Most violent citizens during pandemic increase cases of domestic and sexual violence

Organizations monitoring these cases believe that this figure would be much greater than all victims, especially women, have the opportunity and courage to report violence to them.

Erza Kurti from the Kosovo Women's Network tells Radio Free Europe that not all cases have been reported to police in the period of the new coronary pandemic.

“We are seeing an increase in reported cases year-on-year. Each year, the number is higher than the other. It's very disturbing, but we think that maybe even the report is not so high during pandemic, that maybe there might be more cases because pandemic has made it difficult for people who experience domestic violence to report it”, says Kurti.

Kurt says that dozens of women have settled in shelters during the time of pandemic because they were victims of violence.

Police: Prioritative treatment increased case reporting

In March, increased numbers of reported cases of domestic violence began.

On April 15th, Kosovo Police appealed citizens to announce any case in which they are victims of violence, assuring them that their cases would be handled priorly.

Kosovo police tell Radio Free Europe that in the first quarter of this year, a total of 648 cases of domestic violence have been recorded.

In January, according to police data, 161 cases of domestic violence were recorded in February 151, in March 169, while in April the total of 167 cases.

For May, Kosovo police have not sent the data, because according to this institution, it is done at the end of every month.

But according to reports of 24 hours, this month has been the same trend of marking cases of domestic violence.

Police say that over the past few years, co-operation with citizens has increased and which has affected the number of reported cases.

The treatment of priority cases on the part of the KP, the co-operation of citizens with police and the sesilibility of citizens has contributed to the raising of cases between the years”, the Kosovo Police response said.

The Kosovo police call on all citizens not to show violence to anyone, especially at this time when the country is going through the pandemic caused by the new coronary.

Kosovo's “Police, despite additional commitments, treat these cases with priority and appeal to all persons if they are victims of domestic violence or any other kind of violence, report these cases through telephone numbers 192 i n 8,700,19999 Or at the nearest police station”, the Kosovo Police reply is said.

Haxhiu seeks stricter measures for violent frauds

Acting Justice Minister Albuna Haxhiu says that according to data that this minister has, in the three months of pandemic, 30 percent increase in domestic violence has been recorded.

According to it only in March, April and half of May, more than 350 cases of domestic violence have been recorded.

Minister Haxhiu says the increase in cases is disturbing and that stricter measures are needed for frauds of violence.

The court must be at the helm of the task and see it as a social problem, and this is the result of the patriarchal mentality, which is not considered a major crime if someone has been physically, mentally, materially or sexually violated. Therefore, there must be emancipation, high social awareness, and on the other hand police, Prosecutors and Courts to condemn those involved in such crimes”, Haxhiu says.

Recent months in Kosovo have also increased cases of sexual violence, for which incumbent Justice Minister Albulen Haxhiu says leaders of these works should not in most cases be issued in regular procedure.

What continues to be disturbing is that in cases, especially sexual violence because during this time it has been expressed especially cases of sexual violence among minors, it is being released into regular procedures, and this certainly is a serious concern because it only encourages leaders to continue with such criminal acts”, Haxhiu says.

In addition to Kosovo, increased family violence figures have reported many states of the world.

According to the United Nations Organization, 243 million women and girls aged 15 to 49 have been subjected to sexual or physical violence over the past 12 months worldwide.