Kosovo Women's Network

Medica Gjakova organized the Conference “Empower Women, Now”

02.06.2017

On 11 and 12 May, Medica Gjakova and Medica Mondiale organized the international conference “Empower Women, Now” on the situation of survivors of sexual violence in Kosovo. The "Empower Women, Now" conference was held at the Hotel Pashtrik in Gjakova, under the patronage of the Embassy of Austria, and was attended by Mrs. Atifete Jahjaga, former President of the Republic of Kosovo, Arban Abrashi, Minister of Labor and Social Welfare, Mimoza Kusari Lila, Mayor of Gjakova, Representatives of Embassies and Foreign Offices in Kosovo, Representatives of Women’s Organizations from Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Croatia.
                The objective of this conference was to raise awareness of the interrelated conflict of sexual violence and the situation of the survivors and the stigma associated with it. This two-day event focused on improving the law on the status of civilian victims of war and their families and in informing how women may have access to pensions and other benefits related to the law.
                 “We hope that by this conference in Gjakova we will push things forward. It is important to recognize their suffering, to promote reconciliation and rehabilitation at social levels and to contribute to individual empowerment, the collective healing process and the prevention of trauma among generations”, said Ms. Monica Hauser, founder and director of Medica Mondiale as well as the German partner organization of Medica Gjakova.
                Whereas the former President of the Republic of Kosovo, Ms. Atifete Jahjaga, as the initiator of the support of survivors of sexual violence during the war in Kosovo, emphasized that “as a former Kosovo leader I would like to see more commitment by prioritizing issues of interest to women. Nevertheless, this should not discourage us, but empower us even more in our continuous work on the protection and support of women, especially survivors of sexual violence in Kosovo. So I think this conference is a good incentive for regional cooperation”.
                In March 2014, the Kosovo Assembly approved the amendment of Law no. 04 / L-054 on the "Status of the Rights of Martyrs, Invalids, Veterans, Members of Kosova Liberation Army, Civilian Victims of War and their Families” to officially recognize and include the status of civilian victims of sexual violence during the war in Kosovo. Status grants to 20,000 women in Kosovo the right to monthly pensions and other benefits as prescribed by law. The National Council for the Survivors of Sexual Violence during the War in Kosovo, established in 2014 by former Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga, developed the necessary legislation and necessary sub-legal acts and created the preconditions to ensure that survivors of sexual violence will have access to the benefits mentioned in the previous law.
Medica Gjakova is also a member of the Kosova Women’s Network.

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? 

30.05.25

Budget Red Lines: Community Session Calls for Action on Menstrual Poverty

30.05.25

The Institutional Crisis Continues to Contribute to Discrimination Against Women

29.05.25

Preventing and Protecting Blind Women and Girls in Kosovo from Violence

Lobby for Gender Equality and NDI list women voters’ priorities for local elections 2017

02.06.2017

On 20 May, the Kosovo Lobby for Gender Equality (KGLE) held its meeting in Mamusha, which was attended by 66 Lobby members, representatives of local institutions, international organizations and members of Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) staff.

Seylan Mazrek, a Lobby member of the Municipality of Mamusha and Ms. Ganimete Sadiku, Deputy Mayor of the Municipality of Mamusha, in their presentations spoke about the achievements of the Municipality, as well as the problems faced by them, such as high unemployment and early marriages.

In the meantime, in his welcome speech, Mr. Arif Bütüç, Mayor of the Municipality of Mamusha, added: “We live and contribute to the state of Kosovo and I feel proud to be from Kosovo, therefore I thank our Government for their support up to today”. Afterwards, he invited participants to attend the special event organized by this municipality, “The Tomato Festival”, that will be held on 23 July.

Following the speeches by hosts, the floor was given to Igablle Rogova, Executive Director of KWN, explaining that the Lobby has started the tradition of holding meetings in other municipalities, not only in Pristina. She explained that this meeting differs from others, as “instead of talking about the achievements of each municipality in undertaking advocacy initiatives, this time we will offer space to the international organization National Democratic Institute (NDI), whose work we appreciate, because NDI does not only provide trainings which last few days, but it does continuous works to empower women in politics”.

