Kosovo Women's Network

European Union in Kosovo, Kosovo Women’s Network Launch Groundbreaking Gender Analysis on Peace and Security in Kosovo

31.10.2025

On 31 October, the European Union in Kosovo, together with the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN), marked the 25th Anniversary of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) at the Europe House in Pristina and launched an EU-funded and KWN-prepared report entitled “Peace and Security in Kosovo: A Gender Analysis”.

“The aim of the gender analysis of peace and security in Kosovo is to inform present and future EU programming that will further and better support the implementation of the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda in Kosovo, in cooperation with institutions, civil society, women’s rights organisations and international partners,” said Aivo Orav, the EU Ambassador in Kosovo.

In marking this Anniversary, Orav was joined by Igballe Rogova, Executive Director of KWN, a multiethnic network of 102 diverse women’s rights organisations. “Without the inclusion of women, there is no lasting peace. Without women, there is no justice, and the absence of justice undermines the achievement of sustained peace,” Rogova emphasised.

Photo: Samir Karahoda – European Union in Kosovo

Presenting the new Gender Analysis’ key findings and recommendations, the KWN Deputy Director and Lead Researcher Nicole Farnsworth highlighted that Kosovo has committed to the WPS Agenda but that several laws and policies require amending and adopting to ensure its implementation, particularly related to women’s participation and protection, including electoral laws, the law on the status and rights of war victims and the Law on the Kosovo Security Force.

“The new Kosovo Program on Gender Equality should attend to several unimplemented aspects of the WPS Agenda so it can serve as Kosovo’s National Action Plan on WPS,” said Farnsworth.

The report further notes that the root causes of past, present and potential future tensions include segregated education and media that reinforce gender norms underpinning violence; insufficient inclusive and gender-responsive interethnic communication and interactions; economic instability and inadequate transitional justice.

The report recommends strengthening gender-responsive transitional justice, improving access to social and health services and implementing gender-responsive education, economic and environmental programs that address gendered structural inequalities and bring diverse women and men together to address issues of shared interest.

In addition, the report highlights the need to better engage diverse women, men and women’s rights organisations in consultations and in transitional justice, security, and peace processes, ensuring inclusive participation, leadership and gender-responsive decision-making.

The full report is available here in English, Albanian, and Serbian.

19.12.25

Kosovo Women’s Network Publishes Report “Zero Tolerance? Monitoring the Institutional Response to Gender-based Violence in Kosovo”

18.12.25

Inclusive Sexual Education: A Needed Change

18.12.25

Building Stronger Responses to Gender-based Violence Across Kosovo

18.12.25

Going Glocal 2.0: Sustainable Gender-responsive Futures

18.12.25

16 Days of Activism: Raising Awareness and Strengthening Advocacy

17.12.25

Moving Forward Together: Making Transport Accessible for Everyone

Kosovo Women’s Network Publishes Report “Zero Tolerance? Monitoring the Institutional Response to Gender-based Violence in Kosovo”

19.12.2025

The Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) has published a new research report “Zero Tolerance? Monitoring the Institutional Response to Gender-based Violence in Kosovo”, which provides an in-depth analysis of the institutional response to gender-based violence based on the standards of the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (known as the “Istanbul Convention”).

The report covers the period of 2021–2024 and is based on a comprehensive methodology that includes analysis of the legal framework, monitoring of the handling of violence cases by responsible institutions, interviews with institutional representatives, and review of official data.

The findings show that Kosovo has made significant progress in improving the legal framework with the adoption of the Law on Prevention and Protection from Domestic Violence, Violence against Women and Gender-based Violence, among other laws and policies. Nevertheless, their implementation remains insufficient and often uncoordinated. KWN’s monitoring suggest that by the end of 2024, only 54% of the activities of the National Strategy for Protection from Domestic Violence and Violence against Women had been fully implemented, 42% partially implemented and 5.5% not implemented.

The report highlights that digital and sexual violence remain under-treated. Harmful attitudes, such as victim blaming and attempts to “save the family” through reconciliation, continue to influence institutions’ handling of cases. Lack of human resources, specialised training and effective inter-institutional coordination remain key challenges undermining the safety and well-being of victims of violence.

The report provides concrete recommendations for responsible institutions, aiming to improve law enforcement, increase budgets for support services, strengthen a victim-centred approach and build a coordinated, effective institutional response. KWN calls on all relevant institutions to take immediate and sustained action towards a real “zero-tolerance” approach to addressing all forms of gender-based violence.

