Begging in Kosovo and its impact on people's safety

In December 2013, AKTIV, FIQ, and seven local partner organisations in Kosovo organised a series of community dialogue meetings to examine the issue of begging and the effect it has on people's safety, and their perception of their safety.

Begging has been recognised as a problem to varying degrees within Kosovo and this research project, implemented by Saferworld and partners, explores who beggars are perceived to be, how their actions affect communities, and how government and non-government actors are engaging with the issue.

This report shows that beggars are the most vulnerable in society as no official safety net exists to support them. They include the poor, vulnerable adults with addictions, people suffering from disabilities and mental illnesses, and perhaps most worryingly children who have been trafficked. Within a complex environment such as Kosovo these already vulnerable groups are exposed to additional hostility if they arrive from neighbouring or regional countries. The situation is compounded by the adverse economic environment that has led to increased levels of unemployment.

From the research the Conflict Prevention Forum has compiled recommendations for the government, local municipalities, civil society actors, and the Kosovo Police, including:

• examining and tackling the root causes of begging, including ethnic discrimination;
• ensuring the inclusion of socially marginalised children in the education system while effectively managing outreach to their families;
• establishing organisations that can work together to eradicate begging;
• investigating forced labour and the economic exploitation of children, as part of a wider investigation into human trafficking.

Read the report from the Conflict Prevention Forum here.

“The impact of begging to the safety and security of citizens is not necessarily substantial in its manifestation but nevertheless carries a significant risk potential.”

Conflict Prevention Forum