Women’s Chamber Recognizes Women Entrepreneurs

30.05.2014

In an effort to promote and increase women’s entrepreneurship in Kosovo, the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Women’ Economic Chamber of the Kosovo-G7 recognized Kosovo’s most successful women entrepreneurs. The main prize, the “Successful Businesswoman” award, was given to Fatmire Maliqi, Sevdije Hajrullahu, Zamire Hyseni-Duraku, Vjollca Birinxhiku and Blerina Rugova were all honored with awards in the fields of production, services, trade and creativity in business.

The President of Kosova, Atifete Jahjaga, was also present and confirmed her faith in the Women’s Economic Chamber. She said, “[The Chamber], with its new office and strategy already approved, will offer the best possible services to all women and girls through support, trainings, coordination, continuous mentoring, in order to stand by them, for open new businesses and support business growth. You do not only empower an individual. You are empowering a family, and through these projects, we influence the empowerment of our society. We influence the continuous progress and economic sustainability of our state.”

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 

29.05.25

The Journey of OPED: From Advocating for Drinking Water to Empowering Women and Local Accountability 

28.05.25

Nermin Mahmuti: The Voice of Women That Doesn’t Stop, Even in Challenging Times 

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Pensioners Advocate for Improved Healthcare

30.05.2014

Approximately 150 women squeezed inside NGO Vita Jeta’s office to hear a lecture on osteoporosis on 27 May.

“Osteoporosis is a progressive bone disease that is characterized by a decrease in bone mass and density, which can lead to an increased risk of fracture,” said Ajshe Nuhiu, Executive Director of Vita Jeta. “It’s important for all women to have information about this disease. We also are planning to bring a device next week to examine whether women are suffering from this disease.”
    
The Vita Jeta office was full of women curious to learn more about this disease.
“We received such valuable information that we didn’t know. The doctor was very clear,” a participant said.
    
Vita Jeta aims to assist as many women as possible in identifying whether they suffer from osteoporosis and to ensure treatment for them. Since most of this association’s 1,000-some members are pensioners, they are at risk of this disease. Few can afford regular checkups that will enable them to detect it early on.
    
Considering this issue, Vita Jeta has initiated a petition requesting that the Ministry of Health provide free medical exams to diagnose potential cases of osteoporosis, that the Law on Health Insurance be implemented in the future and that the law for pensioners be approved. More than 60 women signed this petition during the lecture. In this way, Vita Jeta is seeking to involve more women in expressing their needs and demanding their rights.
    
Vita Jeta has received support for this work from the Kosova Women’s Fund, supported by Kvinna till Kvinna. 

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 

29.05.25

The Journey of OPED: From Advocating for Drinking Water to Empowering Women and Local Accountability 

28.05.25

Nermin Mahmuti: The Voice of Women That Doesn’t Stop, Even in Challenging Times 

Members Gain Improved Understanding of Kosovo Tax System

30.05.2014

Following KWN members’ requests KWN in cooperation with the Tax Administration of Kosovo organized an interactive workshop on “Financial Management: Abiding by the Legal Framework” on Apr. 30.

Approximately 26 members gathered at Hotel Prishtina to learn more about financial management in accordance with the Laws of Kosovo. The expert from the Tax Administration office who led the workshop focused on Kosovo’s Tax system, which is extremely important for an organization to function properly. He also provided space for participants to ask questions about the problems that they face in their everyday work. Through concrete examples, they gained a better understanding of Kosovo tax law.
“I don’t usually do this work in my organization because another person is responsible,” a participant said. “But because I saw how important it is in every day work, from now on I will pay more attention.” 

