Kosovo Women's Network

EU Office in Kosovo to Implement EU Gender Action Plan

12.10.2016

The European Union (EU) Office in Kosovo has started the process of putting in place its plan for implementing the new EU Gender Action Plan (EU GAP) for 2016-2020. The Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) is providing technical support in this process as part of its service contract with the EU Office in Kosovo, including in the identification of objectives and indicators based on gender analysis and in consultation with stakeholders.

On 21 Sep. 2015, the European Commission (EC) and European External Action Service (EEAS) adopted the new GAP, entitled “Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment: Transforming the Lives of Girls and Women through EU External Relations 2016-2020.” Then, on 26 Oct. 2015, the EC endorsed it. The GAP attempts to ensure gender equality in all the EU’s external activities and relations. For the first time, the GAP applies to all EU missions in all world regions, as well as all EU policies, including development, neighborhood, trade, humanitarian aid, etc. In its endorsement conclusions, the EC emphasized that it is mandatory for all EU missions worldwide to report annually on results achieved related to objectives towards shifting institutional culture and at least one objective per each thematic area. This differs from the 2010-2015 GAP for which reporting was voluntary.

Other differences from the prior 2010-2015 GAP is that this new GAP focuses on three different thematic areas, instead of using a “one size fits all” approach. The thematic areas include: physical and psychological integrity; economic and social rights; and voice and participation. In addition to the thematic priorities, institutional cultural change is a horizontal, mandatory priority that addresses leadership, systematic reporting, being results-focused, coherence and coordination.

Now, EU delegations, including in Kosovo, must select indicators and identify targets for 2016 through 2020 based on local priorities and capacities. Indicators also should align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Results Framework.

In relation to the thematic priorities, KWN carried out a gender analysis in Kosovo, drawing also from existing data sources and KWN’s long experience working towards gender equality in Kosovo. KWN used this information to draft a policy paper for the EU with recommendations regarding which of the potential objectives put forth by Brussels could be considered for implementation by the EU mission sin Kosovo. This policy paper and the potential objectives were presented during a consultation with key stakeholders and gender experts in Kosovo on 27 June. This consultation and their input contributed to selecting the final objectives for implementation in Kosovo:

Girls and women free from all forms of violence against them (VAWG) both in the public and in the private sphere.
Equal access for girls and women to all levels of quality education and vocational education and training (VET) free from discrimination
Equal access by women to financial services, productive resources including land, trade and entrepreneurship.
Equal rights and ability for women to participate in policy and governance processes at all levels.
Women’s organizations and other CSOs and Human Rights Defenders working for gender equality and women’s and girls’ empowerment and rights freely able to work and protected by law.

These objectives were identified based on the criteria that they should be relevant for the current political, economic, and social circumstances in Kosovo, based on existing gender analyses; and there should be sufficient baseline data to be able to monitor and evaluate progress. The objectives under institutional changes, which are mandatory and must be implemented in Kosovo as well, include:

Increased coherence and coordination amongst EU institutions and with Member States.
Dedicated leadership on gender equality and girls’ and women’s empowerment established in the EU institutions and Members States.
Sufficient resources allocated by EU institutions and Member States to deliver on EU gender policy commitments.
Robust gender evidence used to inform all EU external spending, programming and policy making.
Results for women and girls measured and resources allocated to systematically track progress.
Partnerships fostered between the EU and stakeholders to build national capacity for gender equality.

Now, the EU Office in Kosovo, supported by KWN, working to establish specific indicators, targets, and activities for achieving these objectives via current and future programming. Another consultation will be held with all stakeholders in early September, in order to finalize the plan by mid-September, while annual reporting on its implementation will begin this year.

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Mother of 7 Begins Tradition of Registering Property in Women’s Names

12.10.2016

Nazlije Gjaravina from Gjakova is the mother of seven children, six daughters and one son. A devoted mother, she has dedicated her life to raising and educating her children. While her formal education is limited, she has worked diligently to expand her talents at making traditional clothing. The income she has generated through her work has helped her husband and children to have a better life.

