The Coalition of NGOs for Child Protection in Kosovo – KOMF, through a press release issued today said that 61.4 % of children in Kosovo suffer from psychological violence and physical punishment. “The data show a high degree of violence committed against children. According to the Kosovo Statistics Agency, 61.4% of surveyed children up to age 14 stated that they had suffered psychological violence and/or physical punishment by members of the family over the last month from the date of the interview. 59% of children suffered from psychological violence, while 24% had suffered from physical punishment. This is because the models of discipline in Kosovo are often oriented towards physical and emotional violence,” reads the press release. Kosovo's actions to prevent forms of violence against children are more visible in laws, policies and its protocols. While Kosovo's capacity to create services suited to the prevention of violence, protection and reintegration of victims remains limited.
KOMF recommends increased investment by the government and municipalities in the creation of services for prevention, including the creation of programs for parents and professionals who are in contact with children for positive methods of child discipline. It was also recommended investment to strengthen mechanisms for identifying and reporting such cases. “Violence against children is unacceptable and is a criminal offense and it is the legal obligation of every citizen and professional to report it.”