Women’s Wellness Centre Joins WAVE in Vienna

07.07.2014

The Coalition of Shelters in Kosovo joined Women Against Violence Europe (WAVE) in 2011. The Women’s Wellness Centre in Peja, a KWN member, is a representative focal point within WAVE, which brings together 48 organizations from throughout Europe in a network combatting violence.

     Ardita Ramizi Bala from the Women’s Wellness Centerparticipated in WAVE’s 9th meeting in Vienna on 26-27 May 2014, during which information was shared about WAVE’s statute, board and new assembly. 

27.11.25

KWN Delivers Gender-based Violence Training to MESPI

27.11.25

Kosovo Commemorates 20 Years of the Agency for Gender Equality and 30 Years of the Beijing Declaration with Interregional Conference

27.11.25

Info Sessions Across Kosovo Aim to Improve Access to Social Protection Services

25.11.25

Creating Safe Schools: NORMA’s Push for Gender-Sensitive Education

25.11.25

Courage Over Fear: Youth in Drenas Learn to Speak Out and Act Against Sexual Harassment and Assault

24.11.25

Survivors of Cancer Advocate for Better Health care in Mitrovica

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Women from 15 Municipalities Strategize for Advocacy

07.07.2014

Gender Equality Advocacy Groups (GEAG) from 15 different municipalities participated in the second workshop “Women Advocate at Local and Central Levels,” which took place on Jun. 26-27 at Hotel Arxhena, located in the beautiful mountains of Brod, Dragash. GEAGs bring together women in municipal assemblies and KWN member organizations for joint advocacy towards gender equality at the municipal level. 
     In the first session, moderated by KWN Executive Director Igballe Rogova, participants reported on the status of their joint advocacy campaigns in their respective municipalities. Campaigns targeted issues that they had identified during the previous GEAG meeting in Durres. Even though GEAG members planned to achieve their advocacy aims by the end of 2014, most municipalities already had achieved their aims as of June.
     “It’s very good that we have achieved success in our advocacy efforts earlier than we planned, but this doesn’t mean that we will stop identifying new issues and advocating for them during the remainder of the year,” said a participant.
     The workshop involved two sessions, led by inspirational speaker Shqipe Malushi, involved “Empowerment and Positive Thinking – from the Impossible to Realization.”
     “This session was very much needed and useful for us,” said a participant. “Considering the everyday routine and challenges we face, we definitely needed someone to remind us to ‘get back’ to being positive and to show us useful techniques for doing that.”
     The second day of the workshop began with a session on gender responsive budgeting led by Nicole Farnsworth, KWN Program Manager. She shared a very simple methodfor gender responsive budgeting, which KWN has used in close cooperation with the Municipality of Kamenica and Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare.
     “We all agree that the fact that the Budget Circular 2015/01 for Municipalities encourages gender responsive budgeting is good news,” a participant said. “Now we will use indicators with a gender perspective to measure the impact of the budget on women and men’s lives.”
     During the final session, led by Igballe Rogova, participants planned future steps for GEAGs. Supporting GEAGs is part of KWN’s efforts to implement its Strategic Plan, which includes the important goal of increasing women’s participation in politics and decision-making. KWN believes that active participation will be possible only via cooperation and joint advocacy on issues that women consider important at local and national levels.
GEAGs bring together women in politics and women in civil society in efforts to advocate for women’s rights and gender equality at the municipal level. This activity was supported by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA).
 

27.11.25

KWN Delivers Gender-based Violence Training to MESPI

27.11.25

Kosovo Commemorates 20 Years of the Agency for Gender Equality and 30 Years of the Beijing Declaration with Interregional Conference

27.11.25

Info Sessions Across Kosovo Aim to Improve Access to Social Protection Services

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Creating Safe Schools: NORMA’s Push for Gender-Sensitive Education

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Courage Over Fear: Youth in Drenas Learn to Speak Out and Act Against Sexual Harassment and Assault

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Survivors of Cancer Advocate for Better Health care in Mitrovica

University of Essex Students Learn about KWN

04.07.2014

  Students studying Human Rights at the University of Essex visited with KWN on 16 Jun. They showed interest in learning about the experiences of women’s rights activists, current developments and challenges to human rights as well as future obstacles and opportunities.