In July, Nazlije participated in meetings organized by the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) and its member organization Active Women of Gjakova, where she learned more about women’s rights to inheritance and property. During these meetings, activist Valbona Rizvanolli shared information that with the new Administrative Instruction on the Joint Registration of Property , couples can register their joint property free of charge throughout 2016.

“These meetings inspired me to take the initiative to talk with my husband about registering our property in both of our names,” she said. “I began thinking that I need to register the property in my name since it is free. At first, my husband was not very happy and told me, ‘why do you need to register it?’ I told him that it is also mine, and after some discussions we agreed. With the help of KWN and the project, we went to the notary and also in the municipality.”

Now, she and her husband are looking forward to receiving all of the final documentation.

“Without the meetings and your help, I probably would never register the property,” she said.

Further, knowing how important it is for women to own property, Nazlije has plans to ensure that her own daughters can realize their rights in the future.

“Now, I will try to divide the property in the same way between my daughters and son,” she said.

The Property Registration Project is being implemented by KWN and its member organizations with support from Swisscontact Promoting Private Sector Employment project funded by the Swiss Government. It aims at raising awareness about woman’s rights to immovable property and inheritance. KWN and its members are providing technical assistance to families in which women are seeking to register their property or claim their inheritance.

KWN activists are working in Prishtina, Prizren, Gjakova, Peja and Mitrovica. If you or someone you know is seeking to register property or claim inheritance in women’s names, and you need assistance, please contact us at info@womensnetwork.org. We will try our best to help!

My house, my right.

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Global Health Student Contributes to KWN Health Research

22.08.2016

Rina Dula currently is finishing her bachelor degree in Global Health and Nutrition specializing in Public Health in Copenhagen. She volunteered this summer as an intern at the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN), working as part of the research team examining women’s access to healthcare.
Rina volunteered at KWN for the last three months because she sought to “contribute to something good in the homeland of her parents,” she said.

Given her long-term involvement in the research process, she played an important role in supporting enumerators during the national household survey, surveying Kosovar women, preparing contracts for researchers, coordinating meetings, conducting interviews, coding qualitative interviews, transcribing interviews and translation.

“It was a truly amazing experience,” Rina said. “I am going to take all this new knowledge and experience with me and use it in the future.”

Apart from gaining professional experience, Rina said that this was a remarkable experience because she also collaborated with a wonderful research team through which she met people from around the world.

Although she completed her internship in Kosovo last week, Rina plans to stay in touch with her colleagues and continue contributing to the finalization of the report from Copenhagen.

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Kosovar-American Student Shares “Passion” to Address Inequalities, Interning at KWN

22.08.2016

This summer the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) welcomed interns from various European countries and the United States to contribute to research on women’s access to healthcare. Among them is Natyra Hertica, who at age 2 immigrated to the U.S. together with her family.

Natyra is a third year undergraduate student at the University of Washington. She is studying Public Health, Medical Anthropology and Global Health. Natyra has worked with the KWN research team voluntarily for the last couple months. During this time, she has had the opportunity to participate in various trainings related to interviewing and research methods. Together with other interns, she has conducted interviews related to the research in municipalities such as Prizren, Peja, Gjakova, Gjilan, Vushtrri, Mitrovica, Ferizaj and Pristina.

“My passion to improve health disparities is why I became part of this team,” said Natyra. “During my internship at KWN I have learned more about the barriers that prevent women in Kosovo from accessing quality healthcare.” Natyra is very happy that through her work and commitment she has contributed to such important research.

KWN bid farewell to Natyra yesterday and is very thankful for her contribution to realizing KWN’s strategic objectives related to furthering women’s access to healthcare.

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12.06.25

Activists Engage in President’s Global Forum on Women, Peace and Security

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29.05.25

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Student of EU Law Contributes to KWN Health Research

22.08.2016

Rina Ajeti is a second-year student at Maastricht University in the Netherlands where she is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in European and Comparative Law. This summer she volunteered as a member of the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) research team working on women’s access to healthcare.

