The Kosovo Lobby for Gender Equalitygathered 94 women representatives from politics and civil society from 23 different municipalities of Kosovo. The meeting took part in Durres, Albenia from 17-19 Apr.

During this meeting, members of the Lobby for Gender Equality divided into groups by municipality to identify three issues on the local level and one issue on national level on which they will advocate together in 2015.

    During this three-day meeting, participants also were informed about the National Council on Survivors of Sexual Violence during the War, from Jeta Krasniqi, Political Advisor of the President of the Republic of Kosovo. Krasniqi shared information about the Council’s establishment, work and future steps, including the awareness campaign regarding existing legal mechanisms in support of survivors.   

    “While we offered rehabilitation to other people affected by the war, we called them heros, we were ashamed by people raped during the war,” said Mrs. Krasniqi. “But women’s organizations stayed behind these women every moment and were their voice. I can say that one of the campaigns that broke the silence was KWN’s campaign for 8 March [2012], Forget Flowers: We want justice for women raped during the war.”

    Participants also watched the movie “Three windows and a hanging,” which is being shown as part of a campaign to inform citizens about legal mechanisms that exist in order to support survivors.

During the meeting, the documentary “Levizja e Gruas” (Women’s Movement) also was screened, dedicated for the 20^th anniversary of the women’s movement in Albania.

     After the movie, Eglantina Gjermeni, of Minister of Urban Development, in Albania spoke. “I think that women can really succeed when they come together. We have examples from experiences worldwide and in Albania.” She also talked about her career, starting from her experience in civil society and her current life in politics.

This meeting was supported by the Austiran Development Agency.