     KWN Program Manager/Lead Researcher Nicole Farnsworth informed students about KWN’s work, the history of the women’s movement in Kosovo, women activists’ involvement in implementing United Nation Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security and the situation of women’s right in Kosovo. Following this, students had the opportunity to ask questions.
“This was one of the best sessions we have had during our trip,” a student said. “You made a great presentation and we felt free to ask questions.”

27.11.25

KWN Delivers Gender-based Violence Training to MESPI

27.11.25

Kosovo Commemorates 20 Years of the Agency for Gender Equality and 30 Years of the Beijing Declaration with Interregional Conference

27.11.25

Info Sessions Across Kosovo Aim to Improve Access to Social Protection Services

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Creating Safe Schools: NORMA’s Push for Gender-Sensitive Education

25.11.25

Courage Over Fear: Youth in Drenas Learn to Speak Out and Act Against Sexual Harassment and Assault

24.11.25

Survivors of Cancer Advocate for Better Health care in Mitrovica

CLE Presents Report on Gender Equality in Commerce

04.07.2014

 The Contract Law Enforcement (CLE) Program presented a report onGender Equality in Commerce, on Jun. 3 in Prishtina, offering an example of how the United State Agency for International Development’s (USAID) gender policies and strategies translate into “real world” actions. The report surveyed public perceptions about the barriers women face in economic and legal environments.

     Even though evidence suggests that empowering women is smart economic policy, women are frequently at a disadvantage when pursuing economic opportunities, such as employment, training, education, access to finance and property ownership.   
      In Kosovo, statistics show that the rate of unemployment among women is 40%; women make up only 0.3% of top managers in private companies; women own only 11% of small businesses; and just 8% of land owners are women. Constraints to women’s active participation in the economy include insufficient enforcement of anti-discrimination laws and policies, as well as socially entrenched gender stereotypes.
     “Efforts to empower women economically are attempts to show not only the level of democratization of society but, above all, to steer the country towards a fairer and more rapid economic growth. Economic empowerment of women is the empowerment of society as a whole, is an investment in the future and guarantor of prosperity,” said President Jahjaga. “I am deeply convinced that economic empowerment of women will bring us their empowerment in politics and decision making, where decisions about the fate of our children, the future of the country and beyond, are made every day.”

     This report will assist the CLE Program, among other USAID programs, in developing future activities with a better understanding of how to address real and perceived gender gaps in economic participation

27.11.25

KWN Delivers Gender-based Violence Training to MESPI

27.11.25

Kosovo Commemorates 20 Years of the Agency for Gender Equality and 30 Years of the Beijing Declaration with Interregional Conference

27.11.25

Info Sessions Across Kosovo Aim to Improve Access to Social Protection Services

25.11.25

Creating Safe Schools: NORMA’s Push for Gender-Sensitive Education

25.11.25

Courage Over Fear: Youth in Drenas Learn to Speak Out and Act Against Sexual Harassment and Assault

24.11.25

Survivors of Cancer Advocate for Better Health care in Mitrovica

Kvinna till Kvinna Partners Discuss Good Practices

04.07.2014

Kvinna till Kvinna (KtK)organized a Good Practices conference with its partners in the Western Balkans at Hotel Bleart in Durrës, Albania from 24-27 Jun. The conference was organized with the purpose of sharing experiences and good practices, as well as to provide a space for networking among women’s rights activists.

The conference involved parallel workshops with interesting and challenging thematic issues, such as: Working for women in politics – experiences from the region; 1325 National Action Plans – taking control and claiming accountability; Art as tool for social change; EU advocacy – good advice and practical examples; Leading new activists; Working against VAW on the national and local level – experiences from the region; and Women Human Right Defenders – working with EU guidelines and UN.     

Lena Ag, Secretary General of Kvinna till Kvinna, opened the conference, providing information about KtK’s present and future plans for the region and beyond. She quoted Virginia Wolf, “As a woman I have no country. My country is the whole world.”
     Two KWN staff members participated as panellists: Nicole Farnsworth discussed KWN’s efforts to monitor and advocate for the implementation of UNSCR 1325andMimoza Pachuku,Kosova Women’s Fund Coordinator,presented in the panel Leading New Activists.KWN members from Legjenda, Mitrovica Women’s Association for Human Rights and Aureola also shared their experiences. 

