Kosovo Women's Network

European Reform Agenda Reviewed from a Gender Perspective

12.10.2016

The Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) has sent official input on the European Reform Agenda (ERA) to the EU Office in Kosovo and the Ministry of European Integration. ERA is a document drafted by the government of Kosovo with the purpose of expediting Kosovo’s progress in joining the European Union (EU). ERA is comprised of 17 priorities, identified by the government as of primarily importance for Kosovo to address by the end of 2017. The priorities are divided in three groups: Good Governance and Rule of Law, Competitiveness and Investment Climate, and Employment and Education. KWN sought to mainstream a gender perspective within each of these areas.

Related to Good Governance and Rule of Law, KWN noted that the Law on Gender Equality (LGE) provisions relating to equal representation of women and men in all institutions need to be implemented in all independent institutions, agencies and regulatory bodies. KWN recommended that measures are put in place to ensure equal representation of women and men in all public institutions, at all decision-making levels, in line with the EU Gender Action Plan (GAP) and LGE. When implementing mandatory electronic procurement, E-Systems should include fields for gender-disaggregated data in line with the LGE and best practices in gender responsive budgeting (GRB).

On Competitiveness and Investment Climate, KWN recommended that the Kosovo Investment Enterprise Agency (KIESA) include a quota for supporting women-led businesses and/or a specific grants category for women-led businesses towards furthering their competitiveness, so that both women and men benefit from these expenditures in line with the EU GAP and the LGE, regarding GRB. In order to address the informal economy, KWN emphasized that no clear data exists regarding the nature of the informal economy. Therefore, prior to creating a strategy and action plan to address it, the government must research the informal economy to better understand it. The strategy and action plan must be informed by gender analysis, undergo review from a gender perspective and attend to the different ways women and men may be represented within the informal economy. Otherwise, actions to address the informal economy may have a negative impact on the wellbeing of women or men specifically, perhaps unintentionally.

On Employment and Education, KWN recommended that the Sectoral Strategy for Employment and Social Policy and its Action Plan be reviewed by gender experts. It must consider the different employment rates of diverse women and men of all ages in Kosovo. Further, implementation of the new curricula and textbooks must involve proper gender review. In addition to scientific mistakes in textbooks, discriminatory and gender insensitive language is frequently used in textbooks at present. Gender experts should be part of the process to ensure that the new curricula and textbooks do not contain such language nor reinforce traditional gender roles. Additionally, the planned teacher training programs should include gender training so teachers do not reinforce traditional gender roles, and so that they learn to better teach sensitive topics, such as reproductive health.

In addition to the priorities already identified in the ERA, KWN proposed additional priorities: 1) furthering human rights and gender equality within governance and public administration reform; and 2) improving the work of the Labour Inspectorate, including better address of gender discrimination at work, which KWN’s research has shown to be fairly widespread in Kosovo. The Inspectorate can increase inspections related to safety at work for pregnant women, maternity leave, and discrimination in hiring.

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Staff Report to Members on Implementation of KWN Strategy

12.10.2016

The Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) held its regular bimonthly members’ meeting, on 5 Sep. During this meeting, KWN staff members presented progress on implementing the KWN Strategy 2015-2018. Afterwards, there was an information session for the Kosovo Women’s Fund (KWF).

Related to KWN’s first program, building the capacity of its members, the Project Assistant for KWF, Gentiana Murati, informed about the funds that have been allocated since the beginning of the strategy until now. From 2015 until now 37 grants were given and the number of members who have received grants in total is 94, while the number of beneficiaries from the beginning of the total strategy is 9.138. According to Gentiana the number of women participating from 2015 was 1,327 and the total amount distributed from January to June 2016 was 64.400, and the total since 2012 is 295,092 euro. She also informed about a change in individual grants that are now two types, from 3000 euro to 4000 and 8000 euro in partnership.

For KWN’s second program, empowering women in politics and decision-making, KWN Executive Director Igballe Rogova said that, KWN has supported the establishment of 27 Lobby for Gender Equality groups with approximately 954 members from civil society and politics, including municipal Gender Equality Officers (GEO’s).

Nicole Farnsworth, KWN Program Manager and Lead Researcher noted that this year the advocacy efforts of KWN and its members have led to 14 policy changes at the municipal level and seven at the national level. Further, KWN has supported the EU Office in Kosovo in creating a strategy for implementing the EU Gender Action Plan in Kosovo and advocated to the Ministry of European Integration for all documents related to EU Accession to have a gender perspective.

Also, following consultations with officials from all over Kosovo and the Agency for Gender Equality, KWN compiled for the Kosovo Institute for Public Administration three new curricula for gender equality.

Related to KWN’s program on women’s access to healthcare, KWN has collaborated with Dartmouth College, the University of Pristina and several volunteers, to survey 1,309 women and men in Kosovo, conduct approximately 100 interviews with medical practitioners and a legal analysis. The report currently is being drafted and will inform KWN’s future advocacy related to women’s health. KWN also is now member of the Coalition of Organizations for Reproductive Health and Reproductive Health Rights.

