Berisha: Women in the North should use legal tools to prosecute sexual harassment

Adelina Berisha, Program Manager for Combating Violence at the Kosovo Women’s Network, emphasized that sexual harassment of women is a criminal offense punishable by imprisonment, and that women in northern Kosovo—where such harassment has become increasingly frequent—should exercise their rights and seek justice.

Berisha stated that sexual harassment is one of the most widespread forms of gender-based violence both in Kosovo and globally.

“We are deeply saddened to hear that these cases have become more frequent in North Mitrovica. We want to inform all those girls and women that they have the full right to report such crimes. Sexual harassment is a criminal offense under Kosovo’s Criminal Code. It is punishable by imprisonment. That’s why they should use every legal means available to report these cases and seek justice for themselves. At the same time, we must work with our community and our society to understand what sexual harassment is and the consequences it has for victims,” Berisha said.

According to her, it is very difficult to preserve evidence of sexual harassment, which makes reporting even more challenging for victims and can discourage them from coming forward.

“We know that because it is extremely hard to preserve evidence of sexual harassment, women who report it must undergo very strict procedures. They are expected to find proof that they were harassed, even though the burden of proof should fall on the perpetrator. This is very sad—because when women are treated by institutions in a way that they’re asked how it happened, where it happened, whether they can find evidence it happened—it can discourage them from reporting at all,” she added.

Berisha stressed that if victims encounter a lack of understanding from institutions, they must escalate the matter and report the misconduct of those institutions.

“This is something we must communicate to all girls and women—regardless of their ethnicity or religion—they all have the right to report sexual harassment. Everyone should know that sexual harassment is a crime. It can be a word, a touch, or a gesture. If you feel intimidated or harassed, you have every right to report it. And if you see that the institutions aren’t doing their job, you should escalate the matter and report institutional misconduct. We know that in Pristina, too, many such cases were dismissed for lack of evidence. That’s very sad because it leaves the perpetrators free, and sexual harassment becomes normalized—when in fact it is a crime and must be treated as one,” Berisha said.

She noted that the Kosovo Women’s Network works closely with all NGOs and associations advocating for gender rights in northern Kosovo, with the goal of supporting victims. She added that it’s crucial to build trust between citizens and institutions.

“We know the north has its own specific dynamics, and there is a real need to build trust between citizens and institutions. That should be our focus—to increase trust and rely on those who have a legal obligation to protect us,” Berisha said.

On behalf of the Kosovo Women’s Network, she expressed solidarity with women in the north, stating that the organization can offer legal assistance.

“We’ve shown solidarity with all women in Kosovo, especially those in the north. We understand their pain and want them to know we are here to support them. The Kosovo Women’s Network has a lawyer who represents all cases of gender-based violence, including sexual harassment. If women feel they need legal support, they are free to contact us, and we will help them press charges against perpetrators and demand accountability from institutions that failed to do their job,” she emphasized.

She also underscored the importance of educating youth on this issue, noting that boys and girls should be taught from an early age that sexual harassment is a criminal act.