Kosovo Women's Network

Drita Vukshinaj – A Powerful Voice for Women and Persons with Disabilities

28.03.2023

“My father said ‘No, I don’t want my daughter to undergo surgery, and I don’t want anything bad to happen to her just because of the leg operation. However, I insisted, I was convinced that I had to stay in Belgrade, at the hospital, and have my leg operated on, four times in a row. That is exactly what happened, of course, with my insistence. I stayed alone in the hospital for 1 year and succeeded.

  These were the words of Drita Vukshinaj, and everything had happened after many struggles that she had encountered in a patriarchal mentality that did not allow her to treat her leg. She had fallen from a tree at the age of six. The injury and leg problems plagued her throughout her life. Initially, doctors in Kosovo had told her that the leg needed to be amputated.

Nevertheless, Drita Vukshinaj, at the age of 10, as a strong and spirited girl activist, took the initiative to undergo surgery in Belgrade, although her father opposed it, while her mother, who had supported her at that age, had left her on her own as she had passed away.

Moreover, today, on Tuesday, we will remember Drita, an indefatigable woman, a long-standing activist for women’s and human rights, who became a powerful voice particularly for people with disabilities. She set herself the goal of empowering and advancing the rights of people with disabilities and succeeded. All this came about because Drita herself had a disability. The challenges she faced pushed her to devote her life to fighting for the rights of other women with disabilities.

People with disabilities were excluded from society, but particularly in the period from 1989 to 2000, during which Drita never stopped organizing a series of activities, including courses against illiteracy, sewing courses, and many other activities, always carrying them out voluntarily. She was part of the team for registering people with disabilities in 78 villages in Prizren, a city where she also came from. This happened when Drita realized that there was an association called “Hendikos” that dealt with protection of PWDs’ rights.

Drita was always there for people with disabilities. She made door-to-door visits to women with disabilities who had been confined to their neighborhoods for their entire lives and enabled them to see Kosovo.

“I remember the year 2000 when I had a one-day trip all over Kosovo. I met a woman in her 50s and when we arrived in Prizren, after we had visited Pristina, Peja, Deçan, Prekaz and finally arrived in Prizren, her words were: ‘Even if I die now, I don’t want anything else, because I have never seen anything in my life except my neighborhood.”

In the course of her ongoing activism, Drita a woman who was tireless in her efforts felt that the voice of women with disabilities was not being heard enough. Thus, in 2012, she founded the organization “Shpresa dhe Ndërtesa”, a non-governmental organization that helped people with disabilities to integrate into society.

She has also been involved in initiatives aimed at promoting interethnic dialogue and reconciliation in the Balkans, through her work with the Balkan Network for Local Democracy and the European Women’s Lobby.

As recognition for her contributions to promoting human rights and social justice, Vukshinaj has received many awards and honors, including the US International Women of Courage Award in 2019. Drita Vukshinaj was known for her work in promoting human rights, women’s rights and social justice not only in Kosovo but also in the Balkan region.

Through her organization, she was a member of the Kosovo Women’s Network, and the KWN staff had the honor and pleasure of having a member like Drita Vukshinaj.

She enabled many women with disabilities to engage in activism through the Network. Those who knew Drita will always remember her as a courageous and determined woman who worked tirelessly to create space and opportunities for other women for their rights, including her own.

Drita Vukshinaj was born on March 10, 1954 and passed away on March 9, 2016 in Prizren, her hometown.

03.09.25

KWN sends Budget Recommendations to the Ministry of Internal Affairs

01.09.25

Kosovars Becoming More Aware of Gender-Based Violence and Reporting Mechanisms

01.09.25

KWN sends Budget Recommendations to the Ministry of Justice

30.08.25

KWN sends Budget Recommendations to the Prosecution Council

29.08.25

KWN sends Budget Recommendations to the Ministry of Finance, Labour and Transfers

29.08.25

From Health Education to Lasting Support for Survivors of Sexual Violence

Elisabeth Kaestli, Swiss Women’s Rights Activist, Marks 25th Anniversary with Kosovo

25.03.2023

She came to Kosovo 25 years ago, and since then, Kosovo has occupied a special place in her heart. Elisabeth Kaestli, author, and women’s rights activist, is a powerful woman who, through her pen, brought stories that focus on women, the importance of advancing their rights, and the great role that a powerful woman plays in society.

