Kosovo Women's Network

“You Can Do” organises “Dark Dinner”, symbolic of blind persons’ routine

07.12.2021

Dinner was served and participants entered the hall. But, the moment they were accommodated, the lights were turned off.

This was the way the organisation “You Can Do”, a member of the Kosova Women’s Network (KWN), chose to mark December 3, International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The event, called “Dark Dinner,” intended to encourage participants to empathise with the blind persons’ community.

Betim Bregovina, part of this community, said that this event is just an improvisation of the difficulties they face every day.

“The dark dinner is an improvisation, due to the lack of our engagement here as staff, and we are mainly blind people of this organisation. Organising this event qualitatively would have the blind persons themselves prepare, serve, and accompany the guests. In other countries around the world, blind persons have their own restaurants where they are accommodated”, he said.

Present at this event was the Minister of Industry, Entrepreneurship and Trade, Rozeta Hajdari, who said that the Government of the Republic of Kosovo is very committed to the principle of inclusion.

“On this principle, we have already declared 2022 the year of people with disabilities. I know you have a lot of challenges and a lot of work to do, but with you who know best your needs and requirements, we want to have a thorough record of the accountability and policies we will draft. As for the law on the employment of a person with disabilities in every 50 employees, it must be implemented and reviewed with your proposals“, said the minister.

University professor, Fadil Maloku, said that more needs to be done to integrate blind persons into society.

“I am glad that you have taken this initiative which the Government and NGOs outside and inside Kosova should use to remove potential prejudices and stereotypes. This community has a lot to offer, due to their professional competence. Indeed, they may be deprived of an ability, but there is no doubt that they have another gift”, he said.

In the subsequent discussion, persons from this community called for tangible activities of their integration into society, and more state support to have the opportunity to live independently.

You Can Do’s mission is to create an inclusive society with equal opportunities in which people with disabilities use their full potential with dignity. This organisation recently became a member of KWN, thus joining 182 other organizations which together, with the support of KWN, work for a better society in all areas.

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Four KWN member organisations mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities with Activities

06.12.2021

3 December marks the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

As in previous years, this important date for human rights was marked by four member organisations of the Kosova Women’s Network (KWN).

On December 3, in Prizren, Organisation of Persons with Muscular Dystrophy of Kosova (OPMDK) gathered representatives of institutions, women politicians, representatives of civil society, and activists who work for the rights of persons with disabilities.

During this symbolic activity of OPMDK, some women and girls with disabilities were certified for jewellery business. KWN and OPMDK are now at the end of the third year of cooperation to improve the participation of women with disabilities in politics and decision-making processes, through the initiative “Strengthening Women’s Participation in Politics“.

Also, the other KWN member organization, Art Without Limit, held the closing ceremony of the Art Without Limit Film Festival on December 3 at the National Theatre in Prishtina, during which 50 films from around the world were screened. See HERE the full list of winners.
KWN has consistently supported Art Without Limit in their quest for equality, and recently this organization has benefited from the 15th round of the Kosova Women’s Fund with the initiative “Empowering People with Disabilities through Art”.

Meanwhile, “You Can Do”, had chosen to mark December 3 with a “Dark Dinner,” which aimed to get participants to share with the community of people blind, emphasizing the challenges they face every day. The event was attended by ministers, deputy ministers, MPs, professors and other personalities, who assessed that more work needs to be done so that this community, but in general the community of people with disabilities, can be fully integrated into society.
You can find the full story HERE. 

The challenges of the blind community in Kosova were also addressed by another KWN member organisation, the “Kosova Independent Initiative for Blind People (KIIBP)”. They marked December 3 together with the Institution of the Ombudsperson, where representatives of civil society, institutions, and the international community were invited.

The Ombudsperson, Naim Qelaj, emphasised that it is very important that this community also has the rights and life that everyone in Kosova has. Whereas, Halil Kurmehaj, Executive Director of KIIBP, said that for the persons of this community economic independence and support from institutions is crucial.

The evening continued with conversations with blind persons, and listening to the problems they face on a daily basis.

KWN, through member organisations throughout Kosova, has consistently supported initiatives that improve the social, economic, and political participation of this community.

However, according to KWN’s Gender Analysis, people of all ages face different challenges. Children, especially girls, have problems accessing education. Gender imbalance is also observed in the labour market, where mostly women find it difficult to get employed. Moreover, the Law on Employment of Persons with Disabilities, which foresees the employment of one person with disabilities for every fifty employees, is still not sufficiently implemented.

