NATO Special Representative for Women, Peace and Security Mari Skåre and her team visited KWN on 28 May. We discussed political developments in Kosovo, KWN’s collaboration with the NATO Kosovo Force (KFOR) and future cooperation towards implementing United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on Women, Peace and Security at the international level. KWN provided information regarding recent legal and policy developments, including for the protection and dignity of women who suffered sexual violence during the war.
“You are doing a great work,” Special Representative Skåre said. “It is good to see you’re making so much progress.”
KWN and KFOR representative Lotta Ekvall briefed Special Representative Skåre on KWN’s role in the KFOR “Key Leader Training,” which includes training on the position of women and gender equality in Kosovo. KWN will be providing this training again to newly arrived commanders on 13 June.
“This is something we would like to see become more systematic,” said Special Representative Skåre. “We would like to see more of a dialogue with civil society.” She said that the cooperation between KWN and KFOR in providing “Key Leader Training” could serve as a best practice for NATO missions elsewhere, so long as the local context is considered.
NATO is seeking to involve women in civil society more, via consultations. KWN Executive Director Igballe Rogova will be taking part in a consultation on the implementation of the revised NATO Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) policy on UNSCR 1325 in Brussels on 2 June 2014.