News

The Victim Protection and Assistance Office (VPAO) has an obligation to ensure the protection of the rights of victims of crime in the justice system. The VPAO is embedded within the Office of the Chief State Prosecutor, and has the responsibility to represent the victims of crime at the police, the prosecution and courts.

Victim advocates with the consent of the victim take certain actions and instruct them to represent the victims of the crime during the investigation, prosecution and punishment of the perpetrator. Specifically, the categories of victims that victim advocates assist are: victims of domestic violence, sexual violence, victims of human trafficking, murder and robbery.
Given the limited actions of all institutions during the time when we are all trying to limit contact with others, the Victim Protection and Assistance Offices will be closed, but Victim Advocates will continue to work remotely and provide assistance through the duty phone responding in certain emergency cases.

In accordance with the decisions and measures taken by the Government of Kosovo to prevent and control the spread of the corona virus COVID -19, the Victim Advocates continue to take concrete actions regarding the protection of the rights of victims of crime in emergencies as follows:

1. Appearance at police stations only in emergency cases once the Victim Advocate is notified and invited by the Kosovo Police;
2. Filing of the request for emergency protection order for cases of domestic violence and maintaining contact with the victim by telephone;
3. Coordination with the Court and the Judge of the case by telephone and with the victim for the appointment of the court session for the review of the request for emergency protection order;
4. Physical presentation in the court sessions for emergency protection order and as well as court hearing for protection order for the previous cases when the perpetrator has been detained;
5. Appearance to the Prosecutor's Office in emergency cases.
 

In all these cases, the Victim Advocates ensure that there is a minimal presence of the parties in the procedure and the social distance and other preventive actions for the protection of the health of those present are respected. Please, if you need help, you can contact the Victim Advocates at the following numbers:

Within the Victim Protection and Assistance Office also operates the Free Helpline number 0800 111 12, which provides specific information, advice and guidance to victims of crime and other interested persons; reporting and referral to relevant institutions. The helpline operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Respectively,

Basri Kastrati

Director of the Victim Protection and Assistance Office

Prishtina March 31, 2020