KWN Udpdates its Statute

01.08.2017

 On 1 July 2017, the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) held its members bimonthly meeting, and it was attended by representatives of member organizations, staff members, Board members and other supporters of KWN.

Given that the agenda for this meeting was updating and amending the KWN Statute, Igballe Rogova, Executive Director of KWN, recalled to the participants the information that since the Annual Assembly of Members, held in December 2016, it was discussed to change the name of KWN in Albanian, shortening it to Kosovo Women’s Network (in Albanian: Rrjeti i Grave të Kosovës), since in Albanian the name has been longer.
Further, based on the change of name, it was decided that KWN’s Statute should be updated based on the latest version of the Statute of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs).
The last model of the KWN Statute has been approved on 4 December 2011, by the Assembly of Members, at a meeting held in Durres. The current model is based on the latest model (17.10.2014) published on the website of the Ministry of Public Administration (MPA), the NGO Department, in consultation with Law No. 04 / L-57 on Freedom of Association in Organizations Non-governmental organizations, as well as some comments and suggestions from members.
According to this Law, there are two models of Statutes, by the Assembly or the Board, depending on the highest governing body of the Organization. Since KWN’s highest governing body is the Assembly of Members, all changes made in the 11 articles are based on the respective model.
After the revision of all articles, the members agreed and approved all the changes. KWN staff continued with the procedures required by the Department of NGOs’ at the MPA in order to conclude this process.
The next meeting of KWN members will be held on September 11th. This activity has been supported by the European Union Office in Kosovo.

08.07.25

From “Caring for Others” to “Caring for Self”

01.07.25

“The Shirt of Freedom”: A Theater Tour Amplifying Women’s Voices Against Violence 

27.06.25

Art, Activism and Healing Flourish at FemArt 2025  

18.06.25

Workshop Held on Social Services, Rights, and Other Mechanisms 

12.06.25

Activists Engage in President’s Global Forum on Women, Peace and Security  

30.05.25

WCSOs Ask: What’s the Real Cost of Specialised Services for Gender-based Violence?  

© Copyright, 2025 . Kosovo Women's Network. All rights reserved.

Donate Contact

CPWR & CPHF Advocate for the Rights of Women Survivors of Sexual Violence During the War in Kosovo

01.08.2017

 Starting from July, the Centre for Promotion of Women’s Rights (CPRW) in Drenas, in partnership with the Centre for Promotion of a Healthy Family (CPHF) in Prishtina, for four months will implement the project “Empowering survivors of sexual violence during the war toward achieving their legal rights”.

The project aims at raising awareness, advocacy, documentation and empowerment of women and girls who have experienced sexual violence during the war, who live in the municipalities of Drenas, Skenderaj and Pristina. During the implementation of the project, awareness-raising sessions will also be held with families and communities, and there will be advocacy at the local institutions for the economic empowerment of survivors of sexual violence during the war.
The fact that in these municipalities there is a large number of women and girls who have experienced sexual violence during the war, has made the CPRW and CPHF collaborate with the aim of recognizing these women as civilian victims of war.
On July 17, the third informative meeting with women and girls was held so that they could get acquainted with their legal rights and application procedures for the status of a civilian victim of war.
The trainer Eronita Brahimi presented in details the Law on amending the Law no. 04 / L-054 on the status and rights of martyrs, invalids, veterans, members of the Kosovo Liberation Army, victims of sexual violence, civil victims and their families, as well as other categories of war, explaining also the role of the Commision created for the acceptance of the applications for recognizing the status survivors of sexual violence during the war in Kosovo, for which NGOs’ that will support the verification process were authorized.
In March 2014, the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo approved the amendment of Law no. 04/L-054 on the "status and rights of martyrs, invalids, veterans, members of the Kosovo Liberation Army, victims of sexual violence, civil victims and their families" to formally recognize and include the status of civilian victims of sexual violence during the war in Kosovo. The status entitles 20,000 women in Kosovo to monthly pensions and other benefits as prescribed by law. The National Council on Survivors of Sexual Violence during the War, established in 2014 by the former President of Kosovo, Mrs. Atifete Jahjaga, developed the necessary legislation and sublegal acts that create preconditions to ensure that survivors of sexual violence will have access to the benefits mentioned in the previous law.
On 19 April 2017, the Government of Kosovo published the National Strategy of the Republic of Kosovo for Protection from Domestic Violence and Action Plan 2016-2020. The strategy relies heavily on data and remarks made by the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN), respectively in about 70% of the recommendations of the recent report "No More Excuses – An Analysis of Attitudes, Incidence and Institutional Responses to Domestic Violence in Kosovo".
One of the beneficiaries of the project, who is a survivor of sexual violence, stressed that "the consequences that have been caused to us are enormous and that every day because of them we live with fear, suffering and pain. A strong blow is also given to the society that stigmatizes and humiliates, as if that has happened to us is our fault." Women, survivors of sexual violence, hope that one day justice will be established and the perpetrators punished for their actions.
This project is supported by Kosovo Women’s Fund (KWF) of KWN and financed by the European Office in Kosovo. 

