KWN Demands Urgent Response by Justice Institutions to the Rape Case of 12-Year-Old Girl in Kamenica

20.10.2021

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Through this press release, Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) supports the request of the Basic Prosecution in Gjilan to take detention measures on M.J. who is suspected of raping a 12-year-old girl in Kamenica in October of this year.

The suspect being detained for 48 hours, and given the severity  and sensitivity of the crime, we call on the Court of Gjilan to treat this case in accordance with the Criminal Code of Kosovo, Article 227 for the offense “Rape”.

KWN specifically requests that this case to be treated with gender sensitivity, as enshrined in the Istanbul Convention, and to provide appropriate psycho-social treatment to the victim.

We also announce through this press release that KWN will follow the case closely and seek justice.

KWN will not stop until violence against girls and women is not treated only as daily news or as a private matter.

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KWN Board Holds its Second Meeting this Year

16.10.2021

The Board  of Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) held its second meeting for 2021 on October 15 and 16.

The narrative and financial report was presented at this meeting. Moreover, KWN’s new strategy was discussed as well ass KWN activities and advocacy undertaken during this time were also part of the Board discussion.

Nicole Farnsworth, Program Director and Lead Researcher, KWN, has further led the discussion on philanthropy, as one of the areas in which KWN is focusing as part of KWN’s fundraising strategy.

Board members once again praised KWN’s commitment and activities towards advancing the position of women and girls in Kosovo.

Read HERE KWN board meeting in 2020.

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“Shqiponjat e Dardanës” Advocates for Women Participation in Local Elections

14.10.2021

The member organization of the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN), “Shqiponjat e Dardanës “, beneficiary of the 15th round of the Kosovo Women’s Fund (KWF), has held meetings with women and young women from different villages in the municipality of Lipjan and Gracanica.

The purpose of these meetings was to advocate for the support of female candidates in the local elections of October 2021, as well as to raise awareness of women and young women from rural areas about the role of their vote.

At the meeting held in Kishnica on October 14, citizens from different communities living in Gracanica were present.

Havushe Bunjaku, the executive director of the NGO “Shqiponjat e Dardanës”, introduced the participants to the candidates from all communities, and thanked KWN for the support provided for the implementation of these informative meetings. Moreover, she mentioned the importance of increasing the participation of women in politics and decision-making.

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The participants explained the reasons why their municipality needs women in the assembly, and why they will vote for more women.

“A woman in the municipal assembly means that the voice of all young women and women would be heard. The main problem that needs to be addressed is employment, in order to be independent and to prevent early marriages,” said participant Samira Selimovic.

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“I will vote for women because they actually understand our daily problems. We need them to help us in labor and funding our initiatives,” said another participant, Raba Salievic.

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As for Rita Gashi, self-employed in the collection of medicinal plants, it is important to have care for children.

“I am a mother of five children and my biggest obstacle has been lack of a kindergarten. I believe that a woman in the assembly would take this issue seriously, so that women have the opportunity to successfully become working mothers.” she said.

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The activities of NGO “Shqiponjat e Dardanës” will continue after the elections, when meetings will be organized with women elected to the municipal assemblies of Lipjan and Gracanica, as well as with leaders of political parties.

These activities are supported by the European Union (EU) Office in Kosovo through the initiative “Strengthening Women’s Participation in Politics”, within the 15th round of the KWF. Recall that this round was also supported by the United Nations People’s Fund (UNFPA), and the Austrian Development Agency (ADA), the operational unit of the Austrian Cooperation Agency.

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Aureola Holds Meetings to Increase Women’s Participation in Decision-making

11.10.2021

Following the initiative “Increasing women’s participation in decision-making”, the member organization of the Kosova Women’s Network (KWN), the Women’s Association “Aureola”, has held meetings in several cities of Kosova with candidates for municipal assembly. 

The executive director of the organization “Aureola”, Sanije Grajcevci, said that they are thankful for benefiting from the 15th round of the Kosova Women’s Fund, because such initiatives are necessary to increase women’s participation in decision-making.   

At the meeting held in Fushë Kosovë on October 8, the municipal assembly candidates emphasised the need for institutional support for women. 

Assembly candidate Hasime Kostanica, mentioned the main factors that hinder the inclusion of women in politics, but also in other areas. 

“Many schools in Fushë Kosovë do not offer preschool education, which is directly related to the role of women in child care and the inability for her to engage in other activities. In public kindergartens, only employed mothers have the right to register their children. But the same should apply to unemployed mothers so that they have time to complete training and be prepared for the labor market”. 

Further, the other candidate, Vildane Latifi, said that women need support in financing and employment. 

