Kosovo Women's Network

KWN Participates in “Making Markets Work for Women” Training

02.02.2016

On Jan. 14-15, USAID EMPOWER Private Sector and Promoting Private Sector Employment (PPSE) project in Kosovo held a Making Markets Work for Women (Gender in Value Chain Analysis) training, in which approximately 20 representatives participated. Among them, were representatives from the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) and other agencies. Vjosa Mullatahiri and Artan Xërxa facilitated the training.      The training was tailored for participants of the first training “Gender in Value Chain Development Course” held from Oct. 5-9, supported by the PPSE project, so that they could transfer further knowledge to their members, staff and beneficiaries. The training provided tools for the inclusion of gender aspects in the analysis of value chains and sought to devise gender strategies that enhance empowerment and incomes for all stakeholders.
    A value chain is the full set of different activities that a business goes through in order to bring a product or service to their customer. A value chain also refers to the model of how a business receives the raw material as an input, it adds value to the raw material by going through different processes and then sells the finished product to its customers.
    By offering different materials and group work for participants, the training aimed to:clarify gender goals and objectives for value chain development; distinguish between “do no harm”, gender inclusion, women’s empowerment and gender transformation; as well as to equip participants with tools and knowledge to develop sustainable gender strategies comprised of gender change solutions capable of market uptake and time bound gender interventions.

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

Law Students Learn about Domestic Violence

02.02.2016

On 29 Jan., the Centre for Legal Aid and Regional Development (CLARD), organized a workshop entitled “Addressing Domestic Violence”. Participants were students from the University of Prishtina Faculty of Law, including a KWN staff member.
The training aimed to inform students regarding domestic violence, types of domestic violence, defence mechanisms, consequences of violating protective orders and statistics regarding domestic violence cases.
Participants were interested to learn more about the cases that CLARD has assisted with legal aid. The lecturer from CLARD provided an example from the last case they treated, in which a man who had hit his spouse said, “I didn’t do anything to her. I only slapped here twice. Nothing more.”
Another issue discussed during the workshop was the imposition of protective measures made by the court. Participants had the opportunity to learn more about specific protective measure. Some participants felt that certain measures would not prevent violence. For example, they discussed a specific case in which the court ordered as a protective measure against the perpetrator that he should stay a distance of 10 meters away from his wife. However, they continued to live in the same house, share the same kitchen, and use the same bathroom.
“This measure doesn’t stop the perpetrator, or make the victim feel secure,” said one of the participants. “Instead she might feel even more endangered.”
According to police statistics and KWN’s research report No More Excuses, domestic violence remains widespread. According to the Kosovo’s Police, the number of domestic violence cases reported in 2014 was 1,046 and it was 1,021 in 2015.
Despite the progress made in addressing domestic violence, this issue requires further attention.

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

The Redrafting of the Curriculum on Gender Equality Continues

02.02.2016

A meeting was held on 26 Jan. in Prishtina as part of the continuing discussions with municipal officials on re-drafting the new curriculum on gender equality for the Kosovar Institue of Public Administartion (KIPA).
    Officials from the Municipality of Prishtina participated, including: the Municipal Directorate of Geodesy, Infrastructure, Office of Communities and Returns, Inspectorate, representatives from KIPA, and theAgency for Gender Equality (AGE).
    Officials expressed their desire that the new curriculum include additional training on gender responsive budgeting, practical examples of the integration of a gender perspective in procurement, tendering and infrastructure.
       Meetings already have been held with municipal officials from Gjakova, Drenas, Skenderaj, Decan, Peja, Mamusha and Rahovec. Another meeting is planned with municipalities in the north, as well as with central level institutions, respectively. The information gathered during meetings, including the priorities of civil servants, will be considered in developing the new curricula on gender equality.
The meetings are being organized through a collaborative effort involving AGE, KIPA, KWN and Deutsche Gesellschaft fuer Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), with funding by GIZ.

