Kosovo Women's Network

Kosovo Lobby for Gender Equality discusses the advocacy strategy for 2017

07.04.2017

     On 4 March 2017, Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) in cooperation with women from Mitrovica, also host of this event, organized the meeting of Kosovo Lobby for Gender Equality (KLGE). The topic of this meeting was “The advocacy strategy for 2017”. This meeting gathered 69 women and girls, including gender equality officers, municipal assembly members and representatives of KWN’s member organizations from different municipalities around Kosovo and KWN’s staff members.
     Vetone Veliu and Ajnishahe Haziri, members of KLGE in the Municipality of Mitrovica in their opening speeches thanked the Lobby for the opportunity they got to be the hosts, as well as thanking people present for their participation. Among other, they presented the advocacy activities in the Municipality of Mitrovica, emphasizing the good cooperation among Women’s Association in Mitrovica, the Office for Gender Equality and the women municipal assembly members.
     This group, among a lot of the advocacy activities and initiatives that they have realized, as achievements they listed: the advocacy for removing taxes for women in business; the neighborly communication on building peace in North Mitrovica; advocacy activities regarding local elections on November; collecting financial contributions in order to buy the mammography machine; the successful advocacy for three girls from Rashan village to continue education free of charge; advocacy and trainings with women where two of them got grants; and a lot of other successful activities.
     After this presentation, Mrs. Remzije Nimani, the first member of the parliament from Mitrovica at the Republic of Kosovo, greeted participants, appreciating their hard work on improving the position of women, especially on the decision making and peacemaking processes. Meanwhile, Safete Rogova, actress and women’s rights activist, greeted women and girls, reciting a poetry dedicated to women.
     In the afternoon, Igballe Rogova, Executive Director of KWN, moderated the second part of the meeting, where it was discussed for the activities undertaken in different municipalities regarding the Lobby’s advocacy strategy for 2017.
     Emphasizing the power that KLGE has on achieving results on advocating for positive changes, the municipalities of Peja, Dragash, Ferizaj, Prishtina, Istog, shared information for different initiatives for which they advocated in the last months.
     The next KLGE meeting will most probably be organized in the Municipality of Dragash.
     This meeting was organized with financial support by the European Union Office in Kosovo and Austrian Development Agency (ADA).

18.06.25

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Rogova spoke on “NATO talk” in Brussels

07.04.2017

     On 8 March, NATO Headquarters in Brussels marked International Women’s Day, where Igballe Rugova spoke as Civil Society activists, and as a member of the NATO Civil Society Advisory Panel on Women, Peace and Security.
     "We, women peace rights’ activists, believe that there can not be peace and security without justice" Rogova said when talking about the situation of women affected during the war in Kosovo.
     During her story for boldness and change, Rogova stated the importance that representatives of the NATO delegations should consult women, not only with politicians, because according to her, women can identify different needs and priorities.
     The program opened by launching registration for "She Runs, He Runs, We Run", an initiative that took place last year at NATO HQ. This 13:25 km solidarity marathon to be held on May 13, aims to highlight the role of sport in promoting gender equality and solidarity through awareness raising on United Nation Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.
     First session consisted opening remarks and welcoming speeches by Ambassador Marriët Schuurman, the NATO Special Representative for Women, Peace and Security; Lt Col Magdalena Dvorakova, Head of the International Military Staff Office of the Gender Advisor; Tara Nordick, Human Resource Policy and Diversity Officer, Executive Management; and Anne Rosner, Conference Interpreter at NATO HQ and the marathon runner.
     Ambassador Marriët Schuurman, the NATO Special Representative for Women, Peace and Security invited Igballe Rogova to serve on the newly – established NATO Civil Society Advisory Panel on Women, Peace and Security. The Panel seeks to engage in more systematic and regular dialogue with civil society in the area of Women, Peace and Security, so that NATO may draw upon the valuable expertise and insights many civil society organisations and individual experts have developed in this area. Through the feedback and recommendations from civil society, NATO hopes to enhance the implementation of the Policy on Women Peace and Security NATO’s 28 Allies and 27 Partners have adopted in 2014. The establishment of this Panel also was foreseen in NATO Action Plan on United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325.
     Rogova’s selection was based on recommendations received from nations and international organisations. The Civil Society Advisory Panel has two groups, including the Core Group of civil society persons participating in their own capacity and the Group of CSOs that each selects one person to represent the CSO on the Panel. Rogova is a member of the Core Group. First annual meeting of the Panel was held on 17 – 18 October 2016 Brussels, while the following meeting will take place in May.