08.07.25

From “Caring for Others” to “Caring for Self”

01.07.25

“The Shirt of Freedom”: A Theater Tour Amplifying Women’s Voices Against Violence 

27.06.25

Art, Activism and Healing Flourish at FemArt 2025  

18.06.25

Workshop Held on Social Services, Rights, and Other Mechanisms 

12.06.25

Activists Engage in President’s Global Forum on Women, Peace and Security  

30.05.25

WCSOs Ask: What’s the Real Cost of Specialised Services for Gender-based Violence?  

Women in Mamusha and Gllogovac Advocate for their Property and Inheritance Rights

01.08.2017

On 20th and 21st of July, the organization "Partners Kosova" – Center for Conflict Management, in the framework of the project "Women’s Advocacy for their Property and Inheritance Rights", organized one-day presentations in the Municipality of Mamusha, respectively of Drenas. These two presentations were attended by 55 women, including women survivors of sexual violence during the war in Kosovo.
            The aim of this presentation was to raise awareness among women, girls and youth through information on women’s rights and gender equality, within the applicable legislation in Kosovo, focusing on the right to participate in property and inheritance sharing. The presentation also aimed to provide participants with relevant guidelines on how to advocate to relevant institutions of the Republic of Kosovo regarding their property rights and inheritance.
During the presentation, it was discussed about the legislation in force in the Republic of Kosovo, which guarantees and protects the right to property and inheritance of both sexes, in this case with special emphasis on the rights of women, including the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo and other laws, such as the Law on Gender Equality, the Law on Property and Other Real Rights, the Law on Inheritance, the Anti-Discrimination Law, the Law on Family, the Law on Free Legal Aid (these and all other laws in force in the Republic Of Kosovo can be found alphabetically listed here) as well as the accompanying administrative instructions (which, sorted by the years when they entered into force, can be found here).
            "We came here to learn what our rights are in this area, as in many cases in Kosovo, siblings, in this case sisters for example abandon inheritance in their father’s family, because according to the mentality here ‘one can not take brother’s inheritance’," said one of the participants in the presentation held in Drenas.
An important part of the presentation held by Partners Kosova in these two municipalities was the introduction of the role of notaries in these processes, as well as guidelines on what women should know about their rights, when contacting notaries for such cases within their families. 
"To escape the pressure that may be caused by the patriarchal mentality, or in any case by a family member who objects your inheritance and property rights, notaries are obliged to meet family women separately at their office, asking them in full privacy whether they are pressured to renounce their legacy or are they doing so by their own will, as such a decision is irreplaceable," said one of the trainers during the presentation.
            Special emphasis during the presentation was put to advocacy and the necessary steps for advocating for the division of property and the right to inheritance.
This project was supported by the Kosovo Women’s Fund (KWF) of Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) and funded by the European Union Office in Kosovo.
             
 

08.07.25

From “Caring for Others” to “Caring for Self”

01.07.25

“The Shirt of Freedom”: A Theater Tour Amplifying Women’s Voices Against Violence 

27.06.25

Art, Activism and Healing Flourish at FemArt 2025  

18.06.25

Workshop Held on Social Services, Rights, and Other Mechanisms 

12.06.25

Activists Engage in President’s Global Forum on Women, Peace and Security  

30.05.25

WCSOs Ask: What’s the Real Cost of Specialised Services for Gender-based Violence?  

