The 16 Days of Activism Global Campaign against Gender-Based Violence was launched in Gjakova/Ðakovica today by Ambassador Tomáš Szunyog, the EU Special Representative / Head of the EU Office in Kosovo. Ambassador Szunyog and Ardian Gjini, Mayor of Gjakova/Ðakovica municipality, marked the beginning of the campaign in a ceremony at the municipal offices.

At the launch ceremony, Ambassador Szunyog said that: “Survivors must be at the centre of the policies. They need to feel that they are not alone. Domestic and gender-based violence affects the whole society, so all of us should be involved in eliminating it. The EU remains committed to supporting Kosovo in ending violence against women, even more so during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Ambassador Szunyog also visited the shelter for survivors of gender-based violence and joined the lighting up in orange of the Terzi and Tabak bridges. He was accompanied by Ulrika Richardson, UN Development Coordinator; Vlora Tuzi Nushi, Head of UN Women; and Maria Suokko, the United Nations Development Programme Resident Representative.

This year, the traditional UN campaign on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women started amid reports that the COVID-19 pandemic has increased domestic violence across the world. COVID-19 triggered this year’s global theme “Orange the World: Fund, Respond, Prevent, Collect!”.