She is visiting Kosovo these days to mark the 25th anniversary of her arrival in Kosovo, together with the women activists she met in 1998, but also with other friends she has made during the different periods in which she has stayed in Kosovo.

“For the first time, I came to Kosovo in November 1998 when I was working as a journalist for a Swiss press office specialised in dealing with refugees. At that time, I had been in Bosnia, Croatia, and then came to Kosovo. The war had just begun here. It was very impressive for me to be in such a situation. I was traveling in Kosovo with the convoy (of the Humanitarian Association) “Mother Teresa”, and at that time, I met Igballe [Igo] Rogova, Latife Neziri, and other women who helped refugees.”

In addition to the aggravated situation due to the war, Elisabeth was also interested in the lives of women in Kosovo, particularly those whose husbands, fathers and brothers were in exile and who themselves took care of supporting the family.

“I realised that there are many women in Kosovo whose husbands worked in Switzerland. I wanted to analyse the lives of these women,” explained the former journalist, who decided to write the book Women in Kosovo.”

As we spoke about her experiences and efforts to advance the rights of women and girls in Switzerland and Kosovo, she told an interesting story.

“In 1998, I met a Swiss colleague in Kosovo, who told me “this patriarchy in Kosovo will never change”. I told him it will change even faster than in Switzerland. And indeed, [it] was proven, and he was wrong. I understood that the fight for women’’s rights in Kosovo was the same as what we had done in Switzerland when I was young. But, I think that the rights were achieved here faster than there,” said Elisabeth.

In her accounts of her time spent in Kosovo decades ago, Elisabeth recalled the first visit she made to Has region of Kosovo together with the Association for Women and Girls’ Education “Motrat Qiriazi”.

“I remember when I came for the first time after the war in 1999, a women’’s center was opened in the region of Has. I went there with Igo, and we saw that the hillside was full not only of women but also of men. We in Switzerland had not invited men. It seemed funny to me, but Igo told me, ‘’If the men support us, then we will work freely with the women’.’ I realised that this was a very wise step and a very good strategy,” she said.

While we were drinking coffee in one of Pristina, the capital’’s, restaurants, I asked her if the red clothes she was wearing were related to the Kosovo Women’’s Network (KWN) campaign, to wear red shoes, or something red, every Tuesday to show solidarity among women and girls.

“Yes, exactly. Yesterday I was at KWN and found out about this initiative; that’’s why I wore red because I think that solidarity among women is very important. We should support each other, not criticize, because in this way, we strengthen the role of women in society. If we don’t support each other, men won’t either. So, we have to start,” said Elisabeth, who was among the first people to become an individual supporter of KWN. Moreover, she has promoted KWN widely and raised funds for KWN’s work.

Elisabeth also has written other books about Kosovo: “Seven brothers, seven sisters – a Kosovar family around the world” and “Ditches and Bridges: Friendships in the Balkans Before and After the Wars – Sixteen Portraits.” She wrote the latter after hearing a moving story about two friends of two different ethnicities. When the war broke out, they were forced to take different sides, becoming sworn enemies. However, years later, when the conflict was over, one of their mutual friends suggested they meet again. They hesitated at first, but in the end, they agreed. When they met, they realised they had more in common than they thought and rekindled their friendship.

Elisabeth heard countless stories like this and realised that the reality of life is much more complex than the black and white model often portrayed in the media. Through her storytelling, Elisabeth was able to connect people across ethnic lines and bring them together. She showed that despite conflicts and disagreements, there is still hope for peace and reconciliation.

