Physical violence and torture were inflicted on a teenage girl by several minors in Gjilan.
The Coalition of NGOs for Child Protection (KOMF) expressed that it was deeply shocked and concerned by the incident.
“This unacceptable act of violence is a serious alarm for the entire society, the family as an institution, law enforcement, the education system, and the child protection system,” KOMF stated.
According to them, “the violence against the minor is not just an incident but a multiple failure of the entire system in preventing and addressing dangerous behaviors that undermine the dignity and integrity of children, as well as their life, safety, and well-being.”
KOMF stressed that this event is serious and alarming on multiple levels, noting that “this is not only an act of violence against children, but an open display of violence that was filmed, accompanied by threats and mockery—further traumatizing the victim and making the incident even more alarming for society.”
“Violence continues to take root among youth and is becoming normalized. The child protection system continues to fail in offering preventive services and programs, and in identifying early warning signs of violence and intervening on time. The violence seen in the published footage, the language used, and the public exposure of the video—along with the stigma it can cause—may worsen the victim’s condition and increase the trauma,” KOMF stated.
The Coalition of NGOs for Child Protection made several urgent calls to action:
- Immediate activation of child protection mechanisms at the local level, including Social Work Centers, schools, and other psycho-social services, to protect and rehabilitate the victim and provide services to all minors involved.
- Immediate institutional measures for the minors involved, in line with existing legislation.
- Maximum attention towards establishing preventive services and programs against peer violence, by strengthening families, enhancing school education, intensifying anti-violence programs, supporting youth mental health, and promoting respect, tolerance, and peaceful conflict resolution.
- Shared responsibility among parents, the community, and institutions to create a safe environment where every child feels protected.
“Violence will not be tolerated! It is not and should not be part of any child’s life. Every such case must be treated with urgency and maximum seriousness to ensure protection and prevent similar incidents in the future,” KOMF concluded.
