CMZ Presents The Report On The Quality Of The Local Electoral Process
01.06.2022
On February 25, the member organization of the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN), Centar Manjinske Zajednice (Albanian: Minority Community Center), presented the report on the quality of the electoral process in the municipalities of Gracanica, Fushë Kosovë, Prishtina and Rahovec, within the initiative “I have the right to be informed!”, supported by KWN’s Kosovo Women’s Fund (KWF).
During this activity, it was discussed about the project, online media reports on the local elections of 2021, as well as the overall assessment of the day of these elections.
The report, which was compiled during the period 16 September – 16 December 2021, is a continuation of the effort to raise awareness of officials about the state of the media in Kosovo, and analyzes the data collected from election day to contribute to increasing transparency. Moreover, accountability of institutions during the electoral process. The media analyzed in this report include; RTK Live, Radio KIM and Radio Gracanica.
The CMZ had engaged accredited observers in these four municipalities, who closely monitored the process from the opening of the polling stations to the counting process in order to record all irregularities at the polling stations where they were present.
During the presentation of the report, the participants, including young people, discussed their views on the electoral process and opportunities for improvement. They stressed that these media did not provide them with enough information on how to vote, and stressed the need for the media to have more freedom.
This CMZ activity is one of many activities supported by the 15th round of KWF, thanks to the financial support received from the European Union (EU) Office in Kosovo, through the KWN initiative “Strengthening Women’s Participation in Politics”.
Moravski Biser Continues To Involve Women From Rural Areas In Both Public And Political Life
31.05.2022
Moravski Biser, a member organization of the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN), from December 22 to December 24, 2021 held workshops in the village of Pasjan, Partesh Municipality, respectively in the village of Bostan, Municipality of Novo Brdo.
These workshops aimed to acquaint the participants through the theoretical part as well as active group work with the basics, methods, as well as advocacy opportunities which will increase their knowledge for advancing the position of women in the community.
Together with the workshop leader Ms. Nebojsha Simiq, assembly members, gender equality officials, women political parties and women’s rights activists from the municipalities of Partesh, Kllokot, Ranillug and Novo Brdo discussed the necessary steps to improve co-operation between political representatives at the local level.
One of the most useful things during the training was considered to be the connection of women from these municipalities who are geographically close to each other, as well as the exchange of common ideas in order to improve well-being in these municipalities.
This activity, as well as other activities of the “Involvement of women from rural areas in public and political life” initiative, were supported by the 15th round of the KWN Kosovo Women’s Fund (KWF), funded by the Office of European Union (EU) in Kosovo, through KWN Initiative “Strengthening Women’s Participation in Politics”
KWN and UNFPA Encourage Businesses in Skenderaj to Implement Family-Friendly Policies
31.05.2022
Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) member organization, Drugëza, today in Skënderaj held a meeting with representatives of businesses, banks, municipal officials and civil society to discuss the KWN’s awareness-raising campaign on gender responsive family policies.
During the meeting, some business representatives said they were pleased for being informed on the EU Work-Life Balance Directive and the family-friendly workplace policies offered to small businesses.
The KWN Program Officer for Women’s Economic Empowerment, Adelina Tërshani, encouraged local businesses to continue their willingness to put into practice the family-friendly policies stemming from the EU Directive, adding that the implementation of this directive helps achieving the gender equality.
Dea Pallaska O’Shaughnessy, the Population and Development Program Analyst at UNFPA said the meeting shows how the way of doing business is changing and how this can help in empowering women economically.
The KWN’s “More Choices: Gender Responsive Family Policy for the Private Sector in the Western Balkans and Moldova” initiative is supported by the UNFPA and funded by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA), the operational unit of the Austrian Cooperation Agency.
Western Balkans Coalition Publishes Regional Report on Gender-based Discrimination and Labour
30.05.2022
The Coalition for Addressing Gender-based Discrimination in Labour in the Western Balkans (WB) launched the second edition of their research report titled Gender-based Discrimination and Labour in the Western Balkans on 20 May in Brussels and on 30 May through online platform Zoom.
The research sought to identify shortcomings in the relevant legal framework; awareness and prevalence of gender-based discrimination related to labour; the extent to which people have filed claims; and how institutions have treated such cases.
In her opening remarks in Brussels, Michela Matuella, Acting Director of the Western Balkans in the Directorate General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR) at the European Commission (EC) said: “CSOs are a key player in moving these issues forward, and this report being launched today is proof of that. We will encourage the political leadership in the region to follow up on its recommendations.
While, Olga Martin Gonzalez, Gender Equality Coordinator in the European Commission Directorate
General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations during the online launching event said:
“The continuous work of women’s rights civil society organisations that are behind this regional research contributes to evidence-based policy interventions and provides useful recommendations to address gender-based discrimination in the WB, by governments, civil society, businesses, and the EU.”
