Kosovo Women's Network

Holding the Third Follow-up Workshop, EWLA, KWN Further Cooperate for Women’s Rights

09.06.2021

On June 9, Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) and the European Women Lawyers Association (EWLA) co-hosted the third follow-up workshop to discuss European Union (EU) legal instruments, remedies, and how to use them efficiently to combat gender inequalities.

KWN staff, along with experts from EWLA, Katharina Miller, President of EWLA, and Sylvia Cleff Le Divellec discussed the composition of Court of Justice of European Union, courts roles, labour and discriminatory laws. They also talked about how Kosovo, as a non-EU member can follow EU legislation and be part of the Acquis.

During the first part of this meeting, they discussed the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on women’s rights organisations everyday work and activism. The second half discussed the available remedies in EU law.

Miller and Cleff Le Divellec highly appreciated this workshop and the opportunity to hear perspectives from KWN’s activists.

“For the European Women Lawyers Association, it’s very important to cooperate with the KWN, especially now, in times of the pandemic.”, Miller says, while further adding that the EU Gender Equality Acquis is fundamental for the promotion of women’s rights, for peace and stable democracies within EU.

[KWN and EWLA co-host a four-day workshop on EU Gender Equality Acquis]

“It’s an honour and great inspiration to work together with KWN to find solutions for implementing the EU Gender Equality Acquis in Kosovo. The way is long and together we are stronger!”, she concludes.

Etleva Malushaj, Project Coordinator at KWN, highly appreciated the workshop.

“This workshop is very important as it creates the opportunity to discuss the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on women. Such meetings are crucial and valuable to build solidarity between women and exchange ideas to further engage together for justice and equality.”, Malushaj says.

During this meeting, the KWN staff also updated the EWLA representatives that their previous four-day workshop “Equal Rights and Gender Equality for women and men in Kosovo”, held in October 2020 with the Lobby for Gender Equality and Coalition for Equality, was very helpful for KWN member organisations.

This activity is taken under the initiative “Strengthening Women’s Participation in Politics”, supported by the European Union (EU) Office in Kosovo. Please click HERE to read about this four-year long initiative in more depth.

[KWN and EWLA Co-host the Second Follow-up Workshop on EU Gender Equality Acquis]

Follow EWLA’s work by liking its Facebook Page.

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Once Again, Students from Amsterdam Show Appreciation for KWN’s Contribution

08.06.2021

On June 8, Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) Executive Director, Igballe Rogova met with a group of students from the Amsterdam University College, Netherlands.

This was the second year that this meeting took place via the Zoom platform. The students took part in an interactive discussion, asking questions and also sharing their perspectives.

Rogova spoke about the history of the women’s rights movement in Kosovo, as well as the work by KWN since its foundation, and its six key programs.

She highlighted the recent research report launched by KWN, “A Seat at the Table”, which examines the roles, contributions, and needs of women related to peace and security processes in Kosovo.

“This report describes the valuable role of women’s rights organisations in peacebuilding. I have to say, once again, that local women’s rights organisations and activists have the information and the trust of their communities. Without their involvement in all parts of the conflict cycle, we will not prevent conflict or build inclusive peace,” she emphasized.

“There is no peace, without justice,” Rogova added.

The students appreciated the meeting, seeing it as a valuable experience and a wonderful opportunity to closely understand KWN’s work, and also the course of cultural and social processes throughout various periods in Kosovo.

Over the past two years, Rogova has discussed with the students of this university the rights of women and their impact on the history of Kosovo and peacebuilding.

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KWN Members, Lobby and Coalition for Equality Discuss Women’s Participation in Local Elections

07.06.2021

Today, June 7, a joint meeting was held with members of the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN), the Kosovo Lobby for Gender Equality (Lobby) and the Coalition for Equality.

Around 70 participants discussed the participation of women in local elections expected to be held in October this year. They also talked about opportunities for advocacy and support for women who want to participate in this election.

At the beginning of the meeting, Igballe Rogova, KWN Executive Director, mentioned the work of the Lobby, Coalition for Equality and all KWN member organizations working towards increasing women’s participation in politics, both at central and local level.

“For many years now, we have been advocating together to increase and strengthen women’s participation in decision-making processes. This time, we will support all the women participating in the upcoming local elections. We will demand for the Law on General Election to be aligned with the Law on Gender Equality”, said Rogova.

She also informed the participants that the 15^th Round of the Kosovo Women’s Fund (KWF) would be open until June 8.