Dragash and Deçan exchange experiences in Including women in decision-making

01.08.2017

 The non-inclusion of women and girls in decision-making processes continues to be a problem in the municipality of Dragash / Dragaš. They still do not participate in public meetings wherein important issues which are related to their lives are discussed. The Women’s Initiative Association has taken steps to mitigate this phenomenon in Dragash, by encouraging and motivating women and girls of this municipality to be active in social and political life. 
          At the same time, the Women’s Initiative Association is organizing workshops and meetings with girls from the remote and deepest mountain villages of the Albanian community and the Gorani-Bosniak community, since in most of these villages still there is no girl / woman employed, despite the education of some girls recently. 
        “Non-employment of girls and failure to provide a better perspective for young people has influenced a large number of young people in this municipality to move to other cities of Kosovo or even migrate abroad in order to ensure a better life”, said the director of the organization, Ms. Xhejrane Lokaj. 
         In the course of the activities of this initiative a meeting took place on 5 July in Dragash / Dragaš. This meeting was aimed at exchanging experiences between the municipalities of Dragash and Deçan. In this meeting initially a brief presentation was made for the participants from Dragash and Deçan by the deputy mayor of Dragash, who spoke about the extent, territory, number of population and initiatives that have already been taken by this municipality. In his speech, Selami Sahiti also said that “women today are present in education, health institutions; today they are MPs, hold very high positions and are very skilled in their work”. Among other things, he stressed that “empowerment of women means the empowerment of the state”. He also asked from women to be more united and more supportive of each other. 
          Lindita Kozmaqi-Piraj, the Gender Equality Officer in Dragash / Dragaš Municipality, emphasized that the Dragash municipality has tried to push forward initiatives to include women in rural areas in decision-making processes but they have not been successful so far, and stated the problems that this office has encountered during its work. “The Albanian community has overcome the challenge of non-education of girls, while for the other non-majority communities non-education of girls and early marriages still remain among the key issues”, she said. 
        During the meeting it was pointed out that in the municipality of Dragash / Dragaš women do not hold high positions. There is not even a single woman director of any hospital or other institution. While, compared to Dragash, Deçan is in a better position in this regard as this municipality has a woman who is a school director and the only public day care is run by a woman. During the meeting there took place many discussions and were shared practices on how to put in function the day care of Dragash which currently is not functional, by taking as example advocacy strategies used by the municipality of Deçan. 
       This initiative is supported by Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) and is funded by the European Union Office in Kosovo.

08.07.25

From “Caring for Others” to “Caring for Self”

01.07.25

“The Shirt of Freedom”: A Theater Tour Amplifying Women’s Voices Against Violence 

27.06.25

Art, Activism and Healing Flourish at FemArt 2025  

18.06.25

Workshop Held on Social Services, Rights, and Other Mechanisms 

12.06.25

Activists Engage in President’s Global Forum on Women, Peace and Security  

30.05.25

WCSOs Ask: What’s the Real Cost of Specialised Services for Gender-based Violence?  

Serb and Roma Women in the Municipality of Vushtrri Discuss their Health Rights

01.08.2017

 On 21 July, "Luna" organized a training in the village of Prelluzhë within the scope of the project “Healthy Woman – Healthy Society”. This training was attended by 15 women from villages Prelluzhë, Grace and Plemetin, the representative of the organization “Luna”, Doctor Zekije Shala, representatives of organizations "Open Door" and "Ruka Ruci", as well as representative of Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN). 
        The purpose of the project is advocacy at the Ministry of Health and local health institutions in the municipality of Vushtrri / Vucitrn for providing gynaecological health services for Serb and Roma women from Vushtrri / Vucitrn Municipality, respectively from villages Prelluzhë, Grace and Plemetin. Through this project the organization “Luna” intends to raise awareness of women on their health rights through the provision of training on breast self-examination, prevention of breast and cervical cancer and on assistance techniques and support of women affected by these diseases. 
        “Raising women’s awareness on these diseases and the importance of regular check-ups is the first step and the only way for women to be informed and understand the importance of advocacy at institutions to start providing gynaecological services to the Family Medicine Centres of these Villages”, said Ms. Stanica Kovacevic, the representative of the organization “Luna”. She also stressed that apart from the lack of specialist doctors for these diseases, women in these villages face the problem of transport and free movement, which hinders their access to health services. “In addition to advocating for the provision of health services, we will also advocate to officials in the municipality of Vushtrri for arranging a transport line, which will pass through these villages”, added Ms. Stanica. 
          In addition to the regular training on topics such as breast self-examination, breast and cervical cancer prevention, and techniques for assisting and supporting women affected by these diseases, Dr. Zekije Shala also offered the participants the opportunity to consult on their health problems, by advising them depending on their case and need. 
          The participants expressed gratitude for this project and being satisfied with the knowledge acquired from the training, thanked the organization “Luna” as well as the doctor for providing advice and consultations on these diseases. One woman said “I will inform all women who I know have such health problems to come to the next training and consultations. As we do not have any specialist for these diseases near our village, visits of Dr. Zekije are very important for us”. 
         The implementation of this project is supported by the Kosovo Women’s Fund (FGK) and is funded by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA).

