Kosovo Women's Network

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.

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Ministry of Diaspora takes first steps toward GRB

15.03.2017

     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).

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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.

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Recommendations of the report “No more Excuses!” incorporated on the Strategy and National Action Plan against Domestic Violence 2016-2020

02.03.2017

     In 2015 Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) conducted the research “No more Excuses” which aimed to assess citizen’s attitude regarding domestic violence, to monitor the implementation of the legal framework relevant to addressing domestic violence and to evaluate the performance of individual institutions in performing their duties.
     The research involved a survey of 1,315 Kosovo citizens of age 18 above throughout Kosovo, from all ethnic groups (51.6% women and 48.4% man). The survey covered both rural (59.2%) and urban (40.8%) areas. The research also includes more than 200 interviews with representatives of public institutions that are responsible in implementing legal framework, representatives of civil society and other key actors. The report concludes with concrete recommendations for amending the legal framework and for institutions to improve their response to domestic violence.
     In November 2015, initiated by the office of National Coordinator against Domestic Violence, Vice Minister of Justice Mr. Lirak Çelaj, started the process of drafting the new Strategy and National Action Plan against Domestic Violence for the period 2016 – 2020. The data from the KWN’s report “No more Excuses” have been used as a baseline in drafting these two important documents. More than 70% or the report recommendations have been incorporated in these two documents that are the pillars in fighting domestic violence in the Republic of Kosovo.
     This is the second time that the data of research reports conducted by KWN are being used in establishing legal framework and mechanisms in protection from domestic violence. In 2008, KWN had conducted the research report “Security begins at home” which examined the legal framework, levels of awareness about domestic violence, its forms, and the performance of institutions that offer help, whose data on that time were used to draft the Law on Protection from Domestic Violence.

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KWN held its Members Bimonthly Meeting

02.03.2017

     Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) held its members regular bimonthly meeting on February 6, 2017.
As the main theme of the meeting was KWN Strategy and Activities for 2017, arising from the KWN strategy 2015-2018, adopted by the member organizations, Igballe Rogova, KWN Executive Director, stated that: “As long as its members are strong, no doubt that the Network will be as strong. Therefore, we continue our hardwork towards empowering our members.” By the end of 2016, KWN has implemented approximately 71% of its strategy. During 2017, KWN will further develop the achievements, advancing towards the implementation of the strategy.
     Mrs. Rogova continued with the official booklet launching of Little Grants, Big Changes, stating that "the main reason for publishing this brochure is transparency, as the pillar of this Fund, not only for donors but also for the community." She further recalled that on February 2, KWN launched Access to Healthcare in Kosovo report. During 2017, KWN will work closely with the Coalition of Organizations for health, sexual and reproductive rights – K10, aiming to develop advocacy efforts on the recommendations in this report and to improve women’s access to quality health care generally. KWN has joined the coalition in 2016.
     Adelina Berisha, KWN Advocacy Coordinator shared the information that over 70% of recommendations from research reports on domestic violence are now included in the Strategy and National Plan against Domestic Violence. She also informed members about the ‘1 Billion Rising’ activity to be held on Feb., 14 starting from 11am, which this year is being organized by Artpolis, in collaboration with several other organizations, including KWN. This year’s motto is "Stop the Exploitation of Women".
     Zahrije Podrimqaku, Gender Equality Officer in Glogovac, briefed members regarding how they have lobbied in Drenas Municipality that Administrative Instruction for registration of property, which is free until March, to be extended for household women. Advocacy resulted successful for this category, however, the advocacy is continuing to extend this AI for other women as well.
     Further, Ms. Rogova informed the members that after a long and transparent work the commission for war survivors of sexual violence is completed. The selection panel of this commission, with five government-appointees already existing members, have chosen: a lawyer, a psychiatrist, a psychologist and a representative of civil society.
     Further, Gentiana Murati, Coordinator of KWN’s Kosovo Women’s Fund (KWF) briefed that KWFs opening of round 11 is planned during February with the support of the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) and the Office of European Union in Kosovo. Total amount of grants to be awarded will be 55,000€. More details and all the necessary information regarding round 11 will follow up during February.
     While it was being discussed whether members regular meetings should be held more often, Luljeta Avdic from NGO Dora Dorës commented that "although we are informed regularly by KWN staff, members meetings help us even more considering the importance of visual effect. I would like to use this opportunity to acknowledge and sincerely thank Network staff for their hard work and ongoing support they provide us.”
     The next KWN members will be held in April. This activity was supported by the European Union Office in Kosovo.

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Kosovo part of One billion Rising 2017 Campaign

02.03.2017

     Although the 14th of February is celebrated worldwide as the day of lovers, activists for women and girls rights for several years now are manifesting differently on this date. This is thanks to the One Billion Rising global campaign – an initiative which started since February 2012. It all started as a call for action based on disturbing statistics which show that 1 in 3 women in the world is physically assaulted or raped during their lifetime. With a global population reaching 7 billion, this means that more than 1 billion women and girls experience different forms of violence.
     Kosovo has become part of this initiative by organizing every year the One Billion Rising event, since the first campaign at the global level. On this day, feminist activists, women and girls rights activists, individuals and organizations in Kosovo have joined the march, singing and dancing, thus becoming part of events taking place all over the world.
     Kosovo is part of the One Billion Rising this year as well, calling to stop the exploitation of women and girls. Exploitation means treating a person unfairly in order to benefit from the work of such person, as well as exploitation to benefit from the resources taken from the person that is being exploited. Exploitation is even harder for women and girls; abuse of power has been made against them in all spheres of life, starting at home, work and economically where they are given a little chance for survival.
     In Prishtina and Mitrovica, marches, performances and the already traditional dance under the sound of Break the Chain, which also is the anthem of the One Billion Rising campaign, were organised. One Billion Rising was organized by the non-governmental organizations ARTPOLIS supported by the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN), Freedom and Human Rights Initiative, Kosovo Youth Council, Center for Equality and Liberty for the LGBT (CEL), Kosovar Gender Studies Center, and Peer Educators Network.

