News

PRESS RELEASE

25 November 2019

Agency for Gender Equality calls citizens to join the 16 days of Activism Campaign!

The 16 Days of Activism Campaign is a worldwide campaign organized annually which starts on November 25th, known as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and ends on December 10th, known as the International Human Rights Day.

Each year, this campaign calls for global action worldwide to raise awareness on the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls. The campaign's symbol is the white ribbon and the official colour is orange, with the theme “End Violence against Women” aiming to ensure a better future where life and the right to live freely are respected, away from any form of violence, be that physical, psychological, emotional or economic, infringing human rights - the rights of women and girls worldwide.

On the occasion of November 25th, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the Gender Equality Agency draws the attention of all state institutions and society at large to the necessity of responding in a timely manner and according to institutional responsibilities to the phenomenon of violence against women and girls.

Violence against women continues to be an alarming phenomenon in Kosovo this year given the fact that five women have been murdered by their close relatives in 2019, whose lives are an unforgivable loss for our society.

Protection of the lives and dignity of women and girls is an indicator of the rule of law. It is the obligation of every citizen of the Republic of Kosovo to report cases of domestic and gender-based violence to the responsible institutions when experiencing or witnessing such a situation. It is everyone's duty to protect lives and prevent gender-based violence in order to create a safe environment as a precondition for peace, where girls and women feel free and protected.

AGE calls for a swift response from the mandated institutions of the Republic of Kosovo to provide security and social, economic, health and psychological protection to victims of domestic and gender-based violence. We call for increasing the level of cooperation between institutions and civil society organizations and sensitizing the media, as only through joint efforts can we end gender-based violence in order to create a safe society that protects lives and guarantees the safety of its citizens.

AGE supports the global campaign on prevention of sexual rape and sexual harassment as a worldwide negative phenomenon that causes loss of life and severely affects the dignity of girls and women worldwide. Sexual violence is intolerable!

This year, AGE marks the launch of the 16 Days of Activism Campaign on November 25th by organizing a discussion roundtable to present the “Gender Impact Assessment Manual” and the “Report on the Level of Implementation of Standard Procedures for Action against Domestic Violence”, as well as to broadcast a television clip that reiterates the role of health care staff in identifying cases of violence and providing professional health care services to respect the lives of victims and protect their dignity.

In addition, the Government Building - Office of the Prime Minister will be illuminated with the orange colour and the white ribbon, the campaign's symbol, from 17:00 to 24:00.