KWN Supports The Pride Parade Under The Slogan “BOTH IN THE STATE AND IN THE FAMILY”

10.06.2022

For the sixth year in a row in Prishtina was held the Pride Parade by the LGBTI Community (homosexual, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex), activists and supporters of the rights of this community.

On June 9, hundreds of activists gathered in the “Skënderbeu” square of the capital under the slogan “BOTH IN THE STATE AND IN THE FAMILY “.

Shemsie Musa-Çerkini, mother of a gay person, said she was proud of her son and called on Kosovar society to “open its mind and heart”.

“The time has come for them to understand that everyone has the right to decide for themselves, to love whoever they want, to wear whatever they want, to marry whomever they want, to start a family with whomever they want. “, She said.

This year’s parade was held at a time when there is no support in the Assembly of Kosovo for the new Draft Civil Code, which opens the possibility of drafting a law on registration of civil communities between persons of the same sex.

The Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) once again was part of this parade organized by the Center for the Development of Social Groups (CSGD) and the Center for Freedom and Equality (CEL).

19.12.25

Kosovo Women’s Network Publishes Report “Zero Tolerance? Monitoring the Institutional Response to Gender-based Violence in Kosovo” 

18.12.25

Inclusive Sexual Education: A Needed Change

18.12.25

Building Stronger Responses to Gender-based Violence Across Kosovo

18.12.25

Going Glocal 2.0: Sustainable Gender-responsive Futures

18.12.25

16 Days of Activism: Raising Awareness and Strengthening Advocacy

17.12.25

Moving Forward Together: Making Transport Accessible for Everyone

© Copyright, 2026 . Kosovo Women's Network. All rights reserved.

Donate Contact

KWN Holds the First Meeting to Draft the New Strategy

07.06.2022

On June 6 in Pristina, close to 100 representatives of member organizations, partners and supporters of the work of the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN), gathered for the workshop to plan the new KWN strategy 2023-2026.

The meeting was opened by Igballe Rogova, Executive Director, KWN, who noted the importance of such meetings in uniting women towards achieving gender equality and increasing solidarity.

“Today we will start building the basis of our joint work for the next four years,” said Rogova, among others.

Next, Nicole Farnsworth, Program Director and Research Leader, KWN, and Adelina Berisha, Program Manager for Gender-Based Violence, KWN, spoke to introduce the programs that KWN will prioritize in its new strategy.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is IMG_4360-1024x683.jpg

The second part of the workshop continued by sharing experiences and opinions, in five working groups, divided as follows;

  • Improving gender equality through the rule of law,
  • Life without gender-based violence,
  • Economic empowerment of women,
  • Education that transforms gender norms, as well
  • Environmental protection.

After the joint discussion, the representatives of the groups presented the main problems that KWN should focus on to address in the next four years.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is IMG_4198-1024x683.jpg

In November of last year, KWN members met for three consecutive days for the workshop on which KWN’s feminist strategy was planned. HERE you can read more about this workshop.

This workshop was supported by the Austrian Development Agency ADA.

19.12.25

Kosovo Women’s Network Publishes Report “Zero Tolerance? Monitoring the Institutional Response to Gender-based Violence in Kosovo” 

18.12.25

Inclusive Sexual Education: A Needed Change

18.12.25

Building Stronger Responses to Gender-based Violence Across Kosovo

18.12.25

Going Glocal 2.0: Sustainable Gender-responsive Futures

18.12.25

16 Days of Activism: Raising Awareness and Strengthening Advocacy

17.12.25

Moving Forward Together: Making Transport Accessible for Everyone

KWN Attends the Working Party on the Western Balkans Region (COWEB) Meeting 

02.06.2022

We thank EULEX and the Working Party on the Western Balkans Region (COWEB) for the opportunity to share about KWN and our members’ work to empower women’s rights groups; increase women’s participation in politics and a gender perspective in laws and policy-making; address gender-based violence in line with the Istanbul Convention; empower women economically through legal reforms and addressing gender-based discrimination at work; further women’s access to healthcare; and transform gender norms through education, including childcare availability.

We requested COWEB members’ support to:

1) ensure diverse women have a seat at the table during Pristina-Belgrade Dialogue and that EU Special Envoy for the Kosovo-Serbia Dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak, consults women’s rights groups as per UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and EU commitments to it, as per KWN’s letters;

2) ensure that EU regulations make stronger commitments to furthering gender equality, including clear targets and budget allocations (noting IPA III as a missed opportunity);

3) encourage the Kosovo government to adopt needed legal and policy reforms and allocate budget for implementing the Istanbul Convention in close consultation with women’s rights activists as experts; and

4) expedite visa liberalization to truly realise European values of intercultural exchange and peace-building.

