Kosovo Women's Network

KWN, Part of CSOs of The Region Drafting Protocol for Online Counselling for Women Experiencing Violence

09.07.2021

The Kosovo Women’s Network, Women and Children shelters in Kosovo, and the Autonomous Women’s Centre have finalized a protocol to help aid women survivors of violence. Service providers including Kosovo shelters had already been providing tele-counselling services to survivors throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Based on their experience and international best practices, they have collaborated to develop a uniform protocol for improving such services in the future. These guidelines will be used to keep women safe during these sessions and provide service providers with standards to use. Interested parties or organizations can contact: info@womensnetwork.org for further information about the protocol. Women interested in using these services, can contact the shelters that offer these services:

Center for Protection of Women and Children – Prishtina – 044 425 111
Center for the Protection of Women and Children – Mitrovice – 044 815 749
Women’s Welfare Center – Peja – 044 223 543
Safe Home – Gjakova –044-830-151 and 0390-330-098
Zensko Pravo – North Mitrovica – 065 234 71111
Ženksi Inluzivni Centar (Eng: Women’s Inclusive Centre) Novobrdo – 0800 21 000

This protocol was developed in the framework of the “Support to Women Survivors of Violence in Kosovo and Serbia” initiative (Support for Women Survivors of Violence during the COVID-19 Recovery in Kosovo and Serbia), which was implemented by KWN and the Autonomous Center of Women, with the support of the Balkan Fund for Democracy through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

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

KWN Encourages Kosovo Police to Investigate Establishments Used for Forced Prostitution

09.07.2021

The Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) has been following the latest news on the large number of massage parlors that are under suspicion for human trafficking and forced prostitution. Both of these crimes affect and harm women and girls the most.

KWN encourages the Kosovo Police to continue with their operational plan “Massage 21”, based on the Statement released July 2 This plan has a direct impact on improving the well-being of women and girls in Kosovo, as well as combating injustice and gender discrimination.

Given the low participation of women and girls in the labor market, and the dire economic situation this creates, women and girls are more likely to fall prey to such traffickers and scams. Violence against women remains the most pronounced form of overall violence affecting women, and yet, remains one of the least punished crimes in the country.

KWN supports this action of the Kosovo Police, and we express our readiness to assist in any form, given our decades of work and expertise in improving living conditions for women and girls in Kosovo.

Below you can find two recent KWN research on violence against women and discrimination against women in the labor market:

From Laws to Action

Gender-Based Discrimination and Labour in Kosovo

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

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

06.07.2021

Open letter to political parties in Kosovo,

This year’s local elections are approaching, and soon the candidacies for mayors will be presented.

These elections are being held after the early parliamentary elections of February 14, 2021, which brought a positive change toward the participation and representation of women in politics and decision-making processes. In these elections, we witnessed an increase in the representation of women in the Assembly of Kosovo, and more women being elected without the aid of a quota.

By voting for women, citizens showed that they want to see more women in leadership positions. It is up to the political parties to understand this message and provide equal space for women in local elections.

As parties are discussing possible candidacies for mayors, the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) calls for them to commit to equal inclusion of women and men through:

Implementing the Law on Gender Equality

Women in Kosovo remain under-represented, both within parties and as mayoral candidates. So far, no woman has run for a mayor of any municipality.

This is contrary to Article 14 of Law on Gender Equality (LGE), which obliges political parties to implement measures to promote equal participation of men and women. In accordance with the provisions of Article 6 of this law – in cases where inequalities exist, temporary special measures should be taken in order to speed up the realization of de facto equality between women and men.

According to the LGE, gender equality is reached when at least fifty percent (50%) of women are represented in political and public life, employment, education, health, economy, social benefits, sports, culture and other areas defined by this or any other law. However, we recall that after the local elections of 2017, women constituted only 33% of the members of the municipal assemblies, and 0% of the mayors.

Moreover, the political representation did not take into account the intersectionality and representation of women with disabilities, Roma, Ashkali, Egyptian, Gorani and Serbian women, who are not represented at all.

The current candidate list not only stands far away from equal representation, but poses an immediate concern for the democratic fundamentals and the building of an inclusive society.

KWN calls on political parties to fight discrimination against women, and promote women to run for mayor as a precondition for achieving equal representation in the public sphere.

