Professors from Arizona University visited KWN

02.11.2017

On 11 October, professors from the University of Arizona, United States of America, while on a study visit in Kosovo, visited the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN). They met with Igballe Rogova, KWN Executive Director.
Rogova firstly talked about the activation during 1990s in Kosovo and the period of Kosovo war, activities and activation of women towards supporting Kosovars who were settled in camps as refugees.
The attendees had the opportunity to get informed of who the first women’s rights organizations were established in the post-war Kosovo and the historical background and work of KWN since its establishment in 2000 as an informal network. “This is one of the best, informing visits we have had during our stay in Kosovo”, one of the professors said.

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Women farmers of Gjakova Municipality discuss on agriculture subsidies and securing market for their products

02.11.2017

On 30 September, Together in Progress Organization organized a roundtable meeting on “What is the hitherto lacking mechanism that would provide stability to women farmers of Municipality of Gjakova and Namasgjah area?”, attended by farmer women, the director of Department of Agriculture, Gjakova Municipality, representatives from Çabrati company and civil society, and representatives of Kosovo Women’s Network. 
       This activity was organized under the project titled “From Mother–Advocating for women farmers of Gjakova Municipality”.
At first, Ms. Arbresha Maloku, director of the organization, delivered a short presentation on the purpose of the project in general, which is the economic empowerment of farmer women of rural areas of this Municipality by making the area of Namasgjah operational again and gaining supportive institutional and business partners.
Based on the 2016 survey conducted by Kosovo Agency of Statistics, the share of work force in the entire population in working age is 35.2%. More men (38.6%) than women (12.2%) are employed, with the latter percentage being one of the lowest in the world. Based on these results, the inactive work force is very high (64.8%), particularly in women (82.6%) compared to men (47.2%). Based on these statistical data, it turns out that the women’s position in our society is not favorable at all. In addition to facing unemployment, those few women who deal with any agricultural activity have had no adequate conditions provided by the public institutions/municipality and for this reason, many women stop being involved in business activities. 
      The director of Agriculture in Gjakova Municipality, Mr. Bekim Ermeni, stressed that Gjakova Municipality allocates 500 thousand Euro in subsidies for farmers of this municipality directly benefiting 2000 women and indirectly benefiting 5000 women. He also added that during 2015-2017 approximately 200 women farmers received subsidies. 
He highlighted that one of the issues why women benefit less than men is the low number of properties registered in their name. Furthermore, Mr. Ermeni added that, “in order to encourage women to apply for subsidy and engage themselves more in agriculture, the Municipality has in place the Regulation on granting subsidies, which stipulates that women and minorities shall each be given 5 points more.” 
Women farmers stressed that what they find to be a problem is the failure to secure the market for selling their products. As a lack of such market, many of their products end up rotten because of not being sold. One of the women stated: “I do not consider the open market as reasonable, because the purchase prices of products are very low”. 
      While Namasgjah area used to be the only place where people could make purchases and sales, for numerous traders, mini markets pose a problem, although to those living in cities, mini markets are easily reachable for everyone.
At the end of the meeting, it was recommended that the civil society help by requesting the banks to lower their interest rate on loans taken out for agricultural purposes.
This project was supported by the Kosovo Women’s Fund (KWF) of the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) and funded by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA).
 
 

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Albanian, Serb and Roma women from Novobërda, Gjilan and Kamenica mobilize for a more powerful advocacy

