OSCE Mission in Kosovo supports establishment of Municipal Coordination Mechanism against Domestic Violence in Novo Brdo/Novobërdë

The Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Ambassador Michael Davenport, attended the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding establishing a Municipal Coordination Mechanism against Domestic Violence (MCMDV) in Novo Brdo/Novobërdë Municipality.

Ambassador Davenport emphasized that the establishment of the municipal coordination mechanism was a significant step forward and demonstrated the commitment of Novo Brdo/Novobërdë to a more effective joint institutional response to tackling domestic violence.

“The effective operation of the Memorandum the Co-ordination Mechanism can help to provide support and necessary services to victims of domestic violence, to provide security and to improve the efficiency of community services to prevent domestic violence from arising in the first place,” he said.

Nazlie Bala, Adviser to the Minister of Justice, said that all this work, engagement and dedication wouldn’t have been possible without the help and support of international organizations. “I would like to highlight in particular the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, because I know what the Mission has done in the area for human rights, particularly in the area of domestic violence. The Mission has directly helped as a drafter of many different strategies and action plans to address domestic violence,” she said.

The signatories of the Memorandum of Understanding included representatives of the court and prosecution, Kosovo Police, relevant municipal directorates, the Victims’ Advocacy and Assistance Office, the Centre for Social Work, the local shelter for victims of domestic violence and civil society organizations.

This is the 19th Municipal Coordination Mechanism against Domestic Violence established with the support of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo. These mechanisms aim to strengthen co-ordination, information sharing, and engagement of all relevant actors at the local level, and include concrete steps to improve prevention of domestic violence, and strengthen the protection, treatment, and reintegration of victims.