Kosovo Women's Network

KWN Participates in Workshop Reviewing Human Rights Draft Laws

04.12.2014

On 12, 13, and 14 Nov., representatives from civil society, international organizations and legal gathered for a very important workshop in Peja: to review three human rights-related draft laws. This included the draft law on protection against discrimination, the Law on Gender Equality and the Law on the Ombudsperson. Donjeta Morina represented KWN’s consolidated comments at the meeting.
     Among the comments, KWN requested that gender equality officers in ministries and municipalities be placed at the highest decision-making level (and not within human resource departments). This is important so that they can mainstream gender in all policies, plans, programs, budgets and work of the institutions in which they serve (which is not possible from a human resource position).
    Second, KWN called for the Law on Gender Equality to more clearly set forth mechanisms for reporting violations of the law and more stringent sanctions for violations of the law. At present, the Law offers little benefit or compensation to persons seeking to report gender-based discrimination. The lack of teeth for    enforcement in the current Law has been noted as a potential hindrance to its implementation.     Third, KWN requested that the Law include proper definitions of the terms women/female and men/male. The definitions of the former (socially-determined gender roles) and latter (biological sex) were frequently confused within the Law. KWN also recommended clarifying terminology relating to transgender persons, gender identity, gender and biological sex. The other laws also had issues with phrasing from a gender perspective. For example, the ombudsperson was frequently referred to as “Ombudsman” and “he”. Participants requested that these mistakes be corrected.
“Reviewing these three draft laws together is very important,” said Besim M. Kajtazi, Director of the Legal Office in the Office of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, who moderated the first two days of the workshop. “These three laws represent one single package for Human Rights. The quality of this package is very important, especially since it’s one of the criteria set by the EU for visa liberalization.”     On the second day, participants discussed the draft Law on Gender Equality. The third day was moderated by Mr. Baki Gimolli, acting director of the legal department within the Ministry of Justice.
Each law was reviewed article by article. Most recommendations that were given, when collectively agreed upon, were integrated into the draft law immediately.

“It is great that our comments are being seriously integrated in some of the draft laws. This gives us hope for the future and more sustainable cooperation between government institutions and civil society,” said Ardiana Osmani, a representative from CiviKos.

Whether all comments will be incorporated remains to be seen.

08.10.25

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KWN Members, Board and Staff Unite for Women’s Rights during Three-day Strategic Planning Retreat

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Young Women Advocate to EU in Brussels for Better Attention to Gender Equality

04.12.2014

During meetings held with European Union (EU) officials in Brussels, young women from Kosovo encouraged the EU to ensure that Progress Reports and EU programs adequately mainstream gender. They also requested for the EU to make public most impact analyses. Requiring that men and women benefit equally from all EU-funded projects would make the EU a better role model for Kosovar institutions, they said .
The meetings took place as part of a study visit during which approximately 15 young women gathered in Brussels from 10 to 14 Nov. to advocate to EU institutions from a gender perspective. KWN’s Zana Rudi took part.
Organized by Kvinna till Kvinna (KtK), this study visit brought together young women from the western Balkans (Kosovo, Albania, Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia and Bosnia Herzegovina), facilitating national and regional collaboration among women’s groups related to the progress report process.
The first two days focused on EU policies and methods to use in providing input to progress reports through shadow reports. Tidita Fshazi, Expert in European and International Law, explained step by step the EU enlargement process, considering each country’s current situation. She assisted young women to prepare main points to be raised in meetings with EU officials.
The next three days, the group met with various institutions to advocate their concerns. They met the European Parliament Committee for Foreigner Affairs, European Parliament Committee for Gender Equality, European Peacebuilding Liaison Office and representatives of the Netherlands in the EU, among others. Young women presented their concerns and priorities, offering recommendations.

08.10.25

Raising Awareness on GBV and TFGBV through Forum Theatre at “Xhevdet Doda” School

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KWN Members, Board and Staff Unite for Women’s Rights during Three-day Strategic Planning Retreat

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Weapons Production: The Elephant in the Room?

