28.01.2026. » 22:29 | ACDC
Conference on Sexual Harassment and Gender-Based Violence in Northern Kosovo
The final conference of the project “Breaking the Silence: Combating Sexual Harassment and Gender-Based Violence in Northern Kosovo” was held on 27 January at the EU House in North Mitrovica, with the support of the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI).
The aim of the conference was to present the results of the research on sexual harassment and gender-based violence in northern Kosovo, as well as to open a dialogue on challenges in practice, institutional responses, and the importance of cooperation between relevant institutions and civil society.
The panel featured Leotrim Gashi, Judge of the Basic Court in North Mitrovica, Albana Parduži, Prosecutor at the Basic Prosecution Office in North Mitrovica, Miloš Trajković, Supervisor of teams for investigating domestic violence and intimate partner delinquency, and Ines Aljović Mihajlović, Programme Officer at ACDC. The conference was moderated by Aleksandar Rapajić.
Presenting the findings of the ACDC research, Ines Aljović Mihajlović emphasized that sexual harassment and gender-based violence represent a serious and systemic problem in northern Kosovo, which remains insufficiently recognized and reported. One of the key findings highlighted was the pronounced lack of trust among citizens, particularly women, in institutions—especially the police—which directly affects the low level of reporting of such cases.
Representatives of the police, prosecution, and judiciary stressed that effective combat against gender-based violence is not possible without strong cooperation between the police, prosecution, and courts, as well as the active participation of citizens through reporting incidents of violence. It was emphasized that all reported cases are treated as a priority and that specialized teams exist to handle such cases.
During the discussion, it was noted that in practice victims often withdraw their statements due to family pressure, fear, or economic reasons, which further complicates proceedings and highlights the need to strengthen victim protection mechanisms and trust in institutions.
It was concluded that strengthening public trust in institutions, through consistent action, cooperation, and transparency, is essential for improving prevention and ensuring a more effective response to cases of sexual harassment and gender-based violence in northern Kosovo.
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