From principles to actions: Fulfilling Kosovo's promise to women and girls

More than half of women in Kosovo – 54 per cent – ​​continue to experience psychological, physical or sexual violence, often by those they consider closest to them. These figures, drawn from the OSCE Women’s Well-being and Safety Survey, are not just abstract data. They reflect everyday fears and broken trust, both within the family and in public spaces that are supposed to provide safety. Every incident of violence undermines trust in justice, institutions and the promise of peace more generally.

Ending violence against women requires moving beyond passing good laws; it requires courage, resilience and a shared and sustained commitment to translating principles into action and protection. For more than two decades – and with increased intensity since 2019 – the OSCE Mission in Kosovo has worked side by side with institutions, civil society and international partners to build the legal and institutional foundations needed to turn equality from a constitutional aspiration into a lived reality.

From engagement to constitutional change

Kosovo’s decision in 2020 to incorporate the Council of Europe’s Istanbul Convention into its Constitution was a historic moment for women’s rights. This step reflected a long-term and determined effort to first address domestic violence and then expand the framework to cover the full spectrum of violence against women.

The OSCE Mission was privileged to support this process from the beginning. We facilitated dialogue within the Women’s Caucus in the Assembly and provided legal and policy expertise specifically to ensure that Kosovo’s framework was aligned with international standards. The adoption of the Convention by 93 votes – including strong support from various communities – demonstrated that Kosovo was ready to address gender-based violence in a systematic and structural manner.

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To strengthen the response in the justice, security and social sectors, the OSCE Mission to Kosovo presented a detailed legislative plan to the Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights and Gender Equality in 2021. We were active in public hearings, contributed to the Kosovo Strategy against Violence against Women, and worked to keep the issue high on the public agenda, even as other political priorities emerged.

We also helped connect and engage Kosovo lawmakers with regional colleagues, including MPs from North Macedonia, whose experience showed that regional solidarity and cooperation can accelerate change. Addressing gender-based violence is not an isolated challenge – it is a shared responsibility across the region and beyond.

Equally important is the fact that the drafting process involved broad and inclusive participatory decision-making. Together with women’s organizations, non-majority communities, women with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups, we co-organized forums and workshops that directly influenced the provisions of the Law. Their contributions ensured not only stronger content, but also greater legitimacy and ownership.

From advocacy to hard law

The adoption of the Law on Protection from Domestic Violence, Violence against Women and Gender-Based Violence on 21 September 2023 is a collective achievement for Kosovo. This Law obliges institutions to respond to, address and prosecute all forms of gender-based violence, expanding services for victims and creating structured programs for perpetrators.

And yet, the law alone does not change lives – its implementation does.

Following our technical assistance during the drafting phase, including comparative legal analyses and assessments of compliance with the Istanbul Convention, the OSCE Mission is now helping institutions implement the Law in practice. In partnership with the Ministry of Justice, we supported the establishment of minimum standards for the functioning of Municipal Coordination Mechanisms against Domestic Violence – now a legal obligation – and we drafted guidelines for their effective performance, to strengthen action in the protection of survivors at the municipal level.

Together, we are also moving forward with the creation of the first SOS line in Kosovo, supporting the establishment of the Secretariat Against Violence against Women, and designing capacity-building programs for police, prosecutors, health professionals, and social workers. Domestic violence trial monitoring report for 2024 Our Mission provides a detailed, evidence-based overview of how justice is delivered – a tool for accountability for institutions and a voice for survivors who often go unheard.

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The change before us: From engagement to everyday protection

Much has been achieved, but the real challenge lies ahead: to ensure that every provision of the Law is implemented consistently, in every municipality, every day. Violence against women cannot be a topic that is raised only during the 16 Days of Activism – it must remain an institutional and societal priority throughout the year. It must be a commitment of all of Kosovo.

Institutions, communities and individuals have important roles to play. Ending violence requires challenging entrenched gender inequalities and ensuring that young people grow up with models of respect, equality and trust. This requires zero tolerance for the normalization of violence in any form, whether in the private or public sphere.

I am confident that Kosovo has the leadership, expertise and determination to meet this challenge. The OSCE Mission will remain a committed partner, working alongside institutions and civil society to translate legal commitments into real and long-term protection.

After years of collective effort, one thing is clear: ending violence against women requires strong laws, yes – but it also requires sustained political will, institutional accountability, and sincere partnership.

Kosovo’s democratic promise must be measured not only by reforms and strategies, but by the security and dignity of every woman and girl. Because as long as even a single woman in Kosovo lives in fear, her peace and security – your peace and security – remain incomplete. From words to deeds. From deeds to security.

Dignity for women = progress and security for Kosovo.

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(The author is Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo)