The Challenges Facing Domestic Violence Victims in Kosovo

• Main Author: Flutura TAHIRAJ
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Danubius University 2015-08-01
• Series: Acta Universitatis Danubius: Juridica
• Subjects: domestic violence; women; victim; the perpetrator; protection order petition
• Online Access: http://journals.univ-danubius.ro/index.php/juridica/article/view/2855/2761
• ISSN: 1844-8062; 2065-3891

The number of domestic violence cases that are reported officially in Kosovo does not represent the real situation. The cases that are reported do not get the expected support by the relevant institutions. The concerning situation on the lack of protection for the domestic violence victims keeps being reported by Non-governmental organizations that work on protection of women’s rights. The paper is based on the literature review, statistical data, surveys, and interviews. The results show women hesitate to report the violence against them. The relevant institutions, mainly police and the courts do not implement the dispositions of the applicable laws accordingly to ensure protection of the domestic violence victims. In few cases, the protection order petitions were neglected, and this negligence in one of the cases resulted having the perpetrator kill the victim. It shows that there should be a stricter monitoring of implementation of the applicable laws and not permit the cultural approach toward domestic violence be part of the institutions and have impact in their decisions. That would directly enable Kosovo society change the perception and raise the awareness that the perpetrators of the domestic violence shall get the relevant punishment.