As the coronavirus pandemic lockdown persists, domestic violence reports have seen a rise in Kosovo and Albania.
A Kosovo shelter reports seeing a 30% rise in domestic violence calls. The 20-bed shelter is currently at capacity and cannot admit more people.
Still, the director of the shelter Erblina Dinarama thinks that underreporting remains a central concern. She cited isolation at home, financial hardship, and victims being unable to access their phones without their abusers present, as likely factors.
Today, Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti expressed concern with regards to the increase of domestic violence in the country. He promised the government was looking into increasing funding for domestic abuse programs, and asked institutions to treat every domestic violence report as urgent.
The OSCE office in Kosovo also called on victims of domestic violence not to hesitate to call the police.
Domestic violence victims are not subject to curfews and movement restrictions. Help is available: 📞 call 192 or the #Kosovo Police hotline 080019999, made specifically for domestic violence during the lock-down. #DomesticViolenceAwareness pic.twitter.com/mwgjDHiCbY
— OSCE Kosovo (@OSCEKosovo) April 16, 2020
Meanwhile, in Albania, despite a Berat’s judge claims that domestic violence has decreased during the pandemic, a local domestic violence shelter told Exit yesterday that there has been a 40% increase in calls.