At the launching event today, Nermin Mahmuti, Chair of the KWN Board acknowledged that Kosovo has made progress in strengthening the legal framework to address gender-based violence. However, the main challenge remains implementation, she said. Moreover, she emphasised the key role of civil society as a frontline defender and supporter of survivors of violence. This, she said, continues despite recent funding cuts.

“Financial challenges faced by civil society organisations risk undermining the monitoring of the implementation of the legal framework, particularly for the most marginalised groups, including women with disabilities,” she said, further emphasizing the need for long-term and sustainable support for women’s organizations.

In her remarks, Sara Lindblom, Second Secretary of the Embassy of Sweden in Kosovo also emphasised the importance of civil society. “Civil society plays a role when it comes to legal aid and pushing for legal changes as well as advocacy and monitoring institutions’ performance and improving accountability.”

She continued, “Sweden strongly encourages the Government of Kosovo to strengthen interinstitutional cooperation and ensure there is enough budget and human resources.”

Key institutions joined KWN in discussing the findings, including Vlora Limani Hajnuni, Political Advisor at Ministry of Justice; Arjeta Sadiku, Deputy Chair, Kosovo Judicial Council (KJC), Blerim Shabani, Ministry of Justice and Arton Ahmeti, Secretary, Ministry of Finance. Participants agreed on the importance of continued collaboration among civil society and the government.

“Full effectiveness [in implementing the legal framework] will only be in a close inter-institutional cooperation in bringing justice to victims and supporting mechanisms in local and the central levels”, said Arjeta Sadiku, Deputy Chair, KJC.

“Our joint work with the Kosovo Women’s Network in developing modules for social workers, as well as the trainings we continue to deliver together, is helping us improve social services for victims of domestic violence, trafficking, and sexual violence,” said Mr. Shabani.

The report was produced with financial support from the Austrian Development Agency and co-financed by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency.

19.12.25

Kosovo Women’s Network Publishes Report “Zero Tolerance? Monitoring the Institutional Response to Gender-based Violence in Kosovo”

18.12.25

Inclusive Sexual Education: A Needed Change

18.12.25

Building Stronger Responses to Gender-based Violence Across Kosovo

18.12.25

Going Glocal 2.0: Sustainable Gender-responsive Futures

18.12.25

16 Days of Activism: Raising Awareness and Strengthening Advocacy

17.12.25

Moving Forward Together: Making Transport Accessible for Everyone

Inclusive Sexual Education: A Needed Change

18.12.2025

For many students in Kosovo, conversations about sexual health, consent and respect remain taboo. The country’s education system does not yet include sexual education as a dedicated subject within the curricula. Instead, topics related to sexual and reproductive health are scattered across several subjects, such as biology, psychology and civic education, and are usually addressed only superficially. Studies have shown that textbooks contain gender stereotypes and discriminatory language, and that discussions about consent, sexual harassment and violence are mostly absent.

At the same, research by the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) has revealed that close to 50 percent of Kosovars have experienced some form of sexual harassment during their lifetime, with women being disproportionately affected. These findings underscore the urgent need for inclusive sexual education that challenges stereotypes, eliminates stigma and promotes equality.

To address this, the Centre for Education and Community Development – Friends (CECD Friends) implemented an initiative with the goal of promoting comprehensive, gender-sensitive and stigma-free sexual education in Mitrovica’s primary schools.

Laying Groundwork Through Research

Researcher Rita Berisha analysed textbooks in biology, civic education and Albanian language to assess how sexuality-related topics were addressed. The study found that current materials treat such themes only partially and without clarity, confirming the need to update and supplement them with inclusive, gender-sensitive content.

This activity produced the first comprehensive report on sexual education in Kosovo’s primary-school textbooks, identifying major gaps and offering concrete recommendations for improving content and introducing new topics.

Observing Teaching Practices

CECD then conducted 12 classroom observations in two primary schools, to understand how sexual education is currently taught. The team also collected qualitative data through interviews with teachers. The findings helped CECD and KWN design a one-day training for teachers and school directors, focused on inclusive and gender-sensitive teaching methods. The training increased teachers’ awareness of how to discuss sexual education openly and with sensitivity to gender issues. Afterward, several teachers began incorporating the new approaches in practice. One of the participating teachers said: “I will definitely try to apply what we learned in my classes during this school year.”