For more information on gender inequalities in different sectors in Kosova, read KWN’s Gender Analysis, which is available on our website in Albanian, English, and Serbian.

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NGO Jeta Continues Lectures in Primary Schools in Deçan to Raise Awareness About Gender-based Violence

02.12.2021

The member organization of the Kosovo Women’s Network, NGO Jeta, on November 18 in Gllogjan of Deçan, held a lecture with students of the school “Heroes of Dukagjini”, on the topic of gender-based violence and ways to fight it.

During this lecture, they were informed in detail about identifying forms of psychological, physical, sexual and economic violence. The students also discussed sexual harassment and the laws that punish it and gender-based violence.

Fatjona Karakushi, a psychologist and trainer, emphasized that lecturing on these topics with primary school students is very important.

“This is a very sensitive topic, and at the same time difficult to accept. Through lectures, students can become aware of not accepting violence, reacting, defending themselves, being informed about the institutions that come to their aid and being able to help someone else who is experiencing violence,” she said.

Lumnije Lusha, Director of this school added that such lectures should be held in every school.

“The more knowledge and reflection we have onthe situation,, the better the reporting of gender-based violence in the relevant institutions will be. Such topics should be discussed constantly and should definitely be discussed with students in primary schools as well. At a young age, everyone should be familiar with forms of gender-based violence,” she added.

Furthermore, the students were extremely interested in psychological violence, its forms, and how it can be addressed and prevented. They also raised questions about bullying in schools, as one of the most common forms of psychological violence amongst this age group.

According to them, it is very important to learn how to manage such situations and above all to be able to prevent them.

Such lectures will be held in 10 other primary schools in the villages of the Municipality of Deçan, thanks to the support that the initiative “Empowerment of women and youth for the prevention of gender-based violence in accordance with the Istanbul Convention”, received from the round of 15 of the Kosovo Women’s Fund, funded by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) and co-financed by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), through the Swedish Embassy in Pristina.

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The Lobby for Gender Equality Holds its Next Meeting

02.12.2021

On 1 December the next meeting of the Lobby for Gender Equality (Lobby) was held.

Around 60 participants discussed together the rights of women in Kosova, the work of the Kosova Women’s Network (KWN) and member organisations to improve the lives of women and girls, and joint advocacy opportunities to strengthen the feminist movement in Kosova.

An important part of this meeting was Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB) at the local level, and its role in the socio-economic empowerment of women, as well as the presentation of the Strategic Network for Gender Policies – a network which was recently created with the aim of improving the genuine participation of women in politics and combating discrimination against women in the political arena, and which KWN is a part of.

KWN Executive Director Igballe Rogova at the beginning of the meeting mentioned the fact that throughout the journey she has strived to achieve gender equality, but never alone.

“Only together can we achieve gender equality,” said Rogova, while thanking those present who have gathered to share their experiences.

Further, Nita Bicurri, Program Manager, National Democratic Institute (NDI), presented to the audience the Strategic Network for Gender Policies.

“We must remember that the local level is also very important,” she said, further discussing the importance of women’s equal participation in politics and decision-making processes.

She also mentioned the result of the local elections of October 2021, emphasising that women should not be part of the political process only during the elections. Women’s participation in politics and decision-making processes must be continuous and active, she said.

[KWN Sends an Open Letter to Political Parties: Calls for Equal Participations of Women in Local Elections]

The participants appreciated the initiative of the Strategic Network for Gender Policies and pledged cooperation through the Lobby for Gender Equality.

Next, Nicole Farnsworth, Program Director, Research Leader, KWN, spoke with participants about the implementation of GRB at the local level.

“In Kosova we have done important work for gender responsive budgeting, but we still have a long way to go to integrate it into any program, and we can only do this together,” she said, among other things.

KWN has been working for years to implement Gender Responsive Budgeting. More about this can be found at our website www.womensnetwork.org

Also, we remind you that since its establishment, the Lobby has been working towards fulfilling its vision for gender equality through the exchange of experiences, partnerships, and networking. At the meeting held in June, Lobby members discussed women’s participation in local elections, and advocacy opportunities for women.

In the end, Rogova invited members of the Lobby to join the 19th Annual Meeting of KWN Members, which will be held on December 11, 2021, from 11:00 to 14:00, at the Emerald Hotel.

This meeting was supported by the European Union (EU) Office in Kosovo.

