COMMF: 34.4 percent of student reports say that there are teachers who sexually molest

According to the KOMF, there has been a steady increase in the number of cases of acts against child sexual integrity, such as rape, sexual assault, degradation of sexual integrity, and the misuse of children into pornography.

Criminal acts against the sexual integrity of children are occurring in environments like family, community, even in institutions mandated for child protection, such as educational institutions, schools, etc. According to data from the Council of Kosovo Students 34.4% of student reporting shows that there are sexually harassed teachers in schools, while no cases of harassment or sexual abuse were reported in the Education Information Management system at any Kosovo school. This indicates that the prevention and reporting system within schools is not functioning”.

The following can be read from the complete communique:

In view of the latest case of child sexual rape 11, the KOMF, which represents 34 nongovernmental organisations, held an extraordinary press conference, where it voiced deep concern over neglect, institutional inaction and poor performance of the child protection system, in preventing situations of assaults and sexual abuses against children, and treating cases where children are victims of sexual abuse.

KOMF expressed deep indignation over the creation of culture not punishing perpetrators of sexual crimes against children, cultivated primarily by institutions mandated to protect children themselves. This culture has stimulated an uncertain and dangerous social environment, where violation of basic children's rights, violating their physical, moral and sexual integrity, becomes a common phenomenon, not exception”.

In recent years there has been a steady increase in the number of cases of acts against child sexual integrity, such as rape, sexual assault, degradation of sexual integrity, and the misuse of children into pornography. Specifically, according to Kosovo Police data, 249 cases against the sexual integrity of children were recorded in 2021.

Criminal acts against the sexual integrity of children are taking place in environments like family, community, even in institutions mandated for child protection, such as educational institutions, schools, etc. According to data from the Council of Kosovo Students 34.4% of student reporting shows that there are sexually harassed teachers in schools, while no cases of harassment or sexual abuse were reported in the Education Information Management system at any Kosovo school. This shows that the prevention and reporting system within schools is not working.

The cases of sexual abuse of children prove painful not only the smoothness and illness of the child's defense system but also the gross lack of seriousness of the entire justice system in dealing with and punishing the perpetrators of sexual abuse of children.

In view of the many cases that have been reported and done media recently, including cases that have fatally ended precisely due to the failure of the institutions of the prosecutorial system and judiciary, we have expected institutional response from the highest level, with the goal of reflecting, mobilizing and accountability for failing to be responsible, to all acts of child protection system. Disaction is perceived as indifference and this reflects negatively on defence providers at all levels of governance and responsibility.

COMMF through this statement requests:

• The audit of the state-run treatment of cases of sexual violence against children, including the treatment of criminal leaders involving sexual violence, over the past five years;
• Establishing the database of persons convicted of criminal acts against the sexual integrity of children and therefore preventing their access to children, according to existing models in European space, based on the Law on Child Protection;
• Extinction of sentences pronounced against perpetrators of criminal acts against sexual integrity within the limits set by the Penal Code;
• Urgent delivery of adequate treatment and protection for all children, victims of harassment or sexual abuse;
• Criminal responsibility by all professionals mandated for child protection, in case of failure to enforce the legal obligation to treat these cases effectively.

We remain in expectation of the urgent actions of the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo for handling working situations against the sexual integrity of children.

KOMF is open to co-operate with relevant institutions in joint efforts to ensure safe, healthy and dignified lives for all children.