Kosovo Women's Network

KWN Financed by UN Women Kosovo Supports Women Survivors of Sexual Violence

03.05.2017

The Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) started the implementation of the project “Supporting Women Survivors of Sexual Violence”, which is financed by the UN Women Kosovo.
The implementation of this project will be achieved through distribution of sub-grants to four women’s rights organizations specializing in working with women survivors of sexual violence totaling an amount of €167,062.97, which will then provide micro-grants to women survivors of CRSV towards their economic empowerment, coupled with psychosocial support; joint advocacy to represent the interests of survivors to government officials and citizens more broadly; and regular coordination of key actors working to support women survivors of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence (CRSV).
This project will contribute to the realization of KWN’s own mission to support, protect and promote the rights and interests of women and girls throughout Kosovo, regardless of their political beliefs, religion, age, level of education, sexual orientation, and ability. It will contribute to the realization of KWN’s strategic objectives in its Strategy 2015-2018.
Further, it will contribute to the implementation of the UN Women Transitional Justice Project, which has the overall outcome that “Government and Security Actors in Kosovo advance the Implementation of the adopted 1325 action plans and specific commitment to the survivors of sexual violence.”
On March 20, 2014 the Law On the Status and the Rights of the Martyrs, Invalids, Veterans, Members of Kosovo Liberation Army, Civilian Victims of War and their Families was amended and supplemented to recognize the status of survivors of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence (CRSV). Currently, Kosovo authorities are in the process of operationalizing the independent Commission to implement the current legal framework to recognize survivors and provide limited benefits to them. While legal recognition is a significant benefit for survivors of CRSV, the material benefits provided under the current legal framework are still very limited.

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Women from Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina share their Experiences

03.05.2017

Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN), represented by Gentiana Murati, Kosovo Women’s Fund Coordinator, participated in the study visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). Eight organizations from Kosovo and eight Bosnian organizations, gathered in Bosnia and Herzegovina by Kvinna till Kvinna to share the experiences, lessons and challenges faced by women’s rights organizations, on April 3 – 8.

The visit began with meeting the Girls Foundation, where representatives of this organization Selma HadÅ¾ihaliloviÄ‡ and Jasenka KapetanoviÄ‡ spoke about their work, activities and their way of advocating positive changes in society through education, art and culture. This foundation is known through the PitchWise Festival, which is organized once a year where women artists and activists from BiH and other countries gather and celebrate the diversity, strength and achievements of women.

Further, in Eastern Herzegovina – Trebinje, a meeting was held with the Women’s Center Foundation during which the representative of the organization, Ljiljana ÄŒiÄkoviÄ‡, briefly presented the foundation’s story and their current activities focusing on domestic violence and women’s economic empowerment. They have established good cross-sectoral and community co-operation to address domestic violence issues at the local level. They also provide legal aid and psychosocial support and advocate for the economic empowerment of survivors of domestic violence.

The following days were reserved for the workshops "Women’s Organization and Shrinking Space for Women Civil Society" led by Yllka Soba KtK Kosovo and Belma Becirbasic KtK BiH, during which participating organizations shared their experiences by exchanging challenges and lessons learned during the last two years focusing on the women’s organizing against domestic violence and the participation of women in decision-making processes.

Participating organizations also discussed the narrowing of space for women in civil society, with particular emphasis on advocacy and how space shrinking could affect women’s organizations fighting for human rights.

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Women’s organizations write to the Prime Minister on the establishment of a Government Commission on the Recognition and Verification of the Status of Survivors of Sexual Violence during the Kosovo Liberation War

03.05.2017

On Apr. 13, Kosova Rehabilitation Centre for Torture Victims together with Kosovo Women’s Network, Medica Kosova, Medica Gjakova and the Centre for Promotion of Women’s Rights (CPWR), sent a letter to the Prime Minister Mr. Isa Mustafa demanding the establishment of a Government Commission on the recognition and verification of the status of survivors of sexual violence during the Kosovo liberation war.