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 

29.05.25

The Journey of OPED: From Advocating for Drinking Water to Empowering Women and Local Accountability 

28.05.25

Nermin Mahmuti: The Voice of Women That Doesn’t Stop, Even in Challenging Times 

Kosovo Welcomes Femmes Fatale Regional Festival

30.05.2014

Artpolis organized the second annual Femmes Fatale Festival in Kosovo from 27 to 31 May at the National Theatre in Prishtina. The regional festival involved diverse women artists in raising human rights issues by using their many talents. Events have involved exhibitions, performances, theatre, documentaries, short films, book promotions, readings, workshops and discussions by women from Kosovo and the region (Macedonia, Serbia, Albania). KWN is a proud sponsor of this important event.  

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 

29.05.25

The Journey of OPED: From Advocating for Drinking Water to Empowering Women and Local Accountability 

28.05.25

Nermin Mahmuti: The Voice of Women That Doesn’t Stop, Even in Challenging Times 

KWN Presents New Grant Opportunities to Members

30.05.2014

KWN members learned about new grant opportunities through the Kosova Women’s Fund at an informational session held on 13 May. In the recently opened grant round, KWN members can apply either as single organizations or in partnership with another organization. Members can apply for the new Networking for Change grant, through which two organizations can receive up to €8,000 for a joint advocacy initiative.

While KWN members are very committed to their work, many lack sufficient financial resources for realizing their initiatives. At the same time, several organizations have common goals and/or expertise that they can share with each other. These grants offer organizations the opportunity to cooperate with each other towards realizing greater changes. The deadline to submit applications is 30 May. KWN remains at the ready to support our members with any questions or concerns that they may have. We are excited to see what advocacy initiatives members plan to undertake together. These grants were made possible through support from the Austrian Development Agency, and KWN anticipates granting approximately €40,000. 

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 

29.05.25

The Journey of OPED: From Advocating for Drinking Water to Empowering Women and Local Accountability 

28.05.25

Nermin Mahmuti: The Voice of Women That Doesn’t Stop, Even in Challenging Times 

Austrian Activists Exchange Experiences with KWN

30.05.2014

In an effort to encourage camaraderie and share experiences with activists elsewhere, KWN hosted an Austrian delegation this month. In cooperation with the Austrian organization Sudwind and with support from the Austrian Development Agency, women activists from Austria spent five days in Kosovo, learning more about the position of women in Kosova.

Their visit began in Prishtina, where they learned more about KWN’s work and members. Discussions with the Agency for Gender Equality and the European Union Rule of Law mission enabled them to learn about Kosovo’s legal framework. They then visited NGO Open Door, which works towards women’s economic empowerment. The third day they traveled to Gjakova and met Mimoza Kusari-Lila, the first woman mayor elected in Kosovo. They also visited a women’s shelter, sharing their own experiences working at shelters and learning about the situation of shelters in Kosovo.
 “The women’s shelter is doing a great job. We face similar problems and our work is so similar,” a participant remarked.
    
On the way to Prizren, they visited Krusha e Vogel village and met Dile Prekpalaj from the Krusha e Vogel Women Farmers’ Association. They learned more about milk production in this area. Then, upon arrival in Prizren, they met Xhejrane Lokaj from the Women’s Initiative Association, which is working towards women’s economic empowerment in Dragash.
    
On their final day, the group visited NGO Rikotta, which empowers women economically by producing and selling sweets. They sampled these treats: a wonderful way to end the visit!
    
Women activists from Austria were very impressed by the work of Kosovar women at all levels.
“You have so much energy to work,” said a participant. “You changed so many things in a short time, even to amend a law or to push the government to create new ones. And this is amazing.”

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 

29.05.25

The Journey of OPED: From Advocating for Drinking Water to Empowering Women and Local Accountability 

28.05.25

Nermin Mahmuti: The Voice of Women That Doesn’t Stop, Even in Challenging Times 

KWN Undergoes Evaluation of Kosova Women’s Fund

30.05.2014

An external evaluation of the Kosova Women’s Fund (KWF), which began on 7 Feb., came to completion on 15 Apr. The evaluation assessed the KWF’s impact, effectiveness and efficiency to date, and proposed concrete recommendations for strengthening the Fund and KWN capacities to manage it in the future. The evaluators found that KWN’s mentoring and monitoring sessions, theory-based workshops and “learning by doing approach” has provided for effective learning. The evaluators, Margit Vaarala and Lesley Abdela of Shevolution & Heros International AB, respectively, also noted that members made significant gains by learning new skills. More findings and recommendations can be found in the External Evaluation report, which was supported by Kvinna till Kvinna.