Providing space for equal representation in the media

Women’s participation and involvement in politics cannot be seen as isolated from women’s public appearances, whether through electoral gatherings or television shows. For example, it has been known for years that women in politics are not equally represented in either TV debates or campaigns.

KWN’s vast experience in monitoring national and local elections show that women face many injustices in this sphere. They do not have equal space with men within the parties themselves, nor in public appearances during campaigns. Parties must make effective efforts to ensure that the party structure allows for equal promotion for both women and men.

Funding women’s campaigns

Political parties should increase support for women candidates through the allocation of funds for campaigns. So far, KWN has witnessed that women do not have the financial means to compete, campaign, or create a campaign team. Also, parties do not provide any capacity building training for women candidates, so party support for women in most cases ends with humble assistance for campaign materials. Given the prevailing gender stereotypes in society, women are less likely to self-fund the campaign, which undeniably heightens discrimination against them.

Lastly, as stated in the Kosovo Gender Analysis drafted by KWN, obstacles to women’s participation in politics include gender stereotypes that suggest that women are not qualified or capable of being political leaders; resistance of political parties to include women; small funding; minimal media coverage of women politicians; women’s time constraints due to responsibilities at home; and poor contact with voters

Therefore, through this letter, we call for you to fulfil your obligation towards strengthening the participation of women in politics and decision-making, especially by increasing the participation of marginalized women in political processes at the local level.

Sincerely,

Kosovo Women’s Network

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

WB CSOs Share Experiences Addressing Gender-based Discrimination

02.07.2021

Diverse civil society organizations (CSOs) in the Western Balkans (WB) gathered online for an “Impact and Learning Forum” to share successes, challenges and ideas for the way forward in their joint efforts to address gender-based discrimination and further women’s labour rights.

Partner CSOs presented their work and achievements through illustrative videos, animations, poems, photographs and stories. These included examples of cases in which they helped women who had faced gender-based discrimination related to their labour rights.

For example, “One of the women we helped, in addition to being a victim of domestic violence, was also discriminated against in the workplace. After the help we offered, she was hired in a small shop and now she feels stronger to fight for her rights”, said Einxh Pepa from the Counselling Line for Women and Girls in Albania.

In the end, partners voted on the best visibility materials created, and the Trade Union of Media of Montenegro won an award of €500 for their short film and poem:

We expanded our fights

For equal rights,

We sought to preserve

What women deserve

We gave them support

Expect our report

Now, see our movie

It’s nice and groovy

Attention, please

Discrimination falls on knees

The partners’ joint Action is funded by the European Union and co-funded by Swedish Development Cooperation.

03.03.26

Motrat Qiriazi: Women’s Activism in Kosovo Since the 1990s Told in Book

27.02.26

Empowering Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian Communities to Address GBV and TFGBV

25.02.26

Breaking the Silence: Gender Justice in Northern Kosovo

13.02.26

Under threat, and resilient

13.02.26

The Double Life of Growing Up Online and Being Safe

12.02.26

KWN Congratulates New Government, Calls for Urgent Gender Equality Reforms

KWN Support The Pride Parade Under The Slogan “Together and Proud”

01.07.2021

For the fifth consecutive year the Pride Parade was hosted by the LGBTI community (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex), various activists and human rights defenders in Kosovo.

July 1st, brought together hundreds of activists under the slogan “Together and Proud” at Skenderbeu Square in downtown Pristina.

“Pride Week aims to empower LGBTI + people, and also increase visibility in Kosovo society for different sexual orientations and gender identities.” said Lend Mustafa, Coordinator of the Center for Equality and Liberty (CEL), after the parade.

Moreover, he added, “This year, Pride Week highlights the issue of the Civil Code and same-sex marriage. “Through the slogan ‘Together and Proud’ we call for solidarity, equality, justice and social change.”

As always, the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) supported this parade organized by Center for Social Group Development (CSGD), and the Center for Equality and Liberty (CEL).

