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.

01.04.26

Activists Advocate that EU Accession Contributes to Furthering Gender Equality

31.03.26

Igballe Rogova Awarded Presidential Medal for Lifelong Commitment to Women’s Rights

31.03.26

People Call on EU to Invest in What Matters in New EU Budget

27.03.26

Women’s History Month: Rachel Wareham Reflects on the Legacy of Motrat Qiriazi

26.03.26

KWN Honoured by NRAEWOK for Contribution to Advancing Gender Equality

26.03.26

Access Denied No More: Women in Skenderaj Advocate for Quality Gynecological Care

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

01.04.26

Activists Advocate that EU Accession Contributes to Furthering Gender Equality

31.03.26

Igballe Rogova Awarded Presidential Medal for Lifelong Commitment to Women’s Rights

31.03.26

People Call on EU to Invest in What Matters in New EU Budget

27.03.26

Women’s History Month: Rachel Wareham Reflects on the Legacy of Motrat Qiriazi

26.03.26

KWN Honoured by NRAEWOK for Contribution to Advancing Gender Equality

26.03.26

Access Denied No More: Women in Skenderaj Advocate for Quality Gynecological Care

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.

01.04.26

Activists Advocate that EU Accession Contributes to Furthering Gender Equality

31.03.26

Igballe Rogova Awarded Presidential Medal for Lifelong Commitment to Women’s Rights

31.03.26

People Call on EU to Invest in What Matters in New EU Budget

27.03.26

Women’s History Month: Rachel Wareham Reflects on the Legacy of Motrat Qiriazi

26.03.26

KWN Honoured by NRAEWOK for Contribution to Advancing Gender Equality

26.03.26

Access Denied No More: Women in Skenderaj Advocate for Quality Gynecological Care

Fate of Kosovo’s Missing Persons Remains Unresolved

08.04.2014

Again this year on International Women’s Day, Mar. 8, KWN took to the streets, supporting the initiative of the association Thirrjet e Nënave (Mother’s Call). Mother’s Call and KWN organized a demonstration in solidarity with mothers, wives, sisters and daughters of missing persons with the motto: “We are with you.” Approximately 200 people marched from Zahir Pajaziti Square to the Assembly of Kosovo, bringing attention to the still unresolved fate of missing persons in Kosovo.
      As Kosovars celebrated International Women’s Day, women raised their voice and reminded everyone that they do not have family members with whom they can celebrate; after 15 years, their family members remain missing. They also wanted to replace the photos of still missing persons, removed from the gates of the Assembly of Kosova.  “For 15 years institutions have neglected and deceived us, while criminals run free,” said Nesrete Kumnova, Head of Mother’s Call. “Even those who have been punished received low sentences. There has been no justice for the thousands of persons who were murdered, raped and disappeared. We will return the photos of missing persons where they were because the case of missing persons remains unresolved.”
      Demonstrators re-hung photos of missing persons outside the Assembly, reminding officials of their duty to resolve this issue. Among demonstrators was Mayor of Prishtina Shpend Ahmeti with his children. Dozens of young men and women as well as a delegation from the South Caucuses also joined the demonstration.  

01.04.26

Activists Advocate that EU Accession Contributes to Furthering Gender Equality

31.03.26

Igballe Rogova Awarded Presidential Medal for Lifelong Commitment to Women’s Rights

31.03.26

People Call on EU to Invest in What Matters in New EU Budget

27.03.26

Women’s History Month: Rachel Wareham Reflects on the Legacy of Motrat Qiriazi

26.03.26

KWN Honoured by NRAEWOK for Contribution to Advancing Gender Equality

26.03.26

Access Denied No More: Women in Skenderaj Advocate for Quality Gynecological Care