01.11.2017

 On 9 and 10  October, Udruženje Žena Povratnica “Naš Dom” (”Our Home” Society of Returned WomenOrganization, in partnership with the Women’s Center for Rural Development from Novoberda organized in Gjilan a training titled “Mobilizing communities”, in the framework of the project titled “Improving local policies from women’s perspective”. This meeting was attended by 30 Albanian, Serb and Roma women from the Municipalities of Novobërda, Gjilan and Kamenica, women directors of partner organizations, representatives of institutions of these municipalities and representatives of the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN). 
       Considering the quite low number of women participants in the decision-making processes in these three municipalities and the interest of women in these processes, the partner organizations started to implement the activities of this project which aims at building the capacities of women, raising their awareness of their rights to decision-making processes, and improving the relationships with and communication between the right holders and those who discharge duties. 
        The purpose of this two-day training was to build the capacity of women from these three municipalities and inform them of the advocacy models and mechanisms and of participation in decision-making processes at local level. In addition, the following topics were introduced and discussed during this meeting: The rights of minority communities in Kosovo and their rights in practice; methodology of community mobilization; processes of policy- and decision-making in Kosovo; duties and responsibilities of Kosovo institutions, etc. 
          Group and practical work motivated the women attendees in this training. One of the women said: “I am very happy that the activities of this project do not include only trainings but also building our capacities through practical examples. I do look forward to advocating for the first time, after the compilation of the working document on solution of priority problems of local communities, for adopting these changes into local regulations.” 
This project was supported by the Kosovo Women’s Fund (KWF) of the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) and funded by the EU Office in Kosovo. 

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Rogova Attends the First Meeting of NATO’s New Advisory Panel on UNSCR 1325

01.11.2017

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08.11.24

Press Release – Recommendations for the Kosovo Parliament  

05.11.24

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04.11.24

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Protest: Enough Excuses

31.10.2017

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Reaction of the Kosovo Women’s Network to the Recent Killings in Kosovo due to illegal weapons 

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Rogova to Serve on NATO Advisory Panel on Resolution 1325

31.10.2017

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Initiatives for Services That Improve the Lives of All

18.10.2017

Narta Neziri Nuka is a young mother of a 9-month baby girl. In a few weeks, Narta’s maternity leave ends and she goes back to work. Like many other women in Kosovo who find themselves this situation, Narta was faced with the child care options available to her. She had to make a decision, which proved to be not so easy.

According to a survey on demand, supply and options for childcare availability in Kosovo, conducted in 2016 by Kosovo Women’s Network, only an estimated 15.5% of Kosovo children use childcare. Public care services currently in place are insufficient to meet the demand, especially in the capital city, Prishtina. On the other hand, reliance on family members providing unpaid care services is prevalent.

It may sound mundane but with the changing social dynamics, demand for quality childcare service in Kosovo is increasing. Paired with high unemployment rate among women, estimated at 36.6%, and even higher percentage of women who are economically inactive, the childcare services provided by the private sector, become a huge opportunity for employment.

To tackle the issue from both ends: equip women and men with skills to help them find jobs as childcare providers, and by these services save women’s time on reproductive tasks thus increasing their productive role, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation in Kosovo, through the Promoting Private Sector Employment project, partnered with the Women’s Business Association SHE-ERA to deliver a specialized training program for care services, including childcare.

92 people, of whom 2 men, have now graduated the program. They are the future childcare providers to be hired by families or educational institutions. These trained childcare providers put skills essential to bringing up children to the benefit of all, working alongside parents, families, and other members of the community. With their services, they will help free up the time of women otherwise spent in unpaid care work, thereby enabling these women to get paid work outside of their homes. This is a contribution to women’s economic empowerment.

When Narta heard about the training program by SHE-ERA, she decided to hire one of the newly graduated childcare providers. “I like the fact that this service provides security, and trained providers” she said. Narta interviewed several candidates but she knew right away that Besarta was the right one for her baby. Besarta Berisha, currently studying for her master’s degree in sociology of education, is happy with the new job. In October 2017 Besarta signed the employment contract. Both are about to embark on a new journey, each in the professional paths they have chosen.

After all, innovation is not just about codes and app development; it is rather about introducing a new product or service that provides a solution to needs and demands out there.

