KWN Reacts to Dismissal of Indictment in the Case of the Rape of the 11-Year-Old Girl

26.01.2023

Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) reacts to the institutional neglect, failure to investigate, and failure to collect evidence in the case of the rape of an 11-year-old girl. We have learned through media reports that a local judge dismissed the indictment against five individuals, two of whom are adult suspects and three minors, for the rape of the 11-year-old girl that took place in August 2022. According to Judge Adnan Isufi, “the indictment from the prosecution is not clear, and the factual description does not match the legal qualification of criminal offenses.”

The failure to properly investigate the case and the improper indictment by the prosecution result in a series of institutional failures, which ultimately allow the perpetrators to go free and increases the likelihood of reoffending. Despite numerous reports of rape and murder of women, prosecutors continue to fall short in investigating these cases and filing charges that accurately reflect the criminal offenses described in the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kosovo.

As a result, girls and women must not only confront their abusers, but also the patriarchal institutions that do not adequately protect their lives and dignity. The failure of prosecutors to properly handle these cases leads to long delays in finding justice, and this further discourages victims of gender-based violence from coming forward to report their experiences. This perpetuates a cycle of violence and undermines the fundamental human rights of girls and women.

Therefore, we respectfully request that the prosecutor’s office conducts a thorough investigation into the crime and prepares a comprehensive indictment to ensure that the culprits receive the appropriate punishment.

Additionally, we request the Prosecution Council of Kosovo to take necessary measures regarding the low-quality indictments that are being rejected by the courts. At the same time, they should take appropriate disciplinary action against the relevant prosecutors to restore trust in the institution.

KWN remains dedicated to supporting and assisting victims of gender-based violence by offering free legal advice and referring them to relevant institutions. If you or someone you know is in need of free legal assistance for cases of gender-based violence, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at the following number: 038 245 850.

28.03.25

Reaction of the Kosovo Women’s Network to the Recent Killings in Kosovo due to illegal weapons 

08.11.24

Press Release – Recommendations for the Kosovo Parliament  

05.11.24

Response to Klan Kosova – Do Not Promote the Perpetrators

04.11.24

Violence Against the Minor is Intolerable – KWN Calls for Justice and Immediate Action

31.10.24

The Irresolute Resolution? After 24 Years, Resolution 1325 Remains Valid but Under-implemented  

17.10.24

Letter to the Chairman of the Assembly of Kosovo, Glauk Konjufca

The NGO Lady – the Home Where Many Women in Kosovo Find Support

26.01.2023

Sanija Murati is an activist, humanist, and a woman who never gets tired. She has set herself the goal of empowering and advancing women’s rights in the economy and in public life. She has applied this goal through the non-governmental organization “Lady”, which she has been leading for 18 years, and which the many women call “the warmest counseling house for women.”

During an interview with the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN), Mrs. Murati said that considering the economic position of women in Kosovo, the high number of unemployment, and the statistical gap between men and women in the unemployment lists, she is committed to various initiatives of her organization to raise awareness for achieving gender equality in all areas.

“Only during the year we left behind, we worked with 1018 women and young people. Also, our organization includes 120 volunteers who are regularly involved on a voluntary basis in our daily activities. Also, in addition to the regular staff, we also have external experts engaged who offer opportunities for development in all areas that are of interest to our members”, she said.

Mrs. Murati further emphasized that the interest of women in employment in the country is very great. This, as Mrs. Murati said, based on the results and achievements in providing suitable options and solutions, but also the successes of the women who pass through the doors of the “Lady” NGO. She says that whenever gatherings are organized, the halls are overflowing with women who are looking for opportunities to train and develop more.

“Based on the mission of our organization, we implement various projects that match the needs of women, which they consider a priority to build a better and successful environment in life, career and their families”, said Mrs. Murati.

Throughout all these years of work and commitment, NGO Lady has already created a network of women who do various handcrafts and participate in trainings to generate income for themselves. “Lady” has also managed to expand cooperation and create new partnerships with the countries of the Western Balkan region.

Ending a year with challenges and successes, the NGO Lady in December 2022 has co-organized a ceremony with the office of the Deputy Prime Minister Emilija Redžepi to award the Crown of Success dedicated to women who have worked, sacrificed, and made special contributions to the country.