08.07.25

From “Caring for Others” to “Caring for Self”

01.07.25

“The Shirt of Freedom”: A Theater Tour Amplifying Women’s Voices Against Violence 

27.06.25

Art, Activism and Healing Flourish at FemArt 2025  

18.06.25

Workshop Held on Social Services, Rights, and Other Mechanisms 

12.06.25

Activists Engage in President’s Global Forum on Women, Peace and Security  

30.05.25

WCSOs Ask: What’s the Real Cost of Specialised Services for Gender-based Violence?  

KWN and BIRN Monitor Gender-based Violence

26.07.2017

On 21 July 2017, the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) organized a training for monitors from the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN). The training was held in the framework of cooperation that these two networks recently began, monitoring the work of Kosovo institutions in ensuring justice, protection and rehabilitation in cases of gender-based violence.
     Gender-based violence involves any form of violence committed by one person against another person because of that person’s gender. In Kosovo, women and girls are significantly more affected by different forms of violence, only because of their gender. Knowing this, KWN and BIRN have joined forces to fight gender-based violence, aiming to increase institutional accountability in addressing it, to deter persons from perpetrating it, as well as to encourage citizens to report it. The types of cases to be monitored include domestic violence, sexual harassment, sexual assault, rape and any other form of gender-based violence.
     Training participants were informed about gender-based violence, its forms, the duties and obligations of relevant institutions in addressing it and standard operating procedures in protection against domestic violence. Participants also discussed gender biases and stereotypes that may affect poor implementation of institutional responsibilities related to gender-based violence, drawing from evidence from KWN’s prior research on domestic violence and sexual harassment.
     KWN and BIRN will begin monitoring institutions in July 2017. The networks encourage persons reporting gender-based violence to inform us about any poor performance by institutions in treating their cases. Further, please do inform us if you would like a well-trained monitor to follow your case as you approach police and other institutions, towards monitoring how these institutions treat your case in accordance with their roles and responsibilities. This can contribute to holding institutions accountable to carrying out their responsibilities correctly. 
     The Austrian Development Agency (ADA) is supporting this monitoring initiative. The initiative also is contributing to the implementation of the EU Gender Action Plan II in Kosovo, by improving the ability of media to investigate, research and report on gender-based violence.
 

08.07.25

From “Caring for Others” to “Caring for Self”

01.07.25

“The Shirt of Freedom”: A Theater Tour Amplifying Women’s Voices Against Violence 

27.06.25

Art, Activism and Healing Flourish at FemArt 2025  

18.06.25

Workshop Held on Social Services, Rights, and Other Mechanisms 

12.06.25

Activists Engage in President’s Global Forum on Women, Peace and Security  

30.05.25

WCSOs Ask: What’s the Real Cost of Specialised Services for Gender-based Violence?  

KWN Members Create Effective Advocacy Strategies

21.07.2017

 Advocacy is an active process in which we try to change a policy or a law, by targeting relevant institutions and involving citizens in changing the things we want to change.

