[2011] Often hidden behind the house walls, domestic violence, whose victims are mainly women, remains unspoken about in many cases. In this dossier, realised in partnership with Oneworld Platform for SEE, Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso presents data, extracts of interviews with experts, information on legal reforms and their implementation, etc.

Articles

Montenegro: the fight against domestic violence is a priority

OWPSEE/OBC

Let's take a closer look into the issue of domestic violence in Montenegro: there are good laws but they are not yet implemented efficiently. They lack coherent coordination and Montenegrin society seems not yet to recognise the seriousness of this problem

Macedonia: violence at home

Dejan Georgievski* Skopje

Domestic violence is a widespread phenomenon in Macedonia. According to NGOs working on this issue its causes are mainly a consequence of a society that is still very patriarchal. Our review

BiH: Domestic violence in a complex institutional setting

OWPSEE/OBC

The protection of victims of domestic violence in Bosnia Herzegovina is guaranteed by a number of laws, but more often than not they are not enforced. In the background a society that is still very patriarchal and the heavy institutional burden left by the Dayton Peace Agreement. Our analysis

Domestic violence: slow progress in Croatia

OWPSEE/OBC

Despite the legislative framework being up to standars, Croatia lags far behind in terms of actual protection of women victims of violence in the home. Our analysis

Domestic violence in Serbia: the law is not enough

OWPSEE/OBC

In Serbia the issue of domestic violence is rarely discussed in public, despite statistics and surveys showing that at least one half of all women in Serbia are subjected to some form of violence. The prevailing traditional patriarchal society considers it a taboo and tends to avoid it. Our analysis

Hidden violence in Kosovo

Francesco Gradari

Police in Kosovo register over 1,000 officially-reported episodes of domestic violence every year and four out of five victims are women. However, official data is just the tip of the iceberg – not many women dare denounce their agressors

Domestic violence in Albania

OWPSEE/OBC

Recent data show a worrying rise in the phenomenon. The growing numbers may however be the reflection of increased awareness and the inclination to press charges. This analysis gives an overview of the current situation, from laws not being enforced to scarce state assistance

SeeNet II Programme 

The Italo-Balkan decentralised cooperation Programme SeeNet II includes attivities specifically aimed at establishing and strengthening a network of integrated local services working to combat violence against women. In particular, the Programme action led by the region Emilia-Romagna, in partnership with the Italian regions Marche and Tuscany, supports such activities in the area of Novi Sad in collaboration with the Municipality and its Community Centre.
In this Programme Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso is carrying out analyses of the issue of violence against women and the mechanisms operating to fight it in the 7 Western Balkan countries involved in SeeNet II.

Archive

Skopje - Marjola Rukaj

On the bus from Tirana to Skopje there are many young women with children. They have just visited their relatives, in Northern Albania, and are now going back to their houses in Macedonia. In this report, a story of migration and arranged marriages

Domestic violence is a taboo topic in Azerbaijan. Every attempt to discuss issues that touch the private, family realm is perceived as a threat to the country's national identity

Sexist advertisements are invading Chişinău, the capital of Moldova. The image of the woman depicted is clear: sexy and beautiful, a good servant for men, a hardworking housewife. Two companies using such advertisement have already been sued. But people still bump into billboards with sexy women all over. A feature story