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

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

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MARCHing, not celebrating – again this year women and men marched for human rights

07.04.2017

     This year, again, in Kosovo, the 8th of March – women’s international day, was marked with several activities, organized by the civil society, activists, unionists, academia and students. Gathered under the umbrella “The Collective” (Kolektivi) they joined on “MARCHing, not celebrating”, a name that is now being used for the second time for events organized for the women’s day.
     This year, in Prishtina, it was marched for economic and social rights, as a pre-condition for a decent society, to demand employment without exploitation, equality, freedom and social justice, employment with payment that offers us a life with dignity, as well as against sexism, homophobia, transphobia and racism. Also, there was a demand for health insurance, safety at work, and non-discriminative work for all, regardless of ethnicity, age, education, sexual orientation.
     In Prishtina, the activities for marking this day started early in the morning, where organizers went on city streets to mobilize citizens on supporting the march, as well as to let them now for the importance of the day. Later, starting at 10:00 at the National Library, the Manual on Policies Addressing Sexual Harassment at Public Universities was launched, a manual compiled by the NGO Artpolis.
     At 12:00, the protesting march “MARCHing, not celebrating” started, where more than 500 people marched from “Zahir Pajaziti” square, passing by the Central Bank of Kosovo, the Municipality of Prishtina, the Basic Court, and by the Parliament/Government of Kosovo. Holding banners, all were acclaiming slogans from the Manifesto prepared by the Collective, such as “We want jobs, not harassment!”, “We want children labour to stop!”
     Activities continued with the workshop organized by NGO PEN at 14:30, on integrating gender perspective on organizations and programmes level. Activities were closed with the theatre play “Bits and Pieces” (Copë Copë) produced by Artpolis, displayed at Oda Theatre.

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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

30.05.25

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29.05.25

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Ministry of Diaspora takes first steps toward GRB

07.04.2017

     Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) held the workshop on institutionalizing Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB) in the Ministry of Diaspora (MoD), on 14th of March. Directors and officials of the Ministry, who participated in the workshop, were introduced to the basic concepts of GRB, examples of how to implement GRB and ways to mainstream a gender perspective in the phases of planning, executing, monitoring and evaluating the budget. MoD is the second ministry with which KWN is collaborating to further the institutionalization of GRB in Kosovo this year.
     Osman Shahini, General Secretary of MoD, in his opening remarks, stated: “Gender equality is a family and institutional challenge. Gender Equality is an everyday struggle. When it comes to the statistics, there is no 50/50 representation, even though it should be like this. I think that we should do something in this direction. I thank you for your availability and we are at your disposal for meetings to further discuss this topic. Everything is in our hands to make things right.”
     One of the discussions that developed during this workshop was the underrepresentation of women in decision-making positions, and ways to tackle this. Behar Isma, Acting Director of Legal Department, stated: “In the €600+ level of wages, women are underrepresented, whereas in the other lower level of wages there is a much more equal representation of women. There are different factors that cause this but also, there are different ways to change and increase the percentage of officials in decision making positions that are women.”
     High interactivity between directors and officials of this Ministry was shown during the discussion in the second part of the workshop. They expressed their willingness to further gender equality within their Ministry and throughput the diaspora by the way of already thinking about various ways to integrate GRB in their daily work.
     The support that KWN offers to MoD is financed by Austrian Development Agency (ADA).

