Kosovo Women's Network

Kosova Womenâ€™s Networkâ€™s (KWN) bimonthly membersâ€™ meeting held on April 7.

KWN Members get informed about Economic Empowerment Opportunities

04.05.2015

Women’s economic empowerment was a key theme of the Kosova Women’s Network’s (KWN) bimonthly members’ meeting held on April 7. Several special guests from Kosovo institutions and international agencies joined the meeting, sharing information about their programs, towards women’s economic empowerment in Kosovo. KWN sought to inform members regarding the several opportunities available, so that they could share this information with their communities.

Guests who shared information regarding opportunities for women’s economic empowerment included: Xhemajl Syla from the Ministry of Trade and Industry, that aims empowering women in entrepreneurship, Nystrete Doda Gashi, representing the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development, the program for Rural Development and Agriculture that aims raising competitiveness in agriculture and replacing import; creating more jobs; getting closer to EU rules, regulations, standards and policies; protecting environment (by creating garbage spaces and producing renewable energy). Skender Rama USAIDs Empower Private Sector project, that aims increasing competitiveness in growth-ready sectors and facilitate inclusive job creation, while also developing the capacity of local service providers to support the Kosovo private sector. Alida Muhaxhiri from Promoting Private Sector Employment, Swisscontact that mains objectives include, SMEs of the selected sectors increase their productivity and generate additional income and employment; Better organized and empowered SMEs actively influence sector policies and the respective business environment; Barriers for women to access gainful employment are reduced and their decision making power has increased in the sectors in which PPSE operates and Ada Shima from UNDP Active Labor Market programthat main objectives includes self-employment and other programs targeting women.

Afterwards, Igballe Rogova, KWN Executive Director, shared information about the new KWN office, now located at Hajrullah Abdullahu St., no. 25 in Sunny Hill.

Then Nicole Farnsworth, KWN Program Manager, informed participants that KWN is assisting and mentoring different budget organizations on how to implement Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB). She mentioned KWN’s prior work in the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare (MLSW) and the Municipality of Kamenica. This year, KWN has begun cooperation with the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MEST) and the Municipality of Gjakova.

Ms. Farnsworth, also informed participants regarding progress on research on Domestic Violence and Sexual Harassment, supported by the Agency for Gender Equality (AGE) and financed by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA).This important research will seek to inform the new Strategy and National Action Plan (NAP) against Domestic Violence, which is planned to be drafted in 2015.

Members also shared information regarding their organizations and activities. In total, 51 people participated, including KWN members, CSO representatives, representatives from donor organizations/institutions, other representatives from Kosovo institutions and KWN supporters.

This meeting was supported byEuropean Union Office in Kosovo.

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MEST to Utilize Gender Responsive Budgeting

30.03.2015

Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB) is a strategy for the inclusion of a gender perspective throughout the budget process. Considering the novelty of institutionalizing GRB in Kosovo, as well as the limited expertise in this field, the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN), has begun offering mentoring and assistance to various budget organizations on how to implement GRB.

This year, KWN is collaborating with the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology (MEST) to integrate a gender perspective in MEST budget processes and fiscal policies.

On March 27, KWN held an initial introductory GRB workshop at MEST. In total, 22 participants attended, including heads and directors of various departments and divisions, and budget officers. The opening remarks of the workshop were made by MEST Secretary General Xhavit Dakaj and KWN Executive Director Igballe Rogova.

In his opening remarks, Secretary Xhavit Dakaj expressed his delight in cooperating with KWN, and emphasized the importance of GRB. KWN Executive Director Igballe Rogova stated, “We are very happy to be collaborating with MEST. MEST is considered a leading institution, and we hope that our successful cooperation will set a positive example for other Ministries.”

Following the opening remarks, Donjeta Morina and Nicole Farnsworth held an introductory workshop on GRB. The presentation included the legal framework, definitions, and very practical examples.

“There are two widespread misunderstandings concerning GRB that frequently lead to budget organizations being hesitant towards implementing it,” said Donjeta Morina during the workshop. “These include the belief that GRB is for women only, and that GRB requires additional funds.” She explained why these two assumptions are incorrect.