Also related to this program, with funding from KWF, KWN member the Center for the Promotion of Women’s Rights supported 62 women to receive free health services; 118 women are more aware of their right to health.

Related to KWN’s addressing gender-based violence program, KWN Research Assistant, Adelina Berisha, said that KWN in cooperation with its member organization Girls Coding Kosova and Open Data Kosovo have launched the application "EcShlirë", an application for reporting sexual harassment. It has been downloaded 782 times and 242 cases were reported.

Further, KWN has trained 100 probation and correctional officers on domestic violence and working with women’s organizations in the rehabilitation and reintegration of perpetrators. Additionally 650 men and women participated in awareness-raising events related to gender-based violence in which KWN was involved in organizing or supporting, including: One Billion Rising, March 8 and FemArt festival (organized by the member organization Artpolis).

Under the KWN program on women’s economic empowerment, Gender Analyst Iliriana Banjska spoke about KWN’s achievements related to gender responsive budgeting. KWN advocated to the Ministry of Finance, which included reference to gender responsive budgeting in its Budget Circular 2017 / 01, including templates created by KWN for institutions. Further, 94 officials are now more aware about gender responsive budgeting following KWN’s training and mentoring.

In June 2016, KWN published a Better Budgeting for Educationtowards informing the budget of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology with gender analysis. KWN also supported the Municipality of Hani i Elezit to carry out gender budgeting. Gjakova and Kamenica have continued without KWN support, in carrying out gender responsive budgeting this year, a sign of sustainability. Now KWN is working with the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning, who have included annexes with gender disaggregated data to their first budget submission.

After the presentation of KWN’s achievements thus far this year, Rogova noted a request by UN Women for KWN to give individual grants for survivors of sexual violence during the war. KWN has not dealt with individual grants, but rather with grants related to capacity building for members.

“We have suggested to UN Women to establish a commission, where women can apply through organizations and the Commission decides on the allocation of funds,” she said.

Many members said that KWN has associations that work with those issues and that it is better to go through associations who work with women.

Rogova also informed members that UN Women has published a report on reparations for women survivors of sexual violence during the war. However, the true history of the work that women’s organizations carried out to bring this issue to the forefront was not included. Members discussed sending a statement about this.

Representatives of KWN member organizations then shared information. Hafije Qyqalla, Director of NGO “Arta” spoke a fashion festival, to promote handicrafts made by survivors of sexual violence during the war, during which 665 donations were gathered.

After a break, KWN staff explained what KWF project applications should contain and encouraged members to apply by the deadline on 16 Sep. 2016.

This important networking event was supported by the European Union Office.

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UNDP Endorses KWN Recommendations for Maternity and Paternity Leave

12.10.2016

On 8 Sep. UNDP published its human development report in Kosovo for 2016, which included recommendations from KWN’s report “Striking a Balance: Policy Options for Amending Kosovo’s Law on Labour to Benefit Women, Men, Employers and the State’”.

These recommendations related to amending the Labour Law to include more equitable maternity and paternity leave provisions, towards improving women’s access to the labor market. This followed significant evidence that women are facing discrimination in hiring and during and after pregnancy.

KWN’s has recommended that amendments to the Labor Law allow for shared paid leave of up to three months each for both mothers and fathers, totaling six months of leave. Further, paternity and paternal leave will promote men’s involvement in child care and offer men more equal rights to parenting, which could impact social norms and traditional roles of women and men in society.

According to the UNDP report, Making the Labour Market Work for Women and Youth,women and youth are the most vulnerable and excluded from the labor market.

Following the presentation of findings, panelists including KWN’s Iliriana Banjska, discussed the UNDP report where Banjska explained how KWN has surveyed women and men in the labor market to see how they have been affected by the current leave provisions, the availability of child care facilities and socio-cultural norms that are barriers to women’s access to the labor market.

“The argument that economic growth and increasing the number of jobs will solve the problem of a high unemployment rate is not entirely correct,” she said. I Simply creating jobs will not help “"if we don’t tackle socio-cultural norms that discriminate against women in entering the labor market and influence the type of work that they are deemed able to do.”

UNDP Senior Advisor Ben Slay noted that the report calls for measures to educate youth and women. In terms of unemployment, it provides concrete policy recommendations.

The Finnish Ambassador to Kosovo, Anne Huhtamäki, encouraged the empowerment of women, the establishment of care systems and parental leave as important tools to help women enter the labor market.

The meeting concluded with panelists agreeing for the need to increase women’s labour market involvement, and, to this end, the importance of shared parental leave.

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Women in Vushtrri Learn about Gender Responsive Budgeting

12.10.2016

On 26 Aug. 2016, the Initiative for Agriculture Development of Kosovo and Women’s Center ATO organized a meeting with 15 women from different villages of the municipality of Vushtrri to discuss gender responsive budgeting.

Women had the opportunity to learn what gender responsive budgeting entails, as well as how women from rural areas can contribute to their community’s benefit, by attending public consultations on the budget. All present women had never heard before about municipal public consultations. Nor did they know that they could attend such meetings and present their concerns.

