Victims of domestic violence, victims of violence, and work

Jelena Milkovic of Gracanica, located near Pristina, is today 34 years old and, as she says, has barely managed to save “alive”. She has three sons and is older than 15 years old. As her eyes fill with tears, she says that even children have experienced physical violence from her former husband. At the end of 2017, she began a court trial, and in August 2020 she was able to divorce and through the courts to obtain custody of her children.

“> Once, he slammed my head through the window and children saw that scene”, says Jelena Milkovic, who decided to confess to Radio Free Europe the details of the violence he has experienced, adding that women should not remain silent for years to violence.

She had not denounced the violence - even rape - in her marriage, fearing that her husband would take her children. In the end, neighbours have called the police and since then started their fight for a “life and better freedom”.

However, Jelena Milkovic, besides the victim of domestic violence, has also experienced workplace harassment.

Violence in the Workplace

Jelena says she was employed thanks to National Ansammbli director “Venac” in Gracanica, Snezana Jovanovic, who committed her to maintain the objects of this amendment.

The amsemulent y works within the Serbian system, respectively, is under the leadership of Serbia's Ministry of Culture and Information.

However, one of the guards of the Culture House in Gracanica (whose identity is known for editing), where the spaces used by “Venac”, which maintains Jelena, began to use offensive words against her.

She says those expressions she made public about the REL, reminded her of rape when she was the victim of sexual violence from now on.

Searching for Justice

Jelena mustered up courage and reported to the authorities that she was facing psychological violence at her workplace.

She, at first, addressed the director of the Culture House, Zivojin Rakochevic, who was the overseer of the guard.

This person was employed at the House of Culture in Gracanica, which works under the Serbian system, while the same person also had contracts with the Gracanica municipality, which functions according to the Kosovo system and is one of ten majority Serb municipalities in Kosovo.

Therefore, Jelena also addressed local officials in Gracanica, then mayor of the municipality, Srdjan Popovovic, and Health Director Aleksandar Popovic.

However, according to Jelena, no one wanted to defend or support her, so she decided to file a private indictment. The judgment on this case has lasted about two years, and the final decision has been in its favour. Specifically, the Constitutional Court in Pristina has ruled that the accused must pay financial compensation of about 2,000 euros for <x0 euros for psychiatric violence, injury and reputation damage”.

Retract pressure to drop indictment

It shows that it has experienced pressure from local power and has been blackmailed that “if you withdraw the indictment, you will get residence”.

Shortly after the indictment was filed, Jelena Milkovic had submitted a request to the Gracanica municipality to provide residential assistance.

“I was asked to give up, I told Srdjan [then Gracanica chairman] that I would not withdraw the indictment, because they know what I went through”, says Jelena, and adds that it is convinced that the purpose was to withdraw the indictment and in exchange to be rewarded with a flat.

The director of the Culture House in Gracanica, Zivlin Rakochevic, has not wanted to comment on Yelena's allegations, but has indicated that “cannot answer for something that hasn't happened”.

Srdjan Popovic and Aleksandar Popovic have not responded to REL calls to publishing this text.

Snezana Jovanovic, who is helping Jelena, is somehow involved in the work of the local self-government of Gracanica. It has served for two mandates as anemist in this municipality, from the ranks of the Serbian List, the main party of Kosovo Serbs, and is also director of the amendment”Venac”.

In a conversation with the REL, she says in some cases she has attempted to show that Jelena was a victim of institutional violence and adds that she has been addressed to the authorities. But no one has wanted to react, according to her.

I acted like a man. It was given to me as a temptation, no one has asked me to deal with this thing so much, but we are human, we have to act like people and not just look at”, she said, adding that Jelena no longer needs her help.

I'm protecting him because he doesn't have anybody”

Currently, Jelena and her children live in a house in Gracanica, which she has given to the provisional exploitation of Raska and Prizren of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Kosovo. Help has also been received from the organisation “Nine Southwest Mother”.

Nezana Jovanovic says Jelena is currently being trained in the costume sector, meaning she can be promoted to duty soon.

And people ask me why you protect Yelena so much, and my answer is that she doesn't have anyone, says Jovanovic.

UN assessments

The number of victims of violence in Kosovo reportedly increased in 2021.

In 2020, 1,145 cases of domestic violence were reported, and between January-August 2021, 1,374 cases were reported.

The report also states that victims have rarely reported sexual violence and rape in or outside the family, and this is often due to social stigma and lack of trust in Government.

According to the same report, sexual harassment is common in the public sector and in private, including public institutions of higher education.

EU and O recommendations SBE's

Economic empowerment and housing of women, who are victims of violence, is the most essential thing to do to help them, was said at a conference organised by the Organisation for Co-operation and Security in Europe (OSBE) and the European Union Office (BE), which was held in early February in Pristina.

Government officials and local institutions participated in the conference.

Even when this is done, the victims are forced to return to the bully, so long-term solution” must be found, was one of the main conclusions of the conference.

Kosovo President, Vjosa Osmani, said Kosovo society will be safe only when women feel safe on the streets, jobs and homes.

We, the institutions, should provide and ensure that security. There is no better protection for victims of domestic violence than their financial independence”, Osmani said.

Meanwhile, Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti said the executive he leads has the programme for gender equality 2020-2024. According to him, the strategic goal of the programme is to create equal opportunities for women and men so that women can contribute but also benefit from economic development.

Nearly 2,500 cases per year

Kosovo police say one of their priorities is dealing with cases of domestic violence. This institution says that for years, awareness campaigns from the consequences of domestic violence are under way.

“consistently points out that violence cannot be stopped without reporting [to police], without occasional treatment by competent organs. Cases of domestic violence are sensitive. These cases are reported more frequently”, Free Europe from Kosovo Police Radio.

During 2021, 2,486 cases of domestic violence were reported in the Kosovo Police. This institution stresses that cases of domestic violence are handled by special units, which are trained and co-operate closely with social work centres, victims' lawyers and the judicial system.