Women in Black Serbia Remembers Crimes in Kosovo

08.04.2014

On Mar. 26,Women in Black Serbia held a performance in Belgrade, recognizing crimes committed by the Serbian regime against ethnic Albanian civilians 15 years ago. Women in Black reminded citizens of the forced deportation of over 800,000 Albanians from their homes and country, the abuse, the murder of civilians, the women raped, the properties burnt and the robberies that occurred.
“We express our deepest condolences and solidarity with the families for their losses, and the endless pain and humiliation that was caused by the Serbian regime in that time,” they said.
    Women in Black demanded that information about Albanian missing persons be published; information about mass graves in Serbia where the remains of Albanian persons are located be published; to take all actions aimed at prosecuting those responsible for crimes committed against Albanians; and to ensure that perpetrators receive appropriate penalties.
     Stasa Zajovic, Coordinator of Women in Black, said that the government of Serbia’s statements and promises so far have only been empty rhetoric. She said that the government must demonstrate that it is serious about dealing with the past and in order to break away “from the great burden of crime policy” carried out by the regime of Slobodan Milosevic. Activists held a banner in front of the monument Knjaz Mihaili that stated: “We remember the crime in Kosovo” in the Serbian language. It also contained the message: Women in Black against the war. 
 

01.04.26

Activists Advocate that EU Accession Contributes to Furthering Gender Equality

31.03.26

Igballe Rogova Awarded Presidential Medal for Lifelong Commitment to Women’s Rights

31.03.26

People Call on EU to Invest in What Matters in New EU Budget

27.03.26

Women’s History Month: Rachel Wareham Reflects on the Legacy of Motrat Qiriazi

26.03.26

KWN Honoured by NRAEWOK for Contribution to Advancing Gender Equality

26.03.26

Access Denied No More: Women in Skenderaj Advocate for Quality Gynecological Care

KFOR Officials Learn from Women’s Rights Activists’ Experiences, Contribute to UNSCR 1325 Implementation

08.04.2014

On Mar. 14, the NATO Kosovo Force (KFOR) Commander, Major-General Salvatore FARINA, welcomed women’s rights activists to speak to high officials regarding the position of women in Kosovo. KWN Executive Director Igballe Rogova informed KFOR officials, providing a chronology of women’s involvement in peace processes since 1994. This included Kosovo activists’ involvement in the former Yugoslavia’s Women in Black meetings, which fostered positive relations among all ethnic groups, facilitating post-conflict peace-building processes. “This experience taught us to detest the Serbian regime, but not Serbian people,” she said. Rogova also emphasized that money cannot buy reconciliation and that collaboration among ethnic groups must come “in our time and our way.” To evidence this, she shared stories from   KWN’s efforts to (re)build relations among Serbs and Albanians since 2000. Rogova also underlined the importance of men’s involvement in furthering gender equality in post-conflict situations.
     Aferdita Sylaj from Community Building Mitrovica (CBM) also spoke about the role that her organisation has played in building relations among diverse ethnic groups living in North Mitrovica.
     This high level discussion followed a meeting between Rogova, KFOR Gender Advisor Lotta Ekvall and KFOR Commander Major-General Salvatore Farina at Film City, Prishtina on Mar. 14. During the meeting, they discussed political issues, local elections and the situation of women in Kosovo.
     KWN welcomes and thanks KFOR for these recent efforts to implement UNSCR 1325 by consulting with women’s rights activists about the specific needs of women and girls in Kosovo’s post-conflict context.   

01.04.26

Activists Advocate that EU Accession Contributes to Furthering Gender Equality

31.03.26

Igballe Rogova Awarded Presidential Medal for Lifelong Commitment to Women’s Rights

31.03.26

People Call on EU to Invest in What Matters in New EU Budget

27.03.26

Women’s History Month: Rachel Wareham Reflects on the Legacy of Motrat Qiriazi

26.03.26

KWN Honoured by NRAEWOK for Contribution to Advancing Gender Equality

26.03.26

Access Denied No More: Women in Skenderaj Advocate for Quality Gynecological Care

KWN Addresses Ministry, KSF on March 8

08.04.2014

On International Women’s Day Mar. 8, the Ministry for the Kosovo Security Forces (MKSF) and the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) organized a meeting with all civilian and military women serving in the Ministry and KSF at “Adem Jashari” Land Force Command (LFC). Participants included: MKSF Minister Agim Çeku, COMKSF Lt. Gen. Kadri Kastrati, COMKFOR General Salvatore Farina, Deputy Commander of LFC Brigadier General Gëzim Hazrolli, MKSF General Secretary Shkëlzen Sylaj, KWN Executive Director Igballe Rogova, Member of Parliament Ganimete Musliu, and members of the KSF Oversight Committee.
     “Women who work at the Ministry and Force are very active, committed and have constantly provided results in their work and service,” Minister Çeku said.
     COMKSF Lt. Gen. Kadri Kastrati strongly supported women’s engagement, stating, “I feel proud that I am the Commander of a Force that successfully serves women and men without distinction.”
     COMKFOR Major General Salvatore Farina expressed enthusiasm regarding the role of women in the armed forces and KSF’s achievements in recruiting women and treating them with dignity. He noted that the recruitment of women began only recently in all NATO countries; Italy started engaging women in the military in 2000. He congratulated Minister Çeku and General Kastrati for their attention to gender equality issues.