“It is a saying that if we want to invest in the sustainability of the community, we must invest in women. Therefore, our goal is to strengthen the role of women in society as much as possible. Women should be supported and should have leadership positions”. 

Whereas, for the candidate Vjollca Tërnava-Konjusha, who is running for the third term, the cooperation between women assembly members is very important. 

“We have always had good relations with each other, to work for the interest of women. This cooperation must continue, in order to work together to strengthen the position of women in society and to inspire other women to get involved in politics”. 

Similar meetings were held with candidates from the municipalities of Prishtina, Kastriot, Lipjan, Drenas, and Podujeva. In all these meetings was discussed the work done by assembly members to raise and address the problems of women, as well as to strengthen their role in society. 

The next activities of the Women’s Association “Aureola” include meetings with women candidates for mayors. 

Aureola’s initiative “Increasing women’s participation in decision-making” was supported by the 15th round of KWF, with financial support from the European Union (EU) Office in Kosova.
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This round has also received support from the United Nations People’s Fund (UNFPA) supported by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA), the operational unit of the Austrian Cooperation Agency. 

In the following links you can read more about all the initiatives supported by the 15th round of FGK. 

Kosovo Women’s Fund Allocates €109,312 for 23 Organizations in Kosova 

Kosovo Women’s Fund Allocates Additional €49,673 for 11 Organizations in Kosovo 

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KWN starts the campaign “Vote for more women in local KWN elections”

11.10.2021

Today, on October 11th, the Kosova Women’s Network (KWN) launched the field campaign “Vote for more women in local elections”.

Around 80 volunteers will talk to citizens for five days (October 11-15) going from door to door in 21 municipalities in Kosova. They will discuss with women and men voters the importance of voting for more women in the upcoming local elections on October 17, 2021.

The Law on Gender Equality (LGE) guarantees equal gender representation in all areas, including politics. However, contrary to this law, to date, neither political parties nor municipalities have ensured equal participation of women and men in public life.

Therefore, it is up to us as citizens to achieve equality!

KWN encourages all citizens to vote for women who will best represent the interests of citizens in municipalities and municipal assemblies, as well as strive for gender equality.

Supporting women’s participation in politics and decision-making is part of KWN’s Strategy 2019-2022. We also recall that KWN campaigned for this in the elections of 2017, 2019, and in the national elections of 2021, and will continue to support, protect and promote the rights and interests of women and girls throughout Kosova, regardless of their political, religious, ethnic or sexual orientation.

KWN values ​​elections as an essential element of a democratic state, and gender equality as a basic human right. We call for more votes for women in these local elections, as a necessary condition for fighting the institutional tradition[LM1]  that has unjustly deprived women of participation in politics and decision-making processes.

Also, let us be reminded that these elections are being held only a few months after the early national elections held on February 14, 2021, in which the representation of women in the Assembly of Kosovo increased by five seats (compared to previous elections of 2019), and also this time more women were elected without a quota rather than with it[LM2] .

Therefore, on October 17, whichever list you choose, vote for more women in the municipalities!

This campaign is implemented as part of the initiative “Strengthening Women’s Participation in Politics“, and is supported by the European Union (EU) Office in Kosovo.

KWN member organisations supporting the implementation of this campaign:

Active Females of Gjakova – Gjakovë

Centre for Education and Development “Elita” – Lipjan 

Family Care and Education Association – Gjakovë

Female Emancipation Association ALMA – Pejë

Hendifer – Ferizaj

Independent Women’s Association “Hareja” – Rahovec 

Local Reforms Organisation (EULOC) – Viti

Mitrovica Association of Persons with Disabilities “Handikos Mitrovica” – Mitrovicë

NGO Drugëza – Skënderaj

NGO Women’s Centre for Rural Development – Novobërdë

NGO Women’s Centre “ATO” – Vushtrri 

Organisation of People with Muscular Dystrophy of Kosova (OPMDK) – Prizren

Psychotherapists in Action – Gjilan

Ruka Ruci – Fushë Kosovë, Graçanicë, Partesh, Ranillug, Kllokot, Leposaviq, Mitrovicë e Veriut, Zubin Potok – Zveçan

Women’s Alliance for Integration – Prishtinë.  

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KWN Recommends How World Bank Can Better Support Women’s CSOs

07.10.2021

On 7 October, Kvinna till Kvinna organized a panel at the World Bank/IMF Civil Society forum on the role of the World Bank in combatting economic gender inequality in conflict-affected countries.  The event was hosted by Petra Totterman Anforff, Secretary General of the Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation, who presented their report Challenging the norms – Global stories of women’s economic empowerment. 

