The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) announces an open competition for organizations interested in submitting applications for projects that increase protections against gender-based violence for marginalized communities in Kosovo. Gender-based violence (GBV) is a global issue that affects one in three women in their lifetime.
According to the 2022 U.S. Department of State’s Human Rights Report for Kosovo, a significant
human rights issue in Kosovo included the lack of investigation of and accountability for GBV,
including domestic or intimate partner violence, sexual violence, and other forms of such
violence. Another issue of concern was crimes involving violence or threats of violence
targeting ethnic minorities or other marginalized communities. There are also critical gaps in
the systematic documentation and monitoring of the prevalence of GBV in the country.
Furthermore, GBV survivors often lack awareness of their rights and access to support services.
There are also social stigmas in reporting GBV coupled with cultural norms that try to keep
partners together.
To respond to these challenges, DRL is seeking proposals that work towards the Bureau’s goal
of providing access to justice for individuals experiencing GBV, abuse, and exploitation in
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Kosovo. The program should take an intersectional approach by considering particular issues
facing LGBTQI+ women, women with disabilities, low-income women, women in public-facing
positions, women from racial, religious, and ethnic minority communities, and other
intersections are differently impacted by GBV.
The program objectives are: 1) increasing public awareness of the various forms of GBV (i.e.
psychological, physical, emotional, economic, etc.) as well as relevant laws and available
protections; 2) strengthening collaboration among diverse stakeholders in all communities on
rights-based, trauma-informed, and survivor-centered approaches to prevent and address GBV;
and 3) providing survivor-centered support, including the provision of direct service assistance.
Program activities may include but are not limited to:
• Developing and implementing targeted awareness campaigns and community
engagement initiatives regarding the different forms of GBV and available protections
under current laws;
• Strengthening the financial, technical and/or organizational capacity of local
organizations in providing effective and survivor-centered support services, including,
but not limited to, legal, psycho-social, and/or medical assistance;
• Enhancing coordination among relevant stakeholders, including law enforcement,
healthcare providers, and social services to improve GBV response mechanisms,
including training direct service providers on how to engage with survivors; and
• Conducting research and assessments to better understand the prevalence and
dynamics of GBV in the country and inform evidence-based interventions.