Mehmed Zenka: There is an increasing need for equal opportunities policy

The need to be more active in fighting against violence against women and domestic violence is more visible today, Minister for Human Rights and Minority Rights Mehmed Zenka said in a conversation with members of the Kosovo delegation residing in a working visit to Montenegro.

The delegation is led by Deputy Minister of Justice Naim Ćeljaj (Naim Qelaj), who also serves as the National Coordinator against Domestic Violence. Minister Zenka said that the consequences of this extremely negative social phenomenon are far-reaching, unfortunately for the society as a whole, the family and the individual. Violence is not only one of the most difficult forms of human rights violations, but it also extremely badly reflects on social benefits, health care, labor productivity, security, budget.

The Republic of Kosovo's delegation expressed special interest in the Istanbul Convention. Minister Zenka introduced the interlocutors with the fact that Montenegro is among the top five countries that have ratified this most important international document in the area of ​​protection of women from domestic violence and violence. He pointed out that the Ministry for Human and Minority Rights is monitoring the implementation of this Convention whereas its implementation is in charge of Ministry of Labour and social welfare. The interlocutors agreed that women were increasingly exposed to psychological violence, but the presence of both economic and physical violence was equally evident.

During the talks, the mutual co-operation between Montenegro and Republic of Kosovo has been praised once more.  Having learned about the responsibilities of the Ministry for Human and Minority Rights, Celaj suggested that a bilateral meeting of relevant representatives of institutional mechanisms for the achievement of gender equality should be organized in a timely manner in order to exchange positive experiences and further improve them practices in the area of ​​gender equality, particularly in the fight against violence against women and domestic violence.