04.12.2014

The continued production of weapons, including with taxpayer monies, is contributing to insecurity at home and abroad.
“We have an elephant in the room,” said Igballe Rogova, KWN Executive Director. “When will we stop pretending it’s not there? We can see it.”
Rogova was addressing an audience including representatives from European ministries of defence, diplomats, former parliamentarians and academics during a discussion on “Europe at Risk 2.0: new Paradigms for European Security” in Vienna on Nov. 24-25.
The “elephant in the room” is the financial interests behind the production of weapons. In rooms in which security is discussed, these financial interests are often ignored or obscured. Talk around the Women,
Peace and Security agenda that followed the passage of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 in 2000 also has said little about the financial interests involved in war and the production of weapons, which continue to undermine women’s (and men’s security).
Officials have told KWN off-the-record that they support more public discussion surrounding this issue, but that they themselves are not in a position to speak about it openly or publicly.
In speaking about security, Rogova explained that as long as taxpayers’ money is prioritized for military spending and infrastructure projects such as roads (as in Kosovo), people’s human security is undermined.
“So long as money is spent on roads and military, it is not spent on education, healthcare, childcare or care for the elderly,” Rogova said. “When people live in poverty and are disenfranchised, when people lack human security, this opens the door to ethnic hatreds and religious extremism, which aggressors use in order to maintain power, for their own financial interests. This leads to insecurity: not only growing involvement in terrorist organizations, but human insecurity as well: a general lack of wellbeing in terms of health, education and opportunities.”
She called upon decision-makers to stop seeing security in military terms and to stop funding the manufacturing of all forms of weapons with taxpayer monies.
During her remarks, Rogova also spoke about visa liberalization. Europe is not respecting Kosovars’ right to freedom of movement, she said, which has several negative consequences. “Kosovo is a ghetto,” she said. “Even activists cannot travel and speak about their experiences because they lack freedom of movement.”
The discussion was organized by the Bruno Kreisky Forum for International Dialogue, Centre for Liberal Strategies and Directorate for Security Policy of the Austrian Federal Ministry for Defence and Sports. Rogova raised similar issues during a symposium weeks earlier, on Nov. 3-4, entitled “Enhancing Women’s Share in Peace and Security” in Vienna, also organized by the Bruno Kreisky Forum for International Dialogue.

08.10.25

Raising Awareness on GBV and TFGBV through Forum Theatre at “Xhevdet Doda” School

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“Door to Door” for Change: NRAEWOK Empowers Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian Communities Against Gender-Based Violence

30.09.25

KWN Members, Board and Staff Unite for Women’s Rights during Three-day Strategic Planning Retreat

29.09.25

Women’s Center “ATO” Brings Reproductive Health Education to Rural Kosovo

29.09.25

EKW Supports Healthcare for Marginalized Communities in Fushe Kosovo

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Ura Sociale Empowers Youth to Speak Up Against Sexual Harassment

75 CSO Members Commit to Register Property

04.12.2014

During the KWN retreat in Durres from 7-10 Nov, 75 CSO representatives signed a joint declaration committing to register property in their names, as well as to encourage women in their communities and to work with their staff members to register property in their names.
The initiative was related to the “For our common good” campaign, which aims to raise awareness among citizens in the Republic of Kosovo regarding women’s right to register property.
In addition to taking part in the “For our common good” campaign, KWN members also learned about the important process of registering illegal constructions. A representative from the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning informed members about legalizing illegally constructed objects.
Illegal constructions (house, buildings, etc.) can be legalized until 5 Feb. 2015. They explained the steps that should be taken to secure a permit for legalization.
Legalizing illegal constructions is crucial, they said, because:

Your constructed object becomes legal and safe for habitation or use;
The first step is taken towards registering your building in the Cadastre;
Your constructed object may serve as collateral to obtain loans from banks;
Your municipality will plan and deliver services that you need;
You will not have to worry that your constructed object may be torn down.

“If you do not register your non-permitted constructed object, you will lose the opportunity to legalize the constructed object,” said MESP representative.
To apply for legalization of illegal constructions, you should complete a standard form which can be found on the website of your municipality and the website of the Ministry, or you can obtain it in person in your municipality. The completed form should be submitted along with the required documents and evidence of tax payments in the amount of one hundred (100) euros. Only completed applications will be reviewed. Therefore, you must make sure that all documents required by section 10 of the Law on Treatment of constructions without permit (2013/04-L-188)are submitted. This is a unique and important opportunity to register illegal property before its too late!
The “For our common good” campaign is being organized under the patronage of the Office of the President of the Republic of Kosovo, Mrs. Jahjaga, and is supported by the Agency for Gender Equality (AGE) in the Office of the Prime Minister. Several other international organizations and non-governmental organizations including KWN are involved in the campaign coalition, which has been coordinated by GIZ.
In 2014, only 16.2% of persons registering property were women, and women own only 8.1% of property in Kosovo. Women’s access to property is not only a right guaranteed by law, but also a crucial prerequisite for women’s wellbeing, access to finance and independence.

