Press release on murder of Biljana Krsikapa – Shoot in the system and justice

October 10th, 2016. In the city center, in the afternoon hours, in one of the most crowded streets in Nikšić, 46 years old women, mother of five children was killed. Her attempts to escape perennial family violence were silenced with a gunshots. This brutal crime was comitted by her husband who was maltreating her and her children for a long period of time, and the system has not stopped him.

Today everybody got upset: media, citizens and institutions of the system. Some of them are looking where to put the blame, while others are trying to anticipate who is not to be blame on. It is too late now, Biljana has been murdered and justice will never be reached for her. Biljana Kršikapa is a victim of her husband’s crime who killed her because she is a women and he wrongly believed she his property. Biljana Kršikapa is one of the many women who report attacks and life threats from their husbands if they keep living the life, if they keep working, if they keep havings friends. However, these threats are not seriously taken by the system protection. Individuals who act in the name of the system mainly consider they “cannot help”. Ministry of Justice is showing a positive picture of protection system for victims of domestic violence, while members of multidisciplinary teams merely act in terms of protection of domestic violence victims and police does not even use their own legal duties and authorizations. That is why yesterday, they shoot in the system and justice. That is why we will follow, document and publicly bring the names of those whose passive behavior threatens women victims of violence. Tragically ended life of Biljana asks from us to do so. It will be until the protection system does not get responsible and professional people. We want institutions to show how mature they are and to face the mistakes they have made.

Yesterday it was Biljana, today maybe one of us!
1. SOS hotline for women and children victims of domestic violence Nikšić
2. Shelter Podgorica
3. SOS hotline for women and children victims of domestic violence Podgorica
4. Women’s Rights Center
5. Montenegrin Women’s Lobby
6. SOS hotline for women and children victims of domestic violence Ulcinj
7. SOS hotline for women and children victims of domestic violence Berane
8. SOS hotline for women and children victims of domestic violence Bijelo Polje
9. SOS hotline for women and children victims of domestic violence Plav
10. Open Center Bona Fide