Rogova presented a history of women’s involvement related to International Women’s Day in Kosovo.

01.04.26

Activists Advocate that EU Accession Contributes to Furthering Gender Equality

31.03.26

Igballe Rogova Awarded Presidential Medal for Lifelong Commitment to Women’s Rights

31.03.26

People Call on EU to Invest in What Matters in New EU Budget

27.03.26

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26.03.26

KWN Honoured by NRAEWOK for Contribution to Advancing Gender Equality

26.03.26

Access Denied No More: Women in Skenderaj Advocate for Quality Gynecological Care

Association for Education and Family Care Offers Sex Education

08.04.2014

 The Association for Education and Family Care (AEFC) offers education about sexually transmitted diseases and drug abuse to elementary school children in Gjakova. The workshops provide crucial information in the absence of official curricula on these issues in Kosovo’s schools.
In an effort to make learning fun, AEFC organized a quiz at Fehmi Agani elementary school on Mar. 15 with pupils from Mazllom Këpuska and Fehmi Agani elementary schools. They competed enthusiastically, answering questions about HIV/AIDS and drugs. Both competing sides successfully answered all questions correctly. Therefore everyone won in the end. After the quiz, pupils and teachers shared more information.
“It is painful when we have the possibility to protect ourselves from these diseases, but we do not because we lack information about diseases,” said Meri Komoni, a pupil. “In the end, a life can be lost because of this.”
On Mar. 21, AEFC organized a roundtable with officers from the municipal Department of Education, school directors and representatives from the Family Health Centre. AEFC compiled a strategy, recommending the inclusion of sexual education as a subject in the school curricula in Gjakova.
“Our next target will be mothers,” said Bahrije Deva Vehapi who leads the initiative. “We will engage mothers and children towards overcoming communication barriers, so that they feel free to talk about these issues.”
     Considering that young women participating in KWN’s Young Women’s Empowerment Initiative have identified communication between parents and youth as a key challenge, AEFC’s initiative is helping to address youth’s concerns. AEFC has received support from the Kosovo Women’s Fund, supported by KtK and ADA.

01.04.26

Activists Advocate that EU Accession Contributes to Furthering Gender Equality

31.03.26

Igballe Rogova Awarded Presidential Medal for Lifelong Commitment to Women’s Rights

31.03.26

People Call on EU to Invest in What Matters in New EU Budget

27.03.26

Women’s History Month: Rachel Wareham Reflects on the Legacy of Motrat Qiriazi

26.03.26

KWN Honoured by NRAEWOK for Contribution to Advancing Gender Equality

26.03.26

Access Denied No More: Women in Skenderaj Advocate for Quality Gynecological Care

Members Begin Drafting KWN’s New Strategic Plan

08.04.2014

KWN members gathered at Hotel Prishtina on Mar. 10 to begin the process of drafting KWN’s new Strategic Plan for 2015-2018. They divided into groups based on KWN’s existing programs, discussing future objectives. KWN will hold additional planning meetings in Jun. and plans to approve the new strategy in fall 2014. 

01.04.26

Activists Advocate that EU Accession Contributes to Furthering Gender Equality

31.03.26

Igballe Rogova Awarded Presidential Medal for Lifelong Commitment to Women’s Rights

31.03.26

People Call on EU to Invest in What Matters in New EU Budget

27.03.26

Women’s History Month: Rachel Wareham Reflects on the Legacy of Motrat Qiriazi

26.03.26

KWN Honoured by NRAEWOK for Contribution to Advancing Gender Equality

26.03.26

Access Denied No More: Women in Skenderaj Advocate for Quality Gynecological Care