03.03.26

Motrat Qiriazi: Women’s Activism in Kosovo Since the 1990s Told in Book

27.02.26

Empowering Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian Communities to Address GBV and TFGBV

25.02.26

Breaking the Silence: Gender Justice in Northern Kosovo

13.02.26

Under threat, and resilient

13.02.26

The Double Life of Growing Up Online and Being Safe

12.02.26

KWN Congratulates New Government, Calls for Urgent Gender Equality Reforms

Counselling Line for Women and Girls Empowers Them To Report Gender-Based Discrimination at Work

30.06.2021

Frida* was only 17 years old when her family forced her to marry her 40-year-old husband. Her parents told her that she was a girl and that it was her duty to obey them. She had only met her husband five times before their wedding day.

The violence started the first week that they lived together. She soon learned that he was an alcoholic and substance abuser. She endured living with him, in this abusive relationship, for 10 years.

Frida worked as a tailor in a shoe-making factory near Tirana, Albania. She faced many hardships. During a violent episode, her husband broke her arm and she could not work. However, her employers did not allow Frida to take medical leave, and they stopped paying her immediately.

Frida, now unemployed, faced economic hardship, particularly as she still had to care for her three children.

Moreover, after she was fired, her abusive husband was furious. He stabbed her with a knife. The neighbours called the police, and he was immediately arrested.

After these incidents, Frida didn’t know where to seek help or where to report the labour rights violations she had faced at work. While listening to the radio, she learned about the Counselling Line for Women and Girls (CLWG) and called their toll-free number: 116117.

One of the counsellors provided her with free psychological support and mentoring about employment opportunities. With her permission, the counsellors referred Frida to the Gender Alliance for Development Center, which supported her in reporting her prior employer’s violations of her labour rights.

Frida also attended the CLWG’s educational trainings about the legal framework in Albania, which protects women’s labour rights, as well as the institutions where one can report gender-based discrimination at work.

“In these training courses, I had the possibility to meet different women, and we all had many things in common,” Frida recalled. “We were all survivors of violence, who had, one way or another, experienced discrimination and unfair treatment in the workplace. I feel like employers understand when women are vulnerable and uninformed, and they take advantage of this. Employers do not comply with the legislation, and they treat you unfairly. However, after attending these trainings, I feel stronger and much more confident, because now I know how to respond to injustice, and who to contact for help. Now I know what is legal and not, what my rights are as an employee, and where I can report discrimination”.

With the help of CLWG counsellors, Frida has found work as a tailor in a small shop. She also started attending a cooking course offered by the state, free of charge, for survivors of domestic violence. She still meets regularly with the Gender Alliance for Development Center to learn more about her rights regarding work, sick leave and pay.

“It is still not easy for her, or for the other women who have attended our trainings and received our services,” said one of the CLWG counsellors. “However, this information and support has empowered them, and their future seems brighter”.

This is the story of one woman, a survivor of domestic violence, who received support from CLWG.

In 2020 alone, CLWG received 6,000 calls from women and girls about discrimination in the workplace, assisting them in knowing their rights and seeking justice.

This initiative is part of the CLWG action, supported by the Gender Alliance for Development Center, Kosovo Women’s Network and their partners through the Action “Furthering Women’s Labour Rights”. This Action is financed by the European Union and co-funded by Swedish International Development Cooperation (Sida).

*Her name has been changed to protect her identity.

03.03.26

Motrat Qiriazi: Women’s Activism in Kosovo Since the 1990s Told in Book

27.02.26

Empowering Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian Communities to Address GBV and TFGBV

25.02.26

Breaking the Silence: Gender Justice in Northern Kosovo

13.02.26

Under threat, and resilient

13.02.26

The Double Life of Growing Up Online and Being Safe

12.02.26

KWN Congratulates New Government, Calls for Urgent Gender Equality Reforms

YAHR Advocates for Gender Responsive Budgeting in the Municipality of Lipjan

29.06.2021

The Youth Association for Human Rights (YAHR) has been working towards institutionalising gender responsive budgeting (GRB) in Kosovo since January.

Its initiative “Monitoring and analysis of the drafting of local policies from the gender perspective” focuses on monitoring gender mainstreaming in local institutions in the Municipality of Lipjan.

In order to achieve this, YAHR has met with several representatives of the municipality of Lipjan to advocate for a fair allocation of the municipal budget.