Through this letter they demanded for the decision making institutions to take the decision on functionalizing the commission and to start the acceptance of the applications for recognizing the status survivors of sexual violence during the war in Kosovo, bearing on mind that all members of the Commission were selected and the NGOs’that will support the verification process were authorized.

Among other things, the letter stated that "the establishment of this state mechanism is a prerequisite for recognizing the suffering of victims of sexual violence during the war and enables the realization of the benefits guaranteed by 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.

Therefore, in the name of survivors of sexual violence, we urge you to take swift action to initiate the legal process for documenting sexual violence during the war as a state obligation to guarantee rehabilitation, reparation and justice for victims of sexual violence ".

As a result, on Apr. 28, the Government of Kosovo approved the decision to establish a government commission for recognizing and verifying the status of victims of sexual violence during the war. With the establishment of this commission officially started the institutional support for victims of sexual violence during the war in Kosovo.

18.06.25

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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

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Activists demand Justice for Zejnepe

03.05.2017

Under the motto #JusticeForZejnepe (#DrejtësiPërZejnepen), on Apr. 14, starting from 12:00, civil society activists joined to demand from the Ministry of Justice to appeal and amend the decision taken for the sentence imposed to the killer Nebih Berisha, who killed his wife in a domestic violence act.

The news of the decision became known to the public on 12 April. With the decision of the Basic Court of Prizren, the killer of the victim of domestic violence was sentenced to only 12 years in prison. The Criminal Code of the Republic of Kosovo, in Article 179 on Serious Murder states that "A punishment of not less than ten (10) years of imprisonment or life imprisonment shall be punishable by a person who: … 1.3. Deprives family member of life ".

Kosovo Women’s Network, through a press release, on that same day, reacted against this decision, which was assessed as a punishment that was not propitious to the offense, taking into account the circumstances of the murder, the weight of the offense and systematic violence the victim had experienced.

Following this press release, KWN together with civil society activists organized the protest #JusticeForZejnepe. The protest demand was clear: the decision on the sentence imposed on the killer of the victim of domestic violence, the late Zejnepe Bytyqi Berisha, to complain from the prosecution and to demand a maximum sentence for the commission of the criminal offense. Throughout this tragedy, their daughter also was hurt, so the relevant institutions would have to take appropriate action in accordance with the law.

Beside the civil society activists, the victims’ family members also participated in the protest. The mother, the sisters and the son-in-law of the victim expressed their dissatisfaction over the sentence pronounced by the Basic Court in Prizren. Sister of the late, Mrs. Hajrije Thaqi, addressed the media that were present during this protest expressing her dissatisfaction with the sentence imposed by the court, and also showed the systemic suffering her late sister had experienced by her husband. Another concern raised by the family was the inefficiency of the institutions in providing assistance to the victim when addressing these institutions for 16 years in a row as it had disrupted systematic violence.

The Standard Operation for Protection from Domestic Violence clearly define the duties and obligations of institutions in providing protection from domestic violence. In the best case, if these procedures are implemented as required by the responsible institutions, Kosovar citizens would accept the right protection and treatment from domestic violence. Unfortunately, in the case of Zejnepe Bytyqi Berisha, the institutions have failed to provide this assistance. In 2012, the late attempted to commit suicide, but this did not alarm Kosovo’s institutions to investigate who was the driving force behind this attempted assassination. Also, one year before his wife was killed, the perpetrator was arrested for domestic violence, but at the request of the late he was released. Justice and defense institutions in Kosovo have also failed to treat and respect standard operating procedures in this case. If the rehabilitation services were functional in Kosovo, and would work intensively on the rehabilitation and treatment of the perpetrators of such offenses, there would be fewer cases of murder and other forms of domestic violence today.

The initiative to help the family of the victim was not solved only by organizing a protest against the pronounced decision. KWN after this protest, continued co-operation with family members of the late, offering a legal expert who in cooperation with the prosecutor appointed for this case will appeal against the decision announced by the Court.

