Sexual Harassment in Kosovo

Conclusions
Most survey respondents consider violent criminal offences, such as rape or attempted rape,
forms of sexual harassment. Less than half of the survey respondents think that pressure for sexual
favours, touching, pinching, pushing, or whistling at someone in the street are forms of sexual
harassment. A higher percentage of men than women tend to identify most forms of sexual harassment
as such. Some Kosovars lack awareness that sexual harassment can occur among homosexual persons.
Nearly a third of Kosovars, more men than women, believe that people naturally harass others when
they are attracted to them and that such behaviour is “okay”. Alarmingly, a culture of “blaming the
victim” when sexual harassment occurs is widespread, with approximately 74% of Kosovars believing
that “women bring harassment problems on themselves by dressing or acting provocatively.” Slightly
more women agree with this statement than men. This section suggests that awareness-raising with
regard to the different forms of sexual harassment, who perpetrates harassment, and why harassment
occurs (e.g., not because women “ask for it”) will be crucial for addressing sexual harassment in
Kosovo in the future.
22