Representatives of US KFOR and OSCE Mission in Kosovo donated yesterday blankets, mattresses, pillows and quilts to the Women’s Support and Development Centre in Bostane village to help women victims of the domestic violence, RTV Puls reports. They also said creating a strong society requires strong women.
This donation is a small token that women are not forgotten. The attention was drawn that in fact women are the basis of society and family. If we have strong women, we have strong society as well, Director of the OSCE Regional Office in Gnjilane James Lyon said. “(…) Institutions and society must protect the women, who are the core of the society. Unfortunately, women need protection,” he added.
Outgoing US Director of the Area Support Team Balkans Della Hodges, responsible for all premises and equipment of the US Army said she was very interested in women’s rights in Kosovo.
“Family here is as much important as in the US, people do everything for their families, their children,” she said. Asked how she managed to harmonize the marriage, family and career Hodges responded it was always necessary to create a balance.
One of the main persons behind the idea to open a shelter for women in Pomoravlje region, Vesna Stajic said support of the institutions, international organizations and all persons with good will was very important during construction of the house for all the victims of violence.
“We are very much grateful to KFOR, that stood by us and the shelter since the beginning and I hope this support would continue. The OSCE has been with us since the very beginning, they know all our sorrows and joys. Today, colleagues from entire Kosovo are present so this is a good opportunity to spend some time and exchange experiences,” Stajic from the Association of Women Returnees “Our Home” has said.
Representatives of the shelters from Gnjilane, Pec, Pristina and Djakovica were present during the ceremony.
Kosovo Deputy Minister of Justice Naim Qelaj said he knows how much it is difficult to build and run the shelter. “(…) I know all difficulties they were facing. We tried to offer them support and help. However, institutions on several occasions were not on a satisfactory level to offer support that you need (…)”, Qelaj said.
Novo Brdo Deputy Mayor Sinisa Dimic said it is of major significance to the municipality to be able to support the shelter for women victims of violence, in Bostane and expressed hope it would have the least number of beneficiaries.
