Strengthening coordination between institutions and improving mechanisms to protect victims of domestic violence were the focus of a meeting chaired by Valbona Disha-Haxhosaj, acting chief prosecutor of the Basic Prosecutor’s Office in Peja. The interinstitutional meeting brought together representatives of bodies responsible for preventing and handling these cases.
Participants included state prosecutors and juvenile prosecutors, victim advocates, and representatives of the Kosovo Police, social work centers and the Mental Health Center in Peja. State prosecutor Ermal Demhasaj, the newly appointed coordinator for domestic violence cases at the Basic Prosecutor’s Office in Peja, also attended.
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In her opening remarks, Disha-Haxhosaj stressed that tackling domestic violence requires joint efforts, timely intervention and a clear division of institutional responsibilities. She said victims’ safety must guide the work of institutions at every stage of a case.
She urged those present to discuss weaknesses in how their institutions operate openly and for each to take responsibility for addressing them. Disha-Haxhosaj emphasized that there should be no hesitation in acknowledging what is not working, but rather a commitment to improving it. She stressed that victims need protection rather than promises and action rather than excuses, and that institutions must intervene before it is too late instead of waiting for a tragedy before responding. She said she demands this standard of herself, the prosecutor’s office she leads and everyone taking part.
One of her requests was that the review of every case include particular attention to the early identification of high risk. She singled out situations in which violence could recur or escalate, putting victims’ lives at risk.
The discussions also highlighted the need for information to be shared swiftly between institutions, in accordance with the law, and for practical interventions to be coordinated. Participants emphasized that protection must not be limited to the moment a victim reports abuse, but must continue throughout the investigation, court proceedings and after protective measures have been put in place.
The participating representatives presented their institutions’ concerns and views on the obstacles they encounter in handling domestic violence. They explored ways to improve cooperation, facilitate data sharing and take joint, coordinated action.
The meeting specifically addressed the allocation of concrete responsibilities to each institution, the designation of contact persons to facilitate direct communication and coordination, and the establishment of a mechanism to monitor the implementation of recommendations and agreed actions.
Participants also agreed that each institutional mechanism would prepare reports on the challenges and difficulties it encounters in handling these cases. The reports will pay particular attention to cases involving people with mental health problems and those involving victims who are minors, with the aim of identifying shortcomings and improving the response and cooperation between institutions.
As part of this process, state prosecutor Ermal Demhasaj, in his capacity as the new coordinator for domestic violence cases, will play an important role in strengthening cooperation with the responsible institutions. His work will include coordinating action and further developing shared practices for handling these cases.
The Basic Prosecutor’s Office in Peja reaffirmed its commitment to fulfilling its legal obligations, expanding cooperation with other institutions and prioritizing domestic violence cases. This commitment aims to ensure effective protection for victims and prevent violence from recurring.