Participants were motivated to take part in public meetings and their requests were very clear. For example, participants expressed their concern about the lack of control over wastewater, which has covered their fields, thus making them unusable. Another problem is the huge number of stray dogs, which is becoming more dangerous for children.

“I need to wake up two hours earlier to take my son to school because he is a little child and I’m afraid that something might happen to him”, said a participant.

During this meeting, Donjeta Morina, KWN Coordinator for Capacity Building, informed women about the Law on Gender Equality, which guarantees equality between women and men. Municipalities can make progress toward gender equality through expenditures, by ensuring that the use of public resources meets the priority needs of both women and men.

This is foreseen by the Law on Gender Equality, which requires gender responsive budgeting. Through this initiative, women from villages Skrom, Sllakovc, Novolan, Maxhunaj, and Bukosh, have been offered trainings and got motivated to create their own income, undertake agricultural activities and apply for subsidies to expand their businesses.

This project in partnership funded by the Kosovo Women’s Fund, is supported from Austrian Development Agency (ADA).

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“Modern Woman” Involves Women More in Political Processes

12.10.2016

On 29 Aug. 2016, “Modern Woman” held the closing meeting of the project “Not only a number” supported by the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) Kosovo Women’s Fund. In this meeting, the Assembly of the Municipality of Prizren, the lecturer Bahri Zeneli from the Academy of Training and Technical Assistance (ATTA), representatives from KWN and students who have been part of the project participated.

Young women who were interested to join politics had the opportunity to meet and discuss issues important to women and the challenges women politicians face with women assembly members.

The meeting aimed to identify ways to increase opportunities for women and girls to become involved in politics. In this way, governance will include women who voice the needs of women and girls who are not involved in politics.

Assembly members spoke about ways to increase the number of women in politics and why their participation is important. An assembly member noted that at the central and local level, the percentage of women in politics is quite small. Few women hold positions as directors, and those that do, are school directors. Not a single woman holds a senior post in the directorate, while out of five vice presidents at political parties all of them are men.

Many women are not active and do not raise their voice, an assembly member said. According to the assembly members, women are interested to participate but do not receive enough support from men. Further, according to them the lack of budget can also be one of the reasons why few women are involved. Therefore, all of their activities are undertaken on a voluntary basis.

A student who is a political party member said that the party does not do anything for them in terms of supporting their employment or allocating resources for students. Another student asked why women do not run as independent candidates. An assembly member responded that she would run as an independent candidate, but only after she had several meetings with women who would support her.

Among the conclusions were that girls and women should be given more opportunities to enter into politics and women who are already in politics should raise their voices. Further, there should be a budget line for women’s forums.

This project is funded by the KWN Kosovo Women’s Fund, financed by the European Union Office in Kosovo.

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KWN successfully finalizes the “Hisja” series of shows

12.10.2016

The Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN), in the framework of the project titled “Immovable property and gender equality”, supported by PPSE Swisscontact, and in cooperation with the Art and Community Center – ARTPOLIS, has successfully finalized the series of forum theatre shows titled “Hisja” (the share), with the last show in Peja.

The theatre show “Hisja” has been designed to be in the form of forum theatre and was performed over the course of two weeks for the Kosovo society at the main municipalities, namely in Prizren, Gjakova, Prishtina, Mitrovica, and Peja.

“Hisja” has shown the reality faced by Kosovar women and girls in the context of difficulties women have in realizing their property rights. Furthermore, the show aimed to raise awareness among the society about the rights that women should have regarding property issues.

The shows were usually opened by the director Zana Hoxha – Krasniqi and the play of actors Donikë Ahmeti, Ermal Sadiku and Kushtrim Qerimi, who through their roles transmitted the way judges behave during the proceedings for the registration and inheritance of the immovable property. They also reminded people of social dogmas and the discriminatory behavior of families towards the rights of their wife/daughter to inherit property. People showed their interest to hear about these issues, as a considerable number of citizens attended the show. Moreover, the discussions after the show focused on concrete cases, providing further details. In Mitrovica, a student of the Faculty of Law opposed the judge, calling him non-professional, and quoted the applicable structural laws on women’s right to property, such as the Law on Family, Law on Inheritance, Law on Gender Equality, and Law on Anti-Discrimination.

In Gjakova, a participant shared her own experience with the attendees saying: “I transferred my property to my brother; today I regret doing it. After my mother died, I still have not gone home, because my brother and his wife do not want me there”.

In Peja, a citizen declared: “I have three children, two sons and a daughter. I will divide my property in two parts; one part for my sons and the rest for my daughter”.

In the framework of the project “Immovable property and gender equality”, KWN aims at raise awareness of the importance that women should register their property as a sole owner, co-owner, or equal heir. In addition to this, this project offered financial and legal aid to women toward realizing this right.

Furthermore, besides the shows and legal and financial aid, this project foresees door-to-door meetings with families in all five municipalities of Kosovo, in order to raise the awareness of the society about the importance of realizing women’s property right. These meetings are organized by KWN activists in various cities of Kosovo.

My home, my right!

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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.

19.03.26