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30.05.25

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

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Government Extended the Administrative Instruction on the Joint Registration of Property

03.05.2017

Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) is in the final phase of implementing the project "My House, My Right" with the support of PPSE Swiss Contact, which has started since May 2016.

The percentage of registration and inheritance of property by women still remains low, limiting its access to financial resources and depriving women’s economic empowerment which creates the common good for the whole family.

The main reason of this project was to increase the number of women who realize their property right, both in personal and joint property, that would affect well-being of women, children’s and families as a whole. Until now KWN has assisted over 130 cases of property registration.

The Administrative Instruction issued by the Agency for Gender Equality (AGE) in cooperation with the Kosovo Cadastral Agency enables all citizens to register the property in joint ownership without administrative fees. KWN in cooperation with its member organizations and AGE have advocated to relevante institutions for amending the Administrative Instruction that extends the Administrative Instruction period from one year to two. Fortunately, during the Government meeting that was held on 6 April, this amendment was approved.

Property right is a fundamental right guaranteed by the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo, also in force laws such as: Property Law, Inheritance Law, Family Law, Law on Gender Equality and the Anti-Discrimination Law.

In order to use the extension of this Administrative Instruction, KWN encourages women and men to initiate the procedures to register their property on behalf of both spouses without an administrative fee. All you have to do is to contact the Municipal Cadastral Office where you live or if you need help you can write at register@gmail.com.

It is for free!

18.06.25

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12.06.25

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30.05.25

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ADA Trains its Project and Programmes Representatives on Gender

03.05.2017

On Apr. 25th, Austrian Development Agency (ADA) organized a training on gender for around 20 representatives of projects and programmes it supports, including Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) representative.
The need for the training aroused based on the fact that ADA seeks to “ensure the equal participation of women and men and girls and boys in all projects and programmes, altering discriminatory societal and social norms and practices: Women and men shall have equal access to education and resources, such as land, income and capital”. Gender mainstreaming as a whole plays a very important role in ADA projects and programmes.
At the same time, the training is in line with the adoption of the European Council Conclusions on the EU Plan of Action for Gender Equality (2016-2020). The plan aims to promote gender equality, which is mandatory for international cooperation in the European Union (EU): They apply to the EU member states, the EU Directorates-General for International Cooperation and Development and for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations, the Humanitarian Aid Office of the European Community and the European External Action Service.
The agenda of the training included information on main gender concepts; ADA Gender Quality Assurance and Minimum Requirements; Gender Continuum; a summary of Kosovo’s legal framework on Gender Equality; sector specific requirements of EU Plan of Action for Gender Equality (2016-2020); as well as group work on Monitoring & Evaluation framework of ongoing ADA projects. Participants assessed the training as a very good and needed one, since it informs their day-to-day work.
“We already report on indicators related to gender, but now we have a clearer idea of different gender concepts, as well as we know better the route of our reporting to reaching EU reports,” said one of the participants.
Having on mind that the international cooperation makes a valuable contribution to ending gender discrimination and enforcing the rights of women and girls, the training sets a good example to other member states of the EU on gender mainstreaming, and reporting on gender indicators.

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

Medica Kosova empowers women for municipal subsidies in agriculture

03.05.2017

On April 25, in Gjakova, Medica Kosova organized a closing roundtable of the project "Supporting Single Mothers Affected by War to Approach Municipal Agricultural Subvention". This project was supported by the Kosovo Women’s Fund (KWF) and funded by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA), while it was implemented by Medica Kosova in partnership with single mothers organization "Djepi i Buzëqeshjes".

The project aim was to provide women access to subvention through trainings on the analysis of the grants program and the procedures and application criteria. It also aimed to support the realization of their property rights as well as women’s access to information through the official site and social networks of the Municipal Assembly in Gjakova. In this project, 40 women has benefited from four villages of the Municipality of Gjakova. Meanwhile, around 24 women beneficiaries of this project have been prepared to apply for moto cultivators and seedlings for nuts and hazelnuts during the next call for subvention.