08.10.25

Raising Awareness on GBV and TFGBV through Forum Theatre at “Xhevdet Doda” School

08.10.25

“Door to Door” for Change: NRAEWOK Empowers Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian Communities Against Gender-Based Violence

30.09.25

KWN Members, Board and Staff Unite for Women’s Rights during Three-day Strategic Planning Retreat

29.09.25

Women’s Center “ATO” Brings Reproductive Health Education to Rural Kosovo

29.09.25

EKW Supports Healthcare for Marginalized Communities in Fushe Kosovo

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Kosovo Lobby for Gender Equality Established

03.12.2014

Since 2010, the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) has supported Gender Equality Advocacy Groups (GEAG) in several Kosovo municipalities. During the third GEAG meeting, “Women Advocate in Local and Central Level,” on 21-23 Nov. in Struga, Macedonia, 64 women from politics and civil society from 17 municipalities established the Kosovo Lobby for Gender Equality with a declaration signed by all participants. The establishment of the Lobby provides space for men and boys of Kosovo who support equal rights between women and men to join the movement in support of gender equality in Kosovo.
GEAG representatives reported several advocacy achievements within their municipalities in 2014: informal education for women and girls; employment and self-employment of women; increased participation of women on municipal committees; support for women farmers and businesses; providing mammographies and free check-ups for breast cancer; financing shelters; and the start-up of a reintegration program for gender-based violence survivors. KWN has been supporting their advocacy initiatives towards achieving these aims, among others, in 2014.
Afterwards, participants divided into groups based on their municipalities to identify three issues for which they will advocate in 2015. Some of the planned initiatives include: raise awareness among women for them to exercise their right to participate in budget policy making; ensure regular, free health check-ups; build day care centres and homes for elderly persons where they do not exist; support women in business; advance women’s position in decision-making; advocate, lobby and monitor the implementation of planned gender responsive budgeting; and support women farmers and their access to support for agriculture.
During the meeting, Igballe Rogova, KWN Executive Director, also presented the new KWN Strategy for 2015-2018. Participants discussed in particular KWN’s program “Empowering women in politics and decision-making”.
"KWN’s Strategy includes in a very detailed and clear way all of KWN’s work for the three coming years,” said a participant. “And it is a huge work, so all that is left for us to do is to support you and give our contributions towards achieving it.”
     Further, Nicole Farnsworth, KWN Program Manager, presented on the topic of “Institutionalizing gender responsive budgeting,” offering participants specific techniques and examples. Participants received a Practical Guide handbook by KWN on how to carry out gender responsive budgeting at the local level (printing funded by GIZ).
     “The presentation was very much needed and clear,” said one participant. “Therefore I think the same one should be presented to other officials, in municipalities and ministries throughout Kosovo.”
     This meeting was supported by Austrian Development Agency (ADA) towards empowering more women’s participation in politics and decision-making.

08.10.25

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08.10.25

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30.09.25

KWN Members, Board and Staff Unite for Women’s Rights during Three-day Strategic Planning Retreat

29.09.25

Women’s Center “ATO” Brings Reproductive Health Education to Rural Kosovo

29.09.25

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29.09.25

Ura Sociale Empowers Youth to Speak Up Against Sexual Harassment

KWN Receives EU Support for First Time

03.12.2014

The Kosova Women’s Network (KWN) is pleased to officially announce that on 12 Nov., for the first time, we signed a contract with the European Union (EU) Office in Kosovo.
The two-year “Strengthening Women-led Civil Society Organisations in Kosovo” Initiative is set to begin on 1 Jan. 2015 and to continue through 31 Dec. 2016. The purpose of the project is to strengthen local civil society organizations’ (CSOs) capacities; increase participation; and improve quality of input in decision and policy making processes at the local level.

