Visionary Woman of the XXI Century

Health is the biggest problem the region of Has faces, but it remains a problem for the entire Kosova also. 

"The fight against cancer" was called the initiative undertaken by Visionary Woman of the XXI Century, which aimed to raise awareness in Has about breast and cervical cancer using local media, giving in this way a controbution towards the fight against this diseasse. 

The awareness campaign was performed through TV shows in the local tTV station "TV Opinion" with a specialized doctor in this field.
Meetings, debates and roundtabled with women from the aforementioned region were also organized, as well as a voluntary action to fund raise for the two most severe cases of cancer.

Shqiponjat e Dardanës (Eagles of Dardana)

"Breaking the silence about women’s position in the municipality of Gracanica" is the title of the initiative undertaken by the nGO Eagles of Dardana. The initiative aims to in ncrease the awareness of women and girls for their rights; establish a network of cooperation between women in villages and village councils; create an environment of trust for women in the decision-making; and encourage girls in politics.

Violete

NGO Violete undertook the initiative "Leader of Education in my Community" aiming the promotion of the compulsory education of RAE girls in rural areas in accordance with the requirements of the labor market.

This helped on raising awareness of girls and  their families on the importance of their education; on the uninterrupted continuation of their education and the importance of advocating to the local authorities for educational integration of RAE community girls.

The Foundation for Education and Development

Since the end of 2013, public transportation of passengers that has been for free for the villages and the municipality is now stopped. This has become very serious problem for citizens of all communities living in the region. Therefore the Foundation for Education and Development (FED) undertook the initiative of " Organizing and interethnic cooperation of the women in Novobrdo.

FED identified the participants of the project; selected them in consultation with several municipal councilors and activists in Novo Brdo; antd then it organized a five days training in the field of advocacy. After the training women advocated to the Mayor of the MUnicipality regarding this topic.

In this way there was interaction of the group, aiming for their issue to be considered in the chairmanship of the Assembly, and directly affect the decision/ solution of the Mayor; socialization of the women among themselves by exchanging ideas; and their achievement to advocate to the mayor for the solution of the problem.

Vita-Jeta

Given the lack of knowledge about osteoporosis among the elderly in Kosovo, and the diseases’ difficult to observe nature, Vita-Jeta (“Life”), an association of approximately 850 retired women, launched an information campaign about the disease. They organized a lecture about osteoporosis and provided free of charge medical exams for diagnosing the disease.
“Even though I was once a nurse, I never realized I was suffering from osteoporosis,” said Remzije Pireva, a Vita-Jeta member. “It was only through Vita-Jeta that I took the initiative to do the test for diagnosing it.” Since then, she has followed the doctor’s orders and taken the recommended medicine. “Now I am feeling much better,” she said.

Remzije was among 243 retired women tested for osteoporosis by Vita-Jeta. Through these free exams, nearly one-third of the women learnt that they suffered from osteoporosis. Like Remzije, some have received treatment thanks to Vita-Jeta representatives who convinced a local pharmacy to provide free medication to retirees living in poor economic conditions.
“We are very keen to offer the same possibility to all members of our NGO,” said Ajshe Nuhiu who leads Vita-Jeta. Such free screening and medication can be crucial for elderly persons living in Kosovo, many of whom struggle to survive in dire economic conditions.

Vita-Jeta also assists its members with doctor-prescribed therapies. “Since they are members of our NGO and attend regularly our meetings, it is easy for us to see if they are following the medical advice that they have received,” said Ajshe Nuhiu.

Due to Vita-Jeta’s accomplishments in only two months, 500 of the association’s members are knocking on their door, hoping that they too can receive this diagnostic test. Vita-Jeta’s awareness-raising efforts have successfully educated their members about the importance of the test.

Vita-Jeta representatives say that they will apply to the Kosovo Women’s Fund again so that they can build on this success and provide similar services to more members. They also plan to seek funding from other possible sources, using their new fundraising skills, developed with support from KWN staff.

Active Women of Gjakova (AWG)

Although the Kosovo Constitution provides the framework for the realization and actualization of commitment to justice in a democratic society, the above commitment is faced with many challenges in implementation. There is a huge need to enlarge the support in order to achieve substantial justice.The implementation of the legislation which is generally associated with protecting women from violence is not in the desired level. The information system to provide help for women and youth, is not efficient and women and youth don’t have equal access to their rights and legal protection against violence in general.

Therefore, the NGO Active Women of Gjakova undertook the initiative "Implementation of the law on protection from domestic violence" which was realized through informative sessions on topics: domestic Violence in general and the Law on Protection from Domestic Violence Nr.03/L182; monitoring strategy for the Municipality of Gjakova for domestic violence; Debates on the topic of the implementation of Law on Protection from Domestic Violence; and the publication of the monitoring report (findings and recommendations from the monitoring).

By organizing these activities, thew NGO aimed to ensure that the current existing laws for protection against domestic violence, are applied and enforced in Gjakova and to  promote the slef f-initiative of women for their capacity building based on the laws.

Women and men discuss the topic “Women’s rights in property division and inheritance rights” at a presentation organized by Partners Kosova, on May 28 in Lipjan.