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KWN Welcomes Volunteers: Together Paving The Path To Gender Equality

02.12.2021

On December 2, Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) staff welcomed at their office the volunteers who recantly joined KWN’s work and activism toward gender equality.

Throughout the meeting, volunteers Emily Prechtl, Erin Brown, and Jennifer Stumme shared their impressions of working with KWN, appreciating the expertise and lessons learned from working with KWN.

“I am extremely happy to have joined KWN during my time in Kosovo; I first heard about KWN in 2019, when I visited Kosovo for the first time, and since then I have been looking for a way to join this organization, which is the largest organization for women’s rights in the region” said Prechtl, who was also part of a workshop held in Durrës with representatives of over 100 KWN member organizations to plan for KWN’s feminist strategy.

She further appreciated the opportunity to learn more about the work that KWN member organizations are doing to improve the women’s position in Kosovo in several areas through volunteering with KWN.

The volunteers appreciated the opportunity provided by KWN which will serve them well when they return to their countries.

Whereas, Etleva Malushaj, KWN Project Coordinator, introduced the participants to the history of volunteer engagement in KWN’s work, as well as the importance of this program for strengthening solidarity and the feminist movement in Kosovo.

“The Kosovo Women’s Network constantly creates opportunities to include as many volunteers in the organization. We highly value volunteer work and believe that only through working together we can bring the necessary changes in society” said Malushaj.

These volunteers, as well as several other volunteers engaged in KWN member organizations, are engaged in KWN’s four-year initiative “Strengthening Women’s Participation in Politics”, supported by the European Union (EU) Office in Kosovo.

KWN believes that volunteering is a prerequisite for building social solidarity and equality, and has consistently involved volunteers, both within the organization and through various campaigns.

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“Gruaja Hyjnore” Begins 16 days of Activism with the #MosHesht Campaign

01.12.2021

The member organization of the Kosova Women’s Network the NGO “Gruaja Hyjnore”, marked November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and the beginning of 16 days of activism against gender-based violence. On this occasion, in front of the Theatre in Gjilan, a banner with the slogan #MosHesht (ENG: Don’t be silent) was unveiled, and orange scarves were distributed, symbolising a future without violence for girls and women.

Qëndresa Hajdari, Project Manager at this organization, said that reporting violence is vital, and called on justice institutions to treat these cases according to the law.

“Many women consider domestic violence to be a private matter; very few of them who have experienced violence talk about it; and even fewer of them report violence to the authorities. Through this campaign we want to address two more important issues in the battle of violence against women: victims should never be blamed, and law enforcement authorities are responsible for protecting them in accordance with the law,” she said.

The event was also attended by Lindita Salihu, Equality Officer in Gjilan, and Coordinator of the Municipal Mechanism Against Domestic Violence. She spoke about the importance of social and institutional commitment against gender-based violence, rehabilitation and reintegration programs for women who have experienced violence, and the treatment of perpetrators of violence.

“Recently, in the Constitution of Kosova was included the Istanbul Convention, which foresees zero tolerance for perpetrators of violence. We can achieve this only if we are all engaged, we are aware of reporting and as fair protection as possible, to then go to the rehabilitation and reintegration of victims of violence. The state must also think about treating the perpetrators in several ways, because it is very worrying when the killings take place by recidivists who have been known to the institutions,” she said.

Arjeta Maka, Project Coordinator at the NGO “Gruaja Hyjnore ” called on citizens and persons experiencing violence to report it because violence is a crime and such an act is punishable with imprisonment.

“We encourage all those who hear or suspect about cases of domestic violence to report them immediately to the police. It is our responsibility to report crimes when they occur, and it is also our civic duty to protect others”.

In the coming days, this organization will campaign on social media and will show the movie “Not your property”.

This activity and this initiative of the NGO “Gruaja Hyjnore ” are supported by the Sigrid Rausing Trust, through the 16th round of the Kosova Women’s Fund.

Photos: Facebook, OJQ “Gruaja Hyjnore”.

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Partners Kosovo Holds Meetings On Empowering Women In Politics

01.12.2021

The member organization of the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN), Partners Kosova held meetings with women assembly members in the municipalities of Dragash and Fushë Kosovë.

In the meeting held in Prizren on November 8 in the framework of the initiative “Women make a difference”, supported by the Kosovo Women’s Fund (KWF), were present women assembly members and representatives from CSOs from the two above-mentioned municipalities. This meeting enabled participants to exchange knowledge through the experiences, to help them eliminate the barriers that women face in politics and their public appearances.

