On March 29, the organization “Women’s Alliance for Integration” (WAI) held its last meeting in the framework of the initiative “Awareness on their health of women from Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian Community in the municipalities of Ferizaj and Lipjan”.

During this meeting the report titled “The access to health services of women and girls from Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian Community in the municipalities of Lipjan and Ferizaj” was published.

Adelina Qorraj-Emini, Director of this organization shared with the participants the founding of this report, while stating two main concerns; rare medical check-ups and early marriages.

Representatives from the Department of Health and Centre for Social Work from Ferizaj, representatives from the Office for Communities and Returns in Lipjan, the Director of the Centre for Social Work from Lipjan, and women and girls who benefited from this initiative were also present in this meeting.

For drafting of this report, a survey within 102 women and girls from Ferizaj and Lipjan was conducted.

Some of the recommendations suggested by this report are as follows:

• To conduct deep analysis and researches on the situation of early marriages in Kosovo, including the Ashkali and Egyptian communities, with the aim of informing key decision-makers on the next necessary steps needed to effectively address this practice;
• To realize awareness raising campaigns for women and girls regarding the health and patient’s rights;
• Provide further funding opportunities to organize and carry out awareness campaigns on the importance of regular gynaecological examinations, including the prevention of sexually transmitted infections and diseases, uterine carcinomas, etc., among women of Ashkali and Egyptian community.

This initiative is supported by the Kosovo Women’s Fund (KWF) of Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) and is financed by Austrian Development Agency (ADA).