KWN has pushed forward many issues through advocacy, by carrying out various campaigns, public discussions, researches, etc.
In order to have a successful advocacy, it is important to create an effective advocacy strategy. During the mentoring, KWN members have sought to learn more about effective advocacy in order to create effective advocacy strategies in the future.
Therefore, on 18 July, at the European Union Information and Cultural Centre in Kosovo, KWN held the “Effective Advocacy” workshop, which was attended by over 20 representatives of KWN member organizations.
In this workshop led by Nicole Farnsworth, Program Manager at KWN was discussed about effective advocacy, by paying attention to the review of advocacy cycle, situation and problem analysis, objective analysis, and so on.
Whilst, in the second part of the workshop, members who were divided into different groups, with the help of KWN staff started analysing the problem and thereupon started drafting their strategies for their existing advocacy goals.
Thus, the women’s property and inheritance rights group analysed the problems faced by women and girls in the enjoyment of their rights starting from the patriarchal mentality, lack of information, and problems with (non) application of the law. Thereupon, they proposed alternatives and concrete solutions for which they will continue to work so that women and girls in Kosovo enjoy equal rights to property and inheritance.
One of the working groups in the "Effective Advocacy" workshop worked on creating a strategy to support the survivors of sexual violence during the war, respectively to reintegrate them into our society. This strategy included activities aimed at the economic empowerment of these women through reparations which are to be provided to them by the state, then their vocational training up to their (self) employment as ways to help their reintegration into society. Within the strategy were included also awareness raising campaigns aimed at changing the mentality of our society to support these women and not blame them for the crime committed against them.
“I am a student, and I have already started to carry out the internship in one of the member organizations of the KWN, specialized in working with survivors of sexual violence during the war. However, this workshop has given me a clear idea of ”‹”‹the advocacy cycle (circle); analysis of groups of interest, situation, problem and objectives, and so I think I have gained initial knowledge of how to create an advocacy strategy”, one of the participants of the workshop said.
Whereas in the project group for capacity building of women farmers in rural areas, several parts of the advocacy strategy were drafted, such as drafting the problem “tree”, the vision “tree”, stakeholder analysis and advocacy action plan. The Group decided that advocacy for the problem of non-representation of women in rural areas in agriculture should be done at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development (MAFRD) for better methods of information on grants and subsidies provided; at the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), for improving women’s awareness of their property and inheritance rights; at the Ministry of Economic Development (MEC) for support as regards the trainings and counselling for the creation and development of micro-businesses; and at the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI), respectively the Kosovo Investment and Enterprise Support Agency (KIESA), for more effective information methods on the grants they provide to women in business. The group also decided that advocacy should take place in a parallel manner at the local level, in the respective municipalities, too, depending on each project.
After the workshop, the members had already created their own advocacy strategies for implementing the latter in their initiatives during this year.

This workshop was supported by the European Union office in Kosovo

08.07.25

From “Caring for Others” to “Caring for Self”

01.07.25

“The Shirt of Freedom”: A Theater Tour Amplifying Women’s Voices Against Violence 

27.06.25

Art, Activism and Healing Flourish at FemArt 2025  

18.06.25

Workshop Held on Social Services, Rights, and Other Mechanisms 

12.06.25

Activists Engage in President’s Global Forum on Women, Peace and Security  

30.05.25

WCSOs Ask: What’s the Real Cost of Specialised Services for Gender-based Violence?  

KFOR organized in Pristina the Conference

06.07.2017

 On June 1 and 2, was held the Conference "Gender Perspective Days" organized by KFOR, attended by ambassadors, leaders of various local and international organizations, political figures and members of the Kosovo Police and Security Force. The first day of the Conference was held in Hotel Sirius. 
      General Major Giovanni Fungo at the opening of the conference during his speech, among others said that "gender equality is becoming very important and if the aspects of legal equality are not taken into account then they can be an obstacle to fulfill our mission." Given that this was the first time that KFOR was organizing an event outside its fences, General Fungo described it as "a step forward to make more connections with Kosovo society". 
      After the video message from the former President of Kosovo, Atifete Jahjaga, and a speech by NATO Commander Michelle Howard, Igballe Rogova, Executive Director of KWN, among other things recalled the beginning of KFOR cooperation with women’s organizations, emphasizing the importance of gender mainstreaming and challenges with which our society continues to face. 
     On the second day of the conference, which was held at the KFOR campus, Rogova spoke about the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 United Nations Resolution on Women Peace and Security 1325 from a political perspective and gender perspective, highlighting the struggle and role of women in civil society in this process. It further indicated on international and domestic advocacy for the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 (UNSCR 1325) since its adoption in 2000 and that after the war in Kosovo, it used the Resolution to seek more Meetings between UN officials, international decision-makers and women in Kosovo.
       By overcoming the obstacles they faced and taking into account the commitment of women to contribute to peace building and to participate in the negotiations, Rogova recalled: "It was this period when KWN and the Women in Black Network decided to create the Women’s Peace Coalition by joining women from Kosovo and Serbia who, based on Resolution 1325, wanted to have at least one woman in the negotiating team of both states stressing the importance of lobbying for women’s participation in peacebuilding."