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 

29.05.25

The Journey of OPED: From Advocating for Drinking Water to Empowering Women and Local Accountability 

28.05.25

Nermin Mahmuti: The Voice of Women That Doesn’t Stop, Even in Challenging Times 

Eight Organizations Receive Kosovo Women’s Fund Grants

13.05.2014

Eight KWN member organizations received grants from the KWN Kosovo Women’s Fund on 12 May totalling €22,416. Funded by Kvinna till Kvinna (Ktk). This round encouraged initiatives involving advocacy, towards realizing KWN’s Strategic Goals identified by its members in the KWN Strategic Plan for 2011-2014. KWN members proposed several advocacy initiatives targeting local and national institutions. Following an orientation session, they signed contracts to begin their initiatives.
“The orientation session is very valuable because the reporting forms have changed compared to previous years. Therefore it is important that we have continuous information regarding the format of reporting,. ” a grant recipient said.
The grant recipients included:

  1. Active Women of Gjakova (AWG) will organize information sessions for Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities in Gjakova about the law on domestic violence and how they can use this law for their protection. AWG also will monitor the implementation of this law and organize a debate where findings will be presented. (€2,780)
  2. Vita – Jeta will advocate to health institutions for 600 women pensioners to receive free check-ups for osteoporosis. Meanwhile, they will prepare women pensioners for advocacy related to the implementation of the law on retirement and the law on healthcare and health insurance, set to be adopted in 2015, which should provide free check-ups for osteoporosis in the future. (€2,812)
  3. The Foundation for Education and Development will teach and involve women of Novobrdo in advocating for the municipality of Novobrdo to provide free transportation for its residents. (€2,665)
  4. Violete will promote Roma girls from Prugovc village in Prishtina Municipality who are successful in school, making them leaders and role models, and motivating other girls to continue their education. Leaders will be part of an advocacy initiative, “Balkan Spring,” where they will present handcrafts made by girls’ parents to raise funds that support girls’ education and improved integration into the Kosovo educational system. (€2,780)
  5. Shqiponjat e Dardanës (Eagles of Dardana) will organize women of Gracanica to be politically active by informing them about their political rights, creating women’s village councils, organizing meetings between them and all political parties and creating a clear strategy for the functioning of the village council for one year. (€2,804)
  6. Visionary Woman of the XXI Century will raise awareness in Has of Prizren Municipality and Has of Gjakova Municipality about breast and cervical cancer using local media. They also will advocate for mobile health units to visit these two regions and organize an action to support 10 women from the region who are suffering from cancerous diseases. (€2,885)
  7. Partners Kosova will organize meetings between women and men, gender equality officers and representatives from local judicial institutions in Skenderaj, Drenas, Lypjan and Ferizaj to discuss women’s right to property inheritance. (€2,880)
  8. Norma will conduct research in five municipalities, monitoring the implementation of the law on contentious procedure in 2013. (€2,810) 

     The Fund enables rural and/or marginalized organizations to access funds for important initiatives at the local level,
Meanwhile, KWN offers its member organizations new skills and experience from which they can draw in applying to new funders in the future.
“After we received a grant from KWF, we received other grants,” another grant recipient said. “I believe that KWN’s project has brought us luck and created new perspective for us.”

