Kosovo Women's Network

KWN participates in High-Level Budget Transparency Conference

23.01.2015

KWN has been involved in conducting gender analyses of Kosovo budget processes since 2012. Therefore, on 22 Jan., KWN was invited to a High-Level conference on Budget Transparency in Kosovo, organized by the GIZ project, “Reform of Public Finance Systems”. The conference was chaired by David Nguyen-Thanh, Head of Competence Center, Public Finance and Public Administration Reform at GIZ.

Ms. Angelika Viets, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany, and Avdullah Hoti, Minister of Finance in the Republic of Kosovo made the opening remarks to the conference.

“The Ministry of Finance will be very transparent regarding the expenditure of every cent of the budget of,” said Mr. Hoti. “We need to give our maximum that every cent is spent in the right way”.

Three panels took place in the course of the conference:

Panel I: Why Budget Transparency Matters
Panel II: The Role and Importance of Transparency in Budget Development.
Panel III: The Role and Importance of Transparency in Budget Execution and Control.

During the first panel, Mark Hallenberg, Director of the Fiscal Governance Centre at the Hertie School of Governance in Berlin, discussed the importance of the reliability of data, mentioning that transparency cannot be achieved only through the availability of data. True budget transparency can only be achieved when the available data is completely reliable. Professor Hallenberg also discussed the benefits budget transparency can provide to a country. He cited many studies that correlate transparency with higher levels of trust (by citizens and investors), with higher investments, and lower levels of corruption.

During the second Panel, Mr. Klaus Feiler, State Secretary, Senate Administration for Finance, State of Berlin narrated how the Berlin budget is planned and executed; and demonstrated how truly transparent this process is. He also informed the participants on Gender Responsive Budgeting, something that Berlin has been integrating in its budget processes in the last 12 years. Mr. Agron Demi, Ekzekutive Director of the GAP institute, also spoke in the second panel, and heavily criticized the lack of transparency of the Kosovo government. He gave numerous examples of instances when the GAP institute was denied requested information and data from the government.

According to Bettina Hagedorn, Chairwoman of the Public Accounts Committee in the German Parliament, the planning process for the budget in Germany begins in March of a given year; in July it is sent to the MPs, who can analyze it until September; budget discussions begin in September and last until November. On the other hand, according to Besnik Bislimi, chairman of the Committee for the Oversight of Public Finances in the Republic of Kosovo stated that Kosovo MPs had one day available to read and discuss the draft budget for the 2015 fiscal year.

After the many issues that were discussed in the conference, and the many comparisons that were made between Kosovo and Germany, the following conclusion can be made: If Kosovo fiscal processes are to become more transparent, the timeframe given to MPs to read the draft budget, and the intensity of budget consultations must be increased.

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 Comments on UNSCR 1325 Implementation at EU Task Force Meeting

23.01.2015

On 20 Jan., a representative from the Kosova Women’s Network (KWN) Nicole Farnwsorth, attended the European Union (EU) Task Force on United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on Women, Peace and Security meeting in Brussels. The EU consultation was organized to correspond with a visit by Radhika Coomaraswamy and her team, which is leading the UN Global Study on the Implementation of Security Council Resolution 1325. The Task Force kindly created space for comments by civil society representatives attending the meeting, including KWN. The consultation focused on national and regional 1) priorities and progress relating to the women, peace and security agenda; 2) obstacles, gaps and emerging concerns; and 3) missing data and recommendations for the Global Study. The issues raised by the KWN representative included:

Women’s Security: there is insufficient attention to the overall wellbeing and security of women in conflict and post-conflict situations, which can contribute to insecurity and conflict. This should be addressed in programming around UNSCR 1325 as a protection, prevention and recovery measure (e.g., better programming on health and economic security).
Coordination among UN agencies as well as with other actors such as international organizations has been poor. This has involved competition and “turf wars”, which contributes to inefficiency and ineffectiveness in programming. We’d be more effective and efficient with better coordination.
Justice and reparations for crimes committed against women, particularly sexual violence, remain largely unaddressed. In Kosovo, this is due to failures by the UN and their loss of evidence, which makes justice difficult 15 years later. Women still demand justice and reparations.
Women’s participation in peace talks (e.g., between Kosovo and Serbia) does not necessarily mean representation of issues important to women. Beyond women diplomats involved in peace processes, women in the country must also be consulted and the issues they raise should be better addressed in negotiations (e.g., in the case of Kosovo issues raised by women such as missing persons and justice for gender-based violence perpetrated during the war have not been adequately addressed).
An adequate budget must be allocated for work relating to the implementation of UNSCR 1325.
The indicators used by the EU and UN respectively should have clearer targets and timeframes for better monitoring implementation.

