29.11.2023

The “Idriz Barani” primary school in Klinë e Epërme, Skenderaj has been transformed into a space for advocacy and raising social awareness against murder and violence against women.

“I am nobody’s property. Just one slap is violence” is the title of the mural that was presented in this school on November 29, 2023.

Realized by the NGO Humanus Vita and the artist Nazmi Kyqyku, this mural was presented in the framework of the “16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence,” with the support of the Feminist Art Fund of Artpolis.

Doruntina Gashi, the director of Humanus Vita, emphasized the importance of educating young people and increasing their awareness regarding the prevalence of violence in our society. She finds the persisting issues of violence and the killing of women deeply troubling.

“The primary message is, of course, to raise awareness among young people, teachers, and society as a whole, as generation after generation will come to this school. We hope that this mural will serve for every generation to come. Unfortunately, the statistics are still high, and while there is a slight increase in reporting, it does not necessarily mean a decrease in violence. As a society, we truly need awareness and to engage in various projects involving the community, particularly with students, women, and men,” said Gashi.

The official for gender equality in the Municipality of Skenderaj, Qefsere Dautaj, was also present at the presentation of this mural and called for violence not to be silenced.

“We are conducting awareness campaigns against domestic violence, with lectures in schools and meetings in different villages. We are committed to raising the awareness of citizens not to silence violence because it is very important; it should not be silenced as the rights of no one are allowed to be violated for anything, because we all have rights,” she said.

While the school director, Sami Tahiraj, hopes that this mural will have a positive impact on the wider community. Students of the “Idriz Barani” school have read some of the main appeals of the messages conveyed by this mural: Stop Femicide, Report 192, Don’t stop girl/educate your boy, #EnoughisEnough, etc.

This mural is supported by the Artpolis Feminist Art Fund, which is supported by the Kosovo Foundation for Civil Society (KCSF) program ‘EJA Kosovo’, co-financed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Sweden and the Government of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.

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