On March 20, 2025, the Barabar Center in Pristina hosted a forum titled “Collaborative Strategies to End Femicide.” The forum brought together over 30 participants, including representatives of the Kosovo Police, the Ombudsperson Institution, women’s rights activists, and civil society representatives from Albanian, Serbian, and other non-majority communities in Kosovo.
The forum aimed to foster dialogue, cooperation, and joint advocacy for more effective institutional responses and solutions in the area of femicide prevention, which represents the most severe form of gender-based violence. The discussion provided participants with an opportunity to exchange experiences, highlight key challenges faced by women who experience violence, and define concrete recommendations for improving institutional policies and practices.
During the discussion, participants emphasized that violence against women and femicide are not isolated problems of specific communities, but a shared challenge that requires a multiethnic approach and systemic solutions. They identified shortcomings in the implementation of existing laws, insufficient training of institutional representatives, and inadequate support mechanisms for victims. It was concluded that institutions must demonstrate greater consistency and determination in responding to cases of violence against women, and ensure systemic support to victims through more effective local mechanisms.
Key recommendations from the forum include greater involvement of civil society and women’s rights activists in municipal safety councils, increased budgets for gender equality offices, improved cooperation between social work centers and the police, mandatory training for police officers on working with victims of violence, and regular publication of court rulings in cases of femicide and violence against women. Additionally, the forum recommended the implementation of protection models where victims remain in their homes after reporting violence, while perpetrators are removed from the shared space, in line with international practices.
The forum is part of the broader Barabar Connect initiative, implemented by the Center for Affirmative Social Action – CASA, with the support of the Embassy of Switzerland in Kosovo. This project focuses on strengthening intercommunity cooperation through dialogue, networking, and joint advocacy initiatives that address important social issues, including women’s rights, the rights of persons with disabilities, environmental initiatives, and animal welfare. The goal of the project is to increase social inclusion, improve cooperation among different communities, and contribute to social cohesion in Kosovo.
All recommendations from the forum will be compiled into a harmonized document to be submitted to relevant institutions as a basis for continued advocacy and institutional reform.