Finally, the department leaders and budget officers contributed with examples of how gender equality could be furthered within their own departments.

This was only the first step in the process of institutionalizing GRB in MEST. Next week, Coordinator Donjeta Morina will meet with all department leaders individually to gain access to qualitative and quantitative data. The data will be used in a publication to be released later this year with concrete recommendations for the Ministry’s budget documents. A similar process was followed last year with the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, supported by GIZ.

This workshop and KWN’s cooperation with MEST is supported by the Austrian Development Agency.

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National Council Completes Secondary Legislation for Sexual Violence Survivors

30.03.2015

The National Council on Survivors of Sexual Violence during the War held a three-day workshop during which a Government Working Group drafted and finalized the necessary bylaws for recognition and verification of the status of victims of sexual violence during the war.

Representatives of the Office of the President of the Republic of Kosovo, the Legal Office in the Office of the Prime Minister, the Kosovo Rehabilitation Centre for Torture Victims (KRCT), the Kosovo Women’s Network, and other institutions responsible for implementing this law participated.

The workshop supported the preparation documents that will enable persons who suffered sexual violence during the war to apply for assistance as foreseen by the Law for Status and the Rights of Status and the Rights of Martyrs, Invalids, Veterans, Member of Kosova Liberation Army, Persons Raped during the War and their Families. This included identifying reference mechanisms for the recognition and verification of the status of survivors of sexual violence based on the International Protocol Documentation and Investigation as well as best practices from the region. Under the law, they shall have access to personal pensions among other benefits.

During this workshop, actors emphasized that this process must involve a professional approach that safeguards the dignity of beneficiaries.

The documentation and recommendations resulting from this workshop will support the finalization of bylaws necessary for implementing the aforementioned Law, which states the legal rights of sexual violence survivors. This workshop was supported by the British Embassy.

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Kosovo Marks Week of Women 2015

30.03.2015

For the fourth year, the National Democratic Institution (NDI) with support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) organized Week of Women. Topics discussed this year included the importance of the rule of law and the role of the law in women’s political and social life.

Women from politics, activists from civil society, media representatives and representatives from public institutions and universities participated.

During the five-day event several topics were discussed: property rights and inheritance; women’s access to property rights; the legal framework and challenges with implementing laws; the role of women in fighting corruption; women in the security sector; and the rehabilitation of survivors of sexual violence perpetrated during the war.

On the last day, panellists on the topic of rehabilitation for survivors of sexual violence informed participants that the President’s National Council on Survivors of Sexual Violence during the War has continued its mandate for another year. Further, more progress was made during the prior year than in the last 15 years on this sensitive issue. Panellists discussed steps taken to ensure the implementation of the law on psycho-social rehabilitation, health and economic empowerment, access to justice and to raise awareness among citizens regarding the rights of survivors of sexual violence perpetrated during the war.

“Unfortunately the exact number of people who suffered sexual violence during the war is unknown, but we think that it is around 20,000,” said Feride Rushiti, Executive Director of the Kosovo Rehabilitation Centre for Torture Victims (KRCT). She informed participants that this Centre continues to offer help for people who suffered sexual violence during the war, regardless of the age, sex or ethnicity.

“Now we have the support of the law that we requested, and we have an obligation to organize awareness raising campaigns to inform survivors of sexual violence that legal mechanisms exists and they can access them,” said Igballe Rogova, KWN Executive Director and a member of the National Council on Survivors of Sexual Violence during the War. “We have the law’s protection. Now we need justice,” she said.

The Week of Women ended with a ceremony during which the 1,000 participants received certificates.