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

New Mobile App to Report Sexual Harassment

26.01.2016

In February, KWN will launch a report on sexual harassment in Kosovo, with findings from research conducted in 2015. Beyond discussing the extent of the problem of sexual harassment in Kosovo, KWN hopes to put forth concrete ways in which people can combat sexual harassment. In order to create a space for reporting sexual harassment, KWN in collaboration with Girls Coding Kosovo (GCK) and Open Data Kosovo (ODK) have started designing a mobile application called “Ec Shlirë”(Walk Freely)that will be used for this purpose.
     The idea to create such an application came after the campaign “Take back the night”, organized by KWN in Nov. 2014, as well as based on study of similar applications used in the U.S. and Palestine.
     To build this free, open source mobile app, young women are taking part in a nine-day workshop, gaining basic knowledge in PhoneGap, Backbone.js, Handlbars.js, jQuery, Bootstrap, Javascript, HTML, CSS, Bower and Grunt.
    Beyond establishing a useful application that seeks to transform social norms and inform public policies towards decreasing sexual harassment, this initiative also seeks to build bridges between young women in Information and communications technology (ICT) and activists, using technology for social change. Additionally, the workshops will provide young women with skills that they can use in their careers. Traditionally women are under-represented in the ICT sector. Such workshops provided by experts at GCK and ODK seek to provide young women with support in achieving their career goals, while simultaneously contributing to social change.
    On 23-24 Jan., KWN, GCK and ODK co-organized the first workshop towards developing this app. Participants included 30 young women selected from a total of 170 applicants. On the first day participants interacted with KWN activists, identifying priorities for consideration in the design of the app.
     Participants that attend at least 80% the training will be awarded with certificates and will additionally be offered internship opportunities.      This initiative is being supported by the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives, USAID Kosovo, the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare and RIT Kosovo. Workshops will continue through February with the official launching of the app planned for 25 Feb.

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

13th Annual Meeting of the KWN Member

28.12.2015

On 19 December 2015, the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) held its 13^th Annual Meeting of the KWN Members. The Annual Meeting opened with a performance by Lira Women’s Chorus. Afterwards, a performance interpreted by Actor Molikë Maxhuni took place. The text was adapted by well-known actor, Ms. Safete Rogova. Rogova’s performance served as a congratulatory surprise for the KWN’s 15^th Anniversary.

Ms. Igballe Rogova, Executive Director of KWN, gave the opening speech for the meeting. She opened with, “This is the 13^th Meeting, but it is the 15^th anniversary of the Network because the Network was established in 2000. In its first three years, the network functioned by self-financing.”

In the absence of the KWN Board Chairperson, Ms. Ariana Qosaj Mustafa, Ms. Rogova read a letter written by the Mustafa.“I think that the Network has successfully managed to be close to women and girls and transmit the needs in of women and girls in the best manner possible. Through transparency, accountability, and continuous debate, the Network remains a worthy voice for the needs of women and girls and other more vulnerable groups, including non-majority communities,” Mustafa wrote.

Later, the meeting was honored by a welcome speech delivered by Ms. Atifete Jahjaga, President of the Republic of Kosovo. “The women of Kosovo have been those who have borne on their shoulders the heavy weight of survival, peaceful resistance, and war, and there is no doubt that peace could not have been built without them. Today, Kosovo is a democratic and independent state thanks to the undeniable contribution of women and men of this country,” President Jahjaga stated. “Among you, dear friends, I see a lot of powerful women who guarantee every day, by their commitment, a brighter future for the new generations. You are the best example for our youth, demonstrating that it is with work, trust, and commitment that all barriers are overcome. The Kosovo Women’s Network enjoys the full support of my office, just as my office has had your support in the materialization of numerous projects and ideas, which have shared our common aim to advance and empower the role of women in our society. The entirety of the President’s speech for this occasion can be found here.

In its work during 2015, the KWN was supported by the European Union Office in Kosovo, Austrian Development Agency, MOTT Foundation, GIZ, Embassy of Netherlands, East West Management Institute, National Endowment for Democracy, Office of the President, Heart and Hand Foundation, Swedish organization Kvinna till Kvinna, and the KWN’s individual members.

The representatives of some of the supporting organizations of the KWN were present during the Annual Meeting. Mr. Libor Chlad, Vice Chief of the Sector for Cooperation in the European Union Office in Kosovo, spoke during the meeting. He went on to say, “It is a pleasure for me to participate in the KWN’s meeting and, at the same time, I would like to express my congratulations for the wonderful work they have done to fight for the rights of girls and women of Kosovo.” In addition, Chlad mentioned the contributions made by the European Union Office in Kosovo to support the rights of women, increase awareness of gender equality, and open new jobs and opportunities for self-employment for women. Chlad concluded by confirming that the EU, represented by the European Union Office in Kosovo, will continue to support the initiatives of the KWN given their many successes during the past year.

Afterwards, Arsim Aziri, Program Manager and Chief of Administration in Austrian Development Agency (ADA) in Kosovo, spoke about how ADA’s cooperation with KWN started and continued over the years. She also promised further cooperation to increase and strengthen the position of women in Kosovo.

Later on, Ms. Yllka Soba, Program Officer in Kosovo of the Swedish organization Kvinna till Kvinna took the floor, “We are honored to be supporters of this organization, considering the extraordinarily important work they have done over these years toward the enhancement of the rights of women and girls in Kosovo.” She shared an inspiring story that had happened during a regional meeting organized by the Network this past year. During the break of the regional meeting, a young girl, more specifically Zana Hoxha Krasniqi’s, a participant’s, daughter responded that she wanted to be president when someone asked her what she wanted to be when she grows up. Ms. Soba shared this story to emphasize the tremendous role that the KWN played in securing a woman for president and the influence that this success has had on young girls

In addition, KWN staff members summarized the work that they were individually responsible for during the past year.