Partners Kosova Advocates for Women’s Right to Property

Partners Kosova (PK) invited not only women, but men as well to their one-day presentation on “Women’s rights in property division and inheritance” in Lipjan municipality on May 28. The Municipal Officer for Gender Equality attended the presentation as well.
“While advocating on this topic, we should work on raising awareness among both genders and among people of different ages and backgrounds,” said Hilmije Ramabaja, Training Program Manager, Mediator and Trainer at PK. “Only in this way we will be able to reach as many people as possible and change the patriarchal mentality, which denies women this basic right.”
    
PK plans to organize similar presentations in three other municipalities: Skenderaj, Drenas and Ferizaj. Afterwards, groups will advocate further on the topic during a second meeting in each municipality, where representatives of institutions and other stakeholders will discuss the topic.
“I liked this idea very much, and I would suggest to widen the discussion of this topic as much as possible, so there is harmony between the existent legal framework and the practical aspect,” said Gafurr Ademi, Officer for Legal and Property Issues within the mayor’s office. “In our society’s circumstances, it is very important that men also are present where such topics are discussed in order to raise awareness.”
    
This initiative was supported by the KWN Kosovo Women’s Fund (KWF), financed by Kvinna till Kvinna (KtK).  

OPMDK Demands Rights for Persons in Wheelchairs

Two volunteers push an empty wheelchair up the steep hill to Prizren’s ancient castle, symbolizing the disappointment of persons with muscular dystrophy who could not make this journey. This was among the many activities organized to mark the week of persons with muscular dystrophy.

This year, the Organization for Persons with Muscular Dystrophy of Kosova (OPMDK) focused on insufficient support from public institutions. Only the Ministry for Culture, Youth and Sport and the Kosova Women’s Network have supported the organization financially in the last two years.
They released balloons of different colors into the blue sky. Each balloon had the name of an institution that should work towards ensuring protection of human rights. Balloons were released at the same time from the castle and the center of town.
“For six days, through different activities we will raise our voice and show our problems, needs and concerns and will address them in both levels of government: local and central,” said Antigona Shestan from OPDMK. “The good thing is that this project is a continuation of what we have already done last year through our project supported by Kosova Women’s Network, where we achieved to mark 27 of around 50 access points to public buildings for persons with muscular dystrophy. This was done in cooperation with the Department of Public Services of our municipality.”
    
On May 27, they also decorated a beautiful plant with colorful papers, each expressing a need, challenge or problem that persons with muscular dystrophy face. They opened a tent where they and volunteers distributed leaflets about the rights and demands of persons with muscular dystrophy. They also acted out a short drama sketch, expressing the problems they face in their everyday life.
“The lack of implementation of some administrative orders and laws regarding technical access to public buildings makes it difficult for people with disabilities and these problems are not being resolved,” said Gëzim Abazi from Handicap Kosova. “NGOs, and more specifically Handicap Kosova, now is not only looking into the implementation of these laws, but we’re also verifying who’s not implementing them in order to fine those people.”    
    
OPMDK also will hand in a document detailing their rights, demands, and identifying other access points to public buildings that need to be fixed by institutions responsible for resolving these issues. 

 

KWN and New School launch Oral History Website May, 30 Prishtina.

KWN, New School Launch Kosova Oral History Website

The Kosova Oral History Initiative (OHI) is a collective of activists, scholars and students inclusive of different generations, nationalities and competences. Born from collaboration between KWN and The New School for Public Engagement (NY), their shared aim is to record life stories. The OHI’s dream is to rescue from oblivion the voices of people leaders and those less known – whom Kosova’s history has condemned to amnesia. These stories go beyond narratives of victimization or war stories, recovering the whole life experiences of individuals. Using a feminist oral history methodology, the OHI has filmed women and men, sharing their life stories. These have been transcribed and translated for use by scholars and activists outside Kosova (in Albanian, English and Serbian). The website was launched on 30 May at the Femmes Fatales Festival. 

Ministry of Finance References Gender in Budget Circulars

The Ministry of Finance published recently the Municipality Budget Circular 2015/1 and Budget Circular 2014/1 – preliminary preparations and initial ceilings of the Budget 2015 from Central Budget Organizations. Meetings between the Ministry of Finance, Kosova Women’s Network (KWN) and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH paid off; for the first time, the Ministry decided to include reference to gender responsive budgeting within the Budget Circulars.

The Municipality Budget Circular 2015/1 expresses the need to work on Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB) based on international practices. GRB helps make visible the effects of public expenditures on the equality of women and men, boys and girls. This can contribute to the effectiveness and transparency of public finance management. The Circular expresses intent to extend GRB into other municipalities in the Republic of Kosovo based on a pilot project currently underway in the Municipality of Kamenica. The Circular encourages municipalities to begin to reflect gender sensitivity in their budgets.
    
The Budget Circular 2014/1 reflects preliminary preparations and initial ceilings of the 2015 Budget for Central Budget Organizations, including more detail on GRB. Circular 2014/1 encourages increased effectiveness and transparency of public spending by providing more specific performance indicators. The circular suggests disaggregating indicators and measuring by gender wherever meaningful and possible, explaining that such indicators are IIF and EC requirements for measuring overall performance of the budget process.