Further, the activist Shqipe Malushi, a member of the KWN Advisory Board, congratulated women’s rights activists for their persistence and hard work during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I am delighted to be here with women’s right activists. I will be together with you in every activity. You did not stop your work even during the COVID-19 pandemic, and this is a change. Currently, local elections are very important to us. Women are the majority and the time is now to empower each-other”, said Malushi.

Another speaker, Antigona Baxhaku – Idrizi, Director of SHE Solutions, said her organisation aims to empower girls and women in all areas, with emphasis on decision-making, strategic planning and counselling, strategy development for political and lobbying campaigns, and media analysis.

“For many years now, I have worked with and supported various women’s rights groups. We are currently working together with KWN to support and empower women in the upcoming local elections. Today, more than ever, women in politics are supporting each other and we will be here to seize this opportunity”, said she.

In the second part of the meeting the participants were divided into working groups where they discussed broadly about the campaigns and advocacy needed to increase women’s participation in local elections.

Main suggestions from the group discussions:

Increase cooperation between assembly members and organizations in various activities for gender equality,
Organize campaign in support of women candidates,
Create funding for women’s campaigns within political parties.
All participants agreed that the door-to-door campaign should continue in this election as well, to call for more women to be voted in the local elections.

This meeting was supported by the European Union (EU) Office in Kosovo, within the four-year initiative “Strengthening Women’s Participation in Politics”. Read more HERE.

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KWN meets with President Osmani-Sadriu, pledges to advance gender equality

07.06.2021

Today, KWN representatives visited the President of the Republic of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani-Sadriu, to congratulate her on her election to the office, and discuss the possibilities of cooperation for the advancement of gender equality in Kosovo.

While there, they discussed the alignment of the Law on General Elections with the Law on Gender Equality, further coordination to combat violence and sexual harassment against women, and the involvement of women in the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue through a group of experts.

In the following link you can read the letter that KWN sent to Osmani-Sadri on the occasion of her election as President:

[KWN Demands for Including Women and their Needs in Dialogue with Serbia]

President Osmani stressed that throughout her term, gender equality is one of her priorities along with the rights of children with special needs, and environmental issues.

KWN met with Osmani during her time as head of parliament, in February 2021, where they talkedabout the creation of a permanent budget line for shelters for victims of domestic violence. Read more HERE.

t In the following link you can read the letter that KWN sent to Osmani-Sadri on the occasion of her election as President:

KWN Congratulates the President of the Republic of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani-Sadriu on her Election

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Activist Prekpalaj: “Motrat Qiriazi” and KWN with Unique Contribution to Women’s Rights

31.05.2021

Marta Prekpalaj is an exeptional activist and the first woman to serve as school principal in Has. She is the next activist who agreed to participate in an interview for the series of KWN publications on the contribution of human rights activists in Kosovo. Prekpalaj begins our conversation by going back in time – when she, together with the Organization Motrat Qiriazi (Eng: Qiriazi Sisters), worked tirelessly to eradicate illiteracy and empower women and girls.

“I remember that at that time the biggest problem for girls was going to high school. Most of them only had primary school education. I remember in my high school class in (1981) there were only three girls”, says Prekpalaj, adding that since then, she always wanted to help other girls to attend school.

Today in Has, that dream is realized. Currently, there are more female graduates of secondary school than male graduates. Prekpalaj recalls the opening of the first school in Gjonaj of Has, in1994, as well as the medical school in Romajë, in 1996.

She attributes both of these achievements to the Motrat Qiriazi’s efforts to educate the youth of Kosovo.

“With the activists of the Motrat Qiriazi, we have done many activities, we have held first aid courses, village by village, neighborhood by neighborhood. We have also organized health visits for those women who needed to travel to Prishtina, we have held sewing courses, and we have opened a library “, she says.

Much of Motrat Qiriazi’s work was taking place during a period of civil and military unrest in Kosovo. This was incredibly challenging for activists like Prekpalaj, however, it also made the contribution of the Motrat Qiriazi completely unforgettable.

During this conversation, she remembered the helping the women and children of Krusha e Vogel by transporting them by tractor.

“On the day when the massacre took place in Krusha e Vogel, women and children were sent to the river Drini i Bardhë, while I went out into the river with a tractor and sheltered them.”.

Prekpalaj has long collaborated with KWN, and talks about KWN’s contribution over the years to advancing women’s rights throughout Kosovo.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is 122471857_3511489428911382_2178098085584957344_n-1024x683.jpg

“After the end of the Motrat Qiriazi mission, KWN has begun to establish a network of women’s organizations in Kosovo, the Balkans and Europe. As an activist, I greatly appreciate KWN’s many years of activism, especially the meetings and gatherings of women that KWN has provided through out the years and still continues to provide.”