KWN expresses our deep gratitude for Elisabeth Kaestli’s many years of support to women in Kosovo, and to KWN.

03.09.25

KWN sends Budget Recommendations to the Ministry of Internal Affairs

01.09.25

Kosovars Becoming More Aware of Gender-Based Violence and Reporting Mechanisms

01.09.25

KWN sends Budget Recommendations to the Ministry of Justice

30.08.25

KWN sends Budget Recommendations to the Prosecution Council

29.08.25

KWN sends Budget Recommendations to the Ministry of Finance, Labour and Transfers

29.08.25

From Health Education to Lasting Support for Survivors of Sexual Violence

NGO Vita Jeta Informed Over 700 People About Health Care and Diabetes Prevention

24.03.2023

“Between April 1, 2022 and March 1, 2023, over 700 individuals became aware of their health conditions and women’s rights to healthcare, thanks to the initiative of Vita-Jeta, a member organization of the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN). The project, called “Covid-19 and Diabetes in the Elderly,” has also impacted the understanding of public officials on this topic.

As a result, 3-5 public officials, 500 women and girls, and 200 men have been informed about women’s rights to healthcare, reporting mechanisms, and documentation of violations of women’s rights in healthcare. Additionally, the campaign has raised awareness through social networks, reaching 20,000 women, girls, boys, and men about their rights in healthcare.”

Furthermore, on March 10, a training session was held on the impact of the pandemic and diabetes on the elderly, as well as women’s rights in healthcare. During this training, the women were taught about various topics related to diabetes, including its types and impacts on human health.

They also learned about the features, symptoms, and signs of diabetes in the elderly, as well as sugar levels in the elderly, women, and men and the reasons for their increase. Additionally, the participants received information about the diagnosis and complications of diabetes.

After lecturing on these topics, internist Valbona Bajraktari emphasized the importance of raising awareness about diabetes among people and their family members.

“With this contribution, I try to be as close as possible to women and the population, given that diabetes is the most widespread disease in the world… Every day, I see that people are becoming more knowledgeable, and family members are also becoming more informed through phone and social networks,” she said.

During the training, social medicine specialist Pranvera Krasniqi spoke to the participating women about the health and social challenges of aging, including the differences in health due to gender and the risk factors for mass non-contagious diseases. She stressed that a healthy lifestyle should be adopted from a young age to ensure healthy aging and to stay active for longer.

“However, it is necessary to focus on modifiable health factors such as lifestyle, physical activity, stress management, and so on to improve health,” advised Krasniqi. The importance of this training was also emphasized by Mimoza Nuhiu Ajeti, executive director of the Vita Jeta association. “This is how awareness is slowly raised,” said Nuhiu Ajeti.

NGO Vita-Life carried out this activity as a beneficiary of the grant from the 17th Round of the Kosovo Women’s Fund, through the initiative of the KWN “Enhancing the Capacities and Resilience of CSO’s: Furthering Gender Equality Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic,” which is financed by the Office of the European Union in Kosovo.

03.09.25

KWN sends Budget Recommendations to the Ministry of Internal Affairs

01.09.25

Kosovars Becoming More Aware of Gender-Based Violence and Reporting Mechanisms

01.09.25

KWN sends Budget Recommendations to the Ministry of Justice

30.08.25

KWN sends Budget Recommendations to the Prosecution Council

29.08.25

KWN sends Budget Recommendations to the Ministry of Finance, Labour and Transfers

29.08.25

From Health Education to Lasting Support for Survivors of Sexual Violence

Have Hope – A Second Home for Those Affected by Breast Cancer

23.03.2023

“Love life as I have loved it and I love it. To surrender is the easiest thing, but the battle is difficult.” These are the words of Arnisa Osmani, a breast cancer survivor.

On March 22, she inaugurated the offices of her organization called Have Hope, through which she aims to inspire and support cancer survivors in Kosovo.