30.04.26

Kosovo Hosts RESPONDER Partnership’s First Meeting, Co-Planning Research on Sexual Exploitation and Abuse by Aid Workers and Peacekeepers

30.04.26

From Struggle to Confidence: Supporting Girls in Their Teenage Years

30.04.26

New Paper Monitors Gender Equality in Kosovo’s Public Spending

29.04.26

Justice for survivors of gender-based violence: A success story from the Kosovo Women’s Network

28.04.26

KWN Publishes Policy Paper Urging Recognition and Protection of Personal Assistants for Persons with Disabilities

25.04.26

Advancing Women’s Rights Together: KWN’s 23rd Annual Assembly Reflects on Progress and the Road Ahead

Vienna and Venice Students Appreciate the Work of KWN

25.01.2023

Kosovo Women’s Network hosted a group of European Master’s Degree students in Human Rights and Democratization from Venice and University of Vienna.


Adelina Tërshani, Program Officer for Women’s Economic Empowerment at KWN, informed the students about KWN’s activities, the main pillars of advocacy and the tireless work of KWN member organizations throughout Kosovo.


For years, KWN has hosted students from all over the world, informing them about the feminist movement in Kosovo.

30.04.26

Kosovo Hosts RESPONDER Partnership’s First Meeting, Co-Planning Research on Sexual Exploitation and Abuse by Aid Workers and Peacekeepers

30.04.26

From Struggle to Confidence: Supporting Girls in Their Teenage Years

30.04.26

New Paper Monitors Gender Equality in Kosovo’s Public Spending

29.04.26

Justice for survivors of gender-based violence: A success story from the Kosovo Women’s Network

28.04.26

KWN Publishes Policy Paper Urging Recognition and Protection of Personal Assistants for Persons with Disabilities

25.04.26

Advancing Women’s Rights Together: KWN’s 23rd Annual Assembly Reflects on Progress and the Road Ahead

CALL FOR PROPOSALS FOR THE KOSOVO WOMEN’S FUND

25.01.2023

CALL FOR PROPOSALS FOR THE KOSOVO WOMEN’S FUND

Issued: 20 January 2023                                          Application Deadline: 20 February 2023

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) is pleased to announce that Kosovo Women Fund (KWF) will continue providing core support to KWN member organisations. We invite member organizations committed to furthering women’s rights and gender equality to submit applications for core support to their organisations.

What is core support?[1]

Core support (sometimes referred to as core budget, general budget, institutional or organizational support or unrestricted or untied funding) means flexible funding, given to an organisation to enable the organisation to realize its overall strategic plan and aims. It differs from funding provided through a specific project, which must be used only for specific, set objectives and activities (often referred to as ‘tied funding’ because it is ‘tied’ to a certain activity and cannot be used for other purposes). Several definitions of the term ‘core support’ exist. Basically, it means supporting the overall strategy, operations and administrative costs of an organisation. Rather than making an organisation follow a donor’s procedures, core support usually allows the organisation to use its own preferred procedures for auditing, procurement, and reporting. Rather than focusing on costs, core supports focuses on the results achieved. Additionally, the organisation (and not the donor) decides on these results.

Thus, core support contributes to any costs that the organization has, towards realizing its strategic aims. This may include but not necessarily be limited to:

  • Overhead, institutional, administrative, or general organizational running costs, including staff;
  • Implementing the organisation’s strategic plan;
  • Advocacy, as defined by the member organization;
  • Development and capacity building of the organisation.

Why core support?[2]

There are several reasons why KWN believes core support is important and seeks to provide it to its members:

  • KWN trusts activists: We believe that women’s rights activists are best placed to know their communities’ needs and priorities and should therefore make decisions on how to spend funds.
  • Focused on priorities: We believe core support rightfully provides member organisations with more control over how funds are channelled, ensuring that funds reach thematic areas and geographic regions often neglected by donors.
  • Sustainability and capacity-building: Core support allows organisations to strengthen their internal organisational capacities and enhance their staff’s capacities. This enables them to enact more long-term changes in their communities rather than ad hoc activities. It also enables them to build their organisational capacities and systems for the future, towards more sustainable work.
  • Flexibility: Core support provides member organisations with the flexibility to pursue their own priorities and reduces the administrative workload associated with specific donor project requirements. Core support can be adapted to shifting priorities on the ground accordingly, such as changes in target groups, scope, health, and/or political circumstances.
  • Mission-driven and fostering independence: Core support enables organisations to strategize independently and be less donor-driven.
  • Deeper impact: Our research shows that core support allows women’s rights civil society organisations to focus more on impact rather than mere survival. The time spent seeking to secure fragmented funds for basic operations, and reporting on the use of various piecemeal funds takes time away from their work towards social change.