The Mayor, Ms. Mimoza Kusari-Lila and Mr. Bekim Ermeni, Director of Agriculture and Rural Development, informed the participants about the subvention program with a special emphasis for war-affected women in Gjakova municipality and the possibility of receiving micro-business grants.

"As a Mayor, my responsibilities from the beging have been to reduce inequalities in society, to offer equal opportunities but also to show that there is a need to pay special attention to and be sensitive towards issues related to women in need of economic empowerment", said Mrs. Kusari – Lila, in the presence of representatives of the Office for Gender Equality, the Office of Communities, representatives of civil society and women beneficiaries.

Although the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development based on the subvention calendar has put out only two calls during the implementation phase of this project. A single mother has bennefitted from this and is now the proud owner of a 2.5 acres greenhouse. She has achieved this by herself through the provided support by this project which included technical support.

Medica Kosova believes that the results of this project will have a long-lasting positive impact on the welfare of these women. They are committed to continue with providing concrete support to these women in accessing municipal grants and subventions for the purpose of personal and professional development of war-affected women farmers.

Further, Medica Kosova and the beneficiaries of this project highly appreciated the Mayor of Gjakova Municipality and the Directorate for Agriculture and Rural Development that have integrated a criterion of priority for women farmers on the basis of same quality of the required documentation for subvention. They also expressed gratitude to the Kosovo Women’s Fund and Austrian Development Agency for the possibility of implementing this important initiative for women who bear the responsibility of the welfare of their families.

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

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30.05.25

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29.05.25

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Taking Women’s Rights to Brussels

03.05.2017

“Aah, you are the ones that provide comments in (EU IPA) Action Documents”, noted Julia Mueller-Hellmann, Policy Officer Judiciary and Fundamental Rights Kosovo at Directorate – General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations within the EU when meeting Iliriana Banjska from KWN.

In the spirit of United National Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325, the European Union (EU) has made its commitment to promoting and supporting women’s active and meaningful participation in all peace processes as well as their representation in formal and informal decision-making in post-conflict countries. This includes the countries in the Western-Balkans that are currently in the so called pre-accession phase.
This week, Kvinna till Kvinna foundation organized its yearly advocacy visit trip to Brussels with representatives from Macedonia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Kosovo. Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) was represented by Iliriana Banjska who during this week met up with Members of the European Parliament, high representatives of the European External Action Service, Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations, European Peace Laison Office and Gender Focal Points.
Issues that were raised during the meetings were the current trends of “high” political issues drawing attention away from other pressing social and economic issues affecting people’s everyday lives, including related to gender equality such as gender based violence, women’s unemployment and the lack of women’s inclusion in political processes. But also the lack of gender analysis in important documents such as Country Progress Reports and the EU’s financial instruments for the Western Balkans.
As advocacy initiatives have it, the meetings had their up and downs. The EU is a large institution which employ also people that are not open to gender issues and women’s rights. On the other side, officials that work on Kosovo, recognized the important work KWN has been doing in evidence based gender mainstreaming within the framework of EU accession. All in all, important steps have been taken into establishing important relations with officials which in the future might become allies in integrating women’s voices in the process towards Kosovo becoming an EU member state.

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 Research, Advocacy Informs Strategy against Domestic Violence