The meeting was opened by Shukrije Gashi, Executive Director of Partners Kosova, by thanking the participants for their interest, and KWN for their support.

“Partners Kosovo has played an important role in efforts to raise awareness in the field of gender equality and women’s rights, but much remains to be done, both by civil society and other local government institutions.” she expressed.

Shemsije Fetahu, Chair of the Women Gender Advocacy Group, continued with a presentation on the importance of communication and public speaking

“Women need professional training that would make them more independent, participate in more inclusive projects and programs, and also advance them.” stressed Fetahu.

“I strongly encourage Partners Kosova to continue to do the work they started initially with women in Fushë Kosovë, as women have repeatedly emphasized that this organization is the reason and starting point of the functioning of their work,” she added.

Also, the participants of the meeting proposed to hold meetings between women’s groups and mayors to talk more specifically on gender budgeting as well as on development of activities on advancing the position of women.

The activities of this initiative are funded by the European Union (EU) Office in Kosovo, through the 15th round of the Kosovo Women’s Fund.

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KWN: There Is No Justice For Women While There Is No Punishment For Murderers

01.12.2021

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Yesterday, it was made public that the Court of Appeals has annulled the sentence of life imprisonment by the Court of Ferizaj for Naser Pajazitaj, who killed Donjeta Pajazitaj.

Decisions like this motivate rapists and murderers of women, while demotivating women and girls who experience violence to report crimes and seek justice for them.

Furthermore, the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) recalls that in addition to the Kosovo Criminal Code, the Istanbul Convention, adopted by the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo, requires justice institutions to protect victims of gender-based violence and to punish without compromise rapists and murderers of women.

Through this statement, KWN requests that all aggravating circumstances in the case of Naser Pajazitaj be taken into account and that the sentence of life imprisonment be returned to him. Also, the process should not leave room for retrial.

Since the assassination of Donjeta Pajazitaj, KWN has made continuous efforts through protests, monitoring and reactions, calling for justice to be done and the killer to receive the punishment he deserves.

KWN will monitor this case closely and seek justice for Donjeta Pajazitaj, and for each woman raped and killed.

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Long-time Supporters Sue and Frank Farnsworth: KWN Drives Positive Change for Women and the Feminist Movement

30.11.2021

As of today, the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) has over 180 member organisations and has supported 42 diverse women’s rights organisations through the Kosovo Women’s Fund so far in 2021 with more to come.

There are various numbers and statistics one can use to measure KWN’s success and impact towards strengthening the feminist movement and women’s rights in Kosovo and beyond.

An important factor for KWN’s success is its members and long-term supporters, such as the couple Sue and Frank Farnsworth from the north-western U.S. state, Idaho.

Just recently, they honoured KWN with their presence at the latest Members’ Retreat held during 12-14 November in Durres, Albania. We seized this opportunity to sit with them to discuss their inspiration to continue supporting KWN’s mission throughout the years.

They also elaborated on their own journey with KWN, emphasizing that KWN is one of the most valuable non-profit organisations they could donate to.

Unconditionally Supporting KWN Throughout the Years

“We love the work of KWN and its members’ organisation and the things you at KWN are doing. The things you do are so important for women’s rights and their wellbeing and it gives them so many opportunities. We give our money with no strings attached, because we know that you are more likely to make these changes”, Sue said, adding “we do not want to give money and tell you how to use it.”

While such unrestricted funding is crucial to addressing rapidly issues that arise in KWN’s mission to further women’s rights, untied funding is very difficult for most CSOs to secure, as KWN’s research has shown.

Frank’s inspiration for supporting KWN also drives from feminist voices in Kosovo’s history; he highlighted the contribution of KWN Executive Director, Igballe Rogova.

“In the war women did not hesitate to take leadership responsibilities. Igo [the nickname Frank friendly calls Igballe Rogova] was one of them. She took a leadership role and because of that courage you continue this path today. It is remarkable and it changes society tremendously.”

Because of this, and not only, supporting KWN is very easy, Frank believes.

“You have the opportunity to make a positive change. I learned that from Nicole [Nicole Farnsworth, KWN Program Director/Lead Researcher], not with an agenda, but simply with the question ‘how can we help’.”

When asked which KWN programs stand out, they both agree that all KWN’s initiatives and programs are equally important.