Panellists discussed how COVID-19 has furthered pre-existing gender inequalities, especially in crisis-affected countries. They emphasized the need for a feminist recovery.  

Audience members asked important questions of the panellists, such as whether the World Bank is undertaking ex-ante and ex-post gender impact assessments to see how its macroeconomic policies are affecting gender (in)equalities.  

Nicole Farnsworth from KWN engaged briefly with three recommendations for the World Bank, deriving from KWN and other women’s rights organisations’ research in Kosovo and the Western Balkans. The main recommendations included: 

  • World Bank representatives need to consult women’s rights organisations (WCSOs) and movements more in planning and implementing interventions.  
  • The World Bank should strongly consider reviewing its financing modalities to better enable the contracting of WCSOs to provide expertise to the World Bank; and to earmark long-term, flexible grants for supporting WCSOs and movements, as strategic partners in instigating change.  
  • The World Bank should support WCSOs politically and financially, as experts, in utilizing the Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability (PEFA) Supplementary framework for assessing gender responsive public financial management in their countries; should support WCSOs’ advocacy for governments to institutionalise gender responsive budgeting as per the PEFA gender framework; and must practice what it preaches by ensuring that all programs that it funds use gender responsive budgeting, especially World Bank budget support to governments.  

Panellists included Sofija Vrbaski from the Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation who spoke about economic inequalities in Western Balkans in light of the pandemic and how the regional coalition to address gender-based discrimination at work has used advocacy to address inequalities. Dr. Hana Brixi, Global Director for Gender at the World Bank, presented how the World Bank views its role in supporting the women’s movement and economic gender equality in conflict affected countries. Xavier Devictor, Manager for Fragility Conflict and Violence at the World Bank spoke about how the World Bank works to have a dialogue with women’s rights organisations in conflict-affected countries. Rula Asad, Executive Director of the Syria Female Journalist Network, spoke on the challenges female journalists face working in Syria and how the Syrian Female Journalist Networks has combatted patriarchal structures within media outlets. 

KWN has been engaged in gender-responsive budgeting since 2011, and it is part of the Gender Budget Watchdog Network (GBWN), through which CSOs are monitoring and supporting government efforts to institutionalize gender-responsive budgeting in the Western Balkans and Moldova. KWN recently published “The Pandemic Knows No Gender”? A Gender Fiscal Budget Analysis of the Government of Kosovo’s Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic from a Gender Perspective, which recommends steps towards a feminist post-COVID-19 recovery. KWN shared this and CSOs’ similar reports during this event, available on the GBWN website. The network has also monitored Western Balkan governments’ progress in implementing the Sustainable Development Goal indicator 5c1 on gender budgeting.  

KWN’s research with Kvinna till Kvinna and other women’s rights groups in the region, entitled Where’s the Money for Women’s Rights?, involved interviews with more than 241 diverse women’s rights groups across the Western Balkans. It demonstrated that WCSOs play a crucial role in advocating for evidence-based legal and policy changes, providing essential services not provided by states, and consistently pushing for transforming social gender norms. Yet, they are sorely under-financed and need long-term, flexible, core financing towards realising their long-term strategic interventions towards transforming gender norms and contributing to gender equality. 

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“In Time” holds meetings for political and economic empowerment of women

06.10.2021

The organization “In Time”, beneficiary of the 15th round of the Kosovo Women’s Fund (KWF), has started the activities of the initiative “Improving women’s participation in politics and decision-making processes towards women’s economic empowerment”, funded by the European Union Office in Kosova and supported by the Kosova Women’s Network (KWN). 

In the first meeting held on October 4 with the current assembly members of the municipality of Prizren, women candidates for assembly, and citizens, it was discussed about various problems they face. Also, the data of the research conducted by “In Time” were presented, which show that 94% of women answered that they pay attention to voting women in municipal elections. Moreover, they have numerous demands from women candidates for assembly, such as business support, employment, and equal treatment. 

The candidate for municipal assembly, Vlora Karavidaj, said that voting is a right and responsibility of everyone. 

“Women should be made aware of the importance of their vote, but also men, so they do not prevent women from voting”, she said. 

The other candidate, Dafina Alishani, said that the economic empowerment of women should be monitored. 

“Women are receiving funds that are being used by men. Therefore, there should be continuous monitoring of these funds that women are receiving, so that women are not deprived of their right to work”. 

For Ymran Fusha, candidate for municipal assembly and president of the Association of Crafts and Business of Prizren, it is important to create the infrastructural conditions for women to develop their businesses. 

