The Security and Gender Group (SGG) strongly condemns the shooting of Sebahate Sopi, on Sunday, 14 March in Pristina, expresses indignation at the number of women’s lives lost in Kosovo at the hands of their partners or former partners, and calls upon relevant institutions totake effective measures in preventing gender-based violence and providing effective protectionto victims.
Violence against women, including domestic violence is one of the most serious human rightsviolations.
According to Article 24(1), Law on Protection against Domestic Violence, the Kosovo Police shall respond to any report relating to acts of domestic violence or threats to commit suchacts. The Law further states that the “Kosovo Police shall use reasonable means to protect the victim and prevent further violence and sets out specific measures to be taken in such cases.
Six months since the incorporation of the provisions of the Council of Europe Convention onPreventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence (Istanbul Convention) into the Kosovo Constitution, it is time to advance their implementation and takeconcrete actions to prevent violence against women and girls, protect victims and prosecuteperpetrators. Institutions must be held accountable for their commitments. In this regard, Article 50 of the Istanbul Convention (immediate response, prevention and protection) requires thefollowing:
Effective measures should be taken to prevent the most blatant forms of violencewhich are murder or attempted murder. Each such case should be carefully analysed in order toidentify any possible failure of protection in view of improving and developing further preventivemeasures.
Domestic violence is a crime, as stated in Article 248 of the Criminal Code of Kosovo, and ispunishable by a fine and imprisonment. Violence against women is the result of structural, deep-rooted discrimination which institutions have an obligation to address.
Preventing andaddressing gender-based violence against women is a legal and moral obligations requiringlegislative, administrative and institutional measures and reforms.
They require eradication ofgender stereotypes which condone or perpetuate gender-based violence against women andunderpin the structural inequality of women with men.
The multi-stakeholder Security and Gender Group (SGG) encourages Kosovo institutions tothoroughly investigate the circumstances of the death of Sebahate Sopi as well as the circumstances leading to her death.
To ensure that women are protected effectively in thefuture, SGG members appeal to institutions: · to treat domestic violence cases with high priority, · to guarantee justice for victims, to initiate perpetrator programmes, aimed at changing violent behavioural patterns.
Violence against women and children is unacceptable and violent men are responsible for theiruse of violence. The COVID-19 pandemic has sparked a shadow epidemic of violence against womenworldwide. Kosovo institutions must take urgent steps to prevent femicide and gender-basedviolence against women in Kosovo.The SGG extends heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the victim.