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Psychotherapists in Action Conclude Successfully the EWK project

02.03.2017

     The KWN member organization Psychotherapists in Action, in Gjilan, led by Sevdije Musliu, organized today a concluding round table of the Empowering Women Victims of Sexual Violence and Torture during the Conflict in Kosovo Project, in the region of Gjilan.
     This awareness-raising round table was also attended by the former President of Kosovo, Mrs. Atifete Jahjaga, who continues to be very active in the path of justice for victims of sexual violence during the war. Mrs. Jahjaga addressed the attendees, asking them to be “strong and an example to all women who still hesitate to speak up, because only by not silencing this crime we will achieve justice”.
     The Executive Director of the KWN, Igballe Rogova, in her welcome speech said: “I feel honored that today I am surrounded by strong women like you. We are together, as only together we succeed in overcoming storms”.
     The Psychotherapists in Action is a grantee of the 10th round of grants of the Kosovo Women’s Fund, supported by the KWN and financed by the European Union Office in Kosovo.

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KWN meets with the Ministry of Diaspora about the GRB

02.03.2017

On 10 February, the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) had a fruitful meeting with the representatives of the Ministry of Diaspora. Minister Valon Murati stated that they are interested to cooperate with KWN to include the Gender Responsive Budgeting (BPGJ) in their Ministry. The Ministry of Diaspora has already taken important steps regarding this matter, including segregation of data by gender in accordance with the Law on Gender Equality. The KWN welcomes the future cooperation with the Ministry of Diaspora.

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Women of Drenas Aware of Breast Cancer

02.03.2017

     On 22 February, NGO Bliri, a member of the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN), held a concluding meeting of the Become a part and help in prevention of diseases project. This meeting was attended by project beneficiary women, trainers and KWN staff.
     Following a round table, held a few days ago, NGO Bliri concluded the project with this informative meeting in order to make a project progress assessment, where women beneficiaries had the opportunity to give suggestions or advice for the future. The Director of NGO Bliri, Mrs. Mahie Smajli, said she was very satisfied with the project implementation, describing it as an incentive to continue her advocacy and work for women’s health, taking into account hard economic and financial conditions for women.
     This project benefited 400 women, regardless of their age, and students of 6 primary schools. Due to high demand, NGO Bliri went at the 6-th school voluntarily, since the project targeted only 5 schools in the Municipality of Drenas. Women beneficiaries become aware regarding the breast cancer, how to perform breast self-examination in order to identify the disease on time. Whereas in primary schools 10 meetings were held with students of 8th and 9th grades, in order to raise the awareness about the dependency on drugs, alcohol, sexually transmitted diseases, etc. During the lectures in these schools, the trainer had noticed that these topics were considered taboo and have never been discussed, nor even in relevant courses where teachers had skipped these subjects.
     Ms. Kada Shala, a beneficiary of the project, expressed her gratitude for the opportunities of this training, of which she had benefited more knowledge about breast cancer and the importance of talking freely with her teenage children about various topics they considered as taboo. She, among others, said: “I feel like, through this project, I have become more mature, we have become aware of problems that concern us”. In addition, NGO Bliri has compiled a list of 80 women who, once the mammogram is fixed, will carry out screenings.
     This project has been supported by the Kosovo Women’s Fund and financed by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA).

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Municipality of Prishtina takes first steps toward the implementation of GRB

24.02.2017

     On the 22nd of February, a workshop on Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB) was held for the first time at the Municipality of Prishtina. Considering the fact that the Law on Gender Equality 05/L-020 and the Budget Circulars put out by the Ministry of Finance yearly form the legal framework which legally oblige every budget organization in Kosovo to institutionalize GRB, the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) and the Municipality of Prishtina have started their collaboration towards its institutionalization in this municipality. The Municipality of Prishtina is the fourth municipality which KWN is providing technical assistance towards the institutionalization of GRB at the local level. By the way of implementing GRB, budget planning, implementation and monitoring becomes more transparent, efficient and equal for women and men, boys and girls.
     Fitore Pacolli, Chief of the Cabinet of the Mayor, expressed during her opening remarks that “it is a legal obligation to start this process. I, together with the Head of the Finance Directory, Mr. Ismail Kokaj, will push this process forward.”
     Premtime Preniqi, Coordinator of the Sector on Human Rights and Gender Equality at the Municipality of Prishtina stated that; “Within the Municipality of Prishtina we have three women heads of directories and one woman Chief of Cabinet. We are interested in increasing the number of women in decision making positions’.
     “The Municipality of Prishtina organizes public consultations related to planned capital investments but the participation rate among men is very low, and none among women,”- added the Chief of the Cabinet of the Mayor, during this discussion.
     The issue of subsidies and transfers which the Municipality of Prishtina budgets for was discussed as well. Mr. Arbër Ahmetaj, the official that deals with wages within the Personnel Directory, said: “The municipality has given subsidies up to an amount of 4,000 Euro to 22 women in the agriculture sector”. Moreover, he expressed that this project was rather successful and that it resulted in an increase of participation among women within this sector.
     These discussions, among other developments during the workshop, showed the willingness of the officials from the Municipality of Prishtina to work towards decreasing inequalities among women and men.
KWN will offer assistance to the different directories of the municipality during the process of budget planning, implementation and monitoring in order for this process to be more transparent and responsive from a gender perspective.
KWN’s assistance for the Municipality of Prishtina is financed by Austrian Development Agency (ADA).

08.07.25