The well-known artist and activist Ms. Safete Rogova, honored the audience by reciting a poem: "A poem for the woman”.

Further, Ms. Igballe Rogova, also spoke about the Women’s Economic Forum (WEE), in the capacity of a member of this Forum, by pointing out that: “The Forum has emerged as an informal mechanism in order to coordinate all international and local organizations to empower women economically as much as possible, whereby as Forum we will push the policies in this field."

She further added that within the Forum “initially they raised the issue of the lack of kindergartens, seen as a factor that affects the low participation of women in the labor market. KWN’s latest report: "Who Cares? Demand, Supply, and Options for Expanding Childcare Availability in Kosovo", gives an example, because this is affecting employed women and women in politics. Then, the property issue was raised as well; as you know many organizations are already working on property issues, including KWN, which has just completed the project "My House, My Right" with the support of PPSE Swiss Contact. Also, as a forum, we should influence vocational schools because they are offering courses that are more suitable for men, which are seen as "men’s courses", hence the curriculum needs to be changed, so that women are not offered only courses in hairdressing and tailoring, but they should be encouraged for other fields, as well as to encourage more women to register in the Regional Employment Centers."

Meanwhile, members of Lobby shared with the attendees some successful initiatives thanks to their advocacy. By relating to the success of these initiatives, Ms. Rogova reminded those attending that “The aim of the Lobby is not to organize trainings, but to advocate together on various important issues. We as Lobby are trying to push forward three pillars: networking, solidarity and sharing experiences”.

In the second part of the meeting, Ms. Pranvera Lipovica, Program Manager for Political Party Development Program at NDI, explained NDI’s work on empowering women in politics. She talked about the Women’s Leadership Academy that is a continuation of the “Week of Women” activity and aims to further advance the skills of women participating, as well as to bring women together to create other networks of cooperation, since they come from different parties and cities, and have different ages and professions.

Women participating at the Academy, divided into four thematic groups: 1. Economy, 2. Health, 3. Education and 4. The role of women in decision-making positions, received dozens of recommendations from Lobby members, which they will include in a platform of concrete proposals for the leadership of political parties. Attendees were given the opportunity to submit recommendations or additional comments on these topics by e-mail to Bardha Uka at: buka@ndi.org, until 29 May 2017.
This meeting was supported by the European Union Office in Kosovo.

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? 

30.05.25

Budget Red Lines: Community Session Calls for Action on Menstrual Poverty

30.05.25

The Institutional Crisis Continues to Contribute to Discrimination Against Women

29.05.25

Preventing and Protecting Blind Women and Girls in Kosovo from Violence

Action for Mothers and Children raises awareness of women on postnatal depression

