Family violence increases, but also sensationalization: 404 cases reported in January and February

2764 cases of domestic violence have been submitted to the Kosovo Police last year, while in the first two months of 2023, 404 new cases have been recorded.

Most victims, over 70 percent, are girls and women.

These statistics are being assessed by the Kosovo Women's Network and the Commission for Gender Equality. However, it is also considered that increased cases have come as a result of greater appearance, thanks to sensationalization from civil society organizations.

The Office for Information of the Kosovo Police has announced the Online Economy statistics for the past 14 months.

“During 2022, police have initiated 2764 cases of domestic violence; in these cases 2289 victims have been female and 519 males”.

“During January 2023 216 cases of domestic violence have been recorded, in these cases 177 victims have been female and 54 males. During February 2023, 188 cases of domestic violence have been recorded, of which 143 victims have been female and 45 males”.

The number of cases is not equal to the number of victims, since in one case there may be more than one victim, so the number of victims is greater than the number of” cases, says the police response sent to EO.

And this number of cases is considered disturbing by the Kosovo Women's Network ( RGK). Even more than police statistics, they say.

The state is not securing residence, or employment for victims of violence, which would make them independent.

Besarta Breznica, a member of the Kosovo Women's Network, said in recent years there is a greater number of women's violence reports.

The last “notes a greater report of gender-based violence in competent institutions. This is thanks to the work of civil society organisations. The Kosovo Women's Network is informed that the statistics Kosovo Police are not completely accurate, as our work on the ground shows there are many more victims of domestic violence”.

There are many reasons why women do not report violence immediately but live for years in violent environments. Despite having a very large number of reported violence, yet this is not a real number because there is much more violence in the family, we have many more victims of sexual violence, victims of domestic violence, victims of psychic violence and victims of economic violence”, she said.

According to Breznica, so far there have been no merit sentences that would prevent violence.

She also said that the current law against violence is incompatible with the Istanbul Convention, and according to her, we have an institutional failure because the state is failing to make the victims residence and employment that would make them independent.

When we talk about laws, it hasn't been seen so far that there has been any merit punishment in cases of domestic violence or femic violence. The offender is sentenced to 300 euros in fines, and the molester or sexual abuser is sentenced to 50 euros in fines, normally we do not have merit sentences that encourage women to report violence. These sentences are discouraging for them to continue in judicial processes. The Women's Network is a witness to many cases that police officials try to discourage at the police station to open the case. They also leave much to wish for privacy on how our officials protect”, she said.

“We are awaiting the Law for Protection From Family Violence and Violence on Gender Base. To a large extent, the law is not in line with the Istanbul Convention. The key law that deals with violence is not in line with the Istanbul Convention. We are waiting if the comments will be taken into account or addressed”.

The “Vones like this are not so good because the cases continue to occur and there is no effective way to treat them. Women return to abusive environments, this is an institutional failure because the state is failing to create any housing, or any payment to buy, or even employment that would make” independent, she said.

Hull: The situation is alarming, the law on protection from domestic violence and on gender grounds envisions more severe penalties

Duda Balje, chairman of the Commission for Human Rights, Gender Equality, for Ungenerated Persons and Petitions in the Kosovo Assembly, said they are waiting to enter the agenda for the vote bill for protection from domestic violence and gender-based violence, which according to her, envisions harsh penalties against violators.

With figures that are official we have over 2700 domestic violence victims only last year. This year, unfortunately, has begun killing women again... We really have a very alarming situation”.

We're working hard, but the problem is complex. It's not that easy, it's gotta activate the whole system, not just an address. And it actually needs to be started by the” house.

We as a commission have decided to take concrete steps. First, we are awaiting the first vote of the Law against domestic violence and women. We're waiting to get on the agenda even after first reading we can sit down and design the law. It means we're expecting a much more stable law for implementation on the ground”, she said.