David JJ Ryan, Co-author; Vaska Leshoska, Researcher, Reactor-Research in Action and Endrita Banjska, Co-author, KWN during both launching events have presented the main findings and recommendations for the EU and relevant institutions.
The main findings are:
No government has harmonised fully its legal framework with the EU Work-Life Balance Directive. Various issues exist related to leave rights, particularly parental, paternity and carers’ leave.
While awareness that gender-based discrimination is illegal seems to have improved slightly, many people still do not know where and how to report it.
Labour-related gender-based discrimination has remained widespread in the WB, including in hiring, promotion, pay, contracts, pregnancy and maternity leave rights, paternity leave, and sexual harassment at work.
LGBTQI+ persons, women with disabilities, and women from minority ethnic groups report facing multiple, intersectional discrimination.
Few people report gender-based discrimination due to low awareness of how to report it; distrust in institutions; concern for stigmatisation; fear of job loss or other victimisation; and lengthy, often expensive justice or other proceedings.
Key recommendations include:
For the EU
Require implementation of institutional reforms to address gender-based discrimination in labour as a condition of the EU accession process.
Monitor reforms using a standardised approach, via country reports.
Encourage and support all countries in harmonising their legal frameworks with the EU Work-Life Balance Directive.
Continue consulting and supporting CSOs, especially WCSOs, in legal reforms, raising awareness, providing legal aid, and, thereby, monitoring institutional performance.
For Responsible Institutions
Harmonise national legislation with the EU Work-Life Balance Directive, among other needed amendments outlined in the report.
Improve data collection, ensuring all data is disaggregated by gender of victim(s), of alleged perpetrator(s), location, and form of discrimination. Regularly publish data.
Ensure obligatory, institutionalised training for responsible officials on gender equality and transforming gender norms; the legal framework on gender-based discrimination in labour and referrals; and forms of gender-based discrimination, especially sexual harassment.
Better resource labour inspectors and justice providers.
Improve collaboration among institutions and with (W)CSOs, including in jointly raising awareness about how to report discrimination and in improving public trust in institutions.
KWN Advocates to Abolish Taxes on Menstrual Products
27.05.2022
On May 24, the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) launched a campaign demanding the abolition of taxes on menstrual products. Currently menstrual products in Kosovo are taxed at 18% of their value, just as luxury products are taxed. Recall that there is another value added tax of 8% for essential products, such as pharmaceuticals. However, menstrual products are not taxed with this tax either, which would nevertheless reduce their price. They continue to be taxed as if they were luxury products, not essential, as they are for women and girls and their well-being and their right to affordable health care.
Through this campaign, KWN aims to inform citizens about the importance of implementing gender policies in imposing taxes on menstrual products, as well as the special importance it holds in the case of Kosovo – knowing that only 15.9% of women in Kosovo are employed.
To advocate for this, on May 28, World Menstrual Hygiene Da,y KWN sent a policy document entitled “Gender Responsive Taxation: Abolition of Taxes for Menstrual Hygiene Products” to the Ministry of Finance, Labor, and Transfers. This document, which was originally launched by KWN member organization EcoKos Women (EKW), clearly sets out the reasons why the Government of Kosovo should reduce or eliminate taxes on menstrual products altogether, thus increasing women’s well-being. and implement Gender Responsive Budgeting, as committed through the Law on Gender Equality. The document also contains recommendations on how to do so.
Therefore, KWN encourages the Government of Kosovo to amend Law No. 05 / L-037 on Value Added Tax, and with it to change the administrative instructions for its implementation, so that menstrual products are exempt from customs duties. and from taxation. This will benefit low-income families as well as contribute to achieving equality in state revenue collection by removing this discriminatory tax on women. Furthermore, it would contribute to improving women’s access to health care, personal hygiene management, education and employment. If the complete abolition of the tax is not possible, then anyway this tax should be reduced to 8%, as in this way their price would be reduced without being so noticed in the collection of state revenues.
This campaign is supported by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) and the Swedish International Cooperation and Development Agency (Sida).
Western Balkans Coalition Publishes Regional Report on Gender-based Discrimination and Labour
20.05.2022
Brussels, 20 May 2022
On 20 May, the Coalition for Addressing Gender-based Discrimination in Labour in the Western Balkans (WB) launched the second edition of their research report titled Gender-based Discrimination and Labour in the Western Balkansin Brussels. The research sought to identify shortcomings in the relevant legal framework; awareness and prevalence of gender-based discrimination related to labour; the extent to which people have filed claims; and how institutions have treated such cases. The research was conducted by women’s rights civil society organisations (WCSOs) as part of their regional Action “Empowering CSOs in Combatting Discrimination and Furthering Women’s Labour Rights” in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Kosovo, and Serbia, supported by the European Union (EU) and co-funded by Swedish Development Cooperation. Key findings include:
No government has harmonised fully its legal framework with the EU Work-Life Balance Directive. Various issues exist related to leave rights, particularly parental, paternity and carers’ leave.