“Opening a joint point of sale in the city centre would be a good idea to make the products of businesswomen and craftswomen more accessible to tourists, but also for them to help each other”.  

Similar meetings were held with women from the municipality of Vushtrria, and Mitrovica. In these meetings it was agreed that women of all political parties should be united in order for every woman to have her voice heard, and to advance her role in politics, economics, or other fields. 

Meeting in Vushtrri
Meeting in Mitrovicë

“In Time” will continue to implement the initiative by organizing meetings with employed women, women entrepreneurs, and unemployed women, in order to develop their capacity to advocate for women’s priorities. 

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KWN Opposes Reduction of Sentence for Nuhi Mavrovqani, Calls on Justice Institutions not to Remain Silent

05.10.2021

The Kosova Women’s Network (KWN) has received with deep concern, the news of today’s decision by the Court of Appeals to reduce the life sentence to 25 years for Nuhi Mavrovqani, who killed his wife S.M. with a metal rod in July 2020.

This murder left all of us shaken, as we strive every day to end violence and killings against women. S.M.’s murder unfortunately once again proved that violence against women continues to be one of the least punishable forms of violence.

And yet, when the killer was sentenced to life imprisonment in December 2020 by the Basic Court in Gjilan, it seemed as if justice was served to a degree, convicting the criminal, though not preventing the crime.

However, today we are again witnessing that when it comes to the murders of women, justice is turning a blind eye.

Therefore, through this press release, KWN calls on the Supreme Court, as a higher judicial authority than the Court of Appeals, to reconsider this decision and reinstate the previous sentence, that is, life imprisonment.

Only in this way will we be convinced that our country, the institutions of justice, and those of defense are serious in addressing violence against and the murders of women.

KWN will not stop until violence against women is not treated only as daily news or as a private matter.

Justice for murdered women! Justice for every killed and raped woman!

Below you can find KWN’s latest research on violence against women and its institutional response.

From Laws to Action

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17.10.24

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Morina: CEL Appreciates KWN’s Support, Together we Will Achieve our Goals

04.10.2021

This month, the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) continues a series of publications on the work and contribution of human rights activists in Kosovo.

This time, Blert Morina, Executive Director of the Center for Equality and Liberty of the LGBT Community in Kosovo (CEL), explains more about the history of the organization and the efforts thus far to ensure the realization of the rights of LGBTI people in Kosovo.

Morina also talks about the importance of collaborations with civil society actors in this journey, with special emphasis on the cooperation and support received from KWN over the years.

Brief history of CEL

As far as we can recall, since 2013, CEL has advocated for the empowerment of the LGBT community in our country, Morina mentions that CEL has operated with three main programs, advocacy and lobbying, non-formal education and welfare of LGBTI people in Kosovo.

“For the development of these programs, CEL Kosova is engaged in advocacy and lobbying for the rights of LGBTI persons, such as advancing the first case of changing the name and gender marker in official documents. Furthermore, CEL is engaged in decision-making processes for the rights of LGBTI persons, including in the process of drafting the civil code in the Republic of Kosovo, specifically for the right to marriage “, says Morina.

Furthermore, he emphasizes the provision of psychological services, to improve the mental health of LGBTI persons. This provision takes into account the difficulties caused by discrimination, ill-treatment or even the psychological and physical violence they face.

“At the same time, it is necessary to properly represent the community in the process of reporting cases to relevant institutions, and for this CEL provides legal advice and representation,” he said.

In terms of non-formal education, Morina adds, CEL Kosova continues from the beginning of its establishment to offer various activities dedicated to the LGBTI community, supporters and the Kosovar society in general.

“It is also worth mentioning that CEL has contributed to the education of state institutions to improve services for LGBTI people and to address these issues with sensitivity and professionalism.”

The institutions that have been part of the trainings of CEL Kosova are: Kosovo Police, Courts and Prosecutions of Kosovo.

Joint advocacy of CEL and KWN

In this important journey, CEL has also collaborated with KWN.

In this part of the conversation, Morina describes the most important activities and advocacy campaigns that the two organizations have undertaken together.

“CEL has worked closely with KWN in various aspects towards changing Kosovar society in numerous initiatives. KWN, together with CEL, co-organized the March 8th event to mark International Women’s Day and address important issues for women’s rights. ”

Moreover, the initiative to mark Human Rights Day is a joint endeavour with CEL Kosova, initiated by the Office of the People’s Advocate.

“Among other things, KWN has also supported CEL by joining the challenge of changing the name and gender marker for transgender people, and has joined the process of drafting the civil code, to include equality in marriage as envisaged in the the Constitution of Kosovo.”