“These meetings are irreplaceable – they bring together women’s rights activists and talk about things that effect different areas,” she said.

Prekpalaj singled out the establishment of the Kosovo Women’s Fund as an important for financial support for local women’s rights organizations.

Finally, she has a message for women and girls who face difficulties in their career journey.

“I tell women and girls: You can become a principal, a teacher and everything else you want to achieve. All girls must have courage and will, and they will achieve everything they want,” she said.

In 2011 she established the organization Visionary Woman of the XXI Century. She received the Women’s Creativity in Rural Life Award from the Women’s World Summit Foundation in 2006.

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EcoKos Women Raises Awareness About Menstrual Hygiene Management

28.05.2021

Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) member organisation, EcoKos Women (EKW) focuses on Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM).

This was made possible by a grant from the Gender Budget Watchdog Network (GBWN) in the Western Balkans and the Republic of Moldova.

The aim of this initiative is to influence the MHM of women and girls, given that menstruation and associated activities are surrounded by silence, shame and social taboos. These are further manifested in social practices that restrict movement, freedom and access to everyday activities.

Their initiative consists of multiple activities including advocacy for tax cuts on menstrual products, advocacy to include MHM in the school curricula, as well as installing toilets for MHM in schools and in the Gynaecological Department of the University Clinical Centre of Kosovo ((UCCK). EKW has met with multiple stakeholders in order to implement their activities including Government and municipal officials,, representatives of UCCK and directors of different schools in the city.

The research they have conducted is among the first of its kind in Kosovo. It consists of and analysis of the perceptions on Menstrual Hygiene and it assesses the needs of women and girls during the menstrual cycle. Most importantly, the research highlights the costs of menstrual products and their impact on the Kosovar families.

This policy brief was launched on May 28^th marking the International Menstrual Hygiene Day, and it concludes with the following recommendations:

Menstrual hygiene products should be classified as essential products because they are necessary for girls and women to realize equally their human rights, including to health, education and labour.
As per Government obligations to implement gender responsive budgeting, change the 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.

Read HERE the full Policy Brief.

EcoKos Women has been previously trained on GRB and their initiative is financed by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) and Swedish International Development Cooperation (Sida), through GBWN.

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KWN Welcomes Life Sentence for Pajazitaj, Demands Fighting Violence Against Women Without a Compromise

27.05.2021

Through this press release, the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) welcomes today’s decision of the Basic Court in Ferizaj in sentencing Naser Pajazitaj to life in prison for the killing of his cousin, Donjeta Pajazitaj in November 2015.

Since the killing of Donjeta Pajazitaj, KWN has made continuous efforts to bring justice and for the victim and ensure that the perpetrator to receive the punishment he deserves.

KWN, representing 158 member organizations from all over Kosovo, protested to demand justice in this case and repeatedly called on institutions to respond adequately as the Basic Court in Peja initially acquitted the accused Pajazitaj, in March 2018.

Witnessing a disturbing number of cases of physical and sexual violence against women in recent times, decisions like this bring a glimmer of hope that violence towards women is being punished without compromise and without any justification.

KWN’s latest research report “From Laws to Action”, once again pointed out, inter alia, that the punishments for perpetrators of gender-based violence are low, that there is a tendency to “blame the victim”. Sadly, the police officers refer victims to shelters rather than initiate criminal proceedings against the perpetrator of violence.

You can read the full report HERE.

KWN is committed to continuing its decades-long efforts to monitor the institutional response to gender-based violence, in order to to prevent violence against women and improve institutional and public support for victims of violence.

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KWN and its Members Continue Helping Victims of Domestic Violence

24.05.2021

FOTO: Novo Brdo shelter activity, 2020

The Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) for a long time now has been working closely with its member organizations, particularly shelters, to empower women and girls who have experienced violence and have sought access to state services.

These efforts have recently received support from the EU-supported UN Women-funded Implementing Norms, Changing Minds program. Throughout 2020, KWN collaborated with nine shelters around Kosovo, as well as other women’s civil society organisations (WCSOs) to increase the availability psychosocial support for survivors, refer them to the correct and relevant institutions, and increase diverse women’s awareness of violence and their support options. In cases where women were mistreated by institutions, KWN collaborated with the Ombudsperson Institution (OI) in order to seek remedies for survivors.

For one-year period time, KWN managed to help over 753 women victims of domestic violence which were counselled, supported, and/or referred by WCSOs. Although a majority of these women were Albanian, women and children from the Serbian, Bosniak, Roma, Egyptian, and Ashkali communities, as well as foreign women, also received support. Women of different abilities and those from the LGBTQIA+ communities were also supported.

Moreover, 948 women were referred to different