Outcome KOS_D_1.2

Outcome 1.2 All women and men in Kosovo, particularly young people, vulnerable groups, and displaced persons, increasingly achieve gender equality and claim their rights and fulfil civic responsibilities (UNSDCF Outcome 5)

Outcome was not fully achieved. Progress against the Outcome is observed through UN Women partnerships with the Kosovo Ministry of Justice and five civil society organizations to implement projects in support of the implementation of the CEDAW Concluding Observations, the Istanbul Convention, and other human rights instruments. Results include: The Kosovo Government adopted the Protocol for Treatment of Sexual Violence Cases on 5 December 2022, achieving legislative progress in the area of protection from VAW. The Ministry of Justice drafted the Protocol with UN Women technical assistance to Partner CSO, Kosova Women Network. This important document serves as a practical tool that contains instructions on how services should be provided to victims/survivors of sexual violence, enabling the creation of institutional responsibility through a coordinated multi-sectoral approach. In addition, the Working Group chaired by the Kosovo Parliament Committee on Human Rights, Gender Equality, Missing Persons, Victims of Sexual Violence of War, and Petitions continued to draft the Law on Protection from Domestic Violence 2022, which was finalized and officially submitted to the Presidency of Kosovo Parliament on 14 October 2022. Finally, on 14 October the Ministry of Justice submitted the draft Law on Amending and Supplementing the Criminal Code of Kosovo , to harshen sentences for individuals found guilty of rape, sexual assault and domestic violence, making the judgments against these convicts public, and adding two new articles: 1) penalize virginity testing and 2) protect women and girls from violence in public life. UN Women contributed to these legislative processes through the provision of both, technical and advocacy support. Service delivery for survivors of domestic and gender-based violence also observed significant progress. The Centers for Social Work delivered services to 44% more survivors of GBV and DV and the Kosovo Police provided services to 20% more survivors in 2022 compared to 2021. In addition, 851 survivors and their children accessed shelter services at Kosovo shelters for the protection of GBV/DV survivors, while this number was 583 in 2021, marking an increase of 46%. This data was generated through the comprehensive National Database for collection of GBV/DV cases during 2022. UN Women contributed to these achievements through technical assistance to Kosovo shelters and continuous expert support for maintenance of the database since its creation in 2019. Women survivors of DV and GBV are now more equipped for socio-economic integration. Sixty-four (64) survivors are certified for basic tailoring skills and 50 completed training on entrepreneurship and social skills. This is a result of the survivors completing an intensive vocational training course held by the CSO partner Kosova Women for Women, ( KW4W) with the aim of preparing them for the labor market and increasing their chances of becoming economically independent. All 114 of the trained women are registered in the Job Placement Office , ready to enter the labour market, 50 of which are equipped with individual business plans. Moreover 30 women have initial assistance for business start-ups, and seven are employed, with UN Women support. DV/GBV survivors, including women from marginalized communities, have increased access to justice. This is a result of the online interactive platform , developed within the Programme in partnership with CSO Kosovo Law Institute (KLI) to facilitate access to free legal aid for the survivors. Fifty (50) women accessed the direct legal aid and 11 court proceedings were initiated through representation free of charge legal, since the platform’s launching on November 2021 . Capacities of 50 service providers, consisting mainly of judges, lawyers and prosecutors to adjudicate cases of DV/GBV in accordance with requirements of the Istanbul Convention are built thanks to training sessions delivered by the by CSO partner Kosovo Gender Studies Centre (KGSC) in close coordination with the Kosovo Academy of Justice. Over 15,800 people were reached to raise awareness on VAW, through " Koha për Gratë " (Time for Women) published by KGSC to mark the International Women’s Day, on the 8th of March: In Prishtina, Kosovo, public awareness negative impact of DV/GBV and its relation to femicide increased due to the mural "Broken Dreams" created in one of the main squares. The piece is aimed to serve as memorial for all women who succumb to domestic and gender-based violence. It was implemented by KGSC in close partnership with Municipality of Prishtina. An art installation “Survival” was implemented in partnership with the international short movie/documentary Festival “Doku-Fest”, held annually in Prizren, Kosovo. The aim of this activity was to portray stories of DV survivors on their journey to survival. The collection of stories was done in collaboration with shelter homes, andinstallation was placed in the most frequented cinema, reaching about 500 visitors. 223 women and girls from Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian communities increased their knowledge of their property and inheritance rights through a "door-to door” campaign implemented by young law students/graduates and coordinated by Shelter Home ‘Safe House’ Gjakova Two public reactions on mishandling of justice in DV cases were issued by KLI. 12,686 women and girls, including 2,728 from non-Albanian ethnic groups and 4,261 from rural areas, increased their knowledge on the availability of services on addressing VAW through KWN. All awareness raising activities listed above were implemented thanks to UN Women technical support to CSOs under the Regional Project, “Ending Violence against Women and Girls in Western Balkans and Turkyie: Implementing Norms Changing Minds” Phase 2. Vulnerable groups and survivors of GBV increased their knowledge through capacity building trainings, 51 of which accessed equipment to increase their economic empowerment. Beneficiaries belonged to different target groups from West Dukagjini Region, Kosovo. Community actions focused on women’s empowerment and challenging gender-discriminatory social norms and stereotypes were encouraged and promoted through UN Women activities: 30 women in Mamusha, aged 18-50, built their capacities on business digital marketing, and financial management of small businesses through vocational trainings. Women have advanced and accelerated their economic and social empowerment as a resut of the Association of Women from Mamusha, the first in this municipality established with the support of UN Women. 378 women and girls from vulnerable groups from four Municipalities in Kosovo addressed their immediate needs through a mobile clinic offering health services in Gjakova (Ponoshec, Skivjan, Cermjan, Rogove), Dragash (Brodosane, Krushevea), Malishevo (Kijeve, Bellanice, Panorc, Pagarushe) and Mamusha. This is a result of UN Women support in enhancing the provision and social and health services for vulnerable groups. Project "Response to Covid-19 Emergency and early recovery support” through its activity to Promote community actions to change gender discriminatory social norms and gender stereotypes, during the reporting period, achieved to develop and cover through media its results through 5 video, 38 posts, 8 campaigns and 5 articles.

Outcome 1.2 All women and men in Kosovo, particularly young people, vulnerable groups, and displaced persons, increasingly achieve gender equality and claim their rights and fulfil civic responsibilities (UNSDCF Outcome 5)

Progress against Outcome was noted during 2023. Support to the Ministry of Justice on implementation of the National Strategy on Protection Against Domestic Violence and Violence Against Women 2022-2026 and administration of the DV database, ensuring day-to-day data entry and maintaining data protection continued throughout 2023. A total of 139 service providers, out of which 73 male and 66 female are now skilled to enter data in the system thanks to training provided by the database expert, engaded through UN Women support. In addition, database expansion with three additional modules, which was implemented in coordination with the Ministry of Justice and UNDP, enables the collection of, and analyzing cases of domestic violence also by Kosovo Correctional Service, Kosovo Probation Service and Agency for Free Legal Aid. Detailed statistical reports on cases are now publicly accessible on the website of Ministry of Justice. Finally, with technical support of UN Women the New Law on Prevention and Protection from Domestic Violence, Violence Against Women and Gender-Based Violence was approved and entered into force on 27 October 2023.