Achievements and best practices mentioned by the 12 EU Member States present included: progress in women’s and men’s more equal participation in civilian and military operations; training for them; gender coaching for high level/central authorities; the international summit on sexual violence and International Protocol on the documentation and Investigation of Sexual Violence; initial work towards Women’s Economic Empowerment; and “stories from the field” from peacekeepers regarding how gender training helped them better interact with and protect women in conflict situations.

Challenges noted included ensuring adequate funding for implementing National Action Plans (NAPs); measuring long-term impact; insufficiently clear indicators (without targets and timeframes); bringing women into peace processes and negotiations; considering and addressing via programming the diversity among women (intersectionality); increasing women’s participation in peace operations; addressing impunity; ensuring relief and redress for persons who suffered sexual violence; insufficient support from high level officials, which is necessary for implementation; documenting the impact of women’s involvement in peace processes, as few examples exist (e.g., only in the Philippines and Colombia offer examples of women’s significant involvement); and that EU Member States are not solely responsible for achieving results because this depends also on others.

Among the recommendations made to the UN were: UNSCR 1325 implementation should be adequately budgeted for by the UN, and gender should be mainstreamed in all budgeting; and conflict analysis and power analysis, including in early warning, are important to ensure women are part of peace processes and their design from the beginning. Some of the recommendations for the EU included:

The EU should adopt the International Protocol on the documentation and Investigation of Sexual Violence in conflict.
Male mediators should receive more training on gender and inclusion.
Train and better involve the media considering their important role in reporting on peace and security issues. Use modern technology to raise awareness about UNSCR 1325.
Countries need to consult more with women in conflict regions when creating their NAPs.
Attention needs to be paid to men and masculinities.

Moving forward, several participants noted the usefulness in linking work around UNSCR 1325 with other similarly aimed agendas (e.g., Beijing +20, the post-2015 development agenda, and the forthcoming new EU Gender Action Plan). While there is interest in linking the various indicators related to these agendas towards efficient reporting, emphasis was placed on not diluting the original intention and purpose of UNSCR 1325. While important, gender mainstreaming alone was considered insufficient; specific actions towards furthering gender equality are necessary as well.

The UN High Level review, taking place in 2015, will “assess progress at the global, regional and national levels in implementing UNSCR 1325”. KWN Executive Director Igballe Rogova is a member of the High-level Advisory Group for the study. The methodology will involve consultations, including with diverse stakeholders in conflict-affected areas; commissioned studies on issues of interest; input from UN states; and a survey of civil society by the Global Network of Women Peace-builders. The report will not involve “naming and shaming”, but rather best practices. While the authors will discuss areas in need of improvement, they intend for the report to be forward looking. More information about the Study is available 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 Consults on EU Women, Peace, Security Indicators