21.04.2017

On 19 April 2017, the Government of Kosovo launched the National Strategy of the Republic of Kosovo on Protection from Domestic Violence and Action Plan 2016-2020. The Strategy draws heavily upon data and recommendations made by the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN). More than 70% of the recommendations that KWN made in its most recent report No More Excuses: An Analysis of Attitudes, Incidence and Institutional Responses to Domestic Violence in Kosovo (2015) were incorporated in the National Strategy, which also directly cites KWN on 13 separate occasions.
     Initiated by the National Coordinator against Domestic Violence, then Deputy Minister of Justice Lirak Çelaj, the process of drafting the new National Strategy began in November 2015. The process was very participatory, engaging diverse institutions, civil society organizations and other actors. KWN was an active member of the working group, preparing and putting forth specific evidence-based recommendations for the National Strategy, based on its 2015 research.
     Indeed, during the official launching of the new National Strategy, Chief Executive Officer of the Agency for Gender Equality Edi Gusia observed that “the partnership between the government and civil society organizations has led to an improved strategy”. Moving forward, she emphasized the need for its implementation at both national and municipal levels.
     Minister of Justice Dhurata Hoxha similarly urged cooperation among different ministries and agencies in implementing the Strategy effectively. She said that she herself has “given special priority to combating this negative phenomenon”.
     The Deputy Chief of Mission of the United States to the Republic of Kosovo, Colleen Hyland; the new National Coordinator against Domestic Violence Mr. Munir Basha; and UN Women Head of Office Flora Macula also spoke at the launching event. Several officials from relevant institutions participated, among other stakeholders.
     The political commitments made in relation to this National Strategy could not have come at a more opportune time, as media recently have suggested potential injustices within the justice system and covered several cases of domestic violence. Growing demand exists among several citizens for improved prevention of domestic violence, protection for victims and justice for perpetrators.
     A Kosovo-wide household survey conducted as part of KWN’s aforementioned research found that 62% of Kosovars (68% of women and 56% of men) have experienced some form of domestic violence in their lifetimes. Twice as many women (41%) as men (20%) reported suffering domestic violence in 2014. Although the situation has improved compared to 2008, KWN still found several shortcomings in the performance of institutions legally responsible for supporting persons who have suffered domestic violence. Rehabilitation and reintegration programs remain severely under-funded and insufficient. The new Strategy sets out several steps that should be taken towards addressing some of these issues.
     This is the second time that KWN’s research has been used to inform improvements to the legal framework and mechanisms related to addressing domestic violence. KWN’s 2008 research Security Begins at Home examined the legal framework, awareness about domestic violence and relevant institutions’ performance; it informed the Law on Protection from Domestic Violence and the first Kosovo Program and Action Plan against Domestic Violence 2011-2014. The prior research was carried out for the Agency for Gender Equality with support from the United Nations Development Programme.
     Since 2014, the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) has provided crucial long-term support to KWN, which has enabled KWN’s research, ongoing advocacy initiatives and awareness-raising efforts towards addressing domestic violence and other forms of gender-based violence in Kosovo. ADA’s trust and partnership has enabled KWN to react to unforeseen issues that arise and to take a continuous, holistic approach to addressing gender-based violence 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

Association of Women Farmers “Krusha e Vogel” economically empowers girls in rural areas

07.04.2017

     After analysing the situation of unemployment of youth and women in rural areas, the Association of Women Farmers (AWF) “Krusha e Vogel”, supported by Kosovo Women’s Fund (KWF) and financed by Austrian Development Agency (ADA), undertook the initiative “Advancing women and girls in rural areas”. Together with project beneficiaries, the staff of AWF “Krusha e Vogel” organized meetings with local level institutions representatives in Prizren, in order to get informed on different possibilities and programmes on employment and vocational training, subventions, etc.
     On Mar. 1, AWF “Krusha e Vogel” organized the closing activity after the training on milk processing, respectively the preparation of cheese as a final product. This product is planned to be sold to restaurants, as well as in different houses of the village.
     “Most of the projects aiming the economic empowerment were focused on men, flaunting women, especially girls” said Florentina Avdyli, one of the participants, adding that this is the first activity she attended since she finished university. “The unemployment in our areas is quite high, despite the fact that most of the girls have finished university, they cannot find a job.”
     The greatest achievement of the project is the economic empowerment of 4 youngsters through their employment in the milk collection centre. Also, four women and men have applied for grants at the Directorate for Agriculture and Rural Development. The project resulted on training the participants on how to find different ways towards their economic empowerment through different activities and opportunities with which they have been presented during the implementation of the project in the Vocational Training Centre, Employment Bureau, through the application for grants and subventions, etc.

18.06.25