In the early hours of 7 October, the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo elected Prof. Dr. Justina Shiroka-Pula as President of the Republic of Kosovo. With this election, Kosovo not only has a new President, but also takes an important step toward overcoming a prolonged period of institutional deadlock and ensuring the continued normal functioning of the country’s institutions.
The election of Justina Shiroka-Pula to this position represents an important moment for women’s representation and leadership in the highest institutions of the Republic of Kosovo. She is the woman who will lead the country’s highest state institution, bringing an important dimension to women’s representation at the highest levels of decision-making.
“This mandate does not belong only to one person. It belongs to our citizens, our institutions, and the state for which many generations have sacrificed. I will be the President of all citizens, regardless of political, ethnic, or social background. I will work for unity, justice, development, and the strengthening of our institutions,” she said, among other remarks, in her speech following her election as President.
With a long academic, scientific, and institutional career, Prof. Dr. Justina Shiroka-Pula has made significant contributions to higher education, economic development, and public life in Kosovo. She has served as Minister of Energy and Mining, a Member of the Assembly of Kosovo, and, most recently, as President of the Academy of Sciences and Arts of Kosovo, becoming the first woman to lead the institution.
Beyond her academic and institutional engagement, her longstanding contribution to women’s empowerment, gender equality, business development, and entrepreneurship forms part of a legacy that has helped create greater space for women in public and professional life.
Just days ago, at the conference “Partnership for Change – Women Transforming Systems,” Prof. Dr. Shiroka-Pula was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award in the field of Women, Peace and Security, in recognition of her longstanding contribution to women’s empowerment and the advancement of women’s leadership.
It is particularly meaningful for the Kosovo Women’s Network to congratulate, in this new responsibility, a woman who has also been part of KWN’s spaces and with whom we have shared discussions and collaborations on the role of women in knowledge, education, and public life.
During one of these meetings, while serving as President of the Academy of Sciences and Arts of Kosovo, Ms. Shiroka-Pula visited KWN’s offices, where she congratulated KWN on the publication of the book “The Qiriazi Sisters: An Association for Education and Civil Resistance in Kosovo”, recognizing the importance of documenting the history of women’s activism and their contributions to education and the development of society.
KWN greatly values this moment and believes that women’s representation in the highest positions within state institutions can contribute to a more equal and democratic society.
KWN congratulates President Shiroka-Pula on this important responsibility and hopes that her mandate will be marked by a strong commitment to equality, women’s rights, and a Kosovo where women and girls have equal opportunities to lead and shape the future of the country.