02.06.2017

On 10 May, the Action for Mothers and Children (Organization) organized in Ferizaj a training on the project “Expanding Advocacy Curriculum Information Center for Information on Women’s Health (QIShG) and Training Center Staff”. This project was supported by the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) and funded by the European Union Office in Kosovo, and was implemented by theAction for Mothers and Children.
       The project aims advocating at Mother and Child Health Division to strengthen the existing Centres by expanding the curriculum of topics taught in centres, with an emphasis on postnatal depression so that women and girls are provided withvery important information on this topicat the level of primary health care, training of staff at the Centre on the topic, the development of information and promotional videos, and the Cooperation Agreement with the Ministry of Health for the revision of the Notebook for Pregnant Women (collected by pregnant women and pregnant women during their first visit at the gynaecologist) with information on Center for Information on Women’s Health (i.e. the existence and location of the Centers, topics to be addressed, the benefits of counselling).
       The direct beneficiaries of the project, through lectures held at the Center, are women with difficult living conditions, with low levels of education, up to illiteracy, and women deprived of their rights by all communities (Albanian, Serbian, RAE, Turkish, Bosniak) in the Municipality of Prishtina, Ferizaj, Shtërpcë, and Mitrovica where the Centers for Information on Women’s Health are functional. There is a total of 19 trained medical servants in these centers on the topic of postnatal depression.
        The participants were delighted with the provision of this training, improving the quality of services and communication between them and the patients, and referring girls and women to these centers, and then to the psychologist or professional psychiatrist.
       Given that in some cases postnatal depression is a consequence of domestic violence, it has been possible to reduce the effect of gender-based violence by providing information on the state of postnatal depression and treatment of these symptoms to girls and women in the post-natal period.
       In addition to the provided trainings, the Action for Mothers and Children Action successfully advocated at the Main Family Medicine Center in the Municipality of Prizren for opening the "Mother’s Classes" Center as a part of educational programs on mother and child health in Kosovo. These classes provide educational health services for girls, women and their partners, including among others: preparing for a healthy pregnancy, its course and birth process, baby care, the importance of breastfeeding, psychic and physical preparation for the delivery room as well as other information on the child’s care and development. Classes offer advices in an interactive manner in a pleasant room environment.
       The opening of Mother’s Classes Center took place in Prizren on May 31st, thus marking the program’s 7th location point. Up to the present, around 3,000 women have benefited from the support of these classes. During March this year, a center was opened in the municipality of Kaçanik, whilst last year were officially opened the centers in Shterpce and Mitrovica, and a year ago in Prishtina and Ferizaj. The Action for Mothers and Children aims to expand such information centers for pregnant women and their partners also in other municipalities of Kosovo to help increase health education in the country within the primary health care level.

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? 

30.05.25

Budget Red Lines: Community Session Calls for Action on Menstrual Poverty

30.05.25

The Institutional Crisis Continues to Contribute to Discrimination Against Women

29.05.25

Preventing and Protecting Blind Women and Girls in Kosovo from Violence

Students from the University of Vienna meet with KWN

02.06.2017

During the month of May, students from the Department of Political Sciences at the University of Vienna, on the subject of State Building in the Suburbs of Europe, conducted a study visit to Kosovo and Albania. In the framework of this visit, on 17 May the students also met with Igballe Rogova, Executive Director of the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) at the Ethnological Museum in Prishtina.
     They showed interest in learning more about the experiences of women’s rights activists in Kosovo, recent developments, human rights challenges, peace and security, as well as obstacles and opportunities in the future.
      Ms. Rogova initially spoke about activism during the 1990s in Kosovo, for the ‘Sisters Qiriazi’ Association, as well as for the war period in Kosovo, when this association did not cease at all its activity to help Kosovars who were placed in camps as refugees. Attendees also had the opportunity to be informed about the history of the women’s movement in Kosovo, how the first women’s rights organizations in Kosovo were founded, and the history and work of KWN since its founding in 2000 as an informal network. Among other things Rogova also mentioned investigative reports on gender-based violence and sexual harassment in Kosovo; Establishment of the Council for Survivors of Sexual Violence in Kosovo; As well as for initiatives and researches with regard to the monitoring of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 in Kosovo, Resolution on Women, Peace and Security.
       By expressing their gratitude for the meeting, the students said that this was one of the best, most informative visits they had during their stay in Kosovo.

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? 

30.05.25

Budget Red Lines: Community Session Calls for Action on Menstrual Poverty

30.05.25

The Institutional Crisis Continues to Contribute to Discrimination Against Women

29.05.25

Preventing and Protecting Blind Women and Girls in Kosovo from Violence

Members and staff of KWN participate in the knowledge exchange program on Gender Based Violence

