Prishtina, 25 November 2025
The incumbent Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, this evening took part in the opening of the global campaign “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence”.
In his introductory remarks, Prime Minister Kurti said that every woman who feels fear during the night, every child who hears screams instead of calm, is an alarm for all of us and this alarm does not wait. He added that the state has a duty to protect, to guarantee security and justice, just as society has the duty not to remain silent.
“We cannot build the future on traumas that have not been healed, nor on a culture that normalizes violence. We can build it only on healing, understanding and a culture that rejects violence and places human dignity at the centre. “Domestic violence is not justified by anything, anywhere, ever, neither by burdens or stress, nor by any tradition or custom,” the Prime Minister said, adding that alongside the law we also need social courage: the courage to report and to say ‘enough’.”
Prime Minister Kurti further underlined that the Government of the Republic of Kosovo has worked with dedication to strengthen protection and justice mechanisms, noting that through joint work we have managed achieve a 94.5% completion or implementation rate for the National Strategy for Protection from Domestic Violence and Violence Against Women 2022–2026.
In this regard, he mentioned the launch and implementation of the State Protocol for the treatment of cases of sexual violence, standardizing procedures for protection and dignity; the provision of a psychosocial programme for the treatment of perpetrators of violence; free legal aid for victims, without any economic condition – in the civil field: for 671 citizens, 588 of them women, and in the criminal field: 310 citizens, 187 of them women.
Then, the adoption of the Law on Compensation of Crime Victims, which eases the consequences and financial burden in cases of violence against women and girls; the launch of the measure for the employment of women victims of violence, because employment reintegrates them and re-establishes their dignity; the allocation of 7.3 million euros for shelters and social NGOs in the period 2021–2025, as well as the expansion of the national database, by integrating new modules and increasing to nine the number of institutions that record cases of violence.
Finally, Prime Minister Kurti said that the fight against gender-based violence is not only a women’s issue; in fact, first and foremost, above all, we must emancipate men and young boys. “It is an issue of society as a whole, of the Republic, and together we can, must and will build a Republic where justice triumphs and inequality falls. “We will make this society more humane, more equal and fairer together,” he said.
Full speech of Prime Minister Kurti:
Distinguished Deputy Speaker of the Assembly of the Republic, Ms Albulena Haxhiu,
Distinguished Acting Minister of Justice, Mr Blerim Sallahu,
Distinguished Ms Arjeta Sadiku, Deputy Chair of the Kosovo Judicial Council,
Distinguished Ms Laura Pula, National Coordinator for Domestic Violence in the Office of the Chief State Prosecutor,
Excellencies, ambassadors and representatives of diplomatic missions in Kosovo,
Honourable Members of the Assembly of the Republic, colleagues from the Government of Kosovo,
Distinguished representatives of domestic and international institutions,
Dear human rights activists and organisations engaged in promoting gender equality,
Honorable ladies and gentlemen,
Distinguished attendees,
Tonight we are here to mark the beginning of the 16 Days of Activism, but also to continue keeping our daily promise. The promise that in the Republic of Kosovo no one, none of us, will be alone in the face of violence.
Every woman who feels fear during the night, every child who hears screams instead of calm, is an alarm for all of us. And this alarm does not wait. The state has a duty to protect, to guarantee security and justice, just as society has the duty not to remain silent.
We cannot build the future on traumas that have not been healed, nor on a culture that normalizes violence. We can build it only on healing, understanding and a culture that rejects violence and places human dignity at the centre. Domestic violence is not justified by anything, anywhere, ever, neither by burdens or stress, nor by any tradition or custom. Therefore, alongside the law, we need social courage: the courage to report and to say “enough”. Because domestic violence is not a private problem. It is a crime. It is a violation of public security. It is a violation of democracy and of rights. And we will not allow it.
For this reason, the Government of the Republic of Kosovo has worked with dedication to strengthen protection and justice mechanisms.
Through joint work, as the Acting Minister also mentioned, we have managed to bring the National Strategy for Protection from Domestic Violence and Violence Against Women 2022–2026 to 94.5% of activities completed or under implementation.
We have jointly launched and are implementing the State Protocol for the treatment of cases of sexual violence, standardizing procedures for protection and dignity.
We have provided psychosocial programmes for the treatment of perpetrators of violence.
We are providing free legal aid for victims, without any economic condition. In the civil field: for 671 citizens, 588 of them women. And, in the criminal field: 310 citizens, 187 of them women.
We have adopted the Law on Compensation of Crime Victims, which eases the consequences and financial burden in cases of violence against women and girls.
We have launched the measure for the employment of women victims of violence, because employment reintegrates them and re-establishes their dignity.
We have allocated 7.3 million euros for shelters and social NGOs in the period 2021–2025.
We have expanded the national database by integrating new modules and increasing to nine the number of institutions that record cases of violence.
Distinguished attendees,
While technology is developing at a rapid pace as rarely before, it must serve us for equality. We must be united so that society moves forward with dignity. When we choose to be in solidarity, society becomes safer, more open and fairer for everyone. When we choose to spread kindness and truth, then even labyrinths become bridges that connect us. When we choose to raise our voice for one another, our voice itself becomes much clearer and gains many more listeners. And I assure you that you will have me by your side and near you whenever needed. Wherever there is a gap or a weakness, all of us must necessarily react with care and humanity. Wherever even we ourselves are not sufficient, then we must necessarily become the source of good deeds. Therefore, we need safer spaces, we must increase our respect for one another, keep our work and activism relentless, and elevate equality as a fundamental value, not as one of the secondary demands.
Dear participants,
The fight against gender-based violence is not only a women’s issue; in fact, first and foremost, above all, we must emancipate men and young boys. It is an issue for society as a whole, for the Republic, and together we can, must, and will build a Republic where justice triumphs and inequality falls. We will make this society more humane, more equal and fairer together.
I express to you my deep and heartfelt gratitude for everything you have done and are doing. Thank you for your tireless and daily engagement.
