Since the recognition of our country’s independence in 2008, Kosovo has always lacked policies on suicide prevention (aside from closed institutions, such as prisons). Despite our long history of trauma, no laws or strategies had ever been developed to tackle the problem of suicide. In fact, Kosovo does not have a functioning mechanism with which to measure the number of suicides or suicide attempts accurately, leaving professionals and activists in the dark on the scope of the problem and where to direct resources.
As a response to this situation, in 2019, just before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, a group of young activists mobilised to open up a national suicide prevention hotline, named “Linja e Jetës” (Lifeline). Over the years, we had built goodwill in the community, expanded volunteers’ networks and contributed to a growing discussion around suicide prevention. In 2023, our work was recognised by the office of the president through the “Saint Theresa” award for outstanding work in the community. Despite all this, public institutions remained obstinate in their refusal to treat suicide from a political and social level.
On the 29th of April, 2024, seeing the growing momentum in the discussion around suicide prevention and in cooperation with various other organisations and activists, we began a petition for the drafting of Kosovo’s first law on suicide prevention. We argued that, due to the large hole in existing legislation regarding suicide prevention (for example, the law on mental health does not mention the word suicide at all), there was space to create a comprehensive law which could serve as a foundation to build strategies and services on in the future. As the very least, the law would create a mechanism for counting the number of suicides and suicide attempts, institutionalising the suicide prevention hotline, offering social nets for groups who are most affected by suicidal ideation, etc.
During the next few months, we canvassed in various cities, talked to citizens on the streets, in cafés, in concerts and anywhere where people would have us talk about the petition. On the 10th of September, during world suicide prevention day, we delivered to parliament the petition with over 10,000 signatures, thereby passing the legal requirement for it to be considered in parliament.
After an election period and the constitution of a new parliament, on the 2nd of April, all present MEPs voted unanimously for the formation of the ad-hoc commission for the drafting of the law on suicide prevention. Unfortunately, just as our work was set to begin, Kosovo’s parliament dispersed and the country began its third set of elections within 2 years. As we wait for our institutions to form once again, we remain hopeful that our work with the draft law will continue.
Kosovo has an opportunity to build its services from the ground up, while being able to learn from the attempts of other countries, finally recognising the pain of survivors, of the families and friends of victims, and of the community. Parliament must use this chance to recognise its responsibility and give Kosovo its first real policy for suicide prevention.