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

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29.05.25

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Women of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities advocate for their rights on health

07.04.2017

     On Mar. 15, the organization “Nest” (Foleja) organized the closing round table of the project “Raising the level of health education for the importance of family planning and reproductive health”. This meeting was attended by the Head of the Hospital of Prizren, Head of the Municipal Education Department, project beneficiaries, as well as representatives of Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN).
     This project came as an idea and was carried having on mind the difficult situation faced by this community, such as the low level of education, the small number of women and girls of this community that are employed, as well as the quite low level of knowledge on reproductive health and women’s health in general.
     Women and girls of this community do not undertake medical check-ups recommended during pregnancy or other routine medical check-ups. During the implementation of the project it was found out that 50% of them have different health problems, which could be overcome if they would perform routine medical check-ups.
     “Meetings with women were held door to door, where we raised their awareness on the importance of the medical check-ups, for malign health problems that risk the cervix, as well as other illnesses such as HIVAIDS,” said the head of the NGO Nest. “Also, we managed to send 40 women to do medical check-ups, and showed them contraceptives and the way they can be used.” She further emphasised that “the rate of abortions among the women of this community is quite high, where there have been cases such as a woman aborting 8 children.”
     Dr. Avrim Avdaj, Head of the Hospital of Prizren said that “this initiative was a very good one”, emphasizing that “there is a strategy that offers specific support for RAE community.”
     He further added that “all citizens of the Municipality of Prizren have equal treatment and that he will support any initiative that aims on improving people lives.”
     However, one of the beneficiaries spoke about their difficult living conditions that make it impossible for them to perform the medical check-ups.
     “In order to provide food and living we collect aluminium cans on garbage containers and for this we are forced to take children out of schools. We hardly secure food and living, let alone to be able to perform medical check-ups.”
     Beneficiaries said they were quite satisfied to have been part of this project and that they learned a lot of things they didn’t know before.
     This project was supported by the Kosovo Women’s Fund and financed 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

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29.05.25

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Artpolis and CPWR advocate for sexual education through art

07.04.2017

     On March 20, Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) members Artpolis in partnership with The Centre for Promotion of Women’s Rights (CPWR) organized a meeting in Drenas, as part of the project “Recognition and promotion of sexual and reproductive health rights and sexual education through art and youth engagement”. Present at this meeting were students who were project beneficiaries, representatives of the Department of Education and Department of Health in the municipality of Drenas, representatives of both partner organizations and the KWN representative.
     Rising awareness among students has been the main impetus to realize this project. Agnesa Xheladini, project coordinator, said that they wanted students to advocate for sexual education through art. She also noted that during the project, meetings were held with students from two schools in Drenas and Pristina followed with distribution of informational brochures on HIV / AIDS disease; and by using theatre performance a training was held with regard to sexual education and reproductive health.
     The representative from the Education Department stated that during this year there has been comprehensiveness of the curricula and that it is mandatory for all teachers to explain the whole literature within their curricula. She also asked students to report cases when teachers skip a subject; if that happens the school principal should take measures, otherwise the Education Department of the municipality of Drenas will react. On the other hand, the representative of the Health Department added that subjects related to sexual education have been treated poorly in schools, therefore students lack such knowledge.
     Topics related to sexual education are dealt mostly within the class of biology and civic education, but students say that they are explained very little, even with such comments from teachers that "these issues are not of your concern". Another problem related to lack of discussion on these topics is that they are considered as a taboo for the family and the community. As a second problem why these topics are not discussed is that teachers often skip topics related to sexual education.
     Students expressed their gratitude for this project, stating that they are satisfied with all the gained Knowledge. One of the stated that “now I believe that I am freer to talk about sexual education with my family, and why not initiate in the future other similar trainings.”
     The project realization by Artpolis and Centre for Promotion of Women’s Rights has been made possible through Kosova Women’s Fund (KWF) funded by the European Union Office in Kosovo.

18.06.25

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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

Training participants, in a show of strength and readiness, use the international sign of feminism, at the conclusion of the training.

