On 18-19 November, Kosovo marked the 20th anniversary of the Agency for Gender Equality (AGE) and the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration with an interregional conference that brought together institutional representatives, experts, civil society organisations, and international partners from across the region. The event, organised by AGE within the Office of the Prime Minister, focused on Kosovo’s achievements and challenges in advancing gender equality over the past two decades.

The conference was opened by the Executive Director of the AGE, Edi Gusia, with President Vjosa Osmani, Acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti, senior domestic and international officials, and representatives from UN and EU agencies in attendance.

On the first day, sessions addressed institutional mechanisms for gender equality in line with the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the Beijing Declaration, as well as the role of international partners and civil society in advancing women’s rights. Discussions highlighted the need to strengthen gender mainstreaming, improve access to resources, and ensure sustainable political support. In this panel, Adelina Berisha from the Kosovo Women’s Network emphasised, among other things, that “the government and international organisations must support the work of civil society through long-term projects and engage local experts who understand the field and societal dynamics.”

The second day continued with panels on the implementation of Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security, and the progress made over 30 years since the Beijing Declaration. Experts from local institutions, UN Women, civil society organisations, and the security sector shared perspectives on survivor protection, increasing women’s representation, gender-responsive budgeting, and challenges in data collection.

Through this conference, Kosovo reaffirmed its commitment to advancing gender equality and strengthening institutional mechanisms and regional cooperation, positioning itself as an active actor in promoting women’s rights. The event was supported by UN Women.