23.01.2015

On 21 Jan., a representative of the Kosova Women’s Network (KWN) Nicole Farnsworth, participated in an Expert Policy Workshop on “Refreshing Indicators for the EU’s Women, Peace and Security Policy” in Brussels. The workshop provided a space for prominent experts on United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 to review the European Union’s (EU) 17 indicators for monitoring and evaluating implementation of its Women, Peace and Security policy.
While some people may consider indicators bureaucratic and/or potentially useless, indicators are crucial for holding the EU accountable to its commitments under the Comprehensive Approach to the EU Implementation of UNSCR 1325 and 1820 on women, peace and security (2008). Indicators can facilitate the measuring of progress, identification of shortcomings and lessons learned.
     Thus, a corresponding document exists to the Comprehensive Approach specifying indicators for EU implementation of UNSCRs on Women, Peace and Security(2010), focusing on Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) missions and operations. It is in accordance with UNSCR 1889, which calls on UN bodies and Member States to collect data, analyse and assess the specific needs of women in post-conflict situations. EU bodies (including European External Action Service headquarters, CSDP missions, EU delegations and EU special representatives, like those in Kosovo), as well as Member States should report on the EU’s 17 indicators every two years.
     KWN’s representative took part in one of four working groups, which focused on women’s participation in conflict and post-conflict situations. She emphasized the importance of establishing indicators at the outcome and impact levels, particularly qualitative indicators. For example, the number of women who participate in negotiations with EU-support can show that women were present. However, this indicator (#8) does not provide evidence whether women’s input was taken into consideration and/or addressed during negotiations. She provided the example that in Kosovo women have consistently raised issues of justice for gender-based violence perpetrated against women during the war, reparations and missing persons. However, none of these have been adequately addressed in the prior negotiations or current EU-brokered dialogue with Serbia. She proposed adding indicators that would demonstrate outcomes of women’s involvement in negotiations qualitatively and quantitatively, such as: “the number and types of issues raised by women that were taken up and addressed in mediation, dialogue and negotiations.” Here examples would be important for showing how issues raised by women in civil society (not only diplomats) are considered and acted upon.
     A similar recommendation was made regarding outcomes of consultations with EU officials, CSDP missions, delegations, headquarters and Member States’ ambassadors. While the current indicator 10 measures the number of meetings between EU officials and Member States’ embassies and women, it does not call for reporting on the outcomes of meetings: how do EU officials act on and/or address issues raised by women? A proposed reformulation was: “number and type of specific actions taken by the EU in follow-up to address issues raised by women in civil society.”
     Some officials expressed concern that this could be difficult to monitor and collect data about, particularly considering the number of meetings that their embassy representatives have with women. They also noted that some women may raise issues that are irrelevant and perhaps should not be addressed.
     While several recommendations were put forth during the day, a few other key recommendations included:

The EU does not have targets and therefore it is difficult to measure progress. Clear, time specific goals and outcomes, including targets, should be elaborated.
The indicators now are very convoluted with several measures put together; these need to be separated out into sub-indicators for clear, accurate measurement.
Indicators relating to Relief, Recovery, and Rehabilitation, including from sexual and gender-based violence are largely overlooked by current indicators and should be added. These could be drawn from UN indicators.
The EU should not only measure the amount of funding it distributes (indicator 5), but the results of that funding (outcomes and impact).
Add to indicator 11, so it includes: Proportion of women in all EU top positions, including the European External Action Service (EEAS) headquarters and delegations, CSDPs, EU Special Representatives, headquarters (senior and middle management), police, diplomatic corps, military (including civilian experts), seconded experts, relevant decision-making bodies (e.g., committees) and Member State ambassadors.
Indicator 13 should be clarified. All planning documents must refer to gender. However, these documents are not necessarily understood or followed. Review documents should be compared with planning documents to ensure gender issues were adequately addressed in implementation. Gender advisors should be part of review teams.
Regarding indicator 14, gender advisors are not enough. Heads of missions and other decision-makers should have responsibilities relating to furthering gender equality within their terms of reference.
The EU should adopt an additional indicator: “to what extent was there a gender perspective incorporated in the early warning, conflict analysis, peace process design and peace process outcome document?” This could be important for ensuring women’s specific needs are considered and reflected from the beginning of peace processes and not added later. If women’s perspectives are considered from the very beginning it can significantly change the entire design of the peace process.
The EU and Member States need to set aside adequate resources and time for collecting, analysing, and reporting on indicators.

All recommendations will be considered further and a final proposal for revising the existing indicators will be put forth to the EU’s Political and Security Committee later this year.

This review was organized by the EU and the European Peacebuilding Liaison Office (EPLO) via a Civil Society Dialogue Network meeting, which involved approximately 40 experts from the EU, EU Member States, international organizations and civil society, including KWN. It was organized in the context of the upcoming 15th Anniversary of UNSCR 1325.

At present, 17 of the 28 EU Member States have their own national action plans (NAPs) and strategies for the implementation of UNSCR 1325 and related resolutions, on which many also report within their countries.

Overall, the EU provides an estimated €200 million per year to the women, peace and security agenda.

For more information, see EPLO’s report Lessons Learnt in Monitoring the Implementation of EU Women, Peace and Security Policy.Additional reports about EU implementation of these policies have been published by the Folke Bernadotte Academy.