Mimoza Paquku, Kosovo Women’s Fund Manager, shared information about the Fund, telling that, “This year, through the Kosovo Women’s Fund, the KWN allocated 20 grants, of which nine grants in Partnership for Change (up to 8,000 €) were allocated to 18 organizations that worked in partnership and 11 grants for Individual Advocacy (up to 3,000 €) were allocated to the organizations individually. The grants in Partnership for Change have increased the cooperation among member organizations, making it possible for the organizations of various regions of Kosovo to join forces and strengthen their initiatives by advocating together.” For further details on the Fund, please click here.

Donjeta Morina, Capacity Development Coordinator, emphasized, “In 2015, the KWN has witnessed some very important moments and successes in regards the GRB.” It is because of the advocacy and monitoring of KWN during this past year that the following changes were made in policies and documents:

Ministry of Finance included references, paragraphs, and specific tables in its Budget Circular 2016/2 for Central Level Budget Organizations. The Central Level Budget Organizations are encouraged to include the GRB in their budget documents.
Ministry of Finance has similarly included references, paragraphs, and specific tables in its Budget Circular 2016/2 for Local Level Budget Organizations.
Municipality of Kamenica has integrated the GRB in its Middle-Term Budget Framework and has the most gender responsible document of all the municipalities of the Republic of Kosovo.
Since July 2015, the GRB constitutes a legal obligation, because the KWN advocacy has contributed to it being part of the new Law no. 05/L-020 on Gender Equality.
Municipality of Kamenica has integrated the GRB in its Budget Document for 2016, thus becoming one of the first municipalities in Kosovo to include the data categorized by gender as an annex to its annual budget.
Municipality of Gjakova integrated the GRB in its annual budget document for 2016, thus becoming one of the first municipalities in Kosovo to include the data categorized by gender as an annex to its annual budget.
Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology included its data categorized by gender in its annual budget, which it sent to the Ministry of Finance.

The KWN has also published the research report “Budgeting for Social Welfare,”related to gender responsibility of services and expenditures of the MLSW in two economic categories: salaries and wages and subsidies and transfers. The report includes recommendations that aim to support the MLSW in planning the middle-term expenditures in a more sensible manner with a gender perspective. Click here to read the full report.

In 2015, the KWN reached a record in regards to the number of political processes and policies in which the KWN has advocated for the priorities of women. The KWN has participated in a number of governmental working groups and has provided comments on laws and policies that will affect the lives of women and girls. The KWN has supported the inclusion of a gender perspective by analyzing the drafts of approximately 30 public policies (laws, administrative instructions, strategies, and action plans) from a gender perspective and assessing the potential influence they might have on men, women, girls, and boys.

Elizabeta Murati, Project Assistant informed members of the meeting “the KWN has cooperated with the Kosovo Institute for Public Administration (KIPA), Agency on Gender Equality, and GIZ Legal Reform Program, in order to hold meetings with women and men from the political realm in seven municipalities (Gjakova, Skënderaj, Drenas, Deçan, Peja, Rahovec, and Mamusha). The KWN briefly introduced the new legal framework for gender equality and discussed the challenges that officials have faced in implementing the legal framework up to date. Examples of such experiences will be used to extract information for case studies and for designing the new KIPA curriculum for gender equality in 2016. The new KIPA curriculum for civil servants, namely for gender equality officials, will improve the capacities of women and men to consider women’s priorities in the future.”

Adelina Berisha, Research Assistant, informed the present participants of the content of one of the most recent research reports from the KWN on domestic violence, entitled, “No more Excuses – An Analysis of Attitudes, Incidence and Institutional Responses to Domestic Violence.” The full version of the report can be located here. She also informed participants that in 2015, the KWN conducted Kosovo’s first national wide research on various forms of sexual harassment in various locations, as well as the self-awareness and attitudes of citizens towards sexual harassment. This research included a sample of 1,315 women and men, and interviews with representatives of approximately 200 institutions. The KWN is finalizing the report, and it will be published in early 2016. It will serve as a basis for an awareness raising campaign for this issue.

Gresa Rrahmani, Research Assistant, notified the present participants that “Based on an official request from Mr. Arban Abrashi, the Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, the KWN conducted research in order to inform the new Labour Law with fact-based data related to themes that include gender discrimination at the workplace, especially in regards to maternity and paternity leave. The KWN has conducted 400 interviews with a randomly selected sample of employers. The KWN has also surveyed 1,301 women and 374 men. The KWN did not find funds for this initiative and it was dependent on the contributions of citizens and volunteers to conduct this important research. Most of the work was done thanks to the additional, after-hours dedication of the KWN staff members and hard-working volunteers and interns. The KWN presented the initial findings of this research at the Social-Economic Council of Kosovo (SEC), and it will soon send the written policy recommendations to the Ministry. The KWN plans to publish the recommendations and make them publicly available at the beginning of 2016.”