Trainers Prepare to Deliver New, Official Curricula on Gender Equality

07.04.2017

     The Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) has collaborated closely with the Kosovo Institute for Public Administration (KIPA), the Agency for Gender Equality (AGE) in the Office of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmBh to redraft new KIPA curricula for civil servants on gender equality. The three curricula include a two-day training on gender equality for civil servants; an additional one-day training designed specifically for gender equality officers (GEOs); and a two-day training on gender responsive budgeting. All three curricula also have handbooks for training participants to take home, including a revised version of KWN’s tried and true handbook for gender responsive budgeting.
    These curricula were developed based on a thorough needs assessment conducted by KWN, AGE and KIPA in 2015-2016, which involved consultations and a survey with 133 stakeholders at local and central levels, including KIPA, AGE, GEOs and diverse civil servants (women and men). After drafting the curricula, KWN also liaised with experts who reviewed it and provided feedback, informing revisions.
In March, KWN delivered a four-day training to 13 potential trainers, recruited by KIPA. The training methodology involved responding to trainers’ questions about the modules and then having the trainers deliver the modules to other trainers who role-played as actual participants. The training was designed to be very interactive in order to provide several opportunities for trainers to carry out the same practical work that they would later ask participants to do.
     “The training was very good,” a participant said. “I learned many new things that I did not know before, and even if I will not be selected as a trainer I will for sure use this knowledge in practice.”
     Beyond the content focusing on gender equality, trainers also learned methodologies for delivering an interactive training, as well as techniques for addressing potential issues or challenges that may arise during trainings in the future. These “challenges” were based on KWN’s real experiences in delivering gender equality workshops in the past.
     “I have attended several trainings,” a participant observed, “but never have I taken part in a training structured like this before.”
    “This training completely exceeded my expectations,” another participant agreed, complementing KWN on the training methodologies employed in conveying these new curricula to the participating gender experts.
     A commission evaluated the capacities of the trainers and their ability to deliver trainings on gender equality for KIPA in the future. KIPA now is well-prepared to use the curricula and involve qualified trainers in delivering future trainings for civil servants.
     This initiative was funded by GIZ with significant in-kind contributions provided by KWN, as part of efforts to sustainably institutionalize efforts towards furthering gender equality 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

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KWN members trained in drafting the logical framework

07.04.2017

     On March 30, Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) organized a workshop to Increase Capacities in Developing Logical Framework. Although KWN members have participated previously in another such training, based on the experience with Kosovo Women’s Fund (KKWF) and the requests coming from KWN members it was made clear that they still need to strengthen their knowledge on the development of logical framework during the project proposal writing, respectively regarding the hierarchy of outcomes, indicators, assumptions etc.
     Since the 11th round of KWF is open until the April 10, at the beginning of the workshop representatives of member organizations were immediately divided into groups by selecting the area in which the idea of their project fits, based on five programmatic areas of KWN Strategy for 2015-2018: Raising the capacities of KWN members; Women in politics and decision-making; Women’s and girl’s health; Gender Based Violence and Economic empowerment of women. Staff members of KWN were divided in groups, where they explained the importance of logical framework, the ways to develop and its usage. Afterwards all participants from member organization started to work directly on their project proposal.
     “It is very important for us to learn the terms used in the preparation of a logical framework and their meanings, and then it will be easier to develop a logical framework for a particular project,” said Luljeta Avdic from the association “Hand in Hand".
     Member organizations were also strongly encouraged to undertake advocacy initiatives at central and local level. KWN also aims, that through this training offered to members, to prepare them not only for cooperation with KWN, but also for new opportunities for cooperation with other actors working on gender issues, including the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo and various donors.
     "Knowledge in developing a logical framework is necessary not only because of the funding application in KWF, but also due to the application possibilities to other donors in the future," said Afërdita Zeneli said, head of the NGO "Dita ".
     This workshop 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

Ministry of Diaspora takes first steps toward GRB

15.03.2017

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 Launches Comprehensive Report on Access to Healthcare in Kosovo