08.07.25

From “Caring for Others” to “Caring for Self”

01.07.25

“The Shirt of Freedom”: A Theater Tour Amplifying Women’s Voices Against Violence 

27.06.25

Art, Activism and Healing Flourish at FemArt 2025  

18.06.25

Workshop Held on Social Services, Rights, and Other Mechanisms 

12.06.25

Activists Engage in President’s Global Forum on Women, Peace and Security  

30.05.25

WCSOs Ask: What’s the Real Cost of Specialised Services for Gender-based Violence?  

EU Parliament to Discuss Violence against Women in Kosovo, Region

06.07.2017

The European Parliament Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM) and the Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI) have asked Nicole Farnsworth, Kosovo Women’s Network Lead Researcher, to speak at the “joint exchange of views on violence against women in the Western Balkans and Turkey” held on 8 June 2017 in Brussels.
            Several issues exist pertaining to violence against women. Therefore, following consultations with women’s rights activists throughout South East Europe, she spoke about four main issues:
 
  1. The weak institutional response to violence against women in most countries, including widespread “blaming the victim”; insufficient address of sexual violence and sexual harassment cases; a failure to prosecute some crimes ex officio; low sentencing; and weak inter-institutional case management.
  2. The shrinking space and decreased funding for women’s rights CSOs in the region, which hampers their ability to provide quality services, monitor institutions, and undertake advocacy related to violence against women.
  3. Diminishing sexual and reproductive health rights, such as restrictions on abortion imposed recently in some countries; insufficient access to education, counselling, and affordable reproductive healthcare, including contraception, particularly for vulnerable groups like Roma, the disabled and LGBTQI persons. She also will mention the continuation of sex selection in several countries, including Kosovo, whereby female fetuses continue to be aborted due to social preferences to have male children.
  4. Justice and reparations for sexual violence perpetrated during the war. She will ask for EU support in pressuring states to acknowledge crimes committed and to pay reparations to victims.
Overall, she asked EU parliamentarians for support in ensuring that addressing violence against women, in all its forms, becomes a political priority.
“Politicians (local and foreign) tend to prioritize so-called ‘high-level political issues’ over issues affecting people’s everyday lives, such as domestic violence and sexual harassment,” said Farnsworth. “Activists have long argued that peace is not merely the absence of war. How useful are borders or an army, if you do not have security within your own home, your own school, your workplace, your street; or if you still suffer the effects of sexual violence perpetrated during the war, because no apologies have been made, no services have been offered, no justice has been served?”
Farnsworth requested the EU’s continued political and financial support for addressing violence against women in the region, also emphasizing the importance of meeting and collaborating with women’s rights organizations directly.
Farnsworth participated in several other meetings while in Brussels, towards raising awareness regarding gender equality in Kosovo and the situation of women more specifically, including participation in European Women’s Lobby Conference events related to: “LOUD & UNITED to end Violence against women and girls”. 
The Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation, financed by Sweden, has supported this initiative. 
 

 

08.07.25

From “Caring for Others” to “Caring for Self”

01.07.25

“The Shirt of Freedom”: A Theater Tour Amplifying Women’s Voices Against Violence 

27.06.25

Art, Activism and Healing Flourish at FemArt 2025  

18.06.25

Workshop Held on Social Services, Rights, and Other Mechanisms 

12.06.25

Activists Engage in President’s Global Forum on Women, Peace and Security  

30.05.25

WCSOs Ask: What’s the Real Cost of Specialised Services for Gender-based Violence?  