The meeting concluded with an opportunity for the present participants to openly discuss the KWN Annual Report and share information among the KWN members and partners.

The European Union Office in Kosovo financially supported this meeting.

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 published the new Report “Budgeting for Social Welfare

28.12.2015

On December 4, The Kosova Women’s Network (KWN) published the new report entitled, Budgeting for Social Welfare. This report is the second gender analysis of expenses of Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare (MPMS). The analysis aims to help the Ministry with assessment and better planning of the budget from a gender perspective.
    The report also seeks to answer the questions: do women and men benefit equally from services and expenses of Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare; who do you think benefits more from pensions in Kosovo, men or women; what about social assistance; and what age group of women and men are employed by employment bureaus?
The report provides concrete recommendations for each department and division of MPMS about better planning of its budget from a gender perspective.
   This report examines gender responsiveness of both economic categories within the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare (MPMS), wages and salaries, as well as subventions and transfers.
Arban Abrashi, Minister of Labour and Social Welfare (MPMS), commented during the publication, “This research is important because it will serve an example for other budget organizations."
     Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB) provides planning and execution of the budget in a more effective, equitable way. GRB includes the integration of a gender perspective in the budgeting process. It also examines the different impacts of planned spending on men and women. Based on such gender differences, budgets should care for the individual needs of both men and women.
Women and men have different priorities and needs. For example, residents from villages may have different needs then people living in cities; young women have different needs than older men. Additionally, people who are unemployed have different needs from employed persons and people of different ethnic groups may experience different issues.
    Due to the fact that the government is responsible for creating a policy that will benefit all its different citizens, governmental budgets should ensure that the different needs of all people are taken into account and addressed in the planning and implementation of the budget.
To read the full report please click here.

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 and Lobby for Gender Equality in Kosovo demand resolving the case of Donjeta Pajaziti, and Express Solidarity with her Family

28.12.2015

During the 13th Annual Meeting of the KWN Members, one of the participants from the Municipality of Deçan, raised her concern for the case of the finding of the body of deceased Donjeta Pajaziti, 24 years old, from Strellc Village in Deçan. Although the Police have not come up with any official statement confirming the cause of her death, according to our sources, her body showed evidence that rape had occurred.
Therefore, the representatives of the KWN member organizations and those of the Lobby for Gender Equality (LGE) in Kosovo came up with a joint statementwhereby they expressed their concern about these suspicions, and in case that the suspicions are confirmed, they condemn this macabre act. The KWN and LGE requested that the relevant institutions of the Republic of Kosovo undertake the necessary measures to resolve this case, and do more in providing security to the citizens of Kosovo, particularly for women and girls. Such cases evoke insecurity and make the majority of the citizens of Kosovo feel threatened. Every citizen of Kosovo considers cases such as this one unacceptable.

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 Joins the Initiative “Santa Exists”

28.12.2015

“Santa Exists” is a comprehensive citizen initiative that aims to give gifts to children who are most in need. “Santa Claus Exists” began in 2014 and continued this year in order to bring smiles to the faces of more children during the holiday season. Clothes, gifts, and money are collected as part of this initiative.
Due to the KWN’s commitment to initiatives that support citizens of the Republic of Kosovo, KWN also joined the “Santa Exists” initiative. At the 13th Annual members meeting, KWN called all participants to donate money to “Santa Exists.” During the annual meeting, the KWN sold various items with the KWN logo so that the money collected from their sales would be donated to this initiative.
KWN collected 142.2 euro in total, 35.50 euro from the donation box and 106.70 euro from the sales. The total amount of money was given to “Santa Exists” and they bought 150 gifts that will be sent to children in Prishtina’s hospital in Paediatrics, Psychiatry and Surgery.

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 Awarded Acknowledgements for its Supporters

28.12.2015

During the Annual Meeting, KWN awarded acknowledgements to persons who have marked life achievements or those who have supported the KWN in its journey.
Acknowledgements for “Courage and deeds that have motivated and empowered girls and women in Kosovo”, were awarded to renowned artists, Nexhmije Pagarusha, Leze Qena and Safete Rogova.
Other acknowledgements for “Contribution given in carrying out the campaign ‘One Billion Rising’ and ‘Take Back the Night’” and in other KWN activities, were awarded to Oda Haliti, Nesim Maxhuni, Fatos Mehmeti, Rita Parashumti, Orgesa Arifi, and Erëblina Elezaj.
This is the third year that KWN is giving awards for its supporters, including in 2013 that were given to activists and artists that contributed to women’s rights; and in 2014 that KWN gave to businesses that continuously supported KWN.

18.06.25