Dobruna: Institutions have failed to protect women in Kosovo

Speaking on RTK’s “Prime” program, former ambassador Vjosa Dobruna commented on the case of Arlinda Zekaj and the situation of women’s rights in Kosovo. She accused institutions of failing to provide adequate protection for women facing violence.

Dobruna described the incident as particularly serious because, she said, the victim had understood the danger she was facing and had sought help to protect herself.

“It is horrifying that we are talking about this incident today, and unfortunately, it has happened. The tragedy is even greater because Erlinda Zekaj was an intelligent and self-aware woman. For years, we have tried to educate women to report violence and convince them that they need to speak up. She herself had taken all these steps, and every day she knew that she was going to die. It is even more tragic that the system has not only failed, but has created a situation in which any woman in Kosovo may be at risk. No matter how aware she is of the dangers, she can be attacked and have no one to protect her. The system has failed,” Dobruna said.

According to the former ambassador, problems with protecting women’s rights did not begin recently, but have existed for many years.

“We should not limit this failure to the present, because the system failed a long time ago. It was built in a way that does not guarantee the protection of women’s rights. On paper, these rights are all clearly defined. The Constitution incorporates international conventions on the protection of human rights, and they are applicable in Kosovo. Agreements adopted after the Constitution of Kosovo, such as the Istanbul Convention, have also been approved and are, on paper, implemented in Kosovo. In practice, the system has been organized in such a way that no one is held accountable and there is no protection—not only for women’s lives, but even for their dignity,” Dobruna said.