially when it is perceived as justified and “normal,” as in the majority of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities. In addition to the physical and psychological consequences for adult victims, children start to exhibit psychological problems in early childhood and, in the majority of cases, end up as perpetrators or continue to be victims themselves.
Young girls living in such environments very frequently abandon school and get married early in the hope and illusion of a better life without violence. But instead they continue to be victims of domestic violence while dealing with economic dependence, early childbirths, health problems, illegal marriages, unemployment and divorce.
The barriers to confronting gender-based violence are steep. In this young state, the mechanisms and institutions that can help victims are not always trusted. Family issues are considered private matters, and it is not easy to break through centuries of patriarchy.
“Only by raising awareness of the [whole] society — women and men, judiciary, police, youth and everyone involved, [can] a reduction of domestic violence be achieved,” explains RROGRAEK Director Shpresa Agushi. “It is of an utmost importance to educate women about their rights … and how [they can] address [it] if this negative phenomenon occurs.”
RROGRAEK is also directly contributing to the economic health of the communities in which it works. The organization employs a significant number of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian young women, who use their income to invest in higher education or establish either NGOs or small businesses.
With support from USAID, over the last eight months, RROGRAEK has been going community to community and house to house with their messages. The organization has reached nearly 400 vulnerable women and students through workshops and conversations focused on human rights, domestic and gender-based violence, education and the dangers of child marriages.
The barriers to confronting gender-based violence are steep. But the message has been heard and progress is taking root.
“It’s a slow process. It takes talking and discussing and engaging with men and women alike until the discussion reaches the point of [asking] what’s the purpose and the need to use violence,” says Xhylieta Devolli, a 20-year human rights expert and team member of RROGRAEK. “We are with communities, we work on weekly and sometimes daily basis, and this has increased trust and confidence in our work.”
Members of the Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities now accept RROGRAEK team members into their homes; they agree to discuss their own cases and how to engage with rule of law and other authorities. RROGRAEK also convenes family conferences in Peja with members of these communities. These family conferences are designed to educate families (including 50 percent of registered victims in the Peja region) on the consequences of domestic and gender-based violence.
After less than a year of conducting community outreach in Peja, RROGRAEK’s work in the region is still just beginning. But the message has been heard, and progress is taking root as confirmed by recent reports of a 30 percent increase in reported cases of domestic violence. Some 112 cases have been reported in the last nine months.
Education, financial independence and awareness of consequences are key to eliminating domestic and gender-based violence. In Kosovo, with USAID’s help, change is happening one household at a time.
About the Author
Xheraldina Cernobregu is a senior communications specialist for USAID’s mission in Kosovo. Follow her @DinaCernobregu and keep up with the Kosovo mission @USAIDKosovo.
Read more about USAID’s work to prevent and respond to gender-based violence and the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.