“As a cancer survivor, I have experienced firsthand the emotional and physical toll of this devastating disease. However, along my journey, I have also discovered the incredible power of hope and perseverance. I founded Have Hope with the goal of sharing my story and providing a support system for others who are fighting similar battles,” Osmani says of Have Hope, which is a KWN member organization.

Through the organization, Osmani aims to provide resources and guidance to cancer patients and their families, as well as inspire and uplift those who may be struggling with their own battles.

In an interview with KWN, Arnisa Osmani said that the Have Hope center will be a meeting place where women affected by cancer can come together, talk, and consult with doctors, psychologists, and other women who can serve as motivating examples for them. Their goal is to show how to love life and how to fight for it.

“We all wanted to avoid being attacked by cancer, but the number of cases is increasing day by day. There are women who have nowhere to turn, so this center serves as a door and a second home where all women affected by breast cancer can come. There will be doctors and psychologists available, and they can also talk to me as a survivor of this disease,” she said.

The organization already has about 80 members, and the doors of the office are open to other women as well. Osmani says membership is free.

The reason for the Have Hope organization, as Osmani explains, is not only to spread awareness because most women already receive ample information about the disease, especially during the month of October, but also to focus on providing medical and psychological advice that those affected by cancer need.

There is also a Facebook and Instagram page for the Have Hope organization, where there will be constant information about the organization and the work being done.

KWN constantly supports member organizations in increasing their capacities, fighting gender stereotypes, and achieving gender equality in education, economy, politics, decision-making, and access to healthcare.

03.09.25

KWN sends Budget Recommendations to the Ministry of Internal Affairs

01.09.25

Kosovars Becoming More Aware of Gender-Based Violence and Reporting Mechanisms

01.09.25

KWN sends Budget Recommendations to the Ministry of Justice

30.08.25

KWN sends Budget Recommendations to the Prosecution Council

29.08.25

KWN sends Budget Recommendations to the Ministry of Finance, Labour and Transfers

29.08.25

From Health Education to Lasting Support for Survivors of Sexual Violence

SDK Advocates for the Establishment of the Consultative Committee for Gender Issues in Podujeva

23.03.2023

Achieving gender equality at the municipal level can be done by identifying gender-based inequalities in education, healthcare, employment, and political participation. To address these issues, it is necessary to have a mechanism at the municipal level.

This was the reason why the beneficiary organization of the 17th round of the Kosovo Women’s Fund (KWF), Sundimi i Demokracisë në Kosovë (SDK), through a round table with municipal officials, the center for social work, and civil society, advocated for the establishment of the Consultative Committee on Gender Issues in the municipality of Podujeva.

The objective was to increase institutional responsibility in gender policies at the local level by engaging civil society in discussions to strengthen gender mechanism.

At the roundtable, it was said that such a committee would offer advice to the legislative body and also to the executive of the municipality itself in avoiding potential defects and providing adequate solutions related to gender issues.

The committee would provide a platform for girls and women to raise their voices on issues and challenges and to participate in decision-making processes. The committee can also advocate for policies and programs that promote gender equality in the municipality. They can work with government officials to ensure that gender issues are included on the municipal agenda.

During the roundtable discussion, the participants agreed that joint and continuous advocacy efforts are necessary for the establishment of this committee.

Naime Podvorica, an official for gender equality in the Municipality of Podujeva, welcomes the establishment of such a committee.”

“We support the initiative for the establishment of the Consultative Committee for Gender Equality. We consider that the activation of this committee with good knowledge in the issue of gender equality helps not only our office but also the decision-makers to make progress in increasing the participation of women in public life in our municipality,” she said.