Through this initiative, KWN will achieve the following expected results:

1. KWN members will be better able to plan, fundraise for, and undertake effective advocacy initiatives at the local level
2. KWN members will involve more women in decision-making processes, particularly in rural areas and from minority or marginalized groups

KWN will achieve these aims through interactive workshops and individualized mentoring for its members; bimonthly meetings; transparently distributing at least 25 grants to women-led CSOs amounting to €100,000; networking; awareness-raising; and advocacy.

The EU’s support will be crucial in contributing to the implementation of KWN’s recently adopted Strategy for 2015-2018.

08.10.25

Raising Awareness on GBV and TFGBV through Forum Theatre at “Xhevdet Doda” School

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KWN Members, Board and Staff Unite for Women’s Rights during Three-day Strategic Planning Retreat

29.09.25

Women’s Center “ATO” Brings Reproductive Health Education to Rural Kosovo

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KWN, ADA Sign Three-year Contract to Advance Women’s Rights in Kosovo

28.11.2014

On 27 November 2014, The Austrian Development Agency (ADA) and the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) announced their continued cooperation for three years via the “Advancing Women’s Rights Initiative”.

Mr. Karlheinz Kopf, the Vice President of the Austrian Parliament; Christian Geosits, Head of Office of ADA in Kosovo; Igballe Rogova, Executive Director of KWN; and Ariana Qosaj-Mustafa, Chair of the KWN Board of Directors, spoke at a press conference yesterday, announcing this continued cooperation. Mr. Johann Brieger, the Ambassador of Austria in Kosovo also attended.

“On behalf of our parliament, allow me to say that we are very happy that our state is supporting the agenda of women’s issues in Kosovo. With this cooperation, today we are opening a new chapter,” said Mr. Karlheinz Kopf. “To have an open society, we need women also to have important decision-making positions. That is why it is important to have organizations such as yours that create opportunities for women. When we support KWN, we are supporting all women and girls of Kosovo.”

The contract was officially signed by Christian Geosits, ADA Head of Office in Kosovo and Igballe Rogova, KWN Executive Director.

“One of the main issues where ADA works is advancing women’s rights,” said Christian Geosits. “We work with partners where we know that the outcome will be what we were hoping for in the beginning. We found a very strong, I think the strongest actor in this country for women’s rights in the Kosovo Women’s Network.”

The Advancing Women’s Rights Initiative is set to begin on 15 December 2014 and to continue through 31 December 2017. The purpose of the project is to improve the capacities of women-led civil society organizations (CSOs) and public officials in supporting, protecting and promoting women’s and girls’ rights and interests. Through this initiative, KWN will achieve the following expected results:

Women-led CSOs will have formed, cooperated in coalitions towards and engaged with officials in rights-based advocacy.
Women’s participation in politics and decision-making in municipal and national levels will be further increased and improved, as per the Law on Gender Equality.
Awareness of and attention to addressing gender-based violence will be improved among officials and citizens.

KWN will achieve these aims through interactive workshops and individualized mentoring for its members and public officials (including towards institutionalizing gender responsive budgeting); transparently distributing at least 29 grants to women-led CSOs amounting to €122,000; networking; awareness-raising; research; and advocacy.

ADA’s support will be crucial in contributing to the implementation of KWN’s recently adopted Strategy for 2015-2018. Further, it will build on key results achieved during ADA’s prior two years of supporting KWN.

08.10.25

Raising Awareness on GBV and TFGBV through Forum Theatre at “Xhevdet Doda” School

08.10.25

“Door to Door” for Change: NRAEWOK Empowers Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian Communities Against Gender-Based Violence

30.09.25

KWN Members, Board and Staff Unite for Women’s Rights during Three-day Strategic Planning Retreat

29.09.25

Women’s Center “ATO” Brings Reproductive Health Education to Rural Kosovo

29.09.25

EKW Supports Healthcare for Marginalized Communities in Fushe Kosovo

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Feminist Forum FemACT Organizes March against Sexual Harassment in Public Spaces, as part of #TakeBackTheNight Campaign

27.11.2014

29 November 2014, 20:00
In front of National Theatre, Prishtina, Kosovo

On 29 Nov., in front of the National Theatre in Prishtina at 20:00, The Feminist Forum FemACT, a Kosova Women’s Network (KWN) supported initiative, will organize a march against sexual harassment in public spaces.