02.06.2017

From 1 to 5 May, 2017, three representatives from Kosovo participated in the Knowledge Exchange Program on Gender Based Violence, held in Stockholm, Sweden, and organized by the Kvinna Till Kvinna Foundation. Adelina Berisha from the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN), Shpresa Agushi from the Network of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian Women’s Organizations of Kosovo, and Zana Hoxha Krasniqi from Artpolis, represented Kosovo in this event, wherein they had the opportunity to share their experience with other participants.
       The purpose of these meetings was that the beneficiaries of the Kvinna Till Kvinna Foundation from the Balkans and the Middle East share their experiences and best practices in combating Gender-Based Violence. The program was divided into three main pillars, namely: Providing Psycho-Social Assistance to Survivors of Gender-Based Violence; Cooperation with a Comprehensive Approach to Assistance to Gender-Based Survivors; As well as Advocacy as a Form of Prevention.
       Apart from the sharing of experience among participants, there were alsoheld by professors, psychologists, activists, and experts of gender-based violence from Sweden and other countries of the world. Among them, Dr. Allan Wade, who spoke of the resistance that survivors of violence use as a mechanism to cope with violence; Vidar Vetterfalk, who spoke on masculinity norms and violence as a necessary perspective to combat gender-based violence; As well as lectures by the psychologist Josefin Grände, who spoke about Secondary Trauma that people who work in providing psycho-social treatment to survivors of gender-based violence may have.
      Adelina Berisha from the KWN invited by Kvinna Till Kvinna, presented the KWN advocacy initiatives in the area of ”‹”‹gender-based violence, while Zana Hoxha Krasniqi from Artpolis held a workshop on how to use the Forum Theatre as a form of raising awareness about Gender-based violence.
In addition to exchanging experiences and knowledge on gender-based violence, an important part of this program was networking between non-governmental organizations from the region and the Middle East.

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? 

30.05.25

Budget Red Lines: Community Session Calls for Action on Menstrual Poverty

30.05.25

The Institutional Crisis Continues to Contribute to Discrimination Against Women

29.05.25

Preventing and Protecting Blind Women and Girls in Kosovo from Violence

“Liria” and “Legjenda” advocate for involvement of GRB

02.06.2017

Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB) represents the inclusion of a gender perspective in budget planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. GRB helps government budgets and their execution to be more equitable, effective and transparent. The new Law on Gender Equality (2015) has made BPG a legal obligation for all central and local budget organizations in Kosovo. Further, Budget Circular no. 2017/01, distributed by the Ministry of Finance in June 2017, specifically encouraged all municipalities to integrate GRB into their budget documents.
           However, GRB is a fairly new concept, both in Kosovo and elsewhere. At the beginning of 2016, there were few budget organizations in Kosovo that began implementing this legal obligation, including the municipalities of Vitia and Gjilan. For this reason, KWN member organizations, the Centre for Protection and Rehabilitation of Women and Children “Liria” in Gjilan and “Legjenda” of Viti, decided to establish a joint team in order to advance the process of institutionalization of GRB in their municipalities.
       Supported by the Kosovo Women’s Fund (FGK), “Liria” and “Legjenda” organized informative meetings with the Formal Group of Women Assembly Members of Ferizaj and Kllokot Municipality, the Lobby for Gender Equality as well as Directors of Municipal Directorates of both Municipalities. 75 women and men of both municipalities were the beneficiaries of these informative meetings.
        Topics in these informative meetings were mainly related to integration steps such as decision-making, gender agenda and reports, research and analysis to be undertaken at the municipal level, as well as gender expertise.
         Women’s rights activist and activist Nazlie Bala emphasized to the participants that “gender equality means that men and women have equal access to the policies the state offers, have equal access to the well-being and overall development of society and equal access to the material goods that the state provides”.
        The result of this cooperation was raising the awareness of officials and activists in these two municipalities regarding GRB, what this concept means and how should it be applied in their municipalities. Women in decision-making became aware of gender budgeting and were encouraged to be part of budget policy drafting.
         This presents another important step towards advancing gender equality. These actions are foreseen in the Law on Gender Equality although up to date few institutions have used them. The cooperation of these two organizations and their advocacy towards the sustainable institutionalization of the GRB in the municipalities of Ferizaj and Kllokot is a very positive example from which other municipalities and central level institutions can learn.

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? 