SDK carried out this activity as a beneficiary of the grant from the 17th Round of the Kosovo Women’s Fund, through the initiative of the KWN “Enhancing the Capacities and Resilience of CSO’s: Furthering Gender Equality Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic,” which is financed by the Office of the European Union in Kosovo

03.09.25

KWN sends Budget Recommendations to the Ministry of Internal Affairs

01.09.25

Kosovars Becoming More Aware of Gender-Based Violence and Reporting Mechanisms

01.09.25

KWN sends Budget Recommendations to the Ministry of Justice

30.08.25

KWN sends Budget Recommendations to the Prosecution Council

29.08.25

KWN sends Budget Recommendations to the Ministry of Finance, Labour and Transfers

29.08.25

From Health Education to Lasting Support for Survivors of Sexual Violence

Sevdije Ahmeti- a powerful voice for the protection of women’s rights

22.03.2023

“I will not be modest. I am a radical feminist. From scratch, we created a movement based on the needs of women. We started with women’s rights. We gathered a time when we would be accused by politicians. Ibrahim Rugova said it was not the time to fight for women’s rights, it was the time for national rights. We did both at the same time, underground or openly… and that was radical”.

“If you said you were a feminist in the 1990s, you were automatically called a lesbian. We had conflicts [between women], but we supported each other. Women never decided for war. And women were always active in peace and conflict resolution”.

These were the words of Sevdije Ahmeti, one of the activists for women’s rights in Kosovo, a movement that started in Kosovo in the 1990s alongside the demand for freedom and independence.

A woman who never got tired, a long-time humanist and women’s and human rights activist, she became a powerful voice for the protection of women’s rights, especially for women who were raped during the war.

After being fired from her job from the National Library of Kosovo on 23 July 1989, she began working for the Council for Defense of Human Rights and Freedoms, preparing numerous reports on violations of women’s rights for Amnesty International.

This also included providing evidence to the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia for sexual violence and mistreatment against women in Bosnia and Croatia, when they sought refuge in Kosovo.

Sevdije Ahmeti, together with Vjosa Dobruna, founded the Center for the Protection of Women and Children in 1993., an organization which did not only help mothers and children but provided significant help also in documenting the tortures that the Serbian authorities inflicted on Albanians in general, and women and children in particular.

After the war, Sevdije Ahmeti was one of the first to initiate the issue of survivors of sexual violence in the recent war in Kosovo.

Activist Melihate Juniku shared a few words about Ms. Sevdije, stating that her immense courage, combined with her experience and the information she had, made her an exceptional woman.

Melihate also shared some stories with us about Sevdije.

“On 16 March 1998, one of the most massive women’s protests in Kosovo was organized, with around twenty thousand people joining the March for ‘Bread for the Children and Women of Drenica’. One of the leading women was Sevdije Ahmeti, along with girls and women from across Kosovo. The aim was to inform the international decision-makers that Drenica and the entire population of Kosovo were in danger and that urgent international protection was needed. This protest had a great impact and received widespread media coverage, both domestically and internationally”, she said.

Sevdije Ahmeti’s impressive work on human rights caught the attention of Colby College in Waterville, Maine, USA. In 2001, the OAK Institute for Human Rights invited her to be a fellow and lecturer.

As an activist and humanist, Sevdije Ahmeti worked tirelessly with the KWN, contributing support, solidarity, and knowledge that inspired our work. She was also a member of the Board of the KWN.

To commemorate the feminist and humanist Sevdije Ahmeti, the Kosovo Women’s Network gives, for five years now, the annual award for activist women with her name.

Sevdije Ahmeti was born in 1944 in Gjakova and passed away in 2016 in Prishtina.

03.09.25

KWN sends Budget Recommendations to the Ministry of Internal Affairs

01.09.25

Kosovars Becoming More Aware of Gender-Based Violence and Reporting Mechanisms

01.09.25

KWN sends Budget Recommendations to the Ministry of Justice

30.08.25

KWN sends Budget Recommendations to the Prosecution Council

29.08.25

KWN sends Budget Recommendations to the Ministry of Finance, Labour and Transfers

29.08.25

From Health Education to Lasting Support for Survivors of Sexual Violence

Let’s start Tuesdays with a positive spirit and solidarity!