Working with Students from Diverse Communities

Another component of the initiative involved direct engagement with students. CECD organised three educational sessions, attended by 79 students from Roma, Ashkali, Bosniak and Egyptian communities. The sessions introduced participants to key themes of comprehensive sexual education, including body awareness, consent, sexual and reproductive health, and the prevention of unwanted pregnancies. Students expressed that they were satisfied with the lesson content and had learned about new topics that are usually not addressed in school.

Advocacy and Institutional Outreach

Based on the research findings, CECD also prepared and sent an advocacy letter and the final report to the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI). They gave recommendations for improving textbooks and integrating comprehensive sexual education into the official curriculum. The advocacy letter received support from other local organisations in Mitrovica, showing strong civil society commitment to improving young people’s access to accurate and inclusive information on sexual and reproductive health.

Raising Public Awareness

To expand outreach beyond schools, CECD collaborated with Katror Media to design and launch a social media awareness campaign. The campaign included educational posts, research highlights and an animated video on sexual consent, sexual and reproductive health, and relevant national legislation, such as the Law on Health and the Law on Reproductive Health. The video and materials were shared on Facebook and YouTube, aiming to reach as many young people as possible and to challenge patriarchal attitudes surrounding sexual education. The campaign succeeded in reaching at least 60,000 people online, helping to increase awareness about sexual consent and gender equality while encouraging open public dialogue on issues often stigmatised in Kosovo.

All these activities collectively strengthened public dialogue around comprehensive sexual education and contributed to advocacy for policy improvements in Kosovo’s school system, while simultaneously providing students with age-appropriate information to care for their wellbeing and health. The initiative marks a meaningful step toward a more informed and inclusive education system, one where every student grows up equipped with the knowledge they need to make safe, healthy and respectful choices.

CECD’s initiative “Inclusive sexual education as a priority” was carried out with support from the Kosovo Women’s Fund (KWF), Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN), financed by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) and co-financed by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), in the amount of €9,933, from January to October 2024. The initiative contributed directly to KWN’s Programme “Gender Transformative Education”.

19.12.25

Kosovo Women’s Network Publishes Report “Zero Tolerance? Monitoring the Institutional Response to Gender-based Violence in Kosovo”

18.12.25

Inclusive Sexual Education: A Needed Change

18.12.25

Building Stronger Responses to Gender-based Violence Across Kosovo

18.12.25

Going Glocal 2.0: Sustainable Gender-responsive Futures

18.12.25

16 Days of Activism: Raising Awareness and Strengthening Advocacy

17.12.25

Moving Forward Together: Making Transport Accessible for Everyone

Building Stronger Responses to Gender-based Violence Across Kosovo

18.12.2025

The Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) recently organised a two-day workshop in Gjilan for professionals from the Centres for Social Work from the Gjilan and Ferizaj regions, focusing on domestic violence, sexual violence and trafficking. The workshop aimed to strengthen frontline responses by enhancing knowledge on case management, referral mechanisms and inter-institutional coordination at the local level.

Facilitated by Besarta Breznica, Programme Officer for Addressing Gender-based Violence at KWN, the sessions provided practical guidance on the prevention, identification, treatment and referral of gender-based violence cases. Participants engaged in interactive discussions based on real-life challenges faced in their daily work, with a strong emphasis on survivor-centred and gender-sensitive approaches.

The workshop was organised within the framework of the project “Improving Civil Society Capacities to Enhance Access to Quality Social Protection for Diverse Women and Men”, supported by the European Union Office in Kosovo. Through this project, KWN seeks to strengthen the capacities of social protection institutions to deliver more accessible, coordinated and effective services.

Building on this effort, KWN will continue organising similar workshops in the Pristina and Dukagjini regions, as well as a dedicated workshop for Serbian social workers, ensuring inclusive capacity-building across communities. These activities contribute to a more cohesive and responsive social protection system, aimed at improving institutional responses and ensuring timely and dignified support for survivors of gender-based violence throughout Kosovo.

19.12.25

Kosovo Women’s Network Publishes Report “Zero Tolerance? Monitoring the Institutional Response to Gender-based Violence in Kosovo”

18.12.25

Inclusive Sexual Education: A Needed Change

18.12.25

Building Stronger Responses to Gender-based Violence Across Kosovo

18.12.25

Going Glocal 2.0: Sustainable Gender-responsive Futures

18.12.25

16 Days of Activism: Raising Awareness and Strengthening Advocacy

17.12.25

Moving Forward Together: Making Transport Accessible for Everyone

Going Glocal 2.0: Sustainable Gender-responsive Futures

18.12.2025

A delegation from Kosovo participated in the Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB) Forum “Going Glocal 2.0: Sustainable Gender-responsive Futures”, held in Skopje on 10–11 December, together with more than 90 participants from across Europe. The forum brought together government representatives, gender-equality practitioners, and civil society leaders to discuss how GRB can strengthen accountability, transparency and sustainability in public finance.