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British Embassy, Key Actors Discuss Women’s Economic Empowerment

17.03.2015

In a discussion organized by the British Embassy at Union Café in Prishtina on 5 Mar., several organizations, practitioners, institutions and officials gathered to discuss women’s economic empowerment in Kosovo.
Ariana Qosaj-Mustafa, Chair of the Board, raised several issues on behalf of the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) during the meeting. A crucial issue undermining women’s labour market participation is the lack of affordable childcare facilities, which hinders women in particular from entering the workforce due to social norms according to which women should care for children, among other family members. Opening more affordable day care centres could both provide employment opportunities for women and enable more women to work.
Qosaj-Mustafa also emphasized the importance of municipal Economic Development Plans being aligned with the Government’s planned economic development and employment plan. All should include a gender perspective. She expressed concern that drafting the governmental plan in only six months was problematic as the timeframe is very short for proper planning. She also emphasized the importance of setting aside sufficient budget for plans to be implemented and of ensuring gender responsive budgeting within plans.
The Government of Kosovo could take additional proactive measures towards increasing employment among women. For example, implementing a quota in the hiring of women and men under the subventions budget line of the government could contribute to employment among women who currently tend to be under-represented, particularly in decision-making positions, she said. This would be in line with the Law on Gender Equality, which foresees 40% participation of each gender within all institutions and at all levels.
“Relegating women to lower positions or even outside the private sphere transfers to the public sphere,” Qosaj-Mustafa said. “We have seen this in that very few women have been selected to lead ministries, for example. The Law on Gender Equality is not being implemented.”
KWN looks forward to collaborating with institutions and organizations working on women’s economic empowerment and economic development towards ensuring that Kosovo’s particular social, economic and political context are sufficiently considered in planning and implementing programs.

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New sub-legal act to Serve as Affirmative Action towards Women’s Property Rights

12.03.2015

Yesterday KWN Chair of the Board Ariana Qosaj-Mustafa took part in a discussion on initiating the process of drafting the Administrative Instruction for Registration of Property in the Name of Both Spouses, organized by the Agency for Gender Equality in the Office of the Prime Minister of Kosovo to mark 8 Mar., International Women’s Day. The discussion surrounded an Administrative Instruction that would relieve spouses from taxes and fees affiliated with registering property. The affirmative action would seek to encourage the joint registration of property, which would benefit women in particular.

At present, only 16.5% of property in Kosovo is registered in women’s names and/or as jointly owned property. Women’s significantly unequal ownership of property prevents women from accessing bank loans and hinders their broader economic empowerment.

While the Government of Kosovo will soon be drafting new civil code and the EU-funded Civil and Property Rights Project implemented by GIZ are reviewing the present legal framework related to property rights for existing challenges, this Administrative Instruction is an affirmative measure seeking to serve as a short-term solution to women’s lack of access to property. Such short-term affirmative actions towards furthering gender equality are foreseen in the Law on Gender Equality.

“Usage and the right to own the property remains an important factor for economic empowerment of women,” AGE stated at the start of the event. “Possession or non-possession of property directly affects the possibility of obtaining loans and starting [a] business that would bring sustainable employment and economic stability for women and girls. The property right is a fundamental right guaranteed by the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo, as the highest legal act of the country, as well as by the laws in force such as: Law on Gender Equality, Law on Family, Law on Inheritance, Law on Property and the Law against Discrimination.”

Indeed the Law on Gender Equality foresees the possibility of taking special measures, including interim affirmative measures, in order to further women’s rights. In this case, the Administrative Instruction would serve as a temporary measure to stimulate and offer opportunities for registering property in women’s names, as co-owners of immobile property.

“This is the sort of affirmative measure foreseen by the Law on Gender Equality that KWN has been waiting for,” said Qosaj-Mustafa. “KWN supports the Administrative Instruction, which can contribute to women’s access to credit and women’s economic empowerment. Women’s access to property will contribute to better suited women in families, wealthier families and economic development.”

While AGE has considered that the time period for this Administrative Instruction would be three months, KWN requested that it last at least one year in order to be implementable. “The measure would need to be accompanied by awareness-raising about the Instructio and other steps that take time,” Qosaj-Mustafa said.

KWN also has emphasized that the Administrative Instruction should also waive fees for single women to register property (not only couples), as they too lack opportunities and should not be discriminated against due to their marital status.

AGE will initiate the process of drafting the Administrative Instruction shortly, and KWN hopes to continue its involvement in this process.

