Mid-term Steering Committee Meeting of CoE project “Reinforcing the Fight against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence in Kosovo*- Phase II"

On 17 July 2020, the mid-term Steering Committee meeting of the project “Reinforcing the Fight against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence in Kosovo*- Phase II”, too place in Pristina. The meeting featured introductory remarks from Frank Power, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Pristina and Jenny Stenberg Sørvol, the Deputy Ambassador of the Embassy of Norway in Kosovo*. In addition, Marta Becerra, the Head of Unit at Gender Equality Division of Council of Europe and Merita Limani, the local Project Manager presented on the project progress, achieved results and the work plan for the upcoming activities.

The meeting was attended by the Steering Committee members, which include key authorities and project partners in the sector of combating violence against women and domestic violence, such as Florian Dushi, the Deputy Minister of Justice/National Coordinator on Domestic Violence (attended partially), Edi Gucia, Head of the Agency for Gender Equality, Enver Fejzullahu, Head of Justice Academy, Mentor Morina, Director at Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, Basri Kastrati, Director of the Victims Advocacy and Assistance Office and Merita Syla from the Ombudspersons Office.

The members of the Steering Committee acknowledged the project results achieved in all its components, and appreciated the ongoing efforts to enhance capacities of the legal professionals to prevent and combat violence against women and domestic violence (VAW/DV) V and raise awareness against it, and the support to enhance the standards for social services for victims of VAW/DV including the research on perpetrator programmes. The participants also offered suggestions for further alignment of actions as their efforts on coordination with the sector and the focus on enhancing laws increases, and re-stated their commitment to work closely with the project for stronger impact.  The final project Steering Committee meeting will take place in June 2021.

The project ‘’Reinforcing the Fight against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence in Kosovo*- Phase II “ is co-financed by Norway and the Council of Europe and implemented by the Council of Europe.