The Kosovo delegation included members of the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) and the Gender Budget Watchdog Network (GBWN), namely Magbule Hyseni, Executive Director of EcoKosWomen; Vesna Stajić, Executive Director of the Zensi Inkluzivni Center; and Olivera Milošević, Executive Director of the Undruženje Poslovnih Žena WBA. The delegation also included Shpresa Sheremeti Smakiqi, Coordinator of the Unit for Human Rights and Gender Equality at the Ministry of Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure; Premtime Preniqi, Gender Equality Officer at the Municipality of Prishtina; Lindita Piraj, Gender Equality Officer at the Municipality of Dragash; and Donjeta Morina, an independent gender expert.

Shpresa Sheremeti Smakiqi, Coordinator of the Unit for Human Rights and Gender Equality, spoke on gender-responsive budgeting and climate finance. She highlighted Kosovo’s strong institutional setup, including gender equality officers across public institutions and a functional Agency for Gender Equality. She also pointed to challenges such as fragmented gender-disaggregated data and limited institutional capacities, stressing the importance of cooperation with civil society and evidence-based tools such as the KWN analysis “Budgeting for a Better Environment”.

Magbule Hyseni, Executive Director of EcoKosWomen, presented the research “Empowering Sustainable Agriculture: Gender Perspectives in the Circular Economy”, supported by KWN and financed by ADA and Sida through GBWN. She highlighted barriers women face in accessing green jobs and sustainable agriculture and co-facilitated a World Café on Gender and the Circular Economy, focusing on gender-responsive municipal and urban solutions.

Elirjeta Beka, Officer for Women’s Economic Empowerment and Gender-responsive Budgeting, spoke on inclusive transport solutions. She highlighted the underreporting of sexual harassment in public transport, the lack of location-based police data and insufficient staff training. She emphasised the need for sustainable, institutional reporting mechanisms and noted that fragmented legislation often leads to misunderstandings of GRB as a “budget for women”, rather than as a tool for addressing diverse community needs.

Donjeta Morina presented a watchdog GRB analysis of the Special Climate Change Fund in the Western Balkans and Moldova. She also co-facilitated a workshop on gender analysis in climate financing projects, focusing on civil society oversight and ensuring that climate funds deliver inclusive and equitable results.

The discussions reaffirmed the importance of strong collaboration between civil society organisations and public institutions in Kosovo. Sustainable and gender-responsive policies require joint efforts where institutions provide commitment and resources, and civil society contributes evidence, monitoring and community voices. Strengthening this partnership is essential to ensure that public budgets respond to real needs, promote equality, and deliver long-term social and environmental impact.

Following the GRB Forum, the GBWN held its annual Network Meeting, where discussions focused on advocacy for gender-responsive climate finance, shaping the future of GBWN, and participating in a hands-on Skills Lab on fundraising and sustainability. Together, we reflected on our achievements to date and mapped the way forward.

The GRB Forum was supported by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA), the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and Central European Initiative (CEI).

19.12.25

Kosovo Women’s Network Publishes Report “Zero Tolerance? Monitoring the Institutional Response to Gender-based Violence in Kosovo”

18.12.25

Inclusive Sexual Education: A Needed Change

18.12.25

Building Stronger Responses to Gender-based Violence Across Kosovo

18.12.25

Going Glocal 2.0: Sustainable Gender-responsive Futures

18.12.25

16 Days of Activism: Raising Awareness and Strengthening Advocacy

17.12.25

Moving Forward Together: Making Transport Accessible for Everyone

16 Days of Activism: Raising Awareness and Strengthening Advocacy

18.12.2025

This year, as part of the “16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence” campaign and the ongoing efforts of the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) to empower and protect survivors of gender-based violence, KWN carried out an awareness-raising activity placing posters on buses in Pristina and Fushe Kosovo. The activity was implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure (MESPI) and Trafiku Urban. The posters contained information about sexual harassment, as well as guidance on where and how violence can be reported and support sought, with the aim of increasing public awareness and preventing gender-based violence.