They recently launched their research report titled “Gender Mainstreaming in Local Institutions in Lipjan”. Here, YAHR recommends strategies that would help the Directorate of Administration and the Kosovo Police Station in Lipjan to improve gender equality, particularly by increasing the percentage of women in leadership positions. Their report illustrates that women remain underrepresented in top leadership positions, compared to men. According to them, in the next three or five years, each institution must seek to increase the number (and percentage) of women in leadership positions, towards achieving gender equality in accordance with Kosovo law. This initiative came following YAHR’s participation in a training on gender responsive budgeting, organised by the Gender Budget Watchdog Network, a regional initiative of which both KWN and YAHR are members.

“The training on gender responsive budgeting, for us as an organization, has been one of the main pillars to raise the issue of gender mainstreaming in the Municipality of Lipjan,” said Ferdian Shala from YAHR. “The knowledge on GRB that we have gained during the training organized by the Gender Budget Watchdog Network has helped us organize trainings with the group of women assembly members of the Municipality of Lipjan on the importance of gender responsive policies.” Further, he added that “gender responsive budgeting has played a very important role in the Municipality of Lipjan, but in particular in raising the general social need that we as a society must achieve to respect the most basic human rights, which are envisaged in the constitution. After all, gender responsive budgeting means equal sharing of responsibilities.”

These efforts are all in the spirit of supporting institutions to implement their commitments to gender-responsive budgeting in Kosovo, where it is a legal obligation. As per best practices in gender-responsive budgeting, gender analysis of needs, such as that conducted by YAHR, should always inform government revenues and expenditures. Thus, their analysis can be important for supporting the Municipality of Lipjan in the process of planning its medium-term and annual budget for 2022.

Overall, YAHR’s efforts have succeeded in bringing institutions’ attention to the importance of gender mainstreaming and the inclusion of women.

This initiative is financed by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) and Swedish International Development Cooperation (Sida).

Last month, YAHR also became a member of the Kosovo Women’s Network.

03.03.26

Motrat Qiriazi: Women’s Activism in Kosovo Since the 1990s Told in Book

27.02.26

Empowering Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian Communities to Address GBV and TFGBV

25.02.26

Breaking the Silence: Gender Justice in Northern Kosovo

13.02.26

Under threat, and resilient

13.02.26

The Double Life of Growing Up Online and Being Safe

12.02.26

KWN Congratulates New Government, Calls for Urgent Gender Equality Reforms

KWN Condemns Shala’s Sexist Language

18.06.2021

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The Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN), once reiterates its call for the cessation of sexist and misogynistic language toward women in politics and decision-making.

Today, the Deputy General Director of Radio Television of Kosovo, Mentor Shala, addressed Doarsa Kica-Xhelili, the Chairwoman of the Parliamentary Committee for Media and a Member of Parliament, using this kind of language.

Without engaging in polemics between Kica-Xhelili and Shala, Shala’s use of this language should be condemned. It has no place on public television – and should never be used by a Deputy General, whose salary is paid by citizens’ taxes.

Shala’s language is sexist, misogynistic, and encourages the already unequal social, economic and cultural relations between women and men.

Every sentence of Shala’s post on Facebook is sexist and discriminatory. No sentence is critical of Kica-Xhelili’s work as Member of Parliament, a position that she gained by the citizens’ vote. Rather the Deputy General decides to criticize the physical appearance of one of Kosovo’s Parliamentary Members.

Women continue to be a constructive part of the political process in Kosovo, so KWN strongly condemns any attempt to devalue their political role through sexist and misogynistic acts. Also, this practice drastically challenges the achievement of an equal, inclusive society, as well as undermines the progressive aspirations of the Republic of Kosovo.

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

“Menstrual Products are Necessity, not Luxury”: Advocacy for the Removal of VAT from Menstrual Products

15.06.2021

Today, June 15, Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) member organization, Eco Kos Women (EKW), with the support of KWN, organized a roundtable discussion “Menstrual products a necessity, not a luxury”.

Representatives of government institutions, as well as both local and international organizations discussed and shared their experiences regarding menstrual hygiene managment of women in Kosovo.

During this meeting, participants discussed the achievements, challenges and necessary advocacy needed to remove/deduct VAT from menstrual hygiene products for women, and categorize these products as essential.

EKW Executive Director, Magbule Hyseni, started the meeting by mentioning the importance of menstrual hygine.

