December 2, 2008, Prishtina, Kosovo: The Kosova Women’s Network (KWN) has completed the country’s first in-depth study of domestic violence, finding that 43 percent of citizens surveyed had experienced domestic violence at some point in their lives.

More than 46 percent of women reported experiencing violence, compared with 39 percent of men. Compared to other demographic groups, respondents who were female, living in rural areas, poor, and had less than a secondary school education were more likely to have experienced violence.

The report, titled “Security Begins at Home,” was released on November 27 at the Grand Hotel in Prishtina, Kosovo.

KWN’s methods involved collecting statistics, reviewing relevant law, legislation, and social service data, and surveying 1,256 women and men of all ages and ethnic groups across Kosovo about their perceptions of domestic violence and personal experiences with it. The report includes recommendations for legal and legislative reform.

KWN was contracted to work on the study by the Agency for Gender Equality in the Prime Minister’s Office of Kosovo, with support from the UNDP Women’s Safety and Security Initiative. The findings and recommendations will serve as a basis for the first Kosova National Action Plan and Strategy against Domestic Violence.