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KWN Creates Advocacy Strategy for EU Accession

02.10.2017

 On September 7, the Kosova Women’s Network (KWN) led a strategic planning workshop in order to inform its Strategy for furthering a gender perspective in Kosovo’s EU Accession process. 
       This strategy will include planned advocacy efforts for addressing specific bodies in the EU and Kosovo. Representatives of Kosovo institutions, civil society, international organizations and the European Union office in Kosovo, joined together to discuss topics such as: approximating Kosovo law with EU law: gender-based discrimination and labor rights; financing, supporting, and sustaining women’s rights activism; Improving and Increasing women-led CSO’s Involvement in the EU Accession Process, and Integrating a gendered perspective in IPA programming. 
        Attendees chose the topic that was most pertinent their work and then the groups identified key problems/issues within that particular topic. After discussion, the groups defined objectives and activities that KWN and its partner organizations could undertake in order to remedy the issues; and the expected results it would have. The discussion around these topics was intense and fruitful. 
        Some of the objectives that came out of the small group discussions centered around improved monitoring and evaluating of current projects in Kosovo, communicating to large donors about what types of funding is needed for long-term, sustainable change in communities, and increased knowledge amongst officials that gender equity is part of Kosovo law, which needs to be implemented. There were many more objectives and actions produced from these groups, and KWN staff are currently converting those into a working advocacy strategy. 
         There was also discussion about how best to improve further relationships between relevant government institutions and civil society organizations. In order for the EU Accession process to be successful, both sides need to work together, with donor organizations to better meet the standards outlined by the EU Gender Action Plan II. This action plan aims to provide a gendered perspective for all IPA programming by 2020. All sides are crucial to helping the most vulnerable populations of Kosovo, and should figure out better ways of working in tandem. If there could be a more fluid exchange of ideas and advice, as well as mutual support and trust, the two sides could make greater gains towards gender equality. 
       As of the end of the workshop, KWN has the basis for drafting an advocacy strategy to further a gender perspective in EU Accession. Participants and other key stakeholders will receive a copy of a draft of the strategy within the coming weeks, and then KWN will organize a second strategic planning workshop in order to finalize together this important strategy, which will guide KWN’s future advocacy work in coming years.  This workshop was supported by the Kvinna till Kvinna foundation, a long-time supporter and partner of the Kosovar Women’s Network. 

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Lobby for Gender Equality discusses advocacy strategies

02.10.2017

 On 8 September, in Deçan, the next-in-row meeting of  Lobby for Gender Equality in Kosovo  (LGEK) was held, attended by 104 Lobby members, representatives of local government institutions, international organizations and staff from Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN).

Yllarta Thaqi, Lobby member in the Municipality of Deçan, and moderator of this meeting, thanked the attendees, particularly Ms. Atifete Jahjaga, former President of the Republic of Kosovo and Ms. Alexandra Papadopoulou, Head of EULEX Mission in Kosovo. She was followed by Ms. Nurije Cacaj, representative of the Lobby for Gender Equality in Deçan, who, in her opening speech, welcomed all the attendees.
Ms. Atifete Jahjaga, former President of the Republic of Kosovo, congratulated, in her greeting speech, the Lobby members on the perfect work they have done since 2014, wishing them success when drafting the strategy for 2018. She highlighted, among others, that the low number of women in political entities is concerning; in the elections of this year, 32 political entities will run in 38 municipalities; of the total of 204 candidates, only 8 are women.
 “This concerning number indicates also the lack of democracy and gender equality”, Ms. Jahjaga added. “We cannot blame only men for this situation. Oftentimes, women became enemies of each other because of their ambitions. They compete against each other or use each other for their own benefit”. She called upon all women to support each other because it is only like that that we will achieve the desired purpose.
Later, the floor was given to Ms. Alexandra Papadopoulou, Head of EULEX Mission in Kosovo. She thanked the Lobby members for their work in promoting the rights of women and gender equality.
 “I know it from experience that time and dedication is needed. What you are doing here is to be admired and you deserve all the support of international organizations”.
Papadopoulou also emphasized the importance of including women and men, emphasizing that, “no society can move forward if it leaves half of it behind”.
Furthermore, Ms. Igballe Rogova, Executive Director of KWN, introduced a history of the Lobby and said that the KWN goals cannot be reached without cooperation with women in politics, which is also one of the reasons why the Lobby was established.
Afterwards, other Lobby members presented their activities carried out in their municipalities during this period. Representatives of some municipalities brought forward the issue of maternities being closed in Kosovo, particularly in rural areas where women have no Access to heath care. Recently, the maternity in Municipality of Kaçanik was closed, and in Dragash, there is only one building that has equipment and no gynecologist. Istog awaits the same fate, with a closure decision expected to be taken soon.
Lobby members agreed to bring these issues forward and advocate for changes alongside KWN once the Minister of Health is appointed.
This meeting was enabled with the financial support from the EU Office in Kosovo and the Austrian Development Agency (ADA).

