4.3 Mission in Kosovo
based violence in general. The forum also discussed best
practices for the provision of guidance, support and assistance
for domestic violence victims.
On 27 July, the DHRC of the Mission organized a workshop “Do
No Harm: Issues and Caution Measures When Interviewing
Vulnerable Victims and Perpetrators of Domestic Violence”
in Prizren. The workshop brought together 34 participants,
including judges and prosecutors handling domestic violence
and gender-based violence cases, the Domestic Violence
Investigation Unit of the KP, representatives of the Centre
for Social Work, victims’ advocacy and assistance office, free
legal aid, as well as relevant NGOs from the Court regions
of Gjakovë/Ðakovica Pejë/Peć and Prizren. The event aimed
to raise the awareness of practitioners and to increase their
capacities to execute their functions in a victim-focused and
human rights-compliant manner. The Head of the EULEX
Advisory Unit on Police and Borders Matters provided an
overview of KP capacities in the area of cognitive interviewing
of vulnerable victims and witnesses. A psychologist from the
local NGO Medica Kosova outlined the basic understanding
of trauma and discussed with participants some of the
challenges present in interviewing victims of domestic and
gender-based violence.
From 27 to 31 August, the Mission delivered a ToT on early
indicators of domestic violence to 11 police officers from
the domestic violence and community policing units across
Kosovo. The training was held at the KAPS and focused on
enhancing the knowledge of participants on early indicators,
various response approaches to cases of domestic violence,
and assistance to victims of domestic and sexual abuse. It
specifically provided the selected police trainers with skills
on how to effectively identify early indicators such as physical
evidence and psychological signs of the victims, on initial
police response and assistance to the victims of domestic
violence and sexual abuse, and on ensuring the safety of
police officers and victims involved. Participants additionally
gained insight on the legal background and relevant human
rights provisions related to domestic violence, most common
factors causing domestic violence, as well as on international
practices in dealing with such cases. Following the course, the
participants will become certified trainers and use the skills
gained to develop specific training to be delivered in turn to
other officers of the KP.
From 3 to 7 September, the Mission delivered specialized
training on domestic violence focusing on interviewing skills
to ten police officers and trainers of community policing
and domestic violence units of the KP. The training aimed
at familiarizing participants with best practices and to
enhance their skills on using interviewing techniques to
ensure cases of domestic violence are solved and victims’
68
rights are protected. Police officers learned how to employ
investigative interviewing techniques with victims, witnesses
and offenders to effectively obtain information and evidence
in cases of domestic violence and sexual abuse, and to
correctly apply child interviewing procedures and related
legal considerations.
From 22 October to 2 November, the Mission supported
the KP in implementing an awareness-raising campaign
on domestic and gender-based violence in all eight police
regions. The awareness-raising activities gathered youngsters
of different ages and their teachers, mayors, regional police
directors, chairpersons and municipal assembly members,
representatives of parents association, local institutions,
LPSCs and local civil society, as well as local and Kosovowide media. The activity mainly informed the public about
the roles and responsibilities of each community member and
the police in fighting domestic and gender-based violence.
The campaign consisted of numerous side events running
simultaneously, such as communication with the public
carried out by community police officers and co-ordinators of
police domestic violence units, dissemination of informational
leaflets, drawing, and other related activities. Activities
also involved speeches delivered by main institutions in all
municipalities, during which the public was encouraged to
report cases of domestic and gender-based violence.
On 22 November, the Mission facilitated a workshop on
strengthening local capacities to effectively address domestic
violence in Kosovo. The workshop gathered 20 participants
from relevant institutions and CSOs dealing with such cases.
In his capacity as Co-ordinator against Domestic Violence, the
Deputy Minister of Justice delivered a thorough presentation
on the situation concerning the legal framework, achievements
and future plans directed at improving the institutional
response to domestic violence cases. Furthermore, through
panel presentations and discussions, participants addressed
all relevant issues related to domestic violence such as
prevention, protection, assistance and referral of victims, as
well as investigation, prosecution and conviction of domestic
violence cases.
On 6 December, the DHRC of the Mission hosted the
inaugural session of the Hani i Elezit/Elez Han co-ordination
mechanism for protection from domestic violence (the Coordination mechanism). The event was opened by the Mayor of
Hani i Elezit/Elez Han and the Co-ordinator against Domestic
Violence. Other participants included representatives of the
KP, courts, prosecution, the municipal directors of education,
as well as representatives from the women’s shelter, Centre
for Social Work, the municipalities’ Main Centre for Family
Medicine, Victim’s Advocacy Office, municipal officer for
gender equality, and the centre for mental health. They signed
Select target paragraph3
Connect to a paragraph
Connect to an entity
Disable highlights
Add to table of contents