Funded by Kvinna till Kvinna and IPKO Foundation

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 

29.05.25

The Journey of OPED: From Advocating for Drinking Water to Empowering Women and Local Accountability 

28.05.25

Nermin Mahmuti: The Voice of Women That Doesn’t Stop, Even in Challenging Times 

KWN Releases 2013 Annual Report

08.04.2014

We are pleased to share with you the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) 2013 Annual Report. This year KWN has made progress towards realizing its Strategic Plan for 2011-2014. Some of our key accomplishments in 2013 include:

o   On 8 March 2012, KWN organized the first demonstration to mobilize public attention regarding the challenges faced by women who suffered sexual violence during the war. Following intensive advocacy in solidarity with women survivors and parliamentarians, on 20 March 2014 the parliament amended the Law No. 04/L-054 to include women who suffered sexual violence during the war.
o   KWN supported the President in establishing a high level Council that will offer justice and holistic care to women who suffered sexual violence during the war.
o   Since fall 2012, KWN provided 34 grants totaling €66,209 to its member organizations via the Kosovo Women’s Fund (KWF), enabling them to directly benefit 1,883 diverse women from rural areas, with disabilities, of diverse ethnicities, youth, and pensioners.
o   Through these KWF member-led initiatives, coupled with municipal institutions’ support, approximately 637 women received free medical check-ups, some for the first time.
o   Through Young Women’s Empowerment Initiative (YWEI), KWN involved 150 young women in advocating their priorities to the President of the Republic of Kosovo, the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology, and other officials.
o   Established a new Individual Membership Program, involving women and men around the world as KWN members (join here). Membership fees contribute to the KWN Sustainability Fund.
o   Published “Where’s the Money for Women’s Rights?” a report examining funding trends related to women’s rights and gender equality in Kosovo over the last 15 years.
o   Supported the creation of two new Gender Equality Advocacy Groups (GEAGs), now totaling ten, which bring together women in politics and civil society in advocating for women’s rights and gender equality at the municipal level.
o   Organized seven demand-driven, interactive workshops for KWN members, which enabled several members to further their capacities in advocacy, project proposal writing, financial management, and public relations, among other issues.
o   Launched ‘Alternative Fundraising’, a Guide with new ideas for KWN members to secure funds for supporting their work
More information about these and other initiatives can be found in our annual report. 

08.04.14

KWN Releases 2013 Annual Report

07.04.14

KWN Organizes Workshop: “Women Advocate Locally”

03.03.14

Members Gather for Bimonthly Meeting

05.02.14

Individual Member Innovative in Supporting KWN

04.02.14

Members, Stakeholders Evaluate Positively KWN’s Work

07.01.14

KWN Exchanges Experiences with Activists in Austria

New Law Recognizes Persons Who Suffered Sexual Violence

08.04.2014

On Mar. 20, the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo approved Law No. 04/L-054 on the status and rights of martyrs, invalids, veterans, members of the Kosovo Liberation Army, persons raped during the war, civilian war victims and their families. The new Law includes survivors of violence and sexual abuse that occurred during the 1998-1999 war in Kosovo, recognizing their plight in an effort to undermine social stigmatization and return dignity.
     The Law’s adoption resulted from two years of intensive advocacy undertaken by women from civil society and politics. The Kosova Women’s Network (KWN) and its member organizations have been instrumental in this process. KWN effectively brought the plight of persons who suffered sexual violence during the war to the forefront of public discussion via a demonstration organized on 8 Mar. 2012. With the slogan, “We do not want flowers. We want justice for women who suffered sexual violence during the war,” the demonstration renewed public and institutional attention to this issue. Since then, KWN together with other civil society groups has written several letters and met with members of the Assembly of Kosovo, among others, urging adoption of this important Law.
“Since sexual violence was used as a weapon of war, women should receive the same benefits as all other victims of war,” KWN wrote in its most recent letter, sent Mar. 19 (Click here to read the letter).
      KWN thanks Assembly members for their work and celebrates the adoption of this Law, as an important step towards returning dignity to women who have suffered enough.

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 

29.05.25

The Journey of OPED: From Advocating for Drinking Water to Empowering Women and Local Accountability 

28.05.25

Nermin Mahmuti: The Voice of Women That Doesn’t Stop, Even in Challenging Times