Rina always has been interested in learning more about how the right to healthcare is implemented and promoted in Kosovo. As a daughter of Kosovar parents who raised her in Germany, she feels a strong need to explore Kosovo from a different perspective.

During her internship at KWN, she has participated in interviewing key actors in the field of medicine in various health institutions, transcribing interviews and translating them into English for other member of the research team. Rina also has worked on analyzing the existing laws in Kosovo, including from an international human rights and European perspective.

“I am looking forward to applying the existing legal framework to the data findings in order to see which gaps may exist in the implementation of laws in Kosovo,” she said.

During her internship, she said that she has received valuable insights regarding how one conducts research, how to work as a team and how to communicate with people of different professional fields. Also, she has learned a lot about the laws related to healthcare in Kosovo, how the system works and which gaps in implementation exist.

Although Rina completed her internship here in Kosovo yesterday, she plans to continue to contribute to finalization the report even after her departure. She is involved in writing the chapter on law, which will be part of the final publication, to be released later this year.

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

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29.05.25

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KWN Welcomes Dartmouth College Interns

05.08.2016

During this summer, the Kosova Women’s Network (KWN) office welcomed a team of four students from Dartmouth College to analyze the results of and write a policy report about KWN’s national household survey on women’s access to healthcare. As the four of them have learned through the summer, Megan Mishra, Kristen Delwiche, Morgan Sandhu, and Apoorva Dixit are very different people. They all attend Dartmouth College north of New York in the U.S., but they study in different fields, Apoorva studies Anthropology, Megan studies Economics and Philosophy, Morgan studies Government, and Kristen studies Medicine. They have different personalities and work habits. Apoorva is the big picture-oriented contrarian, Megan is the detail-oriented planner, Morgan is a goal-oriented negotiator, and Kristen is a food-oriented statistician. After living together, working together, and traveling together, it’s tough not learn about all their differences. “Despite all the time we spend together, or maybe because of it, we make a good team, said Apoorva. “We are all here because global health policy is an exciting field to be in right now, especially in a young country like Kosovo.”
They consider that there is so much potential in Kosovo, and they are excited to work alongside the women at KWN and many other Kosovars they have met this summer who are striving to make the healthcare system more efficient, more patient-oriented, and more equal. It has been a huge learning experience for them, learning about everything from statistics to healthcare to Albanian driving and food. They’ve gotten a chance to hike, road trip, and swim, as they expressed, in one of the most beautiful parts of the world, and while there have also been several challenges and long days at work, it’s been a rewarding experience.
As their internship is coming to an end, they are very excited to share the findings and see how their hard work and commitment together with KWN will impact Kosovo’s healthcare system through the final report.

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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AEFC and Divine Women Cooperate for Women’s Welfare

05.08.2016

The mission of the Association for Education and Family Care (AEFC) and the Divine Women is the assistance to trafficked victims and reproductive health care. Their main objective is the provision of assistance to women and rising the youth’s awareness of transmissible diseases.
The AEFC and the Divine Women were the beneficiaries of the eighth round of grants provided by the Kosovo Women’s Fund (KWF) under the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN), and have jointly implemented the initiative called “An educated woman – a healthy society”, which lasted for a 4-month period.
The results achieved during the implementation of this project have been quiet good. A total of 48 workshops have been organized in the Municipalities of Gjakova and Gjilan, where 441 women and girls acquired knowledge on the reproductive health and protective measures. The success achieved upon the implementation of such project includes the awareness of girls and their mothers of their health in general and the r eproductive health in particular.
Additionally, a survey concerning the visits at the gynecologist and contraception methods has been conducted, with responses being of high concern. The recommendations resulting from the survey and the analysis of the provided responses consisted, among others, of a powerful boost for the idea of opening an advisory office for girls only, in which their privacy would be protected; this way, they could perform their medical checks and prevent various diseases.
Women and girls benefiting from this initiative said that they were very satisfied, because they had never received such training before, adding that, “they would transmit the knowledge their gained to other girls and women who were not part of the project”.
During the meetings that were held, the participants stated that, “girls do not perform gynecological checks because of prejudices; therefore, they often visit private clinics so that their identity is not disclosed to others”.
This initiative has funded by the Office of the European Union 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