In parallel, KWN, together with MESPI, organised a capacity-building training on gender-based violence for the ministry’s staff. The training focused on deepening knowledge of the forms of gender-based violence, the legal and institutional framework in Kosovo, and the role and responsibilities of public institutions in prevention, referral, and providing a sensitive response to victims. Special attention was given to identifying sexual harassment in public spaces and strengthening inter-institutional cooperation, in line with national legislation and international standards.

During the campaign period, KWN also took part in a number of significant activities and events, including the publication of four policies by UN Women, meetings with female politicians and activists from Finland, the commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the Ombudsman Institution, the finalisation of Minimum Quality Standards for social services for victims of violence against women and domestic violence in Kosovo, the Youth 4 Inclusion, Equality & Trust (Y4IET) initiative, a roundtable on property and inheritance, and Human Rights Week. Additionally, KWN participated in the launch of the Guide for Managing Cases of Domestic Violence, Violence against Women and Gender-based Violence for medical staff.

19.12.25

Kosovo Women’s Network Publishes Report “Zero Tolerance? Monitoring the Institutional Response to Gender-based Violence in Kosovo”

18.12.25

Inclusive Sexual Education: A Needed Change

18.12.25

Building Stronger Responses to Gender-based Violence Across Kosovo

18.12.25

Going Glocal 2.0: Sustainable Gender-responsive Futures

18.12.25

16 Days of Activism: Raising Awareness and Strengthening Advocacy

17.12.25

Moving Forward Together: Making Transport Accessible for Everyone

Moving Forward Together: Making Transport Accessible for Everyone

17.12.2025

Transportation shapes daily life, but not everyone experiences it equally.

The Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) has published the first-ever comprehensive Gender Analysis of Land Transportation in Kosovo, shedding light on how transport systems, or the lack thereof, affect diverse women, men, girls and boys differently across the country.

This pioneering research shows clearly that transportation is not gender neutral. Women are less likely to own or access various transportation modes, particularly in rural areas. Persons with disabilities face persistent physical and institutional barriers, while caregivers (usually women) struggle with infrastructure that does not meet their daily mobility needs. Safety concerns, including sexual harassment and poorly lit or designed public spaces, continue to restrict freedom of movement, especially for women and girls.

Using an intersectional approach, this report highlights how multiple forms of inequality overlap. Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities experience limited access to reliable transport and discrimination, compounded by gender-based discrimination. Residents of rural and remote areas face weak connections and insufficient services. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual/Aromantic+ persons and women, particularly from ethnic minorities, report feeling unsafe or excluded from using public transport.

Beyond social impacts, the research emphasises that transportation plays a critical role in climate change, public health and social inclusion. Insufficient investment in public transport, sidewalks, cycling infrastructure and gender-responsive planning not only deepens inequalities, but also undermines Kosovo’s climate and health goals.

The analysis reviews laws, policies, budgets and municipal practices, with case studies from Pristina and Dragash. It offers concrete, actionable recommendations for central and municipal institutions. These recommendations aim to support the development of transport systems that are safer, more accessible, more equitable and more climate responsive.

This publication was financed by the Austrian Development Agency and Sweden, through the Gender Budget Watchdog Network. The Ministry of Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure and municipalities of Pristina and Dragash facilitated the research.

Read the full report.

19.12.25

Kosovo Women’s Network Publishes Report “Zero Tolerance? Monitoring the Institutional Response to Gender-based Violence in Kosovo”

18.12.25

Inclusive Sexual Education: A Needed Change

18.12.25

Building Stronger Responses to Gender-based Violence Across Kosovo

18.12.25

Going Glocal 2.0: Sustainable Gender-responsive Futures

18.12.25

16 Days of Activism: Raising Awareness and Strengthening Advocacy

17.12.25

Moving Forward Together: Making Transport Accessible for Everyone

Request for Quotation – Meeting Room, Catering, and Accommodation Services in Pristina

17.12.2025

To Whom It May Concern,

Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) and Queen’s University in Canada, we are organizing a workshop to be held in Prishtina on 15-17 April 2026. We are anticipating that the workshop attendees will arrive to Prishtina anytime between 12-14 April 2026 (depending on available flights from home country) and will be departing Prishtina anytime between 18-20 April 2026 (depending on available flights to return to home country).