30.05.25

Budget Red Lines: Community Session Calls for Action on Menstrual Poverty

30.05.25

The Institutional Crisis Continues to Contribute to Discrimination Against Women

29.05.25

Preventing and Protecting Blind Women and Girls in Kosovo from Violence

KWN advocates for easier movement of citizens on the street

02.06.2017

On 25 May, 2017, KWN participated in the first workshop organized by the Municipality of Prishtina “Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan for Prishtina”.
      During the discussion on the problems of citizens, KWN asked for steps to be taken regarding the key issues faced by women, such as: to free the sidewalks from the cars in order to have enough space for the movement of women / mothers with children carriages, to make necessary adjustments ofroads in order to meet the needs of people with limited abilities, including installation/placement of street signals for blind persons.
     In this process of drafting this Plan for carrying out adjustments to the road for the needs of the citizens, this workshop was attended by women and men, representatives of urban traffic companies, professors of the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Prishtina, representatives of various profile organizations, people with disabilities and representative of the Kosovo Women’s Network.
     To assist in gathering information on drafting the Plan, please complete the following online survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Pristina Travel

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? 

30.05.25

Budget Red Lines: Community Session Calls for Action on Menstrual Poverty

30.05.25

The Institutional Crisis Continues to Contribute to Discrimination Against Women

29.05.25

Preventing and Protecting Blind Women and Girls in Kosovo from Violence

The Women’s Initiative encourages women to get involved in decision-making process in the Municipality of Dragash

02.06.2017

On 19 May, in Village Rrenc of the Dragash Municipality, a member organization of the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN), the Women’s InitiativeAssociation organized an information roundtable on women’s empowerment in politics and decision-making.
      The aim of this project is to build gender capacities in order to encourage women to participate more actively in social and political life, support and support of women in political parties, their engagement and empowerment within the party, support to each other in advancing internal, vocational training and their delegation to certain decision-making positions.
     To draft this project, the Women’s Initiative Association was based on low economic development as one of the factors that directly affects the gender perspective and as a consequence the active participation of women in civil society and politics is low. Also, the Association was based on the most conservative mentality of the Municipality of Dragash, which according to them produces many other difficulties for the position of women, which probably other municipalities have already overcome.
     The Municipal Officer for Gender Equality, Ms. Lendita Kosmaçi Pira spoke about the importance of women’s active participation in politics, pointing out that the quota of 30%of womenrepresentation at the municipal assembly is very low. She also expressed dissatisfaction that there is no representation of women in decision-making positions in the Municipality of Dragash, considering that there are over ten leadership positions in different directorates in this municipality.
        Whilst, theWomen’s Initiative Association believes that the results of this project will have a positive impact on women’s awareness of their legal rights related to gender-based violence, awareness of their property and inheritance rights and their engagement for the first time in political parties. Ms. Xhejrane Lokaj, director of the Association, also announced 15 open positions at the tailoring workshop in Shalme, by encouraging women to previously enrol at the employment office. This outcome is a result of successful advocacy for the economic empowerment of women in this region.
     Over 150 women direct beneficiaries expressed satisfaction that they were part of this project. They emphasized that for the first time they were conducting such trainings that are influencing on them to freely discuss with the family and the circle about the rights of women and girls to property and inheritance, the consequences of gender-based violence and how they will empower their demands for decision-making positions for women. Also,around 20000 citizens, respectively residents of the Municipality of Dragash have benefited from this project in indirect manner.
     This roundtable was organized as an activity within the project "Time for a new political spirit", supported by KWN and funded by the European Union Office in Kosovo, and implemented by the Women’s Initiative Association in Dragash.

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? 