Goals can only be achieved together

It is worth noting that CEL and KWN are amending the Civil Code to require, amongst other things, that the article of the Civil Code on marriage aligns with the constitution’s definition of the right to start a family, which guarantees all equally.

The Ministry of Justice has accepted most of the comments provided, but their inclusion remains to be seen during the processing of the code in the Assembly.

Morina shows how important this cooperation is in advancing the rights of the LGBT community in Kosovo.

“All the major achievements of CEL Kosova are the result of collaborations with various actors, including KWN, as one of the most supportive organizations of our journey. Their support helps in our journey for the rights of LGBTI people and accelerates the decision-making process in favor of LGBTI people in Kosovo.”

“CEL Kosovo is always grateful for the support and provision of KWN expertise and we strongly believe that we will achieve our goals by being towards each other,” he added.

Challenges for LGBTI people and women’s rights in Kosovo

At the end, Morina outlines the remaining difficulties for the rights of the LGBT community and women in Kosovo, which are not limited to a single area.

“Unfortunately, the main challenges of LGBTI people continue to remain the same, taking into account that major changes occur mainly in Pristina, the biggest challenge still is the recognition of the existence of LGBTI people throughout Kosovo.” he says.

As for gender equality, he considers that one of the main challenges remains unequal treatment and non-provision of equal opportunities for women.

“These social problems are at the heart of other problems that limit LGBTI people and women from joining society and having equal access to education, security, employment and personal or professional development.”

However, Morina remains optimistic that their path to equality becomes stronger every day.

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OPDMK’s Contribution Towards Increasing People with Different Abilities Participation in Politics

04.10.2021

The Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) has consistently strived to strengthen women’s participation in politics and decision-making processes, and recently, since the beginning of 2019, work and advocacy in this area have been supported through the four-year initiative “Strengthening Women’s Participation in Politics”, supported by the European Union (EU) Office in Kosovo.

One of KWN’s partner organizations in this initiative is the Organization of Persons with Muscular Dystrophy of Kosovo (OPMDK), which through its activities has worked to involve women with different abilities in political processes, and thus make their voice heard.

As we are approaching this year’s local election, a total of 11 people with disabilities, four of them women, are candidates to win a seat in municipal assemblies [source: Handikos].

This is the highest number of people with disabilities in local elections. To find out more about the role of OPMDK and KWN in this success, in this article KWN provides a brief interview with OPMDK Executive Director Antigona Shestan, and with the Mobilizer within this initiative, Resmije Rrahmani.

The importance of KWN’s cooperation with OPMDK

“KWN, with its experience, gave wings to OPMDK. Through the initiative: “Strengthening Women’s Participation in Politics”, as well as concrete support from the EU, women with disabilities have gained the courage to raise their voice,” says Shestan.

Following the establishment of the Women with Disabilities Group (WDAK), OPMDK has been working on a five-year strategy for women with disabilities in Kosovo.

“The real result of OPDMK’s advocacy was achieved when a young woman of WDAK is running in these local elections; it is about Kaltrina Zeqiri, who is a member of WDAK from Novobërdë”.

“This is a very good opportunity to address the needs of women with disabilities in institutions and thus lead to the implementation of the law in our society,” she said.

Shestan sees this as an opportunity for a woman with a disability to publicly say what she faces every day, and thus protect the rights of this community.

She further talks about the role of creating WDAK.

“WDAK members contributed by contacting women who are active in politics and in their municipality institutions, and thus served as a bridge for OPMDK. Whereas, we, as OPMDK, facilitated their lobbying and advocacy for the rights of women with disabilities in Kosova.”

OPMDK, in cooperation with KWN, has held several trainings with WDAK members, including:

1. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of women with disabilities

2. Advocacy and lobbying for the rights of women with disabilities

3. Communication capacity building for women who want to get involved in politics.

Together to overcome barriers

Of course, there are still some barriers to overcome to achieve equal representation in politics.

However, Shestan credits this initiative, undertaken with KWN, for enabling many of the achievements so far.

“Barriers have always existed in the lives of people with disabilities. However, the initiative “Strengthening Women’s Participation in Politics” has provided financial support, which is of great importance when it comes to such changes in society, “she explains.

“I hope that all 11 people with disabilities who are in this competition, will be united and helpful for their community”, says Shestan at the end of our conversation.

On the other hand, Rrahmani also has a strong message regarding the importance of voting for women with disabilities in the October 2021 elections.

“No one can know and understand better our conditions and needs, than the people with disabilities themselves. Therefore, vote for representatives with disabilities because nothing can be done for people with disabilities without our direct involvement in public life “, says Rrahmani.

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