Ineligible Costs

Given requirements by KWN’s funders, the core support must not be used for purchase of property, land, or buildings. Purchase of capital-intensive equipment may only be made provided that this is not the main purpose of the action. How the equipment will be used and disposed of after the end of the core support agreement must be documented. The grant may not be used for: debts and related service charges; provision for losses; potential future liabilities; provision for reserves; travel costs for business or first-class plane tickets; credit to third parties; extra allowances, such as sitting allowances or equivalent to finance allowances for participating staff/invited speakers/participants of workshops; and participation in or support to political parties, groups, movements or campaigns.

GRANT AWARDS

The grants distributed in this grant round for core support will receive support through KWN’s initiative supported by the following funder:

  • Sigrid Rausing Trust in the amount of at least €120,000;

SIZE AND DURATION OF GRANTS

KWN anticipates distributing at least twelve (12) grants with maximum amounts of €10,000 each. Initiatives are expected to begin on or around 1 June 2023 and can last up to a maximum of six (6) months from the date of contract signature, ending no later than 30 November 2023.

All grant beneficiary organizations who successfully implement the first round of core support grant (within this call for proposals) will be to eligible to apply for the second grant during the period 2023 – 2022.

KWN reserves the right to fund any or none of the applications submitted, as well as to discuss applications with applicants. Funding decisions will be made by KWF Grants Review Committee (GRC).

ELIGIBILITY

In order to apply, organizations must fulfil the following criteria:

  1. Be a KWN member;
  2. Be focused on women’s empowerment and/or furthering gender equality;
  3. Have no staff members currently part of KWN’s Board, or part of the GRC.

The GRC will prioritize funding for organisations that:

  • Have a clearly articulated strategy or strategic aims as an organisation, towards women’s empowerment and/or furthering gender equality in Kosovo. If there is no written strategy, short description of strategic goals can be submitted with the application form;
  • Seek to bring about sustainable changes in supporting, protecting, or promoting women’s rights and gender equality at municipal and/or national levels (e.g., organisations aiming to contribute to tangible and visible results like new legislation, improved state services for women, municipal budgets more responsive to diverse women’s needs, etc.
  • Have strategic aims that will contribute to implementing the KWN Strategy for 2023-2026 established and agreed to by KWN members to address together the main gender inequalities that they identified in Kosovo;
  • Explain well in their application how core support will enable them to achieve their organisation’s strategic goals;
  • Have a clear membership and/or constituency that the organisation serves;
  • Report regularly to their constituents, membership, and/or board about progress towards realising their strategic aims, as applicable to the organisation’s statute;
  • Actively seek to be inclusive of diverse women and girls, supporting and/or engaging persons with different abilities, minority ethnic groups, rural women, youth, and/or marginalized persons in their work;
  • Provide a complete, well-considered organisational budget for 2022 and 2023 based on currently known secured and requested financing; the application should explain clearly how the use of funds will support the overall budget of the organization [note: an organisational budget is a budget that includes all of the organisation’s existing and anticipated expenses for all of its staff, operations, and planned activities for that period, towards achieving its strategic aims. Ideally, the budget should include columns that show the funding that the organisation is receiving, plans to receive, and still needs to secure to have the resources it needs for realising its aims for that year. KWN will support members in preparing this document, as requested;
  • Demonstrate how they monitor and evaluate their work, and how they plan to do so in the future;
  • Lack other funding opportunities from different donors; and
  • Demonstrate experience successfully implementing a KWF grant previously.

APPLICATION SUBMISSION PROCEDURES

Applications may be submitted in Albanian, Serbian or English languages. The full application must be submitted electronically to the following email: grants@womensnetwork.org. Applicants must submit the following documents:

  1. Application, using the KWN Application Form (Word format, attached and available at: https://womensnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/KWF_Application-Form-2.docx;
  2. Organisation’s Strategy, if in writing, or short description of organisation’s strategic goals;
  3. Statute; and
  4. Overall Organisational Budget for 2023, using the KWN Form (Excel format, or your organization format attached and available at: https://womensnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/KWF_Budget-Proposal-Form-2.xlsx ).

Proposals submitted to KWN must be the original and sole work of the applicant organization. Plagiarism will result in disqualification of the application. 

