A self-defence course for women from Kosovo, held at the Peć/Pejё Youth Centre, a collaboration between the Liaison Monitoring Team (LMT) of Regional Command West (RC-W) of KFOR and the Women Wellness Centre.
The course offered participants a combination of theoretical and practical lessons, aimed at developing personal awareness, self-confidence and the skills needed to recognise and react to dangerous situations. The self-defence techniques taught were specifically chosen to be effective and adapted to vulnerable situations women may face.
The certificate award ceremony was attended by several authorities, including the Commander of KFOR Regional Command West, the Colonel Francesco Ferrara, the Deputy Mayor of Peć/Pejё, Mr. Fatmir Asllani, e the Councillor for Culture, Sports and Youth, Mrs. Xhenet Syka. The presence of these figures underlined the importance of the initiative and the local community's support for the project.
The course represents just one of the many activities promoted by the Italian contingent of the Kosovo Force, which, in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1244, is committed not only to maintaining a safe and secure environment in Kosovo, but also to promoting charitable initiatives that contribute to the wellbeing of the local community.
The effectiveness of the programme and its positive impact on the community can be seen in the appreciation and gratitude expressed by the participants, who now feel safer and more capable of dealing with potential threats. The experience gained not only provides tools for self-defence, but also strengthens the sense of community and mutual support among the women, which are essential for a safer and more equitable future.
To Colonel Ferrara, Officer belonging to the speciality of the Bersaglieri e Commander of the 1st Cosenza Regiment, and all his staff, we congratulate him on an exceptional initiative in Kosovo, a nation that has suffered tragic violence against women during the conflict and beyond. This self-defence course is part of a broader context of awareness-raising.
Just recently, on 15 and 16 April, Vjosa Osmani Sadriu, President of the Republic of Kosovo, hosted the Women Peace Security Forum in Pristina, an important platform that brought together leaders, experts, civil society representatives and other interest groups in the heart of the Western Balkans. This forum focused on building joint efforts to address conflict-related sexual violence and identifying tools and policies to ensure greater safety for women and girls.
In this context, Colonel Ferrara's initiative reinforces the message of the President of the Republic of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani - Sadriu, and does so with concrete actions, providing potential future victims with an extremely effective method of defence.