30.05.25

Budget Red Lines: Community Session Calls for Action on Menstrual Poverty

30.05.25

The Institutional Crisis Continues to Contribute to Discrimination Against Women

29.05.25

Preventing and Protecting Blind Women and Girls in Kosovo from Violence

KWN Advocates for Improved Response to Gender-based Violence

19.05.2017

     During May, the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) met with several institutions to discuss gender-based violence in Kosovo, namely domestic violence and sexual harassment. These advocacy meetings, planned in 2015, sought to follow-up on recommendations made to individual institutions in KWN’s two research reports: No More Excuses: An Analysis of Attitudes, Incidence and Institutional Responses to Domestic Violence in Kosovo (2015) and Sexual Harassment in Kosovo (2016). However, the meetings also were timely and pertinent considering recent cases of domestic violence.
     More specifically, KWN has been closely following the case of Mrs. Zejnepe Bytyqi Berisha. Her husband stabbed her to death, also injuring their daughter; the Basic Court in Prizren convicted him, but with a sentence of only 12 years in prison. KWN, other activists and citizens expressed their disgust publicly in a demonstration held on 14 April 2017, during which they called for #JusticeForZejnepe (#DrejtësiPërZejnepen).
     KWN has continued to follow this case since, contracting a lawyer to support Mrs. Bytyqi Berisha’s family in filing an appeal. The appeal was filed on 17 May with the Basic Court in Prizren.
     Meanwhile, KWN has approached three responsible institutions to call for improved performance in investigating crimes and ensuring justice. This week, KWN met with Deputy State Prosecutor Sevdije Morina, Deputy General Director of Police Operations Naim Rexha, Captain Tahire Haxholli who leads the Domestic Violence Investigation Unit in the Kosovo Police, and Manager of the Victims Protection and Assistance Office Basri Kastrati. The main issues that KWN raised during these meetings included:

•    Inquiry into how institutions are dealing with the case of Mrs. Bytyqi Berisha, as well as how they are taking steps to improve overall performance in domestic violence cases;
•    The need to improve case management and coordination among institutions in assisting and ensuring justice in cases of domestic violence, which was identified as a key concern in KWN’s aforementioned research;
•    The need for additional training for prosecutors, police, and Victim Advocates, respectively, to improve their performance, including on: the definition of and what acts constitute sexual harassment; the legal requirement to ensure confidentiality in all cases; the importance of not blaming victims for crimes perpetrated against them; and that officials should not make decisions based on their personal opinions, such as encouraging family reconciliation, particularly when criminal acts have been committed that require ex officio prosecution.

     As a result of these meetings, all three institutions verbalized their commitment to addressing shortcomings and improving performance. Further, KWN was informed that the prosecution is working on appointing prosecutors who will be specialized in dealing with domestic violence cases. They will receive training from experts from the United States.
     All institutions committed to looking into opportunities for further training officials in the aforementioned topics. They expressed their readiness to continue cooperation with KWN and draw from KWN’s expertise on this topic, as relevant.
     KWN will continue monitoring institutions this year and encourages anyone with concerns about performance of institutions in gender-based violence cases to contact us at info@womensnetwork.org or 038245850.

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? 

30.05.25

Budget Red Lines: Community Session Calls for Action on Menstrual Poverty

30.05.25

The Institutional Crisis Continues to Contribute to Discrimination Against Women

29.05.25

Preventing and Protecting Blind Women and Girls in Kosovo from Violence

KWN Held its members bimonthly meeting

03.05.2017

On 3 April 2017, Kosovo Women’s Network hold its members bimonthly meeting, which gathered 74 representatives of KWN’s member organisations, members of Kosovo Lobby for Gender Equality, donors, representatives from the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo and other supporters of KWN.

Igballe Rogova, Executive Director of KWN, shared the information that KWN has changed its location and address of the new office is: St. Feriz Blakçori, Floor II, No. 8. One of the reasons of changing the location is offering the possibility for easy access to people with special needs.

Further, Mrs. Rogova invited representatives of different institutions and projects that work on the field of women’s economic empowerment, to present their work and cooperation opportunities available for KWN member organizations.

Shqipe Dema, Head of the Department for Rural Development Policies within the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development (MAFRD), spoke about the Program for Rural Development and Subventions, offering participants the possibility that for any question or clarification to contact: arbedona.spahiu@rks-gov.net; +377 (0)45 353 253; +381 (0)38 200 38 883, as well as to visit the web page of the Agency for Agricultural Development: http://www.azhb-ks.net/or in their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Agjencia-p%C3%ABr-Zhvillimin-e-Bujq%C3%ABsis%C3%AB-501164426723868/?fref=ts.