14.03.2023

As violence, discrimination, sexual harassment, and inequality against women continue, it is very important for girls and women to stand in solidarity, support, and promote each other in all spheres of life.

This was the message conveyed by Igballe Rogova, the Executive Director of the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN), during the regular KWN membership meeting on Monday, March 13th. Rogova urged people to join FemFest, a global campaign against violence towards women, and to wear red shoes or at least something red once a week on Tuesdays, to demonstrate their solidarity with all girls and women.

“We need solidarity now more than ever. We need to support each other now more than ever,” emphasized Rogova.

When women support and encourage each other, they pave the way for a more inclusive and equal society, breaking the stereotypes and societal expectations that can limit their potential.

“That’s why we will be part of the global campaign against violence. The concept behind this campaign is that every Tuesday, we will speak kindly of each other, refrain from criticizing or insulting each other, and provide support to one another,” explained Rogova, whose proposal was unanimously supported by the members.

During the meeting, KWN and its members shared information about their work and upcoming activities. Among other things, KWN briefly presented the initial findings from its assessment of members’ needs based on the KWN regulations and code of conduct.

Rogova stressed that the evaluation was necessary, and members were informed that those who wish to remain part of the network must accept the new Code of Conduct. Out of the 194-member organizations, 28 have not accepted the new code, and 31 have not responded at all.

“The code is actually not new, it is updated because we have seen sexist, homophobic language among the members and we wanted to strengthen the network because when we say that KWN is working for human rights, it must strengthen all human rights and not just one or two,” Rogova said, saying that the 31 organizations that have not responded can apply to re-join the network whenever they want.

“The door is always open; they can reapply because we don’t close the network door. Out of 194 organizations, today we have 135 members of the network. This is important to share with you,” said Rogova, noting that the Kosovo Women’s Fund has a fantastic team, which tries all the time to help member organizations, but they have not always found understanding.

In this context, she said that the assessment was conducted because KWN was no longer able to take responsibility for the mistakes of organizations before the donors.

“We have created the mechanisms of the Fund; we have always worked together and have not done anything on our own. We have established mechanisms so that if the work gets delayed, or the documents are not submitted on time, we have postponed it until a solution is found. This year, we can’t delay it any longer. Contracts must be implemented in a timely manner. We can no longer hold ourselves accountable for the mistakes of organizations,” said Rogova.

Other key findings of the Assesment include:

40% of KWN members have strategies that lead their work;
On average, every member supports approximately 135 people per year, and, in 2022, KWN supported more than 97,172 beneficiaries;
Most members (93%) said that lack of funds was the biggest challenge they faced;
Related, the second most mentioned challenge was lack of staff (46%) and lack of facilities (24%);
Most members sought longer term grants (62%); larger grants (51%); more flexible grants (18%); and more frequent calls for proposals from the Kosovo Women’s Fund.

During the meeting, the members also shared information about the activities carried out and future plans.

The annual payment of KWN membership, which contributes to the KWN Sustainability Fund, was also discussed, and it was decided that it would be €30. Rogova also emphasized that this year, KWN, through the Kosovo Women’s Fund (KWF), is distributing grants in the amount of €215,000.

Furthermore, Donjete Berisha Muharremi, Manager of the KWF, indicated that the calls have already been closed, and at the moment, three new members of the Grant Review Committee are being selected, who will be included in the evaluation for this round.

The members were informed about the voting method, where three of the six nominated candidates will be voted online and selected by the members themselves: Anisa Ismaili, Nermin Mahmuti, Dilleza Olluri, Jeta Bakija, Aida Derguti, and Ada Shima.

The members present had the opportunity to ask questions and be informed about everything related to the progress of the call within the KWF, and were also encouraged to continue communication with the KWN staff for whatever the need may be.

