The Right to a Life Free From Violence: Women in Leskovac Fight for Their Rights

The organisation "Leskovačke Romkinje" (Leskovac Roma Women) in partnership with the Leskovac Centre for Social Work, successfully implemented the project "Roma Women – For Life Against Violence!", as part of the programme "PRO – Local Governance for People and Nature."

This initiative demonstrated how targeted support and intersectoral cooperation can contribute to improving the quality of life in local communities, enabling vulnerable groups, such as Roma women, to access information and protection from violence. It is estimated that over 250 Roma women were directly empowered to recognise and report domestic or partner violence.

The project aimed to enhance the prevention and suppression of violence against Roma women within families and partnerships through awareness-raising and education on gender-based violence. Activities included a media campaign, direct outreach to women in Roma settlements, and workshops covering topics such as types of violence, its consequences, and methods for reporting violence using available tools. A total of 167 Roma women, aged 15 to 70, participated in the workshops. Most were unemployed, social welfare beneficiaries, waste collectors, or housewives living in large, shared households.

As a result of the campaign, more women reached out to the organisation "Leskovac Roma Women" and the Leskovac Centre for Social Work to report psychological, physical, and economic violence inflicted by their partners. Previously, fear and patriarchal upbringing had prevented them from seeking help from relevant services. Thanks to the project, five women have already reported violence and received support from the organisation and local institutions during this process.

Notably, collaboration with relevant local institutions, including the police, healthcare facilities, and judicial authorities, yielded concrete results, such as the inclusion of representatives from the "Leskovac Roma Women" association in the City Council for Combating Violence Against Women. This approach to intersectoral cooperation ensures sustainable support because everyone has the right to a life free from violence.

The programme "PRO – Local Governance for People and Nature" is jointly implemented by United Nations agencies in Serbia – UNOPS, UNICEF, UNFPA, and UNEP, in collaboration with the Government of Serbia and with financial support from the Government of Switzerland.