UNDP | Europe & CIS | Kosovo Safe Houses get supported with equipment

Kosovo Safe Houses get supported with equipment

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Kosovo safe houses for victims of domestic violence and trafficking received new equipment in the campaign as the part of a wider drive, in the month of anti trafficking announced by the Prime Minister of Kosovo Mr. Agim Çeku.

Kosovo 29 October, 2007

Kosovo safe houses for victims of domestic violence and trafficking in Kosovo received new equipment in an event, which also launch the UNDP campaign rising awareness on issues related to violence against women and trafficking in Kosovo, on Tuesday 16 October. The event is organized by the Women's Safety and Security Initiative of UNDP, a project funded by the British Government. The campaign is part of a wider drive, in the month of anti trafficking announced by the Prime Minister of Kosovo Mr. Agim Çeku.

The event is organized by the Women's Safety and Security Initiative of UNDP, a project funded by the British Government. The campaign is part of a wider drive, in the month of anti trafficking announced by the Prime Minister of Kosovo Mr. Agim Çeku.

Mr. Frode Mauring the UNDP Kosovo Resident Representative said that this project will support victims of trafficking and domestic violence.

However he noted that UNDP also works in rooting out reasons behind family violence and trafficking.

“Our projects make contribution for a better life in Kosovo, working simultaneously in poverty reduction, governance, security and returns”, said Mauring (click here for the full speech)

Ruairi O’Connell, the representative of the donor of the Project the British Government said that it is at utmost importance to have people cooperating with police in fighting trafficking which he compared with slavery.

The representative of the Safe House in Peja/Pec, on of the beneficiaries, ms. Lumnije Deçani said that this project was efficient.

“There were a lot of needs assessment done in safe houses, and then we had no support. This project made the needs assessment and now we are getting the support”, said Deçani in a statement.

This project -- The Women Security and Safety Initiative (WSSI) -- worth 520, 000 dollars, is a two-year project implemented in close collaboration with the Office of Public Safety (OPS), Trafficking in Human Beings Investigations Section (THBS) of Kosovo Police Service (KPS), and Kosova Women’s Network (KWN).

Earlier the project has supplied Kosovo Police Service with surveillance equipment and rooms for interviewing of victims. Additionally the project has supported and continues to support the judiciary of Kosovo with trainings on the implementation of Kosovo law against trafficking.

Lieutenant Ramadan Ahmeti the head of Kosovo Police Service Anti Trafficking unit, participating in the handover event said the numbers of identified trafficked women in Kosovo is falling; however he added “even if one women is trafficked it is a problem”.

As for the UNDP support he said that the equipment donated earlier to his unit are in full use by the Kosovo Police Service.

Nazlie Bala, WSSI Project manager
Telephone: 038 201 14 928 e-mail: nazlie.bala@undp.org

Virtyt Gacaferi, UNDP Team leader for Communications
Telefoni: (038) 249 066 lok. 152; e-mail: virtyt.gacaferi@undp.org