On 22 Nov. the Feminist Forum FemACT initiated a debate in social media as part of the campaign #TakeBackTheNight (#NataËshtëEJona), and this debate will continue until 29 Nov., when the march will take place.

Through this campaign, the Feminist Forum FemACT has achieved to trigger different reactions: positive and negative. The unification and mobilizing of women and girls, men and boys, regardless of their age and profession, is very inspiring for everyone who supported #TakeBackTheNight by posting different quotations about sexual harassment on their Facebook statuses each day.

We invite you to join us in the march that will be held on 29 Nov. at 20:00 in front of the National Theatre.

The Strategy of KWN includes a program for empowering young women and girls to participate more in the women’s movement. As part of this program, the group “femACT – we go beyond talking” was founded. It consists of many young feminists and activists from different regions of Kosovo. FemACT is open for everyone, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity or religion.

FemACT is a platform where young women feminists and men feminists can share information and organize public actions towards gender equality. Also, it offers a space for discussions related to feminism, societal issues in Kosovo related to gender, as well as mobilizing for different causes of great importance. FemACT is a combination of a discussion group and action group. Its main mission is to raise awareness of the population and institutions about issues relating to gender equality present in Kosovo’s society.

08.10.25

Raising Awareness on GBV and TFGBV through Forum Theatre at “Xhevdet Doda” School

08.10.25

“Door to Door” for Change: NRAEWOK Empowers Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian Communities Against Gender-Based Violence

30.09.25

KWN Members, Board and Staff Unite for Women’s Rights during Three-day Strategic Planning Retreat

29.09.25

Women’s Center “ATO” Brings Reproductive Health Education to Rural Kosovo

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EKW Supports Healthcare for Marginalized Communities in Fushe Kosovo

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Ura Sociale Empowers Youth to Speak Up Against Sexual Harassment

About Kosovo Lobby for Gender Equality

27.11.2014

Since 2010, the Kosova Women’s Network (KWN) has supported the activities of Gender Equality Advocacy Groups (GEAG) in different municipalities of Kosova. The third GEAGs’ meeting marked the establishment of Kosovo Lobby for Gender Equality, with a declaration signed by all participants.

The etablishment of the Lobby provides space for men and boys of Kosovo who support equal rights between women and men, to join the group.

Members of this Lobby can be women and men, boys and girls, from throughout Kosovo who share this vision, regardless of political party affiliation, gender, age, ethnicity, ability, religion, geographic location, level of education, or socioeconomic status.

Lobby groups continue to operate at the municipal level and have selected issues on which they will advocate in 2015 towards gender equality. They will also collaborate for national level advocacy initiatives.

For further details, please contact info@womensnetwork.org

08.10.25

Raising Awareness on GBV and TFGBV through Forum Theatre at “Xhevdet Doda” School

08.10.25

“Door to Door” for Change: NRAEWOK Empowers Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian Communities Against Gender-Based Violence

30.09.25

KWN Members, Board and Staff Unite for Women’s Rights during Three-day Strategic Planning Retreat

29.09.25

Women’s Center “ATO” Brings Reproductive Health Education to Rural Kosovo

29.09.25

EKW Supports Healthcare for Marginalized Communities in Fushe Kosovo

29.09.25

Ura Sociale Empowers Youth to Speak Up Against Sexual Harassment

CSOs Learn Techniques on “How to Approach Media”

25.11.2014

During the workshop “How to Approach Media?”, led by Xheraldina Buçinca Vula, Deputy Director of RTV21, paricipants learned techniques regarding when and how to approach media. Also, attention was paid to methods of expression, modes of creation, management, promotion and dissemination of information, as well as the code of conduct in media appearances. Participants also learned about skills, types, dynamics and styles of communication.
“Today when the media plays such a big role in society, where 90% of the information comes precisely from them, communication skills have a great importance,” said Xheraldina Buçinca Vula during the workshop. “Whether you develop a simple or short interview, if you receive a statement or do a stand-up, or read on microphone or camera a message for journalists, you must be a person with whom the audience feels good and believes in.”
Given the dynamics of technology development and the place of social networks, participants also discussed how these networks operate, why should they be used to promote organizations’ work and how to use them well.
“Media presentation and the forwarding of information to the public through the media is very important for promoting the work of organizations,” said one participant. “This workshop offered us the opportunity to learn many new things in this area. We will undoubtedly use it in our everyday work.”

08.10.25