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 Supports “Thirrjet e Nënave” (Mothers’ Calls) and Joins the Protest

22.01.2015

Kosova Women’s Network (KWN) supports the association “Thirrjet e Nënave” (Mothers’ Calls) and joins the national protest on 24 Jan. in front of the National Library in Prishtina starting from 14:00.

Even after 16 years, “Thirrjet e Nënave” continue to seek information regarding their loved ones who are still missing since the war ended. The hate speech used by Mr. Alexander Jabllanovic and the denial of the Republic of Kosovo as an independent country, has tremendously concerned KWN and Kosovo citizens. Therefore KWN will join this protest with the request that Mr. Jabllanovic is discharged from his position.

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

Annual Strategic Planning Workshop of the Advisory and Coordination Group for LGBT Community Rights

19.01.2015

On 15 and 16 Jan. The Office for Good Governance within the Planning of the Annual Strategy for the LGBT community rights, organized a workshop with members of the Advisory and Coordination Group on National Level in the Republic of Kosova for LGBT community rights.
   The group consisted of representatives from all ministries as well as members of civil society, including KWN.
  KWN has been advocating for the creation of such group for a very long time, and has been a member of the group since its establishment. In this time, KWN has continuously contributed towards improving the situation of the LGBT community.
Part of this contribution is the input that KWN given during the drafting of two very important laws: the Anti-Discrimination Law and the Law on Gender Equality.
The two day workshop aimed at informing members of the group regarding the activities that will be carried out during this year, with the purpose of increasing awareness, preventing and fighting discrimination of members from the LGBT community in Kosova.
   The activities that KWN intends to perform during this year aim at raising awareness on LGBT rights among citizens, and to empower the LGBT community. Within these activities, during bimonthly meetings with its members KWN will screen films that address LGBT community issues while afterwards debates will be initiated with KWN members on the topic. In this way, KWN will contribute in raising awareness among its member organizations on the rights of the LGBT community.
Other activities that KWN will initiate during this year include raising the awareness of young activists that are part of FemACT.
Besides the above mentioned activities, KWN will participate in all other activities that will be undertaken by other members of the Advisory and Coordination Group on the National Level for LGBT rights in the Republic of Kosova.

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

Students from Vienna and Venice Learn on Women’s Rights in Kosovo

19.01.2015

Over 50 students from the Vienna Master in Human Rights in Austria, and the European Master in Human Rights and Democratization in Venice, Italy met Igballe Rogova, KWN Executive director on 17 January. The purpose of this meeting was for the students to acquire information on women’s rights and activism in Kosovo.
    Rogova initiated her lecture by informing the students on women’s activism in the 90s, about the association “Motrat Qiriazi”. She also on the post-war period, and how the association never ceased its work by helping Kosovars who lived in refugee camps.
    The students that were present had the opportunity to become informed on how the first women’s rights organizations in Kosovo were formed, as well as on the history and work of KWN from its beginnings in 2000 as a formal network. The students were also interested in diverse issues, such as women in politics, war rape survivors, and the LGBT community in Kosovo.
    “This was one of the best experiences I had during my visit in Kosovo!” said one of the students. “I learned a lot today, and I am beyond happy that I was part of this lecture”.
The students were very inquisitive and interested to learn more, but considering that the lecture was scheduled to last only 2 hours, there was not enough time for Rogova to answer all their questions. However, she expressed her willingness to answer the student’s questions by e-mail.

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 Reacts against Hate Speech Used by Minister Jabllanovic

16.01.2015

The Kosova Women’s Network (KWN) condemns hate speech used against citizens by Alexander Jabllanovic, Minister for Community and Return in the Republic of Kosovo. Additionally, he publicly denied the statehood of the Republic of Kosovo, referring to it as “Kosovo and Metohija”.

On 6 Jan. 2015, citizens of Gjakova organized a protest to express their concern regarding the arrival of Serb pilgrims who visited the Orthodox Church in Gjakova for Orthodox Christmas. Gjakova citizens believed that some of these pilgrims were responsible for committing war crimes in Gjakova.