KWN will retain all materials and documents submitted by applicants. KWN will not use information presented by applicants for purposes other than review and will not provide this information to other persons or institutions, except when required either by Kosovo law or requested by donors.

Upon delivery of their application, applicants will receive a Confirmation of Receipt with an application number, signed by KWN staff.

APPLICATION SCORING

The GRC will score applications according to the following criteria.

ANTICIPATED TIMELINE

The call for application can be found here, too: https://womensnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/KWF_Call-for-Proposals_Round-18_2022_SIGRID-1.pdf

[1] This and the following sections draw from the Kvinna till Kvinna Guidelines for Core Support, adapted based on KWN’s strategic aims, experience and prior evidence-based research on the topic, including interviews with KWN members.

[2] This section draws from KWN’s work on Where is the Money for Women’s Rights and the 2020 ICAN report “Funding Women Peacebuilders: Dismantling Barriers to Peace”.

21.06.24

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

21.08.23

CALL FOR PROPOSALS FOR THE KOSOVO WOMEN’S FUND

02.02.23

CALL FOR PROPOSALS FOR THE KOSOVO WOMEN’S FUND

25.01.23

CALL FOR PROPOSALS FOR THE KOSOVO WOMEN’S FUND

19.12.18

Organization of Persons with Muscular Dystrophy of Kosovo (OPDMK)

19.12.18

Women’s Association “Aureola”

In Remembrance of Vesna Kesić Regional Activists Gather Online

25.01.2023

In honor of Vesna Kesić, a feminist activist and journalist from Croatia, feminist activists from the former Yugoslavia region and beyond gathered online to pay tribute to her contributions to the feminist movement in the region.

“Our goal was to hear from various histories of experiences about feminist values of the anti-war movement, who were the models of inspiration before us, as well about solidarity for women across the borders,” the organizers said.

One of the speakers, the feminist activist Igballe Rogova, discussed the role of women’s organizations during the 1990s, including the “Bread for Drenica” protest and other peaceful movements. She also shared her experiences of networking with other activists from the region and beyond, including the annual “Women in Black” international conferences and the creation of the “Coalition of Women for Peace.”

This networking occurred during the negotiations between Kosovo and Serbia, was strengthened even more when Serbian women apologized for the crimes committed in Kosovo by the Serbian forces of the regime of Slobodan Milosevic.

“This act of apology strengthened the foundations of cooperation and mutual trust,” said Rogova, among other things.

Other participants, including Vesna Janković from Zagreb, Jasminka Drino Kirlić from Gornji Vakuf/Uskoplje, Lepa Mlađenović from Belgrade, Hannah Safran from Haifa, Paula Petričević from Kotor, Jelka Zorn from Ljubljana, Rebecca Johnson from London, Madeleine Rees from Geneva, and Gorana Mlinarević from Sarajevo, shared their experiences and activities during the time of war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and Kosovo and how they contributed to supporting activities in the region.

30.04.26

Kosovo Hosts RESPONDER Partnership’s First Meeting, Co-Planning Research on Sexual Exploitation and Abuse by Aid Workers and Peacekeepers

30.04.26

From Struggle to Confidence: Supporting Girls in Their Teenage Years

30.04.26

New Paper Monitors Gender Equality in Kosovo’s Public Spending

29.04.26

Justice for survivors of gender-based violence: A success story from the Kosovo Women’s Network

28.04.26

KWN Publishes Policy Paper Urging Recognition and Protection of Personal Assistants for Persons with Disabilities

25.04.26

Advancing Women’s Rights Together: KWN’s 23rd Annual Assembly Reflects on Progress and the Road Ahead

OMNES Informs Over 30 women About the Prevention of Stress and Violence

24.01.2023

Throughout the past year, the Organization for Legal and Social Research – OMNES has held workshops for 35 women in Ferizaj, Fushë Kosova, and Pristina about stress and domestic violence and how to prevent these problems.

In addition to the workshops, OMNES also carried out research with 70 women and girls related to the framework of the initiative  “Advocating to relevant institutions for protection against violence and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on stress and depression in women.”

According to Blerim Gruda, project manager at OMNES, the two-month research was held in three municipalities and lasted five days. The online workshops have been held for women participants upon request.

“90% or 95% of them wanted the training to be held online because some of them probably had more confidence participating or simply did not want to see or meet physically. After the physical meetings, we started online training. They started to tell their stories without being exposed or having physical contact,” he said.

