The first meeting of the Working Group for the drafting of the National Strategy for Protection from Domestic Violence, Violence against Women and Gender-Based Violence 2027–2031 is being held at the premises of the Ministry of Justice.

The meeting was opened by the Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister and Acting Minister of Justice, Donika Gërvalla, in her capacity as the National Coordinator for Protection from Domestic Violence, Violence against Women and Gender-Based Violence, who expressed her happiness that, after preliminary consultations with various groups, the moment has come to draft the new Strategy 2027–2031.

She emphasized the importance of the new Strategy addressing concrete challenges and bringing bold steps in preventing and combating violence.

“For the 2027-2031 Strategy, we must be brave, we must address topics that seem difficult to us today, but if the current Strategy had not been brave, then the steps would not have been effective,” said Minister Gërvalla, emphasizing that work in this field has an impact not only on women, but also on children and families, therefore the approach must be broader and more comprehensive.

She added that, especially in cases of combating domestic violence, it is shown that the creation of preventive, combative, but also punitive mechanisms are effective.

“The fact that the number of reported cases has increased significantly, I do not believe, is so much attributable to an increase in the number of cases themselves, but rather to the impact of the ongoing awareness-raising campaigns that have been carried out, as well as to the fact that an increasing number of state mechanisms are engaged in combating this phenomenon, which is neither exclusively an Albanian phenomenon nor specific to Kosovo, but rather an international phenomenon, through effective mechanisms in our country, to the fullest extent possible,” said Minister Gërvalla.

The Minister particularly appreciated the contribution of civil society, organizations and individuals who have been dealing with this phenomenon for years and have persistently requested that institutions treat violence with the seriousness it requires.

During the meeting, discussions are taking place and contributions are being made by members of the Working Group regarding the findings of the analysis of the current Strategy, as well as the strategic and specific objectives that will be included in the new Strategy.

The Working Group will continue its work in the next meetings, with the aim of drafting the National Strategy 2027–2031, which aims to strengthen policies and institutional mechanisms for the prevention and treatment of domestic violence, violence against women and gender-based violence, as well as increasing inter-institutional coordination in this field.