Accommodation:

35 single rooms

Meals:

Cost per person per breakfast (if in addition to the accommodation; if included in accommodation, please state this);
Cost per person per lunch;
Cost per person per dinner;
Accommodation per person per night for up to 35 rooms and approximately 5 nights per room (the precise number of rooms will be confirmed at a later date and a couple participants may arrive earlier or later; therefore, please provide the cost per night per person).
Meals should include options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal, etc.

Conference Room:

Cost per day for a meeting room for approximately 35 participants;
Cost per day for a larger, spacious meeting room;
Cost for sound system and if it is available;
Cost per person for catering services for coffee/tea and small snacks during breaks;
Equipment (optional: please indicate availability and cost for each): projector, screen, audio system, 2–4 wireless handheld microphones, podium, Wi-Fi for all participants, water for speakers.

Additionally, please include in your quotation the following information:  

Whether you will provide any of the services mentioned at no cost, or a discounted price;  
Until which date the final number of participants must be confirmed for accommodation; 
Your policy for last minute cancellations on accommodations and meals; and any affiliated charges for such changes.

We invite you to send your offers in accordance with the enclosed Tender Dossier. The offer should include: (1) Narrative Proposal (Form 5.1), (2) Financial Proposal (Form 5.2), and (3) Cover Letter and Declaration of Honour (Form 4).

Please send your offers to: procurement@womensnetwork.org with the subject: “Quotation – Hotel & Conference”. The deadline for sending offers is 09 January 2026, 17:00. Offers sent after the deadline will not be considered.

2. Instruction to Bidders Download

3. Data Sheet and Technical Specification Download

4. Cover Letter and Declaration on honour on exclusion criteria and absence of conflict of interest Download

5.1. Technical Proposal Form Download

5.2. Financial Proposal Form Download

6. Draft Service Contract Download

17.12.25

Request for Quotation – Meeting Room, Catering, and Accommodation Services in Pristina

16.12.25

Call for Intern for Gender Mainstreaming Laws – KWN “Cathy Frischmann” Internship

21.08.25

External Evaluation of the Further Advancing Women’s Rights in Kosovo II Action Implemented by KWN

19.08.25

Kickstart Your Career and Make a Difference: Join the Kosovo Women’s Network as a Research or Design Intern!

Call for Intern for Gender Mainstreaming Laws – KWN “Cathy Frischmann” Internship

16.12.2025

Are you:

Interested in defending women’s rights?
A student who has completed at least two years of studies related to law or gender studies (BA)?
Interested in applying your knowledge to real policies while learning from a dedicated team of experienced researchers, activists, and gender equality experts?
And, most importantly, committed to advancing gender equality and the rights of women and girls in Kosovo?

Then this internship is for you!

Cathy Frischmann was a women’s rights activist, feminist, human rights defender, mobilizer of women’s political engagement, botanist who protected native plants, and much more. Cathy loved life, which is why she dedicated hers to defending the rights and lives of others. She worked tirelessly to make the world a more just and equitable place. Cathy passed away from cancer in 2023.

Cathy’s love for Kosovo began in 2004, when she first met with member organizations of the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN). That connection lives on today through the legacy she left behind: an internship fund established in her name. Through this annual internship, KWN continues to inspire and support new generations of women’s rights activists.

This year, KWN is seeking an Intern to join our team for six months.

Main Responsibilities

The intern will support gender-responsive legal analysis and research, focusing on reviewing draft laws and policies to assess whether, and how, they address the needs and realities of diverse women and men.

While basic legal knowledge and familiarity with gender equality concepts are required, specific methodologies and tools will be provided through mentorship and supervision. This is a modestly paid internship with flexible working hours, adjustable to students’ needs.

How to Apply

Please send your CV and a motivational letter to jobs@womensnetwork.org
Subject line: “Cathy Frischmann Intern”
Deadline: 12 January 2025

About KWN

KWN’s mission is to support, protect, and promote the rights and interests of women and girls throughout Kosovo, regardless of their political and religious beliefs, age, level of education, sexual orientation, or ability. KWN fulfills this mission through the exchange of experience and information, partnerships and networking, research, and advocacy.

17.12.25

Request for Quotation – Meeting Room, Catering, and Accommodation Services in Pristina

16.12.25

Call for Intern for Gender Mainstreaming Laws – KWN “Cathy Frischmann” Internship

21.08.25

External Evaluation of the Further Advancing Women’s Rights in Kosovo II Action Implemented by KWN

19.08.25

Kickstart Your Career and Make a Difference: Join the Kosovo Women’s Network as a Research or Design Intern!

