Pristina, September 24, 2019.
The Council of Europe Office in Pristina in cooperation with OSCE Mission in Kosovo have organized the workshop to discuss on the role of media in raising awareness on the violence against women and domestic violence.
The Council of Europe Office in Pristina and OSCE Mission in Kosovo organized in Pristina the workshop: The role of media in raising awareness regarding the violence against woman and domestic violence. Its purpose is to inform media representatives on existing international standards and local legislation regarding gender equality, issues of sexism and gender stereotyping in media and the role of media on effective reporting on violence against women and domestic violence.
The main speakers in the workshop were the OSCE Ambassador Mr. Jan Braathu, Ms. Merita Limani, Project Manager with Council of Europe Office in Pristina, Mr. Naim Qelaj, the National Coordinator against Domestic Violence, and Ms. Gentiana Begolli Pustina, the President of Association of Journalists of Kosovo.
Mr. Braathu said that the journalists are in a unique position to face up the domestic violence and the violence against women. Also, he added that this kind of violence was not only the statistics issues, but it is a human rights issue, so the media must increase public awareness. Regarding the issues, Begolli Pustina said that some media report on the violence against women only when it happens. Thus, they do not cover it permanently as a social problem.
Ms. Merita Limani, the Project Manager of ‘’Reinforcing the Fight against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence – Phase II’’ implemented by Council of Europe Office in Pristina said that the issues of sexism, gender stereotyping and in general lack of gender sensitivity within institutions and society, often lead to an enabling environment for an increased gender-based violence. Therefore, the role of media in enhancing public opinion and awareness against violence against women and domestic violence is crucial.
The project focuses on strengthening the capacities of institutions in charge of supporting services for victims, providing justice as well as running awareness-raising initiatives to counter violence against women and domestic violence in line with the standards set in Istanbul Convention.