OMNES’ research has highlighted the increase in cases of stress and violence during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The research shows that in the period March-June 2019, 557 domestic violence cases have been reported, while in the period March-June 2020, the number has increased to 696 cases.

Following the findings of the research, OMNES came up with a total of seven recommendations:

• To raise awareness in society in the prevention of violence against women, as it is necessary to change the attitudes and behaviours of both men and women, regarding prejudices and stereotypes against women in order to prevent domestic violence;

• Ensure that measures for emergency situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic address cross-cutting inequalities, such as the needs of women of different abilities, ages, and ethnicity, and those in rural areas;

• To engage civil society more, including Civil Society Organizations in the process of drafting measures to address COVID-19 in the short, medium and long term;

• Revise the recovery plan in order to prioritize investments in social infrastructure, including health care, education, care services, social services, especially for people experiencing violence, and unsafe environments.

• The victim should be at the center of all policies and that the prosecution of the perpetrator should continue even if the victim withdraws;

• Allocate resources to evidence-based rehabilitation programs to prevent future violence;

• Ensure the availability of social housing that could be used for a period of time by victims of domestic violence, after they leave shelters and before they become fully financially independent.

However, the increase in cases did not turn out to be the only problem in society, since according to Gruda, during this time, there was also a lack of information on how to report the violence.

“I think the project has had a very positive impact on the basis of how much they have been informed on where and how to report on such cases,” said Gruda.

This project has been supported by the Kosovo Women’s Fund 17th round with the support of the European Union Office in Kosovo (EU) via KWN’s initiative: “Enhancing the Capacities and Resilience of CSO’s: Furthering Gender Equality Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic.

30.04.26

Kosovo Hosts RESPONDER Partnership’s First Meeting, Co-Planning Research on Sexual Exploitation and Abuse by Aid Workers and Peacekeepers

30.04.26

From Struggle to Confidence: Supporting Girls in Their Teenage Years

30.04.26

New Paper Monitors Gender Equality in Kosovo’s Public Spending

29.04.26

Justice for survivors of gender-based violence: A success story from the Kosovo Women’s Network

28.04.26

KWN Publishes Policy Paper Urging Recognition and Protection of Personal Assistants for Persons with Disabilities

25.04.26

Advancing Women’s Rights Together: KWN’s 23rd Annual Assembly Reflects on Progress and the Road Ahead

“Shtëpia ime” in Ferizaj raises awareness against domestic violence

23.01.2023

The Center for the Protection of Women and Children “Shtepia Ime” in Ferizaj held various activities to raise the awareness against gender-based violence and domestic violence. During the eight-month project, “Shtepia ime” also held trainings with the staff of the Coordinaton Mechanism for Protection from Domestic Violence in Ferizaj’s region: Hani i Elezit, Shtime, and Kaçanik.

At least 95 people have benefited from the activities of the initiative “Strengthening the Coordination Mechanism for Protection from Domestic Violence for the Ferizaj Region.”

The advisor of this center, Gresa Kllokoqi, explained that the organization holds frequent meetings with the police, the Center for Social Work, the courts, the prosecutor’s office, the hospital, and mental health centers.

“We face different problems, such as the lack of staff in social work centers and Kosovo’s Police. Also, there is a lack of budget planning in the institutions that fight domestic and gender-based violence. But, we have reached an agreement to cooperate with them in order to have joint success”.

Kllokoqi points out that there is still reluctance to report cases of gender-based violence and those of domestic violence.

“We often think that there is no violence because there is no reporting of violence. But, this is not true. Violence happens. But, there is a lack of reporting. The patriarchal mentality is another issue that we have to deal with.”

However, she says that after awareness campaigns on the organization’s social networks, citizens have started to become informed about domestic violence and gender-based violence.

“We have posted campaigns on our Facebook page and about our activities. We have placed descriptions of what those activities are for and why they are carried out. We think that many citizens have benefitted from the campaign,” she said.

“I hope that one day the patriarchal mentality will be reduced and based on these awareness’ campaigns we are moving towards the eradication of the patriarchal mentality in society even though it will take a long time”, she said.

The Center for the Protection of Women and Children “Shtepia Ime” has benefitted from the 17th round of Kosovo Women’s Fund of KWN with support of the European Union Office in Kosovo (EU) via KWN’s initiative: “Enhancing the Capacities and Resilience of CSO’s: Furthering Gender Equality Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic.