The member organization Monsig informed the members about the activities held for Gender-Responsive Budgeting, while Artpolis provided information about the organization of the feminist spring school.

On the other hand, ArtWhitoutLimit informed that the film that opened their annual festival dedicated to people with disabilities, “An Irish Goodbye,” won the Oscar award as the best short film.

This meeting is supported by the Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation.

03.09.25

KWN sends Budget Recommendations to the Ministry of Internal Affairs

01.09.25

Kosovars Becoming More Aware of Gender-Based Violence and Reporting Mechanisms

01.09.25

KWN sends Budget Recommendations to the Ministry of Justice

30.08.25

KWN sends Budget Recommendations to the Prosecution Council

29.08.25

KWN sends Budget Recommendations to the Ministry of Finance, Labour and Transfers

29.08.25

From Health Education to Lasting Support for Survivors of Sexual Violence

KWN shares strategies for gender-transformative digitalisation in agriculture

11.03.2023

On 7 March, the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) had the pleasure of joining the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) AgriTech Talk on gender-transformative digitalisation in agriculture, as a special guest.

Nicole Farnsworth, KWN Program Director and Lead Researcher, shared findings and recommendations from new research conducted by KWN for FAO: “Kosovo Gender Profile of Agriculture and Rural Livelihoods”, which will be published soon.

The study found that rural women and men have equal and almost universal access to smart phones and internet, which can support digitalisation. However, few rural women and men use technology for agriculture. The main reason is that both women and men lack knowledge and information on how to use technology for public services, accessing subsidies, researching new methods, information on prices and weather, marketing products online, business networking and expanding their agricultural activities. Additionally, women spend a lot more time caregiving than do men.

Given rural women’s comparatively lower levels of education, limited time due to care responsibilities, poor access to finance, and social norms, they have fewer possibilities to use digital technology for economic activities, including in agriculture. Thus, outreach efforts need to consider women and men’s different social circumstances that can prevent access to learning and use of technology.

Key recommendations emerging from the study are that the government needs to increase the availability of care services, public transport to rural areas, municipal advisory services, and affirmative measures to support women in agriculture with digitalisation.

Farnsworth also shared strategies for incorporating attention to gender equality into project cycle management. Gender-inclusive digital intervention should follow similar steps as any project as per best practices in project cycle management. Therefore, it must begin with gender analysis to identify the different needs of diverse women and men, she said.

She shared KWN’s innovative conceptual model and methodology for “Gender-responsive Inclusive Digital Transformation”. Adapted from UNDP’s Inclusive Digital Transformation model, it provides a framework for conducting gender analysis on digitalisation.

“We hope this model will be useful for other countries in the Western Balkans and the world in conducting comprehensive gender analysis to inform digitalisation,” she said.

Using this model, KWN is finishing a new report on gender and digitalisation, supported by the European Union and Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency as part of the Coalition for Gender Equality in the EU Accession Process (EQUAPRO) to be published soon.

FAO hosted this timely event as the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women began its discussions on “Innovation and Technological Change Education in the Digital Age – Progress toward gender equality”, which will continue through 17 March 2023.

KWN is grateful for the opportunity to share its experience and knowledge with FAO and looks forward to our continued collaboration in furthering gender equality in agriculture and digitalisation.

03.09.25

KWN sends Budget Recommendations to the Ministry of Internal Affairs

01.09.25

Kosovars Becoming More Aware of Gender-Based Violence and Reporting Mechanisms

01.09.25

KWN sends Budget Recommendations to the Ministry of Justice

30.08.25

KWN sends Budget Recommendations to the Prosecution Council

29.08.25

KWN sends Budget Recommendations to the Ministry of Finance, Labour and Transfers

29.08.25

From Health Education to Lasting Support for Survivors of Sexual Violence

We March for a Life Without Violence Against Girls and Women

08.03.2023

The Palace of Justice in Hajvalia was the meeting point of the collective “MARShojmë S’festojmë”, which for the eighth year in a row marks the International Women’s Day, March 8, with a protest march to demand social justice and gender equality.