EULEX Kosovo (Official) #COWEB

19.12.25

Kosovo Women’s Network Publishes Report “Zero Tolerance? Monitoring the Institutional Response to Gender-based Violence in Kosovo” 

18.12.25

Inclusive Sexual Education: A Needed Change

18.12.25

Building Stronger Responses to Gender-based Violence Across Kosovo

18.12.25

Going Glocal 2.0: Sustainable Gender-responsive Futures

18.12.25

16 Days of Activism: Raising Awareness and Strengthening Advocacy

17.12.25

Moving Forward Together: Making Transport Accessible for Everyone

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”.

19.12.25

Kosovo Women’s Network Publishes Report “Zero Tolerance? Monitoring the Institutional Response to Gender-based Violence in Kosovo” 

18.12.25

Inclusive Sexual Education: A Needed Change

18.12.25

Building Stronger Responses to Gender-based Violence Across Kosovo

18.12.25

Going Glocal 2.0: Sustainable Gender-responsive Futures

18.12.25

16 Days of Activism: Raising Awareness and Strengthening Advocacy

17.12.25

Moving Forward Together: Making Transport Accessible for Everyone

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”

19.12.25

Kosovo Women’s Network Publishes Report “Zero Tolerance? Monitoring the Institutional Response to Gender-based Violence in Kosovo” 

18.12.25

Inclusive Sexual Education: A Needed Change

18.12.25

Building Stronger Responses to Gender-based Violence Across Kosovo

18.12.25

Going Glocal 2.0: Sustainable Gender-responsive Futures

18.12.25

16 Days of Activism: Raising Awareness and Strengthening Advocacy

17.12.25

Moving Forward Together: Making Transport Accessible for Everyone

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.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is 285481699_5265989450128029_622181477062581383_n-1024x683.jpg

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.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is 285510314_5265989373461370_4739942092976046143_n-1024x837.jpg

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.

19.12.25

Kosovo Women’s Network Publishes Report “Zero Tolerance? Monitoring the Institutional Response to Gender-based Violence in Kosovo” 

18.12.25

Inclusive Sexual Education: A Needed Change

18.12.25

Building Stronger Responses to Gender-based Violence Across Kosovo

18.12.25

Going Glocal 2.0: Sustainable Gender-responsive Futures

18.12.25

16 Days of Activism: Raising Awareness and Strengthening Advocacy

17.12.25

Moving Forward Together: Making Transport Accessible for Everyone

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.

19.12.25

Kosovo Women’s Network Publishes Report “Zero Tolerance? Monitoring the Institutional Response to Gender-based Violence in Kosovo” 

18.12.25

Inclusive Sexual Education: A Needed Change

18.12.25

Building Stronger Responses to Gender-based Violence Across Kosovo

18.12.25

Going Glocal 2.0: Sustainable Gender-responsive Futures

18.12.25

16 Days of Activism: Raising Awareness and Strengthening Advocacy

17.12.25

Moving Forward Together: Making Transport Accessible for Everyone

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).

No photo description available.

19.12.25

Kosovo Women’s Network Publishes Report “Zero Tolerance? Monitoring the Institutional Response to Gender-based Violence in Kosovo” 

18.12.25

Inclusive Sexual Education: A Needed Change

18.12.25

Building Stronger Responses to Gender-based Violence Across Kosovo

18.12.25

Going Glocal 2.0: Sustainable Gender-responsive Futures

18.12.25

16 Days of Activism: Raising Awareness and Strengthening Advocacy

17.12.25

Moving Forward Together: Making Transport Accessible for Everyone

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 Balkans in 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 Ramić Marković, 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.

Background

The report was researched and written by the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN), Reactor – Research in Action in North Macedonia, Gender Alliance for Development Centre in Albania, Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Banja Luka in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Women’s Rights Centre in Montenegro and the Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation through its office in Serbia. The full report is available online, as are specific country reports for Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Kosovo and Serbia. Please find enclosed fact sheets about the research and the Action. For further information, please contact: Nicole Farnsworth, KWN Program Director and Lead Researcher at Nicole@womensnetwork.org.

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

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.

Read the report in this link: https://womensnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Gender-based-Discrimination-and-Labour-in-WB_2022-1.pdf

18.05.22

Gender-Based Discrimination And Labour in Western Balkans