02.03.2017

     The Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) officially launched the first ever comprehensive research on women’s and men’s access to healthcare in Kosovo on 2 February 2017 at Hotel Sirius.
     The event was attended by Dr. Imet Rrahmani, Minister of Health; Andrew Russell, United Nations Development Coordinator and United Nations Development Programme Resident Representative; Dr. Visare Mujko-Nimani, Programme Specialist, Officer in Charge, United Nations Population Fund; and Dr. Sami Uka, National Professional Officer, World Health Organization. Members of parliament, municipal assemblies, civil society organizations and other officials also attended.
     “If we do not have healthcare for women and men, it is a matter of life and death,” stated Igballe Rogova, KWN Executive Director in her opening remarks, explaining the cover of this new report. Access to quality healthcare is an urgent and important issue for everyone, she said.
     The Government of Kosovo has a legal obligation to safeguard and ensure all persons in Kosovo have the right to health. Institutions also are obliged to collect and publicize gender disaggregated data in accordance with the Law on Gender Equality. However, to date, Kosovo has lacked important information pertaining to women’s and men’s access to quality healthcare.
     The KWN Strategy for 2015-2018 identified health as an important issue. Therefore, in 2016, KWN undertook research in an attempt to address this dearth of information. Conducted in close cooperation with Dartmouth College, the University of Prishtina and a team of more than 30 dedicated volunteers, the mixed methods research involved a household survey of 1,309 Kosovars and interviews with 110 respondents, including diverse healthcare practitioners across Kosovo.
     The resulting report examines the extent to which Kosovars utilize public and private healthcare services; encounter financial, geographic, ethnic, cultural and/or knowledge barriers in accessing healthcare; and are aware of their rights as patients. This report examines differences in access to healthcare based on gender, ethnicity and residency. Recommendations focus on areas requiring additional research, awareness-raising opportunities and policy options.
     “This is a very important report for many actors,” said Dr. Syla, “and for women’s access to healthcare specifically.”
     Some of the key research findings include:

•    Overall, 81% of Kosovars considered their health status to be good or very good.
•    Women assessed their health status slightly worse than men did.
•    23% of Kosovars report a limitation in daily life due to health reasons.
•    54% of survey respondents never had a general health examination.
•    26% of respondents said that at least one time in the last year they should have consulted a doctor, but did not. Similarly, 18% did not consult a dentist when they needed to.
•    Very few people had used screening tests to detect cancer.
•    Key barriers to accessing healthcare included people’s tendency to “wait and see” if their health will improve; financial barriers; insufficient knowledge of where which types of healthcare are available; social stigma, particularly related to accessing mental healthcare; and insufficient confidentiality among healthcare workers.
•    Only 6% of Kosovars have private health insurance, with women in rural zones having even less access.
•    Only 35.3% of respondents knew that Main Family Medicine Centres provide reproductive health services.
•    While 59.2% of respondents preferred using public healthcare facilities, mostly due to their price, 32.3% preferred private clinics, primarily for the quality of care offered.
•    20.5% of all respondents and 10.9% of women reported using modern contraceptives.

     The right to health is a “basic right of people,” reaffirmed Minister Rrahmani, who remained present throughout the event, responding to questions and concerns raised both by the report and participants. “Health always requires more work,” he said. “We always go from one problem to another.” He emphasized the Ministry’s commitment to improving the quality of healthcare in Kosovo in collaboration with other actors.
     In the end, Dr. Visare Mujko-Nimani emphasized that it is also up to citizens to utilize healthcare services; they cannot wait for services to come to them. “We have to request these services,” she said. “We need to focus on prevention,” she added.
     The research and report itself cover several issues not discussed during the launching event, noted Nicole Farnsworth, a co-author and KWN Lead Researcher, including related to alcohol consumption, cigarette usage and people’s perceptions of the environment in Kosovo and how it may impact their health.
     Mr. Russell emphasized the importance of addressing serious environmental issues in Kosovo that are contributing to poor health. “We do not like going to so many funerals here,” he said, as a foreigner living temporarily in Kosovo. “It strikes us how many of our colleagues die … far too young and far too easily.” The environment in Kosovo is “actually killing us; Kosovo A, Kosovo B, Kosovo C, these cars and how we heat our homes, all contribute to this,” he said.
     This research was conducted with support from and in collaboration with the Kosovo Ministry of Health, Dartmouth College, the University of Prishtina, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and UN Volunteers.

18.06.25