27.11.25

KWN Delivers Gender-based Violence Training to MESPI

27.11.25

Kosovo Commemorates 20 Years of the Agency for Gender Equality and 30 Years of the Beijing Declaration with Interregional Conference

27.11.25

Info Sessions Across Kosovo Aim to Improve Access to Social Protection Services

25.11.25

Creating Safe Schools: NORMA’s Push for Gender-Sensitive Education

25.11.25

Courage Over Fear: Youth in Drenas Learn to Speak Out and Act Against Sexual Harassment and Assault

24.11.25

Survivors of Cancer Advocate for Better Health care in Mitrovica

Advocacy Leads to Employment for 24 Women

04.07.2014

In spring 2014, the Women’s Initiative Association, a KWN member, gathered women from several villages in the rural, mountainous municipality of Dragash in southern Kosovo. The women, many of them under age 30, demonstrated an interest in learning professional tailoring techniques. They were so eager to learn that when their official course ended, they travelled with the Women’s Initiative Association to the municipality’s capital in order to advocate for the Mayor to continue providing tailoring courses for them. But that’s not all. They also requested the Mayor’s assistance in encouraging the owners of the new clothing factory in Dragash to employ them. For most women, this was the first time they had visited the capital of their municipality, let alone advocated to the Mayor. Their efforts were supported through the KWN Kosovo Women’s Fund.
     A week ago, the new textiles factory opened in Dragash. The Women’s Initiative Association was happy to report that the factory has employed 24 women, including eight women who had developed tailoring skills through the Association’s courses months earlier.
     “When we organized our tailoring courses through the project, ‘A new opportunity towards advancing employment,’ we were committed to achieve women’s employment in factories,” said Xhejrane Lokaj, Executive Director of the Women’s Initiative Association. Few women were employed in Dragash municipality, and the Association wanted to change that. “I am so happy that this has started to have results,” she said.
     Meanwhile, Vahidin Emini, the owner of the factory, emphasized that “all women who had finish the trainings and applied for a job based on their skills were employed by the factory.”
     Even though the factory just opened and women have not yet received their first salaries, they already feel economically empowered.
     “I had participated in tailoring courses for six months, as well as some other handcraft courses, and I always hoped that one day this factory would open,” said Nahije Bajrami, a woman trained by the Women’s Initiative Association who is now employed at the factory. “I feel much better now, with more self-confidence and hope for the future.”
     Women from politics and civil society in 15 municipalities’ Gender Equality Advocacy Groups (GEAG) visited the new factory during the KWN-organized workshop “Women Advocate in Local and Central Level” on 27 Jun.
     “The fact that this factory has employed 24 women in the area is a strong reason for us to visit, show our support to the employed women, and wish them success,” said a GEAG member.
     The factory inspired women from other municipalities to advocate for similar workplaces for women in their areas.
     The successful advocacy undertaken by the Women’s Initiative Association was made possible through funding from Austrian Development Agency (ADA).

27.11.25

KWN Delivers Gender-based Violence Training to MESPI

27.11.25

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27.11.25

Info Sessions Across Kosovo Aim to Improve Access to Social Protection Services

25.11.25

Creating Safe Schools: NORMA’s Push for Gender-Sensitive Education

25.11.25

Courage Over Fear: Youth in Drenas Learn to Speak Out and Act Against Sexual Harassment and Assault

24.11.25

Survivors of Cancer Advocate for Better Health care in Mitrovica

KWN, MLSW and GIZ officially launched a ground-breaking new report entitled Budgeting for Social Welfare

KWN, MLSW, GIZ Launch Budgeting for Social Welfare

02.07.2014

The Kosova Women’s Network (KWN), the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare (MLSW) and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH officially launched a ground-breaking new report entitled Budgeting for Social Welfare: A Rapid Gender Analysis to Inform Gender Responsive Budgeting in the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare.
     
