On 1 December, an important discussion on psychological abuse as an element of domestic violence
brought together the Deputy Minister of Justice, Nita Shala, EULEX’s Chief of Staff, Matthias Zander,
the Director of NGO Zensko Pravo/Women’s Rights, Ruzica Simic, the Project Director of NGO Zensko
Pravo/Women’s Rights, Tijana Simic La Valley, the Director of Kosovar Gender Studies Center, Luljeta
Demolli, and Victims’ Advocacy Officer, Burhan Maxhuni.
 
Kosovo’s Deputy Minister of Justice, Nita Shala, said that there is very limited information on
gaslighting and psychological abuse as a type of domestic violence: “Surveys conducted in Kosovo
reveal that 53% of women and girls confirm to have experienced psychological violence. Article 248
of the new Criminal Code that entered into force in April of 2019 treats domestic violence as a
separate criminal act in all its forms: physical, sexual, economic and psychological.”
 
Deputy Minister Shala underlined the necessity for all threatening behaviours against the victim to
be recognized and reported by the victim. “To address psychological violence in a holistic manner,
awareness raising is necessary, but at the same time the reaction by the police officers, the criminal
prosecution of acts of psychological violence, the reaction by responsible institutions and the ability
of survivors to recognize psychological violence when it takes place is also necessary.”
 
EULEX’s Chief of Staff, Matthias Zander, said that psychological abuse as an aspect of domestic
violence is not often considered as such because its signs are not always visible. “We are here today
to address an aspect of domestic violence that is not often considered as such because it is not
visible like bruises: gaslighting and psychological abuse. Gaslighting is a new term in many of our
languages. It indicates a form of manipulation used to make the victim question their own
perception of reality with the effect of trapping victims even further into abusive relationships. Lack
of social and economic independence makes women increasingly vulnerable to gaslighting.”
 
The Director of NGO Women’s Rights /Zensko Pravo, Ruzica Simic, presented the awareness raising
campaign “No bruises ≠ No violence. The signs of violence are not always visible”, which aims at
encouraging victims to report psychological violence to the police. “Thank you EULEX for this brilliant
campaign, which is accessible to all citizens of Kosovo, especially to the victims who -in this way- also
get more confidence to report the violence,” said Simic, adding: “The changes in legislation, namely
the inclusion of the Istanbul Convention in the Constitution, is a positive development in Kosovo
because it shows a direct institutional support in the fight against gender-based violence. We know
that we live in a patriarchal society and women are often thought of as modest, victimized, even
obeying. If a woman starts to defend her rights, she is very often considered as a problem by her
family, society and sometimes institutions, instead of her becoming the centre of our attention to
resolve her problems. This is why awareness raising for this type of violence in a whole-of-society
approach is crucial.”  
 
The awareness   raising   campaign will see billboards placed throughout Kosovo, as well as web ads.  
 
Watch the discussion here (floor languages):