30.04.26

Kosovo Hosts RESPONDER Partnership’s First Meeting, Co-Planning Research on Sexual Exploitation and Abuse by Aid Workers and Peacekeepers

30.04.26

From Struggle to Confidence: Supporting Girls in Their Teenage Years

30.04.26

New Paper Monitors Gender Equality in Kosovo’s Public Spending

29.04.26

Justice for survivors of gender-based violence: A success story from the Kosovo Women’s Network

28.04.26

KWN Publishes Policy Paper Urging Recognition and Protection of Personal Assistants for Persons with Disabilities

25.04.26

Advancing Women’s Rights Together: KWN’s 23rd Annual Assembly Reflects on Progress and the Road Ahead

KWN reacts to the case of Haxhiaj: Another unjust sentence!

17.01.2023

The Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) reacts to the institutional neglect, non-qualification of the offense, and non-imposition of meritorious punishment, according to Article 173 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kosovo.

Through this press release, KWN reacts against the   criminal offense and the imposition of the conviction of the man from Prizren, Ilir Haxhiaj, who killed his wife Hatije Dina.

The sentence of 15 years in prison for murder and the pronouncement of the offense in “slight bodily harm” normalizes the violence and killing of women that occurs constantly.

Women in Kosovo are living in a dangerous environment. There are no rehabilitative measures for abusers and victims of gender-based violence are left with no way to avoid the repeated violence. At the same time, women’s employment and property inheritance remain among the lowest in the Balkans, and this keeps women in abusive environments.

Dangerous environment assessments conducted by police officers are poor and result in recidivist cases. The Kosovo courts continue to impose low convictions for the offenders and absurd decisions of retrials for the accusers of the brutal killing of women. For these cases, they also apply mitigating circumstances during the criminal procedure.

The evaluations of the dangerousness by the police officers are weak, and the qualification of the crimes by the prosecutors is done in order to mitigate the crimes of violence and to stop the investigations.

Article 173 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kosovo clearly defines the punishment for Aggravated Murder, by stating that long-life imprisonment shall be imposed on a person who kills a family member or a child. Therefore, the KWN requires that the crime be reclassified from “serious bodily injury” to “aggravated murder” and after the reclassification, the sentence be announced by the Court.

The chain of institutional failure shows us that the killing of women is a consequence of the institutional, social, and collective failure in dealing with gender-based violence as a primary issue within the rule of law framework and access to justice.

Through this press release, the KWN also requests from the Ministry of Justice a systematic review of all cases of violence that ended with fatality.

KWN remains open to cooperation and assistance to victims of gender-based violence through free legal advice and referrals 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.

28.03.25

Reaction of the Kosovo Women’s Network to the Recent Killings in Kosovo due to illegal weapons 

08.11.24

Press Release – Recommendations for the Kosovo Parliament  

05.11.24

Response to Klan Kosova – Do Not Promote the Perpetrators

04.11.24

Violence Against the Minor is Intolerable – KWN Calls for Justice and Immediate Action

31.10.24

The Irresolute Resolution? After 24 Years, Resolution 1325 Remains Valid but Under-implemented  

17.10.24

Letter to the Chairman of the Assembly of Kosovo, Glauk Konjufca

Art Without Limit Organizes the Festival that Brings People with Disabilities to the Spotlight

29.12.2022

For the third time in a row, Art Without Limit organized the only festival in the region dedicated to people with disabilities.

The creator of “Art Without Limit International Film Festival”, Ganimete Sava, in an interview for the Kosovo Women’s Network, talks about the echo that the festival has received.

Ganimete Sava

“In this edition, over 1000 films have applied, but 50 short films have been selected from those. The movies have been made by successful directors and actors in the international arena, and some of whom have also worked and played in large films and series, such as; Game of Thrones, Gangs of London, Harry Potter, etc.”

The executive director of Art Without Limit is pleased that for three years now people with different abilities have a festival dedicated just for them.

“People with disabilities in Kosovo already have their own platform and address. Every year they get together and create new friendships with other people from the same community, not only Kosovar but also internationals; they watch wonderful films with motivational themes together with their families and friends,” she said.

“During our work, we, the staff, volunteers and colleagues have noticed that this community has welcomed this event that has been going on for three years now, and that a good opportunity is being created for them to come out of the shadows and into the light.”
The idea for such a festival first occurred to Ganimete Sava years ago, when she participated in a similar festival in Finland.