The report was written by KWN in close collaboration with MLSW and supported by GIZ. The report utilizes a simple approach to gender responsive budgeting that involved analysing records maintained by MLSW departments and divisions from 2011-2014 from a gender perspective, and then using the findings to identify specific indicators and activities that can be integrated into budget documents for 2015- 2017.
“The presentation of this report was very appropriate and necessary for citizens and representatives of institutions because people think that the budget is something untouchable. However, this report made it tangible,” said Dea Pallaska O’Shaughnessy, a participant at the launching. “It clarified the ‘numbers’ allocated for men and women.”

The report reveals several surprises about the distribution of pensions, social assistance, social services, employment services and vocational training to women and men, girls and boys in Kosovo, including: 
  • The social assistance budget line is unnecessarily limited. Social assistance as per the minimum basket of goods for an average family of four members, the funding gap in the budget is roughly €24,000,000.
  • In 2013, men MLSW staff members’ salaries comprised 56% of the budget, whereas 44% of the budget went to women. Men tend to hold higher positions than women within the Ministry, which may impact the quality of services provided to women and men.
  • Although women and men register as jobseekers in almost equivalent numbers, far more men (64%) are placed in jobs than women (34%).
  • Men collected 89% of the basic contributory pension, whereas women received 11% in 2013.
  • MLSW has not had sufficient funding for providing most social services in accordance with the legal framework.
Drawing from these findings, the report proposes concrete ways that MLSW can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of its budget, contributing to gender equality and improving social welfare, as a government priority stated in the Medium Term Expenditure Framework.
“I congratulate the respective organizations for the report,” said Dren Rexha, Officer for Social Protection at Children’s Rights & Emergency Relief Organization, UNICEF. “It shows an inclusive overview of a budget analysis from a gender perspective. Maybe in the future there also should be research regarding the designing of specific schemes from which men and women benefit, so that we can see whether social transfers have been designed in such a way that women and men really benefit from them.”
    
The current Budget Circular and amendments proposed to the Law on Gender Equality both encourage gender responsive budgeting as part of Kosovo’s budget process. This report provides a concrete example of how gender responsive budgeting can be carried out within a ministry.           
     
Although the report focuses on MLSW, it can serve as a useful example for other ministries, municipalities and interested actors on how concretely they can carry out gender responsive budgeting within their institutions.
“I think this discussion today is a good example that data analysis is done to start a discussion. It’s not an end in itself,” concluded Lukas Fischer from GIZ. He encouraged continued discussions within MLSW and with other stakeholders regarding the report’s findings and recommendations.

27.11.25

KWN Delivers Gender-based Violence Training to MESPI

27.11.25

Kosovo Commemorates 20 Years of the Agency for Gender Equality and 30 Years of the Beijing Declaration with Interregional Conference

27.11.25

Info Sessions Across Kosovo Aim to Improve Access to Social Protection Services

25.11.25

Creating Safe Schools: NORMA’s Push for Gender-Sensitive Education

25.11.25

Courage Over Fear: Youth in Drenas Learn to Speak Out and Act Against Sexual Harassment and Assault

24.11.25

Survivors of Cancer Advocate for Better Health care in Mitrovica

KWN organised a workshop entitled “Doing Research: Quantitative & Qualitative Methods” on Jun. 9

KWN Members Learn Research Methods

11.06.2014

On Jun. 9, KWN organized a workshop entitled “Doing Research: Quantitative & Qualitative Methods.” Nicole Farnsworth, KWN Program Manager, who has an MSc in Sociology Research, provided information on differences between qualitative and quantitative research methods; how to select a survey sample from a population; variation sampling in qualitative research; asking good questions; interviewing techniques; and research ethics.

Then, the 21 members participating discussed specific examples of KWN members’ upcoming research initiatives. Shqiponjat e Dardanes from Graçanica and Femrat Aktive te Gjakovës (Active Women of Gjakova) both received grants through the Kosova Women’s Fund (KWF), which involve conducting research. Their initiatives provided concrete examples of the differences in conducting qualitative and quantitative research. Shqiponjat e Dardanes will conduct quantitative research on women’s position within the municipality. Active Women of Gjakova will conduct qualitative research on “The implementation of the Law for Protection from Domestic Violence”.