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30.05.25

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29.05.25

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Kosova Rehabilitation Centre for Torture Victims (KRCT)

05.08.2016

Kosova Rehabilitation Centre for Torture Victims (KRCT) is a Non-Governmental Organization founded in 1999, which its mission is to protect, enable and promote fundamental human rights, in particular torture survivors as well as other forms of violence, fulfills through treatment and multidisciplinary rehabilitation, through socio-economic development, advocating for legal and institutional reform as well as providing justice for victims in one form or another who have been part of direct or indirect violence. KRCT’s journey began during the war in Kosovo where Feride Rushiti, now Executive Director of the organization, was committed to help the Kosovo refugees. At that time, she has been coordinator of several projects of the Albanian Centre for Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma in Albania, where the activity began. Her work during this time was mostly volunteer work, and after the war they returned to Kosovo and set up the initiative with associates Jens Modvig and Sibylle Rothkegel to establish KRCT.
KRCT is the first professional non-governmental organization in the field of mental health, which deals with victims of trauma, torture, and different kinds of violence. Due to targeting vulnerable groups, the organization has gone through various challenges and these days are still fighting against the stigmatization of victims of violence. KRCT is supported by international donors, as well as during the time when President Atifete Jahjaga was in post, they have cooperated in various projects, especially with regard to victims of sexual violence, where KRCT has had a leading and important role in that segment.
KRCT strongly advocated for victims of sexual violence, by introducing this category in the changing amendments to the Law on Status and Rights of Martyrs, Invalids, Veterans, members of the Kosovo Liberation Army, Victims of Sexual Violence War Victims civil and their Families, a law that since two years of its approval has not been implemented. Lately, KRCT has promoted the lack of enforcement of this law in a campaign on June 26 that they organize every year, on the International Day of Torture, insisting on the functioning of the Verification Commission, as it is provided by law.
Among other things, the organization holds trainings and seminars on documentation and awareness of sexual violence during the war in Kosovo, where the documentation of data is preserved at a high level of privacy and has also led the preparation of the application form for the realization of the status of victims of sexual violence during the war.
Therefore, the organization has expanded their activities in other municipalities such as Skënderaj, Vushtrri, Suharekë and Drenas, where this last year the women of that region were helped, while supporting and empowering them in various forms, so they can return to daily life again and be masters of their own. KRCT has also consistently supported the establishment of a local organization in Drenas, which was accomplished this year and now they organize activities such as sewing and handiwork, so that victims of torture can go back to daily life and to promote their work. In the span of 17 years, except those who have received regular systematic assistance, over 10,000 people have benefited from KRCT, taking regular services like checkups, medication and counseling, as well as within the rehabilitation treatment is a multidisciplinary composed by psychologists, psychiatrists, gynecologists and KRCT social workers.   KRCT is the first organization that provides psychological assistance and psycho-social services for refugees and asylum seekers in Kosovo. For three years they have been monitoring the Center for asylum seekers and the Retention Center for Foreigners. In this context, KRCT monitors the border crossings throughout Kosovo. Also, does the advocacy within the framework of the Law on Asylum.
KRCT monitors the correctional centers, detentions, monitors the police stations, the freedom of assembly’s, monitors the centers and institutions of mental health and social care. They also monitor the hearing sessions in cases of detention where detainees are offered legal advice from a complete team of experts. KRCT, while contributing with reviews, recommendations and evaluations has advocated strongly in the approval of the Mental Health act that was enforced in November 2015.
KRCT also offered 75 training courses on managing stress at work and psychosocial training where 1133 primary health care professionals (family doctors and nurses) have benefitted.
KRCT has offered a draft guideline to Kosovo Correctional Service that sets the rules and the basic principles for the functioning of the internal complaints mechanism. During 2012-2014 in cooperation with the Danish institution "Dignity", training for health care in correctional institutions has been provided.
In a word KRCT is committed for a torture-free society where human rights and fundamental freedoms are respected fully.

