Gender-based violence, including domestic violence, remains a serious issue in Kosovo. According to a 2018 USAID/Kosovo assessment, approximately 68 percent of women have experienced some form of domestic violence, and approximately 30 percent of all people in Kosovo believe that domestic violence is a normal part of every relationship. This attitude contributes to acceptance, underreporting, and perpetuation of gender-based violence among citizens throughout Kosovo.

To raise awareness and share information on the different forms of gender-based violence, USAID took part in the global campaign on “16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence” in cooperation with local civil society organizations. Between late November and early December, USAID and civil society partners sponsored television segments and held debates, roundtables, workshops, lectures, and public events across Kosovo to promote women’s political, economic, and civic empowerment and to highlight the legal protections for victims. 

USAID participation in this global campaign will culminate in several public events on International Day for Human Rights on December 10, which is the last day of the campaign. These events will underscore the need to recognize every person’s basic human rights and the role of the next generation in changing perceptions and preventing gender-based violence in Kosovo.