While awareness that gender-based discrimination is illegal seems to have improved slightly, many people still do not know where and how to report it.
Labour-related gender-based discrimination has remained widespread in the WB, including in hiring, promotion, pay, contracts, pregnancy and maternity leave rights, paternity leave, and sexual harassment at work.
LGBTQI+ persons, women with disabilities, and women from minority ethnic groups report facing multiple, intersectional discrimination.
Few people report gender-based discrimination due to low awareness of how to report it; distrust in institutions; concern for stigmatisation; fear of job loss or other victimisation; and lengthy, often expensive justice or other proceedings.
According to the report, WB institutions do not maintain adequate gender-disaggregated data on gender-based labour-related discrimination cases reported. Labour inspectors’ knowledge regarding gender-based discrimination has remained low across the region. As few cases have been reported to relevant institutions, still few institutions have experience treating gender-based discrimination cases. However, the aforementioned Coalition’s Action has increased the number of cases treated by institutions and brought justice for some women whose rights were violated. Meanwhile, regional monitoring suggests that courts continue to have delays in treating cases, exacerbated amid COVID-19.
Ombudspersons and Commissioners for Protection against Discrimination (in countries where they exist) tended to be knowledgeable about these issues and their work to address gender-based discrimination has improved.
Key recommendations include:
For the EU
Require implementation of institutional reforms to address gender-based discrimination in labour as a condition of the EU accession process.
Monitor reforms using a standardised approach, via country reports.
Encourage and support all countries in harmonising their legal frameworks with the EU Work-Life Balance Directive.
Continue consulting and supporting CSOs, especially WCSOs, in legal reforms, raising awareness, providing legal aid, and, thereby, monitoring institutional performance.
For Responsible Institutions
Harmonise national legislation with the EU Work-Life Balance Directive, among other needed amendments outlined in the report.
Improve data collection, ensuring all data is disaggregated by gender of victim(s), of alleged perpetrator(s), location, and form of discrimination. Regularly publish data.
Ensure obligatory, institutionalised training for responsible officials on gender equality and transforming gender norms; the legal framework on gender-based discrimination in labour and referrals; and forms of gender-based discrimination, especially sexual harassment.
Better resource labour inspectors and justice providers.
Improve collaboration among institutions and with (W)CSOs, including in jointly raising awareness about how to report discrimination and in improving public trust in institutions.
In her opening remarks, Michela Matuella, Acting Director of the Western Balkans in the Directorate General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR) at the European Commission (EC) said: “CSOs are a key player in moving these issues forward, and this report being launched today is proof of that. We will encourage the political leadership in the region to follow up on its recommendations.”
In response to the findings, Gordon Purvis, Policy Officer – European Integration Negotiator at DG NEAR at the EC said that the report is well-placed, “extremely timely”, and contributes to evidence-based policymaking, particularly in the current context of finalising the country reports. “This is exactly the kind of dialogue we need to have. This is critical especially when it comes to wages and Work-Life Balance.”
Other speakers included: David JJ Ryan, Co-author; Vaska Leshoska, Researcher, Reactor-Research in Action; and Endrita Banjska, Co-author, KWN. Coalition partners contributed to the discussion regarding local situations, including Mirela Arqimandriti, Executive Director, Gender Alliance for Development Centre; Svjetlana RamićMarković, Project Coordinator, Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly – Banja Luka; Adelina Tershani, Project Coordinator, KWN; Maja Raičević, Executive Director, Women’s Rights Centre; and Sofija Vrbaški, Project Coordinator, Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation.
Gender-Based Discrimination And Labour in Western Balkans
18.05.2022
This is the second edition of this research, conducted by a coalition of women’s civil society organisations (CSOs) in the Western Balkans (WB). It aimed to identify shortcomings in the relevant legal framework; awareness and prevalence of gender-based discrimination related to labour; the extent to which people have filed claims; and how institutions have treated such cases. Conducted in 2018 and repeated in 2021, the research involved mixed methods, including a desk review, online surveys, and interviews. This regional sector gender analysis was conducted as part of the Action “Empowering CSOs in Combatting Discrimination and Furthering Women’s Labour Rights”, in six WB countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Kosovo, and Serbia), supported by the European Union and co-funded by Swedish Development Cooperation.
Today, through the media, we were informed about another case of rape of a minor girl in the Municipality of Gjakova.
The Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) through this press release supports the request of the Basic Prosecution in Gjakova regarding the detention of the suspect for committing the criminal offense of “rape” between 3-5 May this year in Junik until a final decision is taken by the court. KWN calls on the suspect to receive a sentence commensurate with the gravity of the offense after evaluating the evidence. According to the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kosovo, Article 227, it is stated that “Whoever subjects another person to a sexual act without such person’s consent shall be punished by imprisonment of two (2) to ten (10) years… and in case committed against a person under the age of sixteen (16) years, the perpetrator shall be punished by imprisonment of five (5) to twenty (20) years.
According to the Institute of Forensic Medicine, in over 70% of cases of sexual rape, the victims are underage girls. Sexual violence against women and girls and any other form of violence against women and girls must be combated by the whole society and every perpetrator of violence must receive deserved punishments from the competent bodies.
We also call for a focused approach to the victim when working with the juvenile and for her to receive the necessary and necessary assistance.
KWN remains open to cooperation and assistance to victims of gender-based violence through free legal advice and referral to relevant institutions. If you need free legal aid for cases of gender-based violence, or know someone who needs it, contact us at: 038 245 850.
Lobby For Gender Equality Meeting Discusses “Challenges Faced by Women Deputy Mayors”
16.05.2022
Today on May 16, The Lobby For Gender Equality (Lobby) gathered to discuss “Challenges faced by deputy mayors in municipalities.”
Representatives of institutions, women’s rights organizations, as well as members of the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) and women engaged in politics discussed and shared their experiences regarding women’s participation in politics at the local level.
KWN Executive Director Igballe Rogova opened the meeting by noting that the Lobby’s mission since its establishment has been to support women in institutions, politics and decision-making processes, as well as to increase solidarity among women.
“It is a pleasure that the deputy mayors from four municipalities of Kosovo are here with us today. This shows the achievement of a good result and success. These women are an example of women’s participation in politics,” she said, while also mentioning the work done in this regard within KWN’s “Women’s Participation in Politics and Decision-Making” program.
Further, Mihrije Suka, Deputy Mayor of Suhareka, initially expressed her excitment that the number of deputy mayors has increased and that women are taking their positions in the public sphere.
“The position of women in the Municipality of Suhareka is advancing from mandate to mandate, and now we have four directorates led by women. “[…] We must support each other, because only if we support each other will we be able to implement our demands”, she said.
Also, Leonora Morina-Bunjaku, Deputy Mayor of Gjilan shared the experience and challenges she has encountered during her journey in politics.
“The role of Kosovar women was noticed and heard strongly in all stages of the state, without ever being spared. […] Of course, there will always be challenges, but by supporting each other we will always succeed “.
Next, Marigona Lahu, Deputy Mayor of Podujeva, took the stage to expressed her commitment to supporting girls and women to be part of the political and decision-making processes.
“One of the challenges we face today in Podujeva is the fact that there is no network of women, where women can gather and discuss their problems and concerns,” she said, adding that with cooperation and will the position of women in politics and leadership positions is improved.
During this meeting it was also talked about the achievements, challenges and necessary advocacy that should be done to increase the representation of women in politics and decision-making processes.
The participants considered this meeting as a necessary opportunity to achieve the necessary solidarity among actors working for women’s rights and to increase their effective participation in decision-making.
This meeting was made possible thanks to the support by the European Union (EU) Office in Kosovo.
Gruaja Hyjnore raises awareness among Gjilan students about the importance of reporting harrasment
12.05.2022
Gruaja Hyjnore, a member organization of Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN), has given lectures to the high school students in the Municipality of Gjilan on addressing and reporting harassment. As part of the initiative “Sexual education as a subject in primary and secondary schools” beneficiary of the 15th round of the Kosovo Women’s Fund (KWF).
During March, the Project Manager in this organization, Qëndresa Hajdari gave two lectures, one in the Primary and Lower-Secondary School “Rexhep Elmazi” in Gjilan and the other in Primary and Lower-Secondary School “Deshmoret e Kombit” in Lower Livoç of Gjilan. She informed the students on the importance of reporting, she also pointed out that within the framework there were planned also informative meetings with parents, knowing their important role in combating this phenomenon and raising awareness of children.
“Sexual harassment continues to be part of our daily lives. Starting from verbal harassment in the streets, the dignity of a girl or woman begins to be violated, and when we talk about rape, then we are talking about the most serious act that should be addressed immediately to the competent authorities and treated very seriously,” he said Hajdari among others.
This activity and this initiative are supported by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA), through the KWN initiative “Further Advancement of Women’s Rights in Kosovo II”, co-financed by the Swedish International Cooperation Agency and International Development (Sida), through the Swedish Embassy in Pristina.