Many citizens and activists joined this march in the Zahir Pajaziti square continuing to walk toward the Government of Kosovo, where the protesters echoed the calls for a life without violence against girls and women.

As in previous years, this time the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) joined this march, which found support in several other municipalities in Kosovo.

May be an image of 3 people, people walking, people standing, crowd and outdoors

KWN also joined the march of the Feminist Collective in Tirana with the message “We don’t celebrate! We march! For a life without violence for women and girls!” The march conveyed the irreplaceable role of women and girls in building and leading peace in the world.

In Tirana, RrGK also participated in an activity organized by BashArt, installing the “Red Shoes” installation as part of the FemFest festival. The installation, curated by Ajola Xoxa, is a call for awareness and solidarity in the face of violence against women in Albania and around the world. At KWN, we will never forget the women who have died as a result of violence, and we will continue our fight to end violence against them.

On the first day of the FEMFEST program, a panel was organized with panelists from the network of Albanian organizations AWEN and KWN. They remembered activists from Kosovo and Albania who paved the way for the women’s movement and discussed the challenges faced by women in both countries.

For years, KWN has been committed to promoting gender equality and ending violence against women. This fight does not end on March 8, and KWN works tirelessly to develop policies that provide support to survivors of gender-based violence.

Gender equality knows no boundaries! Let March 8 be an echo for the empowerment of girls and women!

03.09.25

KWN sends Budget Recommendations to the Ministry of Internal Affairs

01.09.25

Kosovars Becoming More Aware of Gender-Based Violence and Reporting Mechanisms

01.09.25

KWN sends Budget Recommendations to the Ministry of Justice

30.08.25

KWN sends Budget Recommendations to the Prosecution Council

29.08.25

KWN sends Budget Recommendations to the Ministry of Finance, Labour and Transfers

29.08.25

From Health Education to Lasting Support for Survivors of Sexual Violence

CSOs Discuss Gender Responsive Budgeting Strategies

28.02.2023

Gender-responsive budgeting (GRB) is an important strategy for promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment. Today (28 February) Nicole Farnsworth, Programme Director and Lead Researcher at the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) held an online training on GRB with women’s rights organisations (WCSOs) in the Western Balkans.

GRB helps to ensure that government budgets are designed to address the specific needs and priorities of diverse women and men, towards allocating resources more efficiently, effectively, transparently, and in a way that promotes gender equality. GRB involves mainstreaming gender in all phases of the budget process: planning, execution, monitoring, and evaluation. It acknowledges that due to (diverse) women and men’s differing social, economic, and political situations they may have different needs, priorities, and interests, which must be considered in all phases of the budget process.

Citing Sharp, Farnsworth explained that three core goals of gender budget initiatives are to:

Make governments accountable for gender budget and policy commitments
Change and refine government budgets and policies to promote gender equality
Raise awareness and understanding of gender issues and impacts of budgets and policies

Sharing examples, experiences, and lessons learned from KWN’s more than decade of experience working on GRB, she provided methodologies, entry points, and ideas for overcoming potential challenges.

WCSO participants were interested in translating the knowledge into practice within their own national and municipal contexts, and Farnsworth walked them through specific steps and mechanisms that they can use to conduct municipal, national, and international advocacy efforts towards the institutionalization and application of GRB.

KWN continues to work towards institutionalising gender responsive budgeting in Kosovo at all levels. As a member of the Gender Budget Watchdog Network, KWN continues to monitor progress in this regard, conduct gender analyses to support gender-budgeting, and to advocate reforms.

This particular training was delivered based on WCSOs’ requests for such a training, as part of the Coalition for Gender Equality in the EU Accession Process (EQUAPRO), supported by the European Union and Swedish International Development Agency (Sida).

03.09.25