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

#EcShlire, walk with us freely!

05.08.2016

Following the launch of #EcShlire (#WalkFreely) the sexual harassment reporting app 25 Feb., 2016, a cooperation between Open Data Kosovo, Girls Coding Kosova and Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN), the app has been downloaded for more than 800 times and the number of the sexual harassments that has been reported is around 300. According to reports 67.5% are made by females, 21.7% male and 10.8% other (including community LGBT). Spreading the word about the existence and the intention of the application was the challenging part.

In order to further promote #EcShlire, it became apparent that cooperating with public authorities and in the meantime raising awareness of people towards the issue of sexual harassment is an essential second phase of the project, which is supported by the Foundation “Une e du Kosoven”. The promoting plan includes activities such as using media channels (TV, Radio, Social Networks) to spread the word and using open public discussions to raise awareness of the issue of sexual harassment. The importance of the collaborating with public authorities is indisputable, therefore, during this phase of the project, the team will conduct regular meetings with the Kosovo Police to see the opportunities and set ground for a cooperation with #EcShlirë to create data driven preventive measures by using the app’s gathered data.
Furthermore, we are planning to work closely with the Ministry of Education and various education institutions. The idea is to organize open houses covering different municipalities in Kosovo to promote the reporting of sexual harassment by using classrooms as meeting points with young high school students. This will serve not only for the promotion of the platform but to help young students think differently about the issue of sexual harassment, to not let them embrace this as a familiar day-to-day phenomena, but show them how to fight against it for a better society. We see this as a very important next step, adding value and substance to the promotion strategy.

We invite you to download the app (https://goo.gl/zkuTze) and help spread the word.

Come walk with us freely, together!

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

The Institutional Crisis Continues to Contribute to Discrimination Against Women

29.05.25

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KWN is conducting a research on Women’s Access to Quality Health Care

01.08.2016

KWN has initiated a health research, in order to improve the women’s and girls’ access to quality health care. Up until now, the surveyors have surveyed 1,300 citizens, both men and women, from all ethnical groups, of more than 16 years of age, and who come from urban and rural areas across Kosovo. The surveyors have collected data as to how much informed various citizens are of their rights to health care, the violations of rights to health care, reproductive health, sexual activity, mother and child’s health, and the opportunity and access to quality health services.

Interns from Denmark, the Netherlands, and the United States of America, have joined this research, giving their contribution on voluntary basis. They are engaged in coding and analyzing the data; later they will proceed with a summary of final findings derived from such data, in order to write the comprehensive report.

In order to compile the most comprehensive report possible, the research team is currently conducting interviews with key actors in the health sector, such as the health workers, and other state institutions. The Ministry of Health is supporting the KWN in this project, by having compiled a supportive letter whereby it invites all the health institutions of the Republic of Kosovo to cooperate with the KWN, by providing data in compliance with the applicable legislation regulating the protection of confidentiality.

This year, the Dartmouth College entered into a partnership with the KWN in order to assist in finalizing the health research project. In Kosovo, focus of researches from the USA was on analyzing the data gathered through the questionnaires. Each of researches has a different specialty; the quantitative aspect starts with the initial analysis and proceeds with the qualitative aspect, which consists of writing guidelines for the interview and the report.

The volunteers’ interest in becoming participants in this research was great, with most of them having worked in the field of gathering of complaints, and others being researchers in the field of medicine, as well as administration, pharmacy, and medical school; they have carried out the research with the key health sector actors, such as gynecologists, oncologists, cardiologists, specialists in family medicine, nurses and pharmacists. All of them contributed to this research with their experience and knowledge.

This whole research has helped reflect the women’s and girls’ access to the health care, and has made it possible for numerous girls, who had been facing difficulties in finding a job, to have an opportunity to gain experience and contribute to something important.

This research is being conducted by the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) and the University of Prishtina, in cooperation with other actors including the Ministry of Health, Agency on Gender Equality, Kosovo Agency of Statistics, UNDP, UNFPA, WHO, and the Dartmouth College.

18.06.25