Further, Sherife Sekiraça, Equal Opportunities and Children’s Rights Officer, from MAFRD, spoke about the equal opportunities for women’s access on Ministry funds, emphasizing that in the beginning of 2010, only 4% of beneficiaries of these funds were women, while now there are 32%. Contact: sherife.sekiraqa@rks-gov.net.

Later, Mirlinda Kusari – Purrini, Executive Director of Women’s Business Association SHE-ERA, informed people present that SHE-ERA offers counseling, business planning, preparation of documents required to apply for different tenders, offers marketing strategy and market research, human resource development services and operational management services for local entrepreneurial women businesses. For further information, visit: http://she-era.org/?page_id=36, or contact: +381 (0)390 323 194 and wsheera@gmail.com.

Alida Muhaxhiri, Market Sector Facilitator on Promoting Private Sector Employment (PPSE) Swisscontact, presented the work of PPSE on the tourism and food processing (for further details visit: http://ppse-kosovo.org/sq/). She also presented the platform Women’s Economic Empowerment – Bussiness Directory, which is an online platform developed specifically for listing all Kosovo businesses that are owned or co-owned by women. The Bussiness Directory also emphasizes the problems women in bussinness face and useful information on grants, tenders, employment opportunities etc. (for further details visit: http://www.weekosovo.biz/sq).

Vlora Elshani, Project Menager spoke about the opportunities offered through the project Integrated Territorial Development 2 (InTerDev 2). For further information, visit:

http://www.ks.undp.org/content/kosovo/en/home/operations/projects/poverty_reduction/Interdev.html and http://www.ks.undp.org/content/kosovo/en/home/library/poverty/interdev-2-snapshot–2017-2020-.html or contact: vlora.elshani@undp.org and +386 (0)49 171 528.

Luarza Muhadri, Menager of the Project Rural Economic Sustainability Initiative (RESI), spoke about this project that aims to contribute in a sustainable and inclusive rural economic development, as well as generating income and jobs in the municipalities of Prishtina, Novobbrdo, Kamenica and Ranillug. For further information visit: www.resi-ks.org or contact +381 (0) 38 222 435/243 546 and info@resi-ks.org.

Bernandina Krasniqi, representative of the Local Development Fund (LDF) said that LDF aims the promotion of the integrated and sustainable regional development in the Agriculture Sector by strengthening existing and potential local structures. For further information, visit: http://ldf-ks.org/sq/sq/rreth-ldf-se/historiku/ or contact: + 377 (0) 44 47 98 77.

Elena Lau, representative of Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, shared information about two projects supported by GIZ: Competitiveness of the private sector in rural areas (COSiRA), and the project: Youth, Employment and Skills (YES). For further information, visit: https://www.facebook.com/CoSiRAKosovo/?hc_ref=PAGES_TIMELINE and

https://www.facebook.com/YESKosovo/?hc_ref=PAGES_TIMELINE&fref=nf.

Among others, Fatime Gërxhaliu from Kosova Rehabilitation Centre for Torture Victims (KRCT) informed participants that on 29 of March, KRCT together with the Centre for Promotion of Women’s Rights (CPWR) in Drenas have opened a store, where through selling handicraft products they aim to generate income for women survivors of sexual violence from the last war in Kosovo, empowering them economically.

After the presentations, people present at the meeting, voted the selection of 3 new members of the Grant Review Commiittee (GRC) of the Kosovo Women’s Fund (KWF). All the names nominated by KWN members were listed on the ballots. The new members selected for the Grant Review Commiittee are: Sanije Grajçevci, Executive Director of NGO Aureola (14 votes) and Zana Hoxha Krasniqi, Executive Director of Artpolis (9 votes), and Valdete Idrizi, Director of CiviKos Platform (19 votes).

The next bimonthly meeting of KWN members will take place on Jun. 17. This activity was supported by the European Union Office in Kosovo.

18.06.25