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“Menstrual hygiene management is essential and is related to women’s right to health, education and work. In Kosovo, women face difficulties in managing menstrual hygiene, which prevents them from enjoying basic rights. Therefore, the best practices of gender budgeting highlight the responsibilities of the state to implement funds in an equal and efficient way “, she said.

Hyseni invited all participants to join the work to give their contributions to this issue.

Next, Igballe Rogova, Executive Director, KWN, greeted institutions that are pushing further this advocacy started from EKW.

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“KWN has been working towards gender responsive budgeting for years by organizing trainings in Ministries and Municipalities. We also advocated with the Minister of Finance, Avdullah Hoti, for gender responsive budgeting to be mandatory for and properly implemented by the government. Kosovo emerged as an example of success, as it managed to have gender responsive budgeting as part of the government. Of course we thank all supporters, including those within parliament,” said Rogova.

Ermira Gashi, representative from the Ministry of Industry, Entrepreneurship and Trade (MIET), congratulated EKW for the initiative, emphasizing that it welcomes the recommendations of the roundtable.

“State institutions and ministries should take into account all the recommendations and start practicing them, in order to achieve basic human rights; as is health care “, she said.

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Fatmire Mulhaxha-Kollçaku, Chairwoman of the Committee on Health in the Assembly of Kosovo, said that she appreciates the work of EKW and with great pleasure contributed to the finalization of the project.

“Menstrual hygiene is not a matter of luxury. It has to do with the health of women, so it is imperative that we approach to this issue in the right way,” she said.

Natasa Dokovska, Director of the NGO Journalists for Human Rights, gave a presentation on “Cost Analysis on Menstrual Poverty in Northern Macedonia – Menstrual Products Less Available to Women in Northern Macedonia”.

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Finally, Flutra Bektashi, Project Manager presented the findings from the research.

Some of the key recommendations include:

Menstrual hygiene products should be classified as essential products because they are necessary for girls and women to realize their human rights, in health, education and labour.
Change Law no. 05 / L-037 on Value Added Tax as well as the Administrative Instructions on how to implement this law, so menstrual hygiene products are exempt from all customs and VAT taxes.

Gender analysis suggests that this will benefit low-income families and contribute to furthering equality in state revenue collection by removing this discriminatory tax. Moreover, it can contribute to improving women and girls’ access to adequate health and hygiene management, education, and labour.

This roundtable is funded by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) and Swedish International Development Cooperation (Sida).

Read HERE to learn more about this initiative.

03.03.26

Motrat Qiriazi: Women’s Activism in Kosovo Since the 1990s Told in Book

27.02.26

Empowering Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian Communities to Address GBV and TFGBV

25.02.26

Breaking the Silence: Gender Justice in Northern Kosovo

13.02.26

Under threat, and resilient

13.02.26

The Double Life of Growing Up Online and Being Safe

12.02.26

KWN Congratulates New Government, Calls for Urgent Gender Equality Reforms

KWN Opposes the Dismissal of the President of CEC

15.06.2021

Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) joins other civil society organizations in opposing the decision of the President of the Republic of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani-Sadriu who dismissed the President of the Central Election Commission (CEC), Valdete Daka.

The reasons given for Daka’s dismissal do not stand, and moreover they are based on responsibilities that do not fall under her perview. The CEC is an independent constitutional body and President Daka is only one of eleven voting members.

Among the reasons for dismissal are the violation of personal data, and errors within the voter lists. Neither of these falls under the responsibility of the President of the CE.C One is within the scope of the Agency for Information and Privacy, and the other is the responsibility of the Agency for Civil Registration in the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

We note that this decision from President Osmani comes on the eve of announcing the date of local elections to be held in October this year. In addition to being considered an impact on the independent work of the CEC, many also worry that it will effect the organization and validity of these elections.

We also recall that before the early national elections of February 2021, KWN, through a press release, called for this process to take place within constitutional rules, in a democratic spirit, and to address any disagreements through institutional channels. We are repeating this call again,not only for political parties, but for every institutional figure who has the responsibility of representing the unity of the people, such as the President of the Republic of Kosovo.

As we witness the political empowerment of women in Kosovo society, KWN will continue its long-standing efforts to increase women’s participation in politics and decision-making. The Network will demand accountability for decisions that effect the democratic foundations on which we are building society.

28.03.25