“Do not remain silent against any form of violence.”
This was the message that the Deputy Speaker of the Assembly, Albulena Haxhiu, and the acting Minister, Arbërie Nagavci, addressed to high school students in Prishtina, at the conclusion of the global campaign “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.” In the plenary hall of the Assembly of Kosovo, Haxhiu and Nagavci were also challenged by students about violence used in institutions, reports KosovaPress.
The Deputy Speaker of the Assembly, Albulena Haxhiu, said that violence against women and girls is the most prevalent in Kosovo.
She emphasized that change starts with young people since they have the power to shape the culture of their generation. A culture, according to her, where violence is not accepted, respect is valued more than force, and girls and women are treated as equals.
“Violence does not start only with hitting. It often starts with words, teasing, ridicule, attempts to control someone, telling them how to dress and speak. With jealousy that sometimes may seem like love, but it is not love… This change starts with you. You, as young people, have the power to shape the culture of your generation. A culture where violence is not accepted, where respect is valued more than force, and girls and women are treated as equals and with dignity… Never allow anyone to insult you or insult others, threaten you, blackmail you, intimidate you, and if you witness someone being treated this way, I invite you to react,” she emphasized.
On the other hand, the acting Minister of Education, Arbërie Nagavci, suggested that students also be aware of the dangers of digital violence.
“Do not remain silent against any form of violence. I know personally that even today, when we have an extraordinary development of technology, which, alongside its benefits, also carries the risk of digital violence. Be attentive and conscious, first of all, for your safety, your integrity, and to protect everything related to your physical and emotional being,” Nagavci declared.
After the speeches, it was time for questions from the students. One of them asked Haxhiu and Nagavci how they expect children to be safe from violence when violence is used in institutions themselves.
One student even said that there are cases when state institutions themselves use verbal violence against students in different lectures.
“How can we be safe when our state itself inflicts so much violence on us? We have cases when a lecture in school had police officers, and the officers were shouting at us: ‘Be quiet or we will take you to the station.’ This is also violence,” he said.
And Haxhiu said that there are cases when politicians are not the best example that students should follow.
“The first question is how you expect us to be safe if violence is used in institutions. Unfortunately, the reality is like this and bitter. I cannot deny this since we have all seen it in institutions; unfortunately, even in this country where we are today, violence has occurred and has been used. There are cases when politicians are not the best example to follow,” she said.
As part of the global campaign “16 Days Against Gender-Based Violence,” during the day, the Ministry of Justice also organized an activity related to compensation for victims of crime in Kosovo.
