RGK on Friday in protest, justice required for Zeynep

The Kosovo Women's Network invites for Friday, starting at 10:00, all activists, representatives of civil society organisations and citizens, to the peaceful protest before the Palace of Justice, to demand maximum punishment for Negoti Berisha, the killer of domestic violence victim Zenepe Berisha.

RGK through a communique has said that since justice institutions were not taking appropriate measures, following numerous reactions, RGK hired lawyer Fehmije Gashi Bytyqi to represent Zeynep's family.

The “As a result, following complaints filed by Zeynep's family representative, the Court of Appeals in Pristina has decided to hold a session Friday at 10:00. Following Zeynep's murder, on the order of the Prizren Foundation Court on 12 April, the victim's killer has been sentenced to only 12 years in prison. The Republic of Kosovo's Penal Code, at Article 179 on Murder, says that “with a sentence of no less than ten (10) years in prison or life in prison is punished by the person who:... 1.3. You deprive your family member of life”. In view of the circumstances in which this murder, the weight of the work, and the systematic violence that the victim has experienced, RGK continues to view this sentence as disproportional to the work done. We remind you that in the past responsible institutions have been declared to have zero tolerance of domestic violence, but such minimum sentences are not conveying the same message. They are giving the wrong message that such greedy crimes will not be condemned. Hence, RGK hopes that the Court of Appeals during this session will undertake a merit decision. RGK believes that with fair decisions, justice bodies can influence the reduction of violence, respectively. Domestic violence is a crime”, said in the communique.

RGK and the Balkan Network for Investigative Journal (BIRN) are co-operating in monitoring relevant institutions concerning gender-based violence cases, including cases of domestic violence. This co-operation aims to raise institutional responsibility during treatment of gender-based violence, and to increase reporting these cases, ensuring that there is justice, protection and rehabilitation for cases of gender-based violence.