Combat Abuse of WomenDomestic violence is a serious and widespread problem in Kosovo. According to Kosovo police statistics, 1,077 cases of domestic violence were recorded in 2007. But a UN study from 2000 indicated that almost quarter of women surveyed said they had experienced physical and/or psychological abuse following the end of war in 1999. Only a small fraction of cases are reported to the police because of the family and societal pressure on the victims, and their economic dependency on their families. As a result, most cases of domestic violence are never brought to justice, and official data underestimates the scale of the problem, leading to it being virtually ignored in policy debates. Further, little is done by the state to protect the victims of domestic violence. In the absence of adequate public funding, support to victims of domestic violence and the provision of safe houses depend upon Kosovo’s already stretched women’s human rights groups. Most regions and many municipalities lack safe houses. Public awareness of domestic violence remains low. Moreover, trafficking of women remains a serious issue, with Kosovo a location of transit and occasionally origin for trafficking victims. Services for trafficking victims, including shelters and vocational training, depend largely on support from women’s organizations. Tackling violence and abuses against women in Kosovo requires a sustained commitment from the authorities in Kosovo to support and deepen the efforts being carried out by women’s human rights organizations, and to ensure that domestic violence is dealt with as a crime. Public education is also critically important. Recommendations:
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