Other speakers at the discussion included AGE Chief Executive Officer Edona Hajrullahu, AGE Chief of the Division for Legislation Leonora Selmani, Chair of the Parliamentary Commission on Human Rights, Gender Equality, Missing Persons and Petitions Lirije Kajtazi, Chief Executive Officer of the Kosovo Cadastral Agency Murat Meha and Sefedin Blakaj, Notary.

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Rogova Addresses EU Parliament on Women in Decision-making, Visa Liberation

11.03.2015

Igballe Rogova, Executive Director, one of the was key speakers on behalf of the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) at an inter-parliamentary conference on the “Political Participation of Women in the Western Balkans and Turkey”, held at the European Parliament in Brussels on 4 Mar,.

During the session on “Improving the number of women in decision-making in the enlargement countries: Best practices from the region,” Rogova provided an overview of the history of women’s participation in Kosovo, noting the more equal participation of women and men in decision-making during the 1990s.

“Women did things that men did not dare to do at that time,” she said. “Women were brave.”

However, after the war, women had to start over in their struggle for equal participation in politics, largely due to the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), which promoted men leaders under the false pretense that Kosovo was a patriarchal country that lacked capable women leaders.

Amid these challenges, in the last 15 years women’s rights activists in Kosovo did not give up. They pushed for a quota for women’s participation within the electoral laws. They supported the establishment of the Law on Gender Equality, and they advocated for the Agency for Gender Equality (AGE) to be placed at the highest decision-making level, the Office of the Prime Minister of Kosovo, so that it could mainstream gender throughout all institutions in Kosovo while reviewing laws and policies at the central level to ensure a gender perspective. Activists have collaborated with parliamentary women, primarily through the Women’s Caucus, to advocate on issues of joint concern.

Now KWN has shifted its focus slightly, collaborating more with women municipal assembly members, gender equality officers, women in civil society and men supporters at the municipal level through the Lobby for Gender Equality. The Lobby seeks to advocate for gender equality at the local level, to share experiences and to collaborate on national campaigns.

“We cannot only think about Prishtina,” Rogova said, “but we must think about the entire country.”

Rogova also spoke about the European Union’s work in Kosovo.

“The EU is encouraging and financing regional cooperation, but at the same time has imprisoned Kosovo because visa liberalization was granted to all countries except Kosovo,” she said.“The lack of visa liberalization affects everyone, includingwomen’s rights activists who need to travel but whose freedom of movement is limited.” She called upon the EU to rapidly reconsider its discriminatory position on visa liberalization for Kosovo which was making the people of Kosovo feel imprisioned.

Other delegations from pre-accession countries also participated in the conference, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania, Serbia and Turkey. In addition to Rogova, other members of the Kosovo delegation included four women parliamentarians. Members of the European Parliament, European Commission, European Institute for Gender Equality, embassies and NGOs also took part.

The conference was followed by a dinner hosted by European Parliament Vice-President, Ulrike Lunacek.

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Kosovo Marks 8 March with Advocacy, Empowerment

10.03.2015

This 8 Mar., members of the Kosovo Lobby for Gender Equality set aside flowers and opted out of lunches, focusing instead on advocating for and raising awareness about women’s rights within their municipalities. Lobby members brought to the fore the fact that International Women’s Day is about the historical and ongoing struggle for women’s rights in Kosovo and beyond. They hosted a series of events including screening the film “Iron Jawed Angels” about U.S. suffragists’ struggle to vote; visiting women imprisoned in the Lipjan women’s prison; marching and hosting demonstrations at the municipal level on various issues related to women’s rights; and meeting institutions towards improving services for women.

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Women face obstacles at all levels of political processes

09.03.2015

Voter turnout and political candidates are usually analyzed when assessing women’s participation in elections and political processes. The International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES) has launched a new report that instead analyzes the participation of women in election commissions, polling station commissions and polling center management.

Ultimately, the report highlights the lack of women’s participation in all levels of elections, not just as political candidates. This marks the second time a similar report is published; the first was launched after the 2010 elections.