Prevented by the protest, the same pilgrims went to Zoqisht Monastery in Rahovec instead, where Minister Jabllanovic referred to the protesters in Gjakova as “savages”:

This is a holy and important holiday. The savages that stopped Serbs from visiting their burned houses will not serve anyone. We will demand an explanation from the Minister of Internal Affairs for this. The return of Serbs in Kosovo must be accompanied with security by the government of Kosovo and Metohija.

KWN recognizes the right to religious worship, as it recognizes the right to public protest and democratic expression of concerns, guaranteed to citizens by the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo. However, the hate speech used by Minister Jabllanovic and the denial of the Republic of Kosovo as an independent country represents a violation of the constitutionality and legality of the Republic of Kosovo.

KWN stands behind and in support of the Mothers of Missing Persons, an organization based in Gjakova that continues to seek information regarding their loved ones who disappeared during the war 16 years ago. Further, KWN continues to uphold that the issue of missing persons should be non-negotiable in the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia.

KWN urges the Government of the Republic of Kosovo to respond as soon as possible and to take action in accordance with the law.

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

MEHP calls for Legalization of Illegal constructions

15.01.2015

On 12 Jan. different activities were organized to inform citizens about property legalization. These activities aimed to raise awareness about the process of registering illegal constructions among citizens, institutions and organizations.
The intention of this initiative is to encourage all citizens to register their illegal constructions before 5 Feb. 2015.
“Two dates that all citizens should remember are 5 Feb. 2015, when the property registration ends, and 11 Mar. 2015, when the lists of all the illegal constructions will be published,” said Shpend Ahmeti, Mayor of Prishtina. “All citizens that don’t find their names on the list will also have the opportunity to fill a complain form. The period of application for legalization starts in Sep 2015, and ends in Mar. 2016.
In 2017 the law will be repealed, therefore this provides a very good opportunity for all the citizens that have constructed properties the past 14 years or earlier to ensure that their construction is according to regulatory plans.
Properties are divided into three categories that will be legalized after the registration procedure. This first phase is free of charge, while the applicants that have all the documents required by section 10 of the Law on Treatment of constructions without permit (2013/04-L-188)have to pay an administrative tax, which the municipality collects for the reregistration of the construction permits. Applicants must also pay the prepaid property tax before they obtain the legalization permit. For more information please visit the web page of the Ministry of Environmental and Hospital Planning.

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

Activists Learn Strategies for Reporting Sexual Harassment

26.12.2014

Sexual harassment in public spaces remains widespread issue in Kosovo, experience suggests. However, it is seldom reported, so no reliable statistics exist. One reason for the absence of data is the lack of knowledge regarding procedures for documenting and reporting cases of sexual harassment. This became particularly apparent during the #TakeBackTheNight campaign against sexual harassment in public spaces, organized by the KWN-supported initiative FemACT (for more information click here).

On 12 Dec., KWN organized an interactive workshop on how to document and report sexual harassment. Participants included KWN members, FemACT activists and representatives from the Peer Educators Network (PEN)and Klubi Bonu Burrë (The Be a Man Club). At the same time, the workshop sought to collect input based on activists’ experiences to better inform recommendations for the the draft law on Anti-discrimination and the draft law on Gender Equality, which are currently being reviewed. KWN plans to provide specific recommendations on these draft laws to the Legal Office in the Office of the Prime Minister of Kosovo.

“It is frequently stated that the legal framework in Kosovo is good and that the problem lies in the lack of implementation only. In this workshop, you will learn about the many shortcomings of the legal framework itself,” said Donjeta Morina, FemACT Coordinator.

Ariana Qosaj-Mustafa, Lead Researcher at the Kosovar Institute for Policy Research and Developent (KIPRED) and simultaneously Chair of the KWN Board; as well as Tahire Haxholli, Lieutenant and Chief of the Sector on Domestic Violence at the Kosovo Police, were the trainers at this workshop.

During her presentation, Ariana Qosaj-Mustafa summarized the relevant laws relating to sexual harassment in Kosovo, including what remains uncovered. “Regardless of how many shortcoming the legal framework in Kosovo has, activists should know that international conventions are directly applicable to Kosovo,” she said. “The Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) is but one example. This means that whenever we deal with a case related to sexual violence we can refer to international standards.” CEDAW, for example, is within the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo and is therefore directly applicable.

