„In recent weeks, there has been an increase in citizen reports and media coverage concerning the harassment of women and girls by civilians coming from the direction of South Mitrovica, including incidents involving minors,“ five civil society organizations from Northern Kosovo said in a joint statement, urging international institutions to step in.
They argue that the repeated incidents—often involving minors—reflect a profound institutional problem and point to the perceived failure or unwillingness of the Kosovo Police to provide protection for all citizens.
Escalating Incidents and Lack of Police Response
The civil society organizations emphasized that the frequency and persistence of such incidents indicate systemic issues within the Kosovo Police. They also expressed concern over reports suggesting that some police officers have tried to downplay the severity of the incidents and allegedly pressured witnesses to remain silent.
Furthermore, the organizations criticized the Kosovo Police Inspectorate for its apparent lack of oversight and disciplinary action in these cases. They stressed that the current mechanisms for civilian oversight of the police are extremely limited.
Calls for International Oversight
In light of the gravity of the situation and the evident lack of institutional response, the civil society groups are urging international actors to intensify their oversight and accountability mechanisms concerning security structures. They particularly pointed to the mandate of the EU Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX), which is tasked with monitoring the rule of law in Kosovo, including police operations.
The organizations called on EULEX to publicly respond to the following questions:
1.Is EULEX currently monitoring and documenting cases of harassment of women and girls in northern Kosovo? If so, is there an assessment of the trends and severity of these incidents?
2.What concrete steps does EULEX take when it identifies systemic failures in the Kosovo Police’s work regarding the protection of non-majority community members?
3.How does EULEX ensure that its findings and recommendations in such cases have institutional impact and lead to changes in police conduct?
4.Does EULEX plan to increase the presence and oversight of police units in northern municipalities, given the specific context and frequent citizen reports of harassment and ineffective protection?
“It is urgently necessary to restore public trust in security institutions. This can only be achieved through the responsible and transparent work of all relevant bodies, including international missions mandated to uphold the rule of law and protect human rights in Kosovo,” the joint statement said.
Signatory organizations include Center for Affirmative Social Actions (CASA)New Social Initiative (NSI), Institute for Territorial Economic Development (InTER), Center for Advocacy of Democratic Culture (ACDC), and NGO Aktiv.
Women Speak Out: A Growing Movement
Reports indicate that harassment incidents often involve Serbian women and girls being subjected to catcalling from cars, being followed, receiving inappropriate comments, and being approached through social media.
Some cases even involve members of the Kosovo Police, according to reports from non-governmental organizations.
Last year, an informal women’s group from Northern Kosovo collected approximately 30 testimonies of harassment, acknowledging that the real number could be significantly higher. In August, the group submitted a petition with 415 signatures to the KFOR commander, calling for greater institutional responsibility.
The issue has also been recognized at the international level, with the latest semi-annual report by the head of the UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) to the United Nations noting the problem.
Community Initiatives: „Neighborhood Watches“
In response to the persistent problem, Aleksandar Arsenijević, leader of the Serbian Democracy movement, announced the formation of „Neighborhood Watches“ in North Mitrovica. These groups aim to monitor and report any suspicious or harassing behavior, with a focus on community safety rather than replacing law enforcement.
Arsenijević invited residents from all ethnic and religious backgrounds to join the initiative, emphasizing that their goal is to ensure the safety of women, girls, and children. The movement has a dedicated Viber group established to collect testimonies.
Today, the Serbian Democracy movement will host its first community meeting on the issue at the premises of the Aktiv NGO, aiming to discuss further steps and mobilize broader community involvement.
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