“Giving is a matter of trust”, they emphasised.

While Frank acknowledges that they could also give this money to organisations back home, it would definitely not have the same impact and power.

Donations to KWN Drive Positive Change for Women

“When I look back, I can never forget when I came to Prishtina with my mother, and we went to talk with women in tents who were seeking justice for their loved ones still missing from the war. What they were doing was for another world,” Sue recalled.

Frank recalled a more recent example of KWN’s work and its immense impact.

“It was the impressive concept of the exhibition “Break the Silence: Ending Violence Behind Walls”. It included references where the survivors of gender-based violence can seek help. It was very helpful, giving them a chance to reach out.”

[This exhibition brought out the into public space the real stories of women and men who have suffered domestic violence in Kosovo, collected by the KWN. Please click HERE to read these stories]

Inviting Others to Support KWN

They wish that other international supporters will join and support the cause of KWN and its member organisations too.

Hereby, Frank shared briefly a story of how Rogova speaking about her work and journey as an activist on the Idaho State University Campus in June 2009 indeed increased the number of international donors supporting the mission of KWN.

“Igo came and spoke at Idaho State University, and when people heard her story, they wanted to give. This is, I believe, the next step for gaining more international supporters- communication of what is happening so that people can react to it.”

Besides, Sue points out that she has called her friends and family to support the great cause of KWN. Some of them did.

A group of women in Oregon have been inspired to support through Altrusa International of Corvallis-Altrusa, meaningful internships for young women at KWN towards increasing their employment and providing opportunities to work towards furthering women’s rights.

On this note, Frank adds that potential supporters from the United States also have the opportunity for their charitable contributions to fall within their tax deductions.

Note: You can support KWN through tax deductible donations via the Network for Good and KWN’s fiscal partner, the East-West Management Institute, where you can earmark 100% of funds to go to KWN.

They briefly commented on the event they were participating in Durrës, where KWN member organisations gathered to draft the KWN Feminist Strategy.

“So much of what was happening at this meeting was about leadership and growth. It gives everyone a possibility to share, learn and grow.” Frank says.

“It is an amazing chance to get together, to support each other, and know that there are a lot of women out there who share the same concerns,” Sue added.

Concluding the interview in a cheerful tone, with smiles on their faces, the Farnsworths vowed to continue their support and stay close to KWN and all the friends they made all along this journey.

You too can become a supporter and help strengthen the women’s rights movement in Kosovo. DONATE to the KWN Sustainability Fund and help us cover crucial costs and support important programs.

Every cent you donate counts in our endeavours to support, protect and promote the rights of women and girls.

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“Gruaja Fermere” Holds Lectures on Sex Education with Students in Rahovec

30.11.2021

Kosova Women’s Network (KWN) member organisation, “Gruaja Fermere” is continuing the implementation of the initiative “Sex education tailored to age and development”. The students of the Technical High School “Selajdin Mullaabazi – Mici” had the opportunity to attend the lecture of Dr. Florije Kafexhiu about reproductive health, family planning, unwanted pregnancies, and adolescent health.

The project coordinator, Muradije Shehu, said that they have chosen to address this topic because of the great need for young people to become aware of reproductive health.

“We are grateful to the Kosova Women’s Network, through which the organisation of these lectures, very useful for young people, was made possible”, she said.

Meanwhile, the lecturer Kafexhiu advised the students to be aware of the health risks that may threaten them.

“You should feel free to know more about sex education because lack of information can have many consequences, and infections are among the most common and should be treated with caution, because some of them do not show any symptoms at first”.

She advised students, despite the psychological and emotional changes that they may encounter during adolescence, to talk to parents or psychologists about any concerns. She added that in no case should narcotics or alcohol be used as an attempt to escape problems.

The student of dentistry, Anjeza Krasniqi, expressed her satisfaction with the training.

“I liked the topic we discussed today because we learned a lot of things we did not know, and which we never discussed in school. This information will help us take proper care of our health,” she said.

Previous activities of “Gruaja Fermere” organisation include discussions with school principals and teachers, who have supported the idea of updating the school curriculum with the subject of sex education. Next, eight lectures are expected to be held with middle and high school students in Rahovec.

This initiative is funded by the Austrian Development Agency and co-financed by the Swedish International Cooperation and Development Agency, through the Swedish Embassy in Prishtina, in the framework of KWN’s initiative “Further Advancement of Women’s Rights in Kosova II”.

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