Beyond the Constitution, sexual harassment is regulated through the Criminal Code, as well as the following four laws:

· Law 2004/3 on Anti-Discrimination in Kosovo;The purpose of this Law is prevention and combating discrimination, promotion of effective equality and putting into effect the principle of equal treatment of the citizens of Kosovo under the rule of Law.

· Law 2004/2 on Gender Equality in Kosovo; The present law shall preserve, treat and establish gender equality as a fundamental value for the democratic development of the Kosovo society, providing equal opportunities for both female and male participation in the political, economical, social, cultural and other fields of social life.

· Law No. 03/L-142 on Public Peace and Order; The purpose of this law is to regulate personal conduct in order to preserve public peace and order.

· Law No. 03/L-149 on Civil Service of the Republic of Kosovo; This law regulates the status of Civil Servants and the terms and conditions of their employment relationship with the institutions of the central and municipal administrations.

Although different articles of these laws touch upon the issue of sexual harassment, in general sanctions are very low and procedures unclear. The Law on Anti-discrimination is particularly vague: procedures are explained, but it is unclear which institution should implement them.

“In Kosovo, we have ideal laws, but they are not practical,” said Hanife Rushiti, a FemACT activist. Activists agreed that the legal framework, particularly definitions, procedures and sanctions needed to be much clearer in the new laws.

Another concern that has been raised by activists during the recent campaign is that fact that even when sexual harassment is reported to police, officers often do not take reports seriously or know how to handle them. Therefore, Lieutenant Tahire Haxholli informed participants about the Police Inspectorate, a sector of the police where one can complain if one’s requests are not taken seriously by police. For example, if police offers tell you to keep an issue to yourself and not to make a big deal out of it, you can report the police officers to this Sector.

“Victims of sexual violence do not have a specific gender or a specific age; and rape is not an impulsive crime that happens because of the way you are dressed or because you provoke someone,” Haxholli emphasized.

This workshop was supported by the Austrian Development Agency as part of KWN’s efforts to educate activists about the existing legal framework so that they can undertake more informed advocacy both relating to the new legal framework currently being drafted as well as towards the implementation of the current (and future) legal framework related to sexual harassment.

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

Public Debate on the #TakeBackTheNight Campaign

26.12.2014

FemACT organized a public debate in order to discuss and reflect upon the somewhat controversial #TakeBackTheNight campaign. The event was held on 12 Dec. at Dit’ e Nat’ and approximately 46 people attended.
Panelists included Donjeta Morina, FemACT Coordinator at KWN; Eli Krasniqi, activist and sociologist; Linda Gusia, sociologist and professor at the University of Prishtina; and Hajrulla Çeku, activist and Executive Director of organization Ec ma ndryshe. Zana Hoxha-Krasniqi, activist and Executive Director of Artpolis, moderated the discussion.
“The campaign aimed to initiate a discussion around this very widespread phenomenon, which is infrequently discussed in Kosovo,” said Donjeta Morina. “The campaign attracted many reactions: positive as well as negative. The most frequent negative criticism was directed at the hashtag itself: people claimed that a simple hashtag cannot bring about change. Another criticism involved ‘victim-blaming’, with people claiming that women get harassed because they dress ‘provocatively.’”
Hajrulla Çeku stated that this was a very necessary campaign and emphasized the importance of similar campaigns in the future and encouraged the continuation of the campaign. “Personally, I have never walked more than five minutes through public space without witnessing multiple cases of sexual harassment,” he said.
“I was very happy about the campaign,” Eli Krasniqi stated. “There were so many positive aspects of it!” She said that she was thrilled that the word “feminism” was being used publically. The massive resistance that the campaign attracted, she explained, was due to the fact that women’s requests for equality are frequently mistaken as a request for domination.
Linda Gusia noted the importance of “reflecting on what we can do better the next time.” Sexual harassment is deeply connected to control over freedom of movement, she said, as well as tendencies to discipline women’s bodies.
The debate lasted two hours with audience participation. Some men felt excluded by the campaign, though KWN representatives emphasized that this was not KWN’s intent. Others raised concern with using English instead of Albanian as the campaign’s motto, as well as with regard to some of the statements used during the campaign.

18.06.25