“Even though I have participated in similar workshops earlier, this was a very good update and helped us refresh our memory,” said Valbona Rizvanolli from Active Women of Gjakova. “This workshop is also very useful, because it will help our NGO conduct our research with support from the Kosova Women’s Fund.”

    
The slides from the workshop are available online. 

27.11.25

KWN Delivers Gender-based Violence Training to MESPI

27.11.25

Kosovo Commemorates 20 Years of the Agency for Gender Equality and 30 Years of the Beijing Declaration with Interregional Conference

27.11.25

Info Sessions Across Kosovo Aim to Improve Access to Social Protection Services

25.11.25

Creating Safe Schools: NORMA’s Push for Gender-Sensitive Education

25.11.25

Courage Over Fear: Youth in Drenas Learn to Speak Out and Act Against Sexual Harassment and Assault

24.11.25

Survivors of Cancer Advocate for Better Health care in Mitrovica

KWN Organizes Bimonthly Meeting

11.06.2014

Approximately 46 people attended the KWN Bimonthly Meeting on 9 Jun. 2014 in Prishtina. Participants included KWN member organizations, board members and other interested persons.    
    Igballe Rogova, KWN Executive Director, opened the meeting by sharing information about important activities since the last meeting, such as the launching of the Oral History Initiative website during the Femmes Fatales Festival; the progress made by the National Council on Survivors of Sexual Violence Perpetrated during the War, initiated by President Jahjaga; and the second meeting of Gender Equality Advocacy Groups, which will be held in the end of June.     
    KWN also presented progress resulting from cooperation with GIZ and the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare. KWN and GIZ are providing assistance for the integration of gender-responsive budgeting within the budgetary process of the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare and the Municipality of Kamenica. Nicole Farnsworth, KWN Project Manager, informed members that the municipal and ministerial Budget Circulars now encourage Kosovo institutions to use gender responsive budgeting. She provided examples of how members can use these to encourage citizens to participate in the budget process and to encourage officials to ensure that specific indicators in budgets refer to gender. KWN and        GIZ have developed a tool to facilitate gender responsive budgeting, available online.Following requests by KWN member organizations, Shqipe Malushi will be providing workshops and counselling towards the Wellbeing of Activists. With KWN support, she will visit various regions of Kosova where she will provide workshops for all KWN members. 
 

27.11.25

KWN Delivers Gender-based Violence Training to MESPI

27.11.25

Kosovo Commemorates 20 Years of the Agency for Gender Equality and 30 Years of the Beijing Declaration with Interregional Conference

27.11.25

Info Sessions Across Kosovo Aim to Improve Access to Social Protection Services

25.11.25

Creating Safe Schools: NORMA’s Push for Gender-Sensitive Education

25.11.25

Courage Over Fear: Youth in Drenas Learn to Speak Out and Act Against Sexual Harassment and Assault

24.11.25

Survivors of Cancer Advocate for Better Health care in Mitrovica

Norma

04.06.2014

Although legal provisions ensure equal treatment, these provisions do not apply in practice for many reasons and in this way patriarchal traditions are more powerful than the law. This situation is clearly obvious when it comes to the implementation of legal provisions which regulate family issues and heritage: women are deprived of the right to family heritage. This can be proved with the fact that in Kosovo 90% of the property belongs to men, even though legal provisions (Article 12 of the Law on Inheritance of Kosovo no. 2004/26) provide equal treatment.

Having on mind the aformentioned facts, NGO Norma realized the initiative "Gender Equality in the Right for Inheritanc". The activities perforemed as part of this initiative included:  a research conducted in the Office of the Civil Service of 5 Kosovo Municipalities and a research conducted in basic courts and notary in five municipalities of Kosovo. After that a report was prepared regarding the findings of the research. 

A one-day debate regarding the lack of Implementation of Sections 127 and 133.1 of the Law on Non-Contested Procedure, followed the aforementioned activities.

21.06.24

Public Call for Applications for Capacity Building and Sub-Granting in Gender and Climate Change Financing

19.12.18

Organization of Persons with Muscular Dystrophy of Kosovo (OPDMK)

19.12.18

Women’s Association “Aureola”

19.12.18

The Midwives Association of Kosovo

19.12.18

Handikos Mitrovica

19.12.18

Psychotherapists in Action