Kosovo Assembly passes resolution against violence toward women with 67 votes after Vitomirica killing

The Kosovo Assembly on Monday passed, with 67 votes, a resolution against violence toward women and domestic violence. The resolution was drafted after the latest killing of a woman in Vitomirica, near Peja, and also addresses other killings of women, domestic violence and institutional responsibility for preventing them.

What the resolution calls for

The text stresses the importance of institutional response to domestic violence cases and calls for every report to be treated seriously. It urges institutions to take concrete measures to prevent violence from escalating, guarantee the protection of victims and improve cooperation among themselves, so that women and children have access to the support and protection they need.

Calls for an investigation

The Vitomirica killing has raised questions about how institutions handled the victim's requests. President Justina Shiroka-Pula on Monday called for an urgent investigation into the killing and into how institutions handled the victim's requests, while the chief prosecutor asked for an analysis of institutions' actions in the case.

The resolution does not have the force of law, but it sends institutions a political message about their responsibility. It was passed on the same day the president and the chief prosecutor demanded accountability for how the case was handled.

The session took place on a busy day for the Kosovo Assembly, whose agenda also includes the president's return of the law on the Specialist Chambers, on which Speaker Albulena Haxhiu said lawmakers will have to vote.