Kosovo Women’s Fund Gave €99,842.35 to 31 Women-led Organizations

06.07.2017

 On 12 June, the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) organized the Orientation Session and the Press Conference to officially announce 31 recipients of 27 grants of the Kosovo Women’s Fund (KWF) amounting €99,842.35. Out of these grants, four of which are partnerships, €56,434.25 are financed by the European Union Office in Kosovo, while €43,408.10 are financed by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA). 
            By supporting these women-led organizations initiatives, KWF contributes on changes that they bring to their communities. KWN, through KWF, also encourages solidarity among women’s rights activists, and working together as a women’s movement on implementing KWN’s Strategy 2015-2018, which has been compiled and approved in accordance with KWN’s member organizations. 
         Gentiana Murati, KWF Coordinator and Besa Shehu, Finance Menager at KWN, on the first part of the meeting shared detailed information regarding the narrative and financial reporting, and filling the monitoring and evaluation database, which will facilitate beneficiaries on reporting process throughout the implementation of these projects.
       Igballe Rogova, Executive Director of KWN, on her welcoming speech recalled the beginning of the Kosovo Women’s Fund back in 2012, when the financing amount was symbolic with €500 for a grant. She expressed her gratitude to the two main donors, the European Union Office in Kosovo and the Austrian Development Agency (ADA), that five years later with their support there are €100,000 being given to women’s rights CSOs.
       “Their [donors] presence itself here shows how much they support the work of women’s organizations”, said Ms. Rogova, “appreciating the importance of gender equality for the development of a [our] society”. Meanwhile, she congratulated the beneficiaries wishing them success, emphasizing that “your successful projects and your successful and transparent work and results brought KWN where it is today”. She also thanked media for always supporting and transmitting to the audience the work and voice of women. 
       Deputy Head of Cooperation in the European Union Office in Kosovo, Mr. Libor Chlad, spoke about the importance of this Fund and their expectations that these projects will have an impact on improving the lives of girls and women and their community in Kosovo. Stressing the importance of gender equality as a fundamental human right for both the EU and Kosovo, he said that this should be adequately taken care of by state institutions. Among other things, he emphasized that EU expects an increased women’s participation in politics and decision-making processes after the elections on 11 June. 
        "Given the last year’s PISA results, the EU has focused on allocating funds to the education sector next year," said Mr. Libor Chlad. "Since there is ground to build a better future in the education sector, we will concentrate on comprehensive projects where we can address the obstacles we have identified in this sector. Gender Equality agenda should be included in teaching from childhood in order to increase and raise them with equal rights. We will continue to cooperate towards an equitable society based on participatory, inclusive and long-term sustainability," he added. 
        Meanwhile, the Head of the Office of the Austrian Development Agency (ADA), Mr. Gunther Zimmer said they are delighted to be part of Kosovo Women’s Fund through which they influence women’s empowerment. He also stressed that since ADA has been active in Kosovo from 1999, they always made sure that projects supported by them focus on gender equality as well. Mr Zimmer also expressed hopes that the next government will keep promises and involve more women in decision-making as a tool to furthering state’s development.
        "As per the Government and furthering women’s important issues, I would like to emphasize that we should strongly encourage the future Government to take all necessary steps on establishing the Secretariat for survivors of sexual violence during the war, as a final step in this process, therefore enabling as many women as possible to receive the compensations they are entitled to,” emphasized Mr Zimmer. Among other things, he stated, "Even ADA has learned from gaps towards gender equality. However, we will continue to support, but this support would be pointless without the cooperation with KWN." 
       During the signing of the contracts, Nevenka Rikallo from NGO Ruka+Ruci, beneficiary of this KWF round said “the importance and the role of KWN for women and girls in Kosovo is very important, knowing that their financial support to small organizations impacts the improvement of the position of women in the society, having in mind that gender equality is important in becoming a society with European standards”. 
KWN and its member organisations signed contracts for grants, as following:

 Advocacy Grants for a Single Organization:
 