“Given that there are about 200,000 people with disabilities of various categories living in Kosovo, I came up with the idea that we should create such a festival here and through films they can find themselves to be motivated, inspired and bring awareness to other differently-abled people in Kosovo and beyond,” she says.


And her work has paid off. This year the documentary film “Sparks of Light”, whose producer is Ganimete Sava, won the “Best Documentary Film in the International Category” award at the 22nd edition of the International Film Festival Zimbabwe 2022. AWL intends to continue such activities and turn the festival into a traditional one.

“The plans of AWL are to continue with various artistic activities, also with the festival which has already reached international proportions, having in the jury big names of the film from Hollywood, Europe and Kosovo,” Sava says.

30.04.26

Kosovo Hosts RESPONDER Partnership’s First Meeting, Co-Planning Research on Sexual Exploitation and Abuse by Aid Workers and Peacekeepers

30.04.26

From Struggle to Confidence: Supporting Girls in Their Teenage Years

30.04.26

New Paper Monitors Gender Equality in Kosovo’s Public Spending

29.04.26

Justice for survivors of gender-based violence: A success story from the Kosovo Women’s Network

28.04.26

KWN Publishes Policy Paper Urging Recognition and Protection of Personal Assistants for Persons with Disabilities

25.04.26

Advancing Women’s Rights Together: KWN’s 23rd Annual Assembly Reflects on Progress and the Road Ahead

Elvana Shala, Goodwill Ambassador for Kosovo Breaks the Barriers

28.12.2022

The Ambassador of Goodwill for Kosovo at the International Human Rights Commission (IHRC) Elvana Shala has managed to break many barriers and prejudices for marginalized categories, while her voice has been heard not only in Kosovo, but also in the world.  

Shala, who has held this position since 2014 is among the only five female ambassadors in the world with a second term. She has represented Kosovo in the field of public diplomacy everywhere in the world, including the countries and organizations that do not recognize Kosovo’s statehood.

“In every international representation or meeting with different world leaders, my main focus has been the promotion of Kosovo, the strong contribution of women to the state-building of Kosovo and recognition of the rights of the people of Kosovo as equals in the international arena”, Shala said in an interview with Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN).

2022 has been announced by the Government of Kosovo as the Year of Persons with Disabilities.

Giving this, Ambassador Elvana Shala has organized in December the World Congress for Persons with Disabilities, to return the focus to this category.

Under the motto “Together for inclusiveness and prosperity”, the Congress has gathered 31 delegations from all over the world and about 200 guests from Kosovo institutions, persons with disabilities, civil society and others.

All this has been made possible thanks to the hard work of Ambassador Elvana Shala, who, as she herself said, “has left no stone unturned to bring the world to Kosovo today and organize this Congress, which aims to improve the lives of people with disabilities in Kosovo.”

“The idea of this congress was to bring together the local and international organizations and the exchange of various legal, infrastructural and social practices between most developed countries in the world with the state of Kosovo in order to improve the living conditions of this category,” Shala said.

She says that the current situation of the people with disabilities in Kosovo is not good despite the promises to improve it.

“There is a lack of inclusion of people with disabilities in education (school) and then in every other sphere of life. They also face social prejudices.”

However, Ambassador Shala says that she is happy that she has managed to break many barriers.

According to her Kosovo institutions and civil society should do more to increase the awareness.

“Kosovo still very much needs to be known in the world in different forms and this should be the daily obligation and priority of each of us who belong to public life.”

She said that having the right and deserved place in the international arena requires political, diplomatic and social unity so that the world respects you for your past, present and state vision for the future.

30.04.26

Kosovo Hosts RESPONDER Partnership’s First Meeting, Co-Planning Research on Sexual Exploitation and Abuse by Aid Workers and Peacekeepers

30.04.26

From Struggle to Confidence: Supporting Girls in Their Teenage Years

30.04.26

New Paper Monitors Gender Equality in Kosovo’s Public Spending

29.04.26

Justice for survivors of gender-based violence: A success story from the Kosovo Women’s Network

28.04.26

KWN Publishes Policy Paper Urging Recognition and Protection of Personal Assistants for Persons with Disabilities

25.04.26

Advancing Women’s Rights Together: KWN’s 23rd Annual Assembly Reflects on Progress and the Road Ahead