Activists Support Each Other in Solidarity and Dance

13.12.2025

In times of need, we are here for each other. Solidarity prevails. This was the main message at the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) members’ meeting today.

“In the 1990s, it wasn’t easy. It was a difficult time”, recalled KWN Executive Director Igballe Rogova.

Throughout the nineties, women’s rights activists organised voluntarily to open libraries in rural areas, inspire families to enrol girls in school, deliver humanitarian aid and medicine and document human rights abuses. When they felt fear or stress, they danced to energize and support each other.

“Once a month we organised a party,” Rogova continued. “That positive energy kept us going for another month. Music and dancing are therapy.”

At that time, the Rural Women’s Network, KWN’s predecessor comprised of 11 women’s rights organisations, operated without any budget or office. Activists supported each other by providing small contributions at monthly parties, organised together with local businesses who believed in the cause.

Today, of KWN’s 102 member organisations, more than half have no funds, operating within their communities on a voluntary basis; 57% do not have any funds secured for next year. Despite the challenging situations in which they work, inspiringly, nearly all KWN members said they will continue their work.

“I don’t have, but I won’t stop”, activists said. This is the real activism at the heart of KWN; its members working tirelessly within their communities every day to empower women.

KWN believes that together, in solidarity, we can support each other amid the toughest of times, and we will persevere.

“When we are together, we are strong, and when we have solidarity, we are even stronger,” Rogova said.

Continuing KWN’s tradition of community organising, during the meeting activists contributed what they could to support the Committee of Blind Women in Kosovo, among KWN’s oldest members. Serving and protecting the rights of blind women and girls, their achievements are many, including making textbooks available in braille, encouraging girls to access higher levels of education, supporting independent mobility, advocating for the Law on Blind and Visually Impaired Persons, improving access to public services, economic empowerment and transforming society’s attitudes towards blind women’s autonomy.

Today, the Committee of Blind Women is in dire need of support, and KWN members have stepped up in solidarity to help them continue their important work, collecting more than €1500. [If you want to support this incredible organisation you can too, here, noting funds are for the Committee].

“Like many other organisations, we are in a difficult position. But solidarity has always existed and continues to exist. Women have been and will always be united in solidarity. Thank you very much,” said Bajramshahe Jetullahu, Executive Director of the Committee of Blind Women.

This tradition will continue. KWN plans to organise parties for other KWN members to recognise and support their work in solidarity and action by having fun together.

As Emma Goldman said, “If I can’t dance, I don’t want to be part of your revolution!”

And the revolution continues with us!

19.12.25

Kosovo Women’s Network Publishes Report “Zero Tolerance? Monitoring the Institutional Response to Gender-based Violence in Kosovo”

18.12.25

Inclusive Sexual Education: A Needed Change

18.12.25

Building Stronger Responses to Gender-based Violence Across Kosovo

18.12.25

Going Glocal 2.0: Sustainable Gender-responsive Futures

18.12.25

16 Days of Activism: Raising Awareness and Strengthening Advocacy

17.12.25

Moving Forward Together: Making Transport Accessible for Everyone

Can Kosovar Women Influence the European Union?

12.12.2025

This question was posed during the “In Between East and West” event, hosted by the Bulgarian Fund for Women (BFW) and European Women’s Lobby (EWL).

“We have, and we continue to try,” said Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) Deputy Director and Lead Researcher, Nicole Farnsworth.

She shared how Kosovar women’s rights activists have joined forces with other women’s rights organisations in the Western Balkans (WB) for more than 15 years, largely supported by the Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation and Sweden, to monitor the European Union (EU) Accession process from a gender perspective and to advocate for improved attention to diverse women and men’s needs in these processes. Successes have included the EU shifting its approach to begin treating gender equality as a Rule of Law issue relevant to judges and prosecutors, and not solely as a gender equality issue, in Enlargement Package reports; and increasing attention to issues of importance to diverse women and men across more chapters of these reports. KWN has also supported more, diverse women’s rights groups to better understand the EU Accession process, engage in this process and monitor progress at a local level, towards accountability and progress.

“We believe strongly in networking,” Farnsworth explained. “We realised long ago that things happening on an EU and global level affect us and our work, but we cannot influence these policies alone. We need to work together with other networks and alliances to bring about changes.” She explained how women’s rights organisations, including as part of the EQUAPRO Coalition, have utilised the EU Accession process to encourage WB governments to make progress towards furthering women’s rights as human rights.

