Today, on October 11th, the Kosova Women’s Network (KWN) launched the field campaign “Vote for more women in local elections”.
Around 80 volunteers will talk to citizens for five days (October 11-15) going from door to door in 21 municipalities in Kosova. They will discuss with women and men voters the importance of voting for more women in the upcoming local elections on October 17, 2021.
The Law on Gender Equality (LGE) guarantees equal gender representation in all areas, including politics. However, contrary to this law, to date, neither political parties nor municipalities have ensured equal participation of women and men in public life.
Therefore, it is up to us as citizens to achieve equality!
KWN encourages all citizens to vote for women who will best represent the interests of citizens in municipalities and municipal assemblies, as well as strive for gender equality.
Supporting women’s participation in politics and decision-making is part of KWN’s Strategy 2019-2022. We also recall that KWN campaigned for this in the elections of 2017, 2019, and in the national elections of 2021, and will continue to support, protect and promote the rights and interests of women and girls throughout Kosova, regardless of their political, religious, ethnic or sexual orientation.
KWN values elections as an essential element of a democratic state, and gender equality as a basic human right. We call for more votes for women in these local elections, as a necessary condition for fighting the institutional tradition[LM1] that has unjustly deprived women of participation in politics and decision-making processes.
Also, let us be reminded that these elections are being held only a few months after the early national elections held on February 14, 2021, in which the representation of women in the Assembly of Kosovo increased by five seats (compared to previous elections of 2019), and also this time more women were elected without a quota rather than with it[LM2] .
Therefore, on October 17, whichever list you choose, vote for more women in the municipalities!
This campaign is implemented as part of the initiative “Strengthening Women’s Participation in Politics“, and is supported by the European Union (EU) Office in Kosovo.
KWN member organisations supporting the implementation of this campaign:
Active Females of Gjakova – Gjakovë
Centre for Education and Development “Elita” – Lipjan
Family Care and Education Association – Gjakovë
Female Emancipation Association ALMA – Pejë
Hendifer – Ferizaj
Independent Women’s Association “Hareja” – Rahovec
Local Reforms Organisation (EULOC) – Viti
Mitrovica Association of Persons with Disabilities “Handikos Mitrovica” – Mitrovicë
NGO Drugëza – Skënderaj
NGO Women’s Centre for Rural Development – Novobërdë
NGO Women’s Centre “ATO” – Vushtrri
Organisation of People with Muscular Dystrophy of Kosova (OPMDK) – Prizren
Psychotherapists in Action – Gjilan
Ruka Ruci – Fushë Kosovë, Graçanicë, Partesh, Ranillug, Kllokot, Leposaviq, Mitrovicë e Veriut, Zubin Potok – Zveçan
Women’s Alliance for Integration – Prishtinë.
