The Last Tunnel Activity in Kosovo*

December 5, 2022 News

Within the 16 days of activism, SIT- Center for Counseling, Social Services and Research is organizing the activity “The Last Tunnel” remembering femicide (the killing of a woman or girl, in particular by a man and on account of her gender) victims from after the war period in Kosovo.

Yesterday, for the fourth time, we have shown the installation “The Last Tunnel”, an exhibition which shows cases of victims of femicide in Kosovo and aims to raise awareness about the prevention of any form of violence against women

The first day of exhibition was launched on December 1st from 09:00 – 19:00 at “Zahir Pajaziti” Square in Prishtina; and will continue in two other cities, in Prizren on December 2nd and in Peje on December 3rd.

The stories of women/for women victims of femicide were placed in the square and people had the opportunity to read these stories, to see a description of the violence that women in Kosovo experience throughout the year, year after year. These stories answer the questions “Who? When? How? What?”, and we hope to send the message to our media that these are the questions that matter in reporting on cases of violence, not the question “Why?”  – because there is no justification for violence! At the end of the installation, a declaration of “public commitment” has been placed where all of us pledge to be active against violence against women and girls.

Since the beginning of 16 days of activism this year, 2 femicides happened in Kosovo where in both cases husbands were murderers. These cases shock us to our cores, and once again showed us how important our work is. How important it is to raise awareness, educate people about this  and fight against this system. They are signals that invite us to organize and revolt. Therefore, civil society finally calls for a nationwide organization to oppose the war that has been declared to us by this system which is aiming to exterminate women.

We can no longer allow women to be killed or live in fear and violence for the rest of their lives. We organize and fight against the patriarchy, the state of violent and murderous men. We organize to say definitively that murder is not a private matter. It is a political issue, the result of violence and structural oppression against women. We organize so that no woman lives under violence and fear that one day it will be her turn.

*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.

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