Some of the findings of the report include:

Women comprised a small proportion of elections staff, particularly among management positions.
The percentage of field positions in the Municipal Election Commissions, Polling Station Commissions and Polling Station Managers has slightly increased from 17% in 2013 to 20% in 2014.
Similar to the 2013 elections, the proportion of election staff who are women is significantly higher in the four northern municipalities than the average for Kosovo.
Of the major political entities involved in the 2014 elections, the Democratic League of Kosovo (Lidhje Demokratike e Kosoves – LDK) nominated the lowest proportion of women to municipal and polling stations election staff positions at 11%. Further, LDK had no women representatives on Municipal Election Commissions.
Of the major Albanian political entities, the New Kosovo Alliance (Aleanca Kosova e Re – AKR) nominated the highest percentage of women to municipal and polling station election staff positions at 28%, followed by the Self-Determination Movement (Levizja Vetevendosje – LVV) at 24%.

After the presentation, Ismet Kryeziu, Executive Director of the Kosovo Democratic Institute, reflected on the results, stating, “Political parties have not managed to develop internal democracy and have not succeeded in promoting diversity within their parties. As the results of the report show, they have not been able to surpass patriarchal norms.”

Further, following the launch of this report, IFES wants to initiate an advocacy campaign to improve the perception of women in politics. This will be done with support from local civil society organizations.

The research and publication of the report was supported by USAID.

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KWN Condemns Portrayal of Women, Children in Media

09.03.2015

International Women’s Day, 8 March, serves as a remembrance of women’s efforts to achieve equality, peace and justice. This is a day when women are recognized worldwide for their achievements, without regard to their national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic or political differences. It further provides an opportunity to reflect on challenges and successes, and most importantly, to plan ahead.

In 2015, the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) marks this day by condemning the inappropriate portrayal of women, girls and children in online media.

Rather than contributing to increasing citizens’ awareness on gender equality, several media platforms in Kosovo publish articles and videos that breach the Code of Conduct for Audiovisual Media in the Republic of Kosovo, as well as the Law on Gender Equality Nr. 2004/2 15.3. They particularly breach Article 15.3. of the latter, which prohibits “the public presentation of an individual in an offensive, degrading, or humiliating manner because of gender identity or sexual orientation”.

Media platforms should be able to differentiate between news and opinion; news refers to facts, while opinions refer to personal thoughts and comments. Offensive comments should not be posted on online media, since that is strictly prohibited by the aforementioned legislation. Nevertheless, some media platforms in Kosovo continue to comment on women politician’s physical appearance, regardless of their positions. Not even the President of Kosovo has remained immune from sexist and misogynistic comments by some unprofessional media platforms.

In prior years we have witnessed several degrading portrayals of women and girls as sexual objects on many media platforms. Most online media in Kosovo continuously make use of biased and discriminatory language which result in the stereotyping of women. According to Article10of the Code of Conduct for Audiovisual media in Kosovo, this is strictly prohibited; it states that “using degrading language, with the objective of hurting or threatening an individual on basis of ethnic, religious, gender, racial, marital, age or mental and physical disability is forbidden.”

Further, according to Article 9, of theCode of Conduct of Audiovisual Media, “the presentation or publication of programs and materials which refer to children and youth should conform to all legislation and regulations on audio-visual transmission.” However, some Kosovo media have misused children. A recent examples is the emission of a three-year-old child dancing very age-inappropriately while imitating the dancer ‘Kallashi’.

KWN requests that the Independent Media Commission and the Institute of Media in Kosovo closely monitor media. In accordance with the Code of Conduct of Audiovisual Media, they should penalize platforms that breach the Code and other gender equality standards.

The Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) mission is to support, protect and promote the rights and the interests of women and girls throughout Kosovo, regardless of their political beliefs, religion, age, level of education, sexual orientation and ability. KWN fulfills its mission through the exchange of experience and information, partnership and networking, research, advocacy, and service.

As a Network of 89 women’s organization from all ethnic groups in Kosovo, KWN advocates in their name on local, regional and international levels.

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