Farnsworth was in Brussels all last week on behalf of KWN, the Gender Budget Watchdog Network and the European Gender Budget Network, for advocacy related to the EU’s Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), the EU’s budget for 2028-2034. Currently being negotiated by the European Commission, European Parliament, and European Council, the MFF and accompanying regulations will shape the financing available for furthering gender equality, safeguarding civil society, and supporting women’s rights organisations in the future.

Knowing the power of networks and coalitions, KWN has joined forces with the Gender Budget Watchdog Network, European Gender Budget Network and European Women’s Lobby to advocate for gender equality to be more explicitly included in the MFF as an outcome with clear indicators and budget allocations.

Towards collaborating with other coalitions, KWN also met with the Civil Society Europe Working Group on Funding, Concord, European Peacebuilding Liaison Office, Alliance for Gender Equality in Europe, ODI Europe “Walking the Talk” Initiative, Friends of Europe, and Prospera to discuss opportunities for potential collaboration towards shared aims.

KWN also met with members of the European Parliament Alexandra Geese, Tomas Waitz and Ilhan Kyuchyuk, seeking their support in gender mainstreaming the EU budget.

While in Brussels, KWN also met with representatives of the European Commission (EC) regarding the Enlargement Package, asking for gender-responsive budgeting to be implemented as part of Reform Agendas across the WB, including in the EC’s direct budget support to governments. This would be in line with the rule of law, given WB governments’ commitments to implementing gender-responsive budgeting as part of the Sustainable Development Goals, among other legal commitments. KWN also shared key recommendations from KWN’s Commentary on the Kosovo 2025 Report, gender analyses on Peace and Security, informality, and digitalisation, as well as key findings from KWN’s forthcoming gender analysis on transportation and analysis of the institutional response to gender-based violence in Kosovo.

KWN met with EC Civil Society Facility representatives to advocate for financing in support of women’s rights organisations, currently under threat. EC representatives stated that most financing related to gender equality for civil society would be delivered through UNDP and UN Women’s ongoing EC-funded Action on women’s economic empowerment and to address gender-based violence, particularly technology-facilitate violence. Some funds will also be distributed by the WB Fund via the soon-to-be established Gender Equality Fund (which resulted from women’s rights groups’ advocacy during the Berlin Process for such a Fund to be established). In the future, most funding will be delivered via strategic partnerships with EU member states. KWN asked that the EC ensure that all implementers co-create their programs and calls for proposals with women’s rights organisations to ensure that financing meets current needs and builds on pre-existing efforts, expertise, and networks in the region.

Additionally, all future financial support for civil society is set to be tied to Reform Agendas. Opportunities exist in 2026 to advocate for governments and the EC to better gender mainstream these Agendas and for monitoring their implementation from a gender perspective. Meanwhile, based on prior research by KWN and AWID, among others, KWN emphasised the importance of flexible, core support to CSOs, particularly in the current climate. EU financing for “Operational Grants” will only be provided at the national level, and CSOs have been encouraged to demonstrate why this form of support is needed, lest it be removed in the future. Meanwhile, the EC is set to develop guidance for gender mainstreaming actions, including gender analysis to inform design and enforcement of commitments in implementation.

On 4 Dec., KWN attended the annual WB Summit hosted by Friends of Europe. The summit focused on geopolitical trends, deliberating over the merit-based versus political process of EU Accession, economic growth, and rule of law. Related to economic growth, Farnsworth emphasised that growth cannot happen without women, as only two in ten women are in the labour force in Kosovo. “If we really want to see growth, we need to get women there [in the labour force]”, said Farnsworth. She called for addressing root causes of low participation, identified by KWN’s and other research, including by transforming unpaid labour into paid labour by addressing informality, establishing care services, and improving transportation.

Related to the rule of law, she highlighted the crucial role that women’s rights organisations play in monitoring justice institutions and holding them accountable for treating gender-based violence cases. She emphasised that women’s rights organisations currently face a funding crisis that could hinder their ability to continue to be the EU’s partner in pushing forward rule of law reforms, calling for the EU to ensure that the Civil Society Facility and Growth Plans earmark funds for women’s rights organisations’ continued contribution to the EU Accession process.

“If we want to enable growth, if we want to enable a rule of law environment, we have to support civil society,” agreed MEP Thomas Waitz, emphasising that a majority within the European Parliament shares this commitment.

19.12.25

Kosovo Women’s Network Publishes Report “Zero Tolerance? Monitoring the Institutional Response to Gender-based Violence in Kosovo”

18.12.25