From Principles to Action: Delivering on Kosovo’s Promise to Women and Girls
By Gerard McGurk, Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo on the kick-off of 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign
More than half of the women in Kosovo - 54 percent - continue to experience psychological, physical, or sexual violence, often at the hands of those closest to them. These figures, drawn from the OSCE Survey on the Wellbeing and Safety of Women, are not abstract data points. They reflect daily fear and eroded trust, both within homes and in public spaces that should provide safety. Each incident of violence undermines confidence in justice, institutions, and the broader promise of peace.
Ending violence against women requires moving beyond the adoption of good laws; it demands courage, consistency, and a sustained, shared commitment to transform principles into real protection. For over two decades - and with renewed intensity since 2019 - the OSCE Mission in Kosovo has worked alongside institutions, civil society, and international partners to build the legal and institutional foundations needed to turn equality from a constitutional aspiration into lived reality.
From Commitment to Constitutional Change
Kosovo’s 2020 decision to incorporate the Council of Europe’s Istanbul Convention into the Constitution was a historic milestone for women’s rights. It reflected a long-term, determined effort to first address domestic violence and then expand the framework to capture the full spectrum of violence against women.
The OSCE Mission was privileged to support this journey from its beginnings. We facilitated dialogue within the Women’s Caucus in the Assembly and provided targeted legal and policy expertise to ensure that Kosovo’s framework aligned with international standards. The Convention’s adoption with 93 votes - including strong backing across communities - showed that Kosovo was ready to confront gender-based violence in a systematic, structural way.
To strengthen the response across justice, security, and social sectors, the OSCE Mission in Kosovo presented a detailed legislative roadmap to the Assembly Committee on Human Rights and Gender Equality in 2021. We were active in public hearings, contributed to the Kosovo Strategy on Violence against Women, and worked to keep the issue high on the public agenda even when competing political priorities emerged.
We also helped connect Kosovo lawmakers with regional peers, including parliamentarians from North Macedonia, whose experience demonstrated how solidarity and regional cooperation can accelerate change. Addressing gender-based violence is not an isolated challenge - it is a shared responsibility across the region, and beyond.
Equally important, the drafting process embraced inclusive and participatory decision-making. Together with women’s organizations, non-majority communities, women with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups, we co-organized forums and workshops that directly shaped the Law’s provisions. Their insights ensured not only stronger content but also greater legitimacy and ownership.
From Advocacy to a Strong Law
The adoption of the Law on Domestic Violence, Violence against Women and Gender-Based Violence on 21 September 2023 stands as a collective achievement for Kosovo. The Law commits institutions to respond to, address, and prosecute all forms of gender-based violence, while expanding services for victims and establishing structured programmes for perpetrators.
Yet legislation alone does not change lives - its implementation does.
Building on our technical support during the drafting phase, including comparative legal analysis and assessments aligned with the Istanbul Convention, the OSCE Mission is now helping institutions translate the Law into results. In partnership with the Ministry of Justice, we supported the establishment of minimum standards for the functioning of Municipal Coordination Mechanisms against Domestic Violence - now a legal obligation - and developed Guidelines for their effective performance to strengthen survivor-centred, municipality-level action.
Together, we are also advancing Kosovo’s first SOS helpline, supporting the creation of a dedicated Violence Against Women Secretariat, and designing capacity-building programmes for police, prosecutors, health professionals, and social workers. The Mission’s 2024 Trial Monitoring Report on Domestic Violence Cases provides a detailed, evidence-based picture of how justice is delivered - an accountability tool for institutions and a voice for survivors who too often go unheard.
The Change Ahead: Turning Commitment into Everyday Protection
Much has been accomplished, but the real test lies ahead: ensuring that every provision of the Law is implemented consistently, in every municipality, every day. Violence against women cannot be a topic raised only during the 16 Days of Activism - it must remain an institutional and societal priority year-round. It must represent an all of Kosovo commitment.
Institutions, communities, and individuals all have a role to play. Ending violence requires challenging deeply rooted gender inequalities and ensuring that young people grow up with models of respect, equality, and trust. It requires zero tolerance for the normalization of violence in any form, both in the private and public spheres of society.
I am confident that Kosovo has the leadership, expertise, and determination to meet this challenge. The OSCE Mission will remain a committed partner, working alongside institutions and civil society to turn legal commitments into genuine, lasting protection.
After years of collective effort, one lesson is clear: ending violence against women requires strong laws, yes - but also sustained political will, institutional accountability, and genuine partnership.
Kosovo’s democratic promise must be measured not only by reforms and strategies, but by the safety and dignity of every woman and girl. Because as long as any woman in Kosovo lives in fear, their peace and security – your peace and security - will remain incomplete. From words to action. From action to safety. Dignity for women = progress and security for Kosovo.