  • Organization of Persons with Muscular Dystrophy of Kosovo with the initiative: “Better healthcare quality, when everyone have access to it” (€2,987.50, supported by ADA)
  • Mitrovica Women’s Association for Human Rights with the initiative: “Young women, decision makers” (€2,175.00, supported by ADA)
  • Vita Jeta with the initiative: “Diabetes in the elderly” (€2,741.10, supported by ADA)
  • Center for Women’s Empowerment with the initiative: “Economic empowerment of household women – mothers” (€2,780.00, supported by ADA)
  • Luna with the initiative: “Women’s Health and Freedom of Movement” (€2,987.50, supported by ADA)
  • Together in Progress with the initiative: “From Mothers” – Advocacy for women farmers of Gjakova (€2,996.00, supported by ADA)
  • Modern Woman with the initiative: “Health and sexual and reproductive rights” (€2,989.00, supported by ADA)
  • Initiative for Integration of Communities with the initiative: “Improving the position of girls and women through involvement in decision-making in Dragash” (€2,535.00, supported by ADA)
  • Ato with the initiative: “My right to property” (€2,324.50, supported by ADA)
  • Garden of Flowers with the initiative: “Promoting women’s rights and empowering their role in property inheritance” (€2,757.50, supported by ADA)
  • Bliri with the initiative: “Awareness raising of reproductive health among youth” (€2,985.00, supported by ADA)
  • Divine Woman with the initiative: “Awareness raising of citizens on women’s inheritance and property rights” (€2,530.00, supported by ADA)
  • Social Club Live with the initiative: “Easier access to justice for women about property disputes” (€2,222.00, supported by ADA)
  • Farmer Women’s Association “Krusha e Vogel” with the initiative: “Start a business, do not hesitate” (€2,440.00, supported by ADA)
  • Handikos Mitrovica with the initiative: “Women’s and girls’ with disabilities access to healthcare” (€3,531.25, supported by the EU)
  • Association of the Blind and Partly Sighted with the initiative: “Awareness raising about the support of blind persons and persons with impaired vision” (€3,753.50, supported by the EU)
  • Kosovo Center for Multicultural Development and Integration with the initiative: “Economic empowerment of youth from non-majority communities, Roma, Ashkali, Egyptians, with focus on women” (€3,705.00, supported by the EU)
  • Partners Kosova Center for Conflict Management with the initiative: “Women’s advocacy for their property and inheritance rights” (€3,532.00, supported by the EU)
  • Girls Coding Kosova with the initiative: “#EcShlirë [#WalkFreely] v3.0.  – Working with Kosovo Police” (€4,000.00, supported by the EU)
  • Education Code with the initiative: “Women Entrepreneurs” (€3,642.00, supported by the EU)
  • Institute of Applied Psychology, Alpha with the initiative: “Protecting human rights of women prisoners in Kosova through their socialization (II)” (€3,845.00, supported by the EU)
  • Association for Education and Family Care with the initiative: “An educated woman, a healthy society” (€3,815.00, supported by the EU)
  • Committee of Blind Women of Kosova with the initiative: “More rights for blind women” (€3,370.00, supported by the EU)
Networking for Change Grants:
  • Open Door & Ruka Ruci with the initiative: “Empowering women community activists to further women’s human rights and gender equality through participation, information and social media” (€7,955.00, supported by the EU)
  • Naš Dom (Our Home) & Women’s Centre for Rural Development with the initiative: “Improvement of local policies from women’s perspective” (€7,980.50, supported by the EU)
  • The Centre for Promotion of Women’s Rights & the Centre for Promotion of a Healthy Family with the initiative: “Empowering survivors of sexual violence during the war toward achieving their legal rights” (€7,305.00, supported by the EU)
  • Rikotta and Women’s Association Gora with the initiative: “Make yourself aware that your health is important for the society” (€5,958.00, supported by ADA)
 
KWN’s Kosovo Women’s Fund offers small grants for women’s organizations that lack of other funding opportunities and that want to work for women’s rights, especially groups working in rural areas andor with marginalized persons. Since 2012, KWF has distributed 131 grants, supported 84 organizations, totalling 455,838.50€. It has had more than 14,099 beneficiaries, and contributed to at least 15 policy changes towards improving the lives of women and girls in Kosovo. In 2017, the Kosovo Women’s Fund is receiving support from the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) and the European Union Office in Kosovo.

 

08.07.25

From “Caring for Others” to “Caring for Self”

01.07.25

“The Shirt of Freedom”: A Theater Tour Amplifying Women’s Voices Against Violence 

27.06.25

Art, Activism and Healing Flourish at FemArt 2025  

18.06.25

Workshop Held on Social Services, Rights, and Other Mechanisms 

12.06.25

Activists Engage in President’s Global Forum on Women, Peace and Security  

30.05.25

WCSOs Ask: What’s the Real Cost of Specialised Services for Gender-based Violence?