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KWN Held its members bimonthly meeting

02.10.2017

On 11 September 2017, the next-in-the-row bimonthly meeting of Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) members was held in Prishtina, attended by 42 representatives of KWN member organizations, members of Lobby for Gender Equality in Kosovo, representatives of the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo and other KWN supporters.
            Igballe Rogova, Executive Director of KWN, opened the meeting welcoming all the attendees. She informed the members of the election of the new Chairperson of the Board, Besnik Leka, who said that he, “has always monitored the work of the Network and it is a privilege for him to be part of the Network”.
Later, Ms. Rogova expressed her dissatisfaction and disappointment at the number of women representatives in the new government; of 21 ministers, only two are women. Sharing the same opinion, the members decided to issue a press release on this matter as a Network.
Among others, she said that she has always had three dreams and two of them have come true and one only partially so. When it started to work like Qiriazi Sisters did, the women’s organizations did not have access to various donors due to various reasons. Her first dream came true through building capacities of KWN member organizations through the Kosovo Women’s Fund, which serves as a mechanism to empower such organizations. Her second dream to engage more men in the women’s movement in Kosovo, has also come true. Her third dream is about the solidarity among women, not only those among non-governmental organizations, but also those engaged in political domain. Unfortunately, this solidarity has not yet reached the level we want to see; therefore, we should work more to show solidarity to each other
In addition, she talked about the meeting of the Lobby for Gender Equality in Kosovo, which was held on 8 September in Deçan and said that it was a very powerful meeting where women from the civil society and those from politics discussed on concrete advocacy strategies towards reaching gender equality at municipal level.
Moreover, Mrs. Rogova narrated the semester report to KWN members concerning the activities carried out in line with the KWN strategy programs for the period from January to June; she was followed by Besa Shehu, Finance and Administration Manager, who presented the semester financial report.
Alba Loxha, Coordinator for Public Relations, introduced the draft of membership regulation, which was decided on by the members as well, to be drafted specially only for the membership. During the presentation, the members contributed various comments and suggestions; however, it was decided to consult regulation templates after the Law on Freedom of Association in NGOs is reviewed.
Furthermore, Magbule Elezi from the Kosovo Midwives Association, a KWN member, brought up her concern regarding maternities being closed in various municipalities because of gynecologists being in insufficient numbers. She said that the role of midwives must be promoted because once the midwives are involved, a maternity can function even without gynecologists. Therefore, a mother’s situation may be monitored even if it is worsened, because the midwives can provide the needed help.
Bahrije Deva from the Association for Education and Family Care, a KWN member, talked about a project that they are implementing these days, which relates to raising the awareness of girls of gynecological visits and the services offered by health institutions to women following their childbirth. She stated that it must be advocated that women be seen by midwives for at least the first five weeks following the childbirth. In addition, she brought up the matter of the involvement of psychologists in the entire process, because of post-natal depression in women, which is not dealt with seriously.
As these matters were considered highly important, it was decided to establish the Advocacy Group for Health, so that they advocate together for women’s access to quality health care in Kosovo. The Group met on 12 September to discuss the manners in which they can advocate for the raised concerns.
Afterwards, Feride Rushiti from the Kosova Rehabilitation Centre for Torture Victims (KRCT), a KWN member, shared with the attendees the process and general situation of the survivors of sexual violence during the Kosovo war. She started by congratulating the Network on its achievements so far. “The concrete results are already obvious, and we hope that one of the priorities of the government will be the allocation of pensions for survivors of sexual violence during war. The elected committee and secretariat have been elected without any political interventions”, Ms. Rushiti said. She added that the civil society has advocated that this committee be initially trained for three months with a particular focus on the concepts of sexual violence as provided for in international covenants, domestic laws; on the consequences, interview techniques, and so on. 
This meeting was supported by the European Union Office in Kosovo.
 

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