/ A Women’s Wellness Center Against Violence
Years of repression by the Serbian government, the subsequent militarisation of Kosovar resistance and the experience of war have led to a general loss of trust in public institutions. As a result, extended family structures have gained significance and power. Patriarchal structures and a precarious economic situation combine to limit the options of women: It has become increasingly difficult to make biographical choices outside of the realm of the greater family. And within these structures, women are frequently victims of domestic violence. The Women's Wellness Center in Peja, in western Kosovo, offers women shelter and refuge from violence, and works with families to address these issues. By mobilising public opinion, offering training to public authorities, as well as political lobbying, the center has contributed significantly to an awareness of violence against women as a negative social phenomenon that must be treated as a breach of law.
Protecting Women and Working with Families
The Women’s Wellness Center offers social and legal counseling and actively supports women who are victims of violence. A women's shelter offers women and children protection from violence and a temporary refuge. In an economic situation where 85 % are unemployed and social conventions are strong, it is impossible for most women to plan an independent future. In order to guarantee the safety of the women within their family units, the Women's Wellness Center works closely with the heads of families in which violent abuse occurs. In their mediation, the staff of the Wellness Centre focus on coming to an agreement with the family members, negotiating a contract that obliges them to refrain from using mental and physical violence against the women. Furthermore, all parties must accept that decisions concerning the children should be made in cooperation with the mothers, and that women are legally entitled to freedom of movement.
Campaigning Against Violence
With broadly based information and awareness campaigns, the Women's Wellness Center speaks directly to the people of Peja and the surrounding area. Members of the center hold workshops in schools to sensitise teachers and pupils alike to gender-specific violence. This teaches them to recognise the places, mechanisms and forms of domestic violence and the sexual exploitation of women. It also informs them on what action they can take. The specifically focused training of social workers, police officers and members of the health care system is already showing results: Today women who are victims of violence in Peja are treated in a highly professional manner with due respect to the law.
Political Lobbying
Thanks to persistent lobbying, the Women's Wellness Center in Peja is solidly integrated in the community. The municipality supports the shelter, at least on an ideal level. All four Women's shelters in Kosovo are combining their efforts to ensure that working with victims of domestic violence becomes publicly acknowledged and financed. They have already had some success: Since 2006 the public authorities have been supporting the shelters by contributing towards operating costs.
