VV rejects resolution against attacks on sexual integrity

The Democratic League of Kosovo has presented today in the Kosovo Assembly the draft resolution against attacks on sexual integrity.

The same took the support of two other opposition PDK and AAK parties, but the ruling party, Vetevendosje Movement, voiced opposition, as according to them the most necessary, is the Ministry of Justice's initiative to complement the criminal procedure and the Criminal Code.

The initiative of this draft resolution, LDK deputy Dorasa Kica-Gali, said political mobilization is needed to condemn sexual violence beyond speeches.

She said the resolution has 11 points, which are required to profile judges and prosecutors, who exclusively will handle the subjects of criminal acts against sexual integrity and criminal acts of sexual harassment.

At one other point, it is called on the Government of Kosovo to finance the drafting of a Penal Code comment on the chapter of criminal acts against sexual integrity and the criminal work of sexual harassment, which will include local and foreign judicial practice.

“Like mobilizing the political will to punish once again beyond our speeches even more severely any violator, manipulator, attacker and criminal who committed criminal acts of assault, sexual harassment and any work that violates and denigrates sexual integrity under the penal code”, Kica-Jali said.

Support also offered the Democratic Party of Kosovo, through deputy Eliza Hoxha.

We support a resolution like this of LDK today that calls for inclusion in handling the issue and not only in dealing with the consequences when it comes to the judicial and prosecutorial sector. So the idea is to invest in a more friendly investment dealing with preventing violence and other aspects of gender integrity and not only dealing with the consequences”, she said.

Also needed was AAK MP Albana Bytyqi.

“An opposition party has brought a necessary draft resolution and more than necessary for the current situation about the subject of sexual harassment. Unfortunately, statistics show rising cases that often end with fatality. We as state and society are failing to protect our people, especially our daughters and women”, Bytyqi said.

On the other hand, Vetevendosje MP Tinka Kurti expressed surprise why this draft resolution is coming, when changes to the Penal Code in the order of the day where sanctions for sexual assault and violence against women are stiffened.

She said this resolution speaks more about the conditions of the judiciary and the prosecution than the victims themselves.

“We are currently discussing a document, which has been warned under many warnings, shortly after the amendments that harden the Penal Code regarding sexual assault and women's violations have been proposed. This is surprisingly, by the time changes are expected in code that have been passed on to the commission without legislation, without the LDK vote, are expected very well by most women and men. The most concerned ones on this subject are being expected, as changes are being made through an important and binding legal act. Honored MPs, this resolution speaks more about judicial and prosecutorial conditions than the victims themselves, she stressed.