Changing attitudes towards domestic violence in Kosovo
Making the problem visible
Traditional societies such as Kosovo's tend to keep family matters away from the public. Problems with domestic violence are not discussed, not even within the family. "It is very important to change this. Society has to agree that domestic violence is a crime and not just a private issue," says Nikola Gaon, OSCE Mission's Senior Public Affairs Officer. Gaon led the team that created the 2004 campaign. "This year we directly addressed the victims."
"A significant number of victims don't realize that what they experience is a form of domestic violence. Even worse, some who do realize this think that they did something to deserve it. Some victims of domestic violence believe that the way their husbands or partners treat them will change and sometimes they think it's a shame to talk about what goes on in their house," says Gaon.
The slogan "Domestic violence can be stopped! Accept protection - call a Victims' Advocate" aimed to show victims that help is only a phone call away. In the last two years, over 3,000 cases were reported to the police and to the Victims' Advocates. Jennifer Chase, OSCE Senior Human Rights Officer, is in charge of the Victims' Advocates Support Section. She sees a positive trend: "Once domestic violence becomes visible as a problem, it can be dealt with."
Supporting local stakeholders
The OSCE Mission is not the only institution fighting domestic violence in Kosovo. It co-operates with local stakeholders such as the Kosovo Police Service and its Domestic Violence Unit, the Department of Justice and its Victims' Advocates, the Centre for Social Work and local women's non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
"Important regulations were changed to improve the legal protection of victims. Police are now more specialized and can more effectively deal with cases of domestic violence. Local women's NGOs have created five shelters for victims and we are now in the process of training them on how to run SOS help lines," explains Chase.
Long-term process
Although a lot is being done, Gaon believes that more extensive public information campaigns are needed. "Until now, the stakeholders involved have been conducting fairly short campaigns. In the future, we need to constantly keep the issue in the public domain and to address all those who are directly involved - perpetrators and victims as well as the people who surround them, that is, their families, friends, neighbours and colleagues."
Children who grow up with domestic violence are more likely to become perpetrators or victims later on in life. Only long-term awareness-raising and a society that rejects violence can break this cycle.
Gaining more support
Kosovo's institutions show interest in fighting and preventing domestic violence, but funding of activities in this area is not yet provided by bodies of local governance. Only a few shelters receive minimal financial support from municipalities, leaving them to rely on international donors.
"This is something we would like to see change," says Gaon. "We would also like the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare to consider providing funding for similar activities."
Domestic violence is an issue that both local and international actors in Kosovo have to deal with now and in the future. The OSCE Mission in Kosovo continues to support local government and non-governmental initiatives.
Traditional societies such as Kosovo's tend to keep family matters away from the public. Problems with domestic violence are not discussed, not even within the family. "It is very important to change this. Society has to agree that domestic violence is a crime and not just a private issue," says Nikola Gaon, OSCE Mission's Senior Public Affairs Officer. Gaon led the team that created the 2004 campaign. "This year we directly addressed the victims."
"A significant number of victims don't realize that what they experience is a form of domestic violence. Even worse, some who do realize this think that they did something to deserve it. Some victims of domestic violence believe that the way their husbands or partners treat them will change and sometimes they think it's a shame to talk about what goes on in their house," says Gaon.
The slogan "Domestic violence can be stopped! Accept protection - call a Victims' Advocate" aimed to show victims that help is only a phone call away. In the last two years, over 3,000 cases were reported to the police and to the Victims' Advocates. Jennifer Chase, OSCE Senior Human Rights Officer, is in charge of the Victims' Advocates Support Section. She sees a positive trend: "Once domestic violence becomes visible as a problem, it can be dealt with."
Supporting local stakeholders
The OSCE Mission is not the only institution fighting domestic violence in Kosovo. It co-operates with local stakeholders such as the Kosovo Police Service and its Domestic Violence Unit, the Department of Justice and its Victims' Advocates, the Centre for Social Work and local women's non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
"Important regulations were changed to improve the legal protection of victims. Police are now more specialized and can more effectively deal with cases of domestic violence. Local women's NGOs have created five shelters for victims and we are now in the process of training them on how to run SOS help lines," explains Chase.
Long-term process
Although a lot is being done, Gaon believes that more extensive public information campaigns are needed. "Until now, the stakeholders involved have been conducting fairly short campaigns. In the future, we need to constantly keep the issue in the public domain and to address all those who are directly involved - perpetrators and victims as well as the people who surround them, that is, their families, friends, neighbours and colleagues."
Children who grow up with domestic violence are more likely to become perpetrators or victims later on in life. Only long-term awareness-raising and a society that rejects violence can break this cycle.
Gaining more support
Kosovo's institutions show interest in fighting and preventing domestic violence, but funding of activities in this area is not yet provided by bodies of local governance. Only a few shelters receive minimal financial support from municipalities, leaving them to rely on international donors.
"This is something we would like to see change," says Gaon. "We would also like the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare to consider providing funding for similar activities."
Domestic violence is an issue that both local and international actors in Kosovo have to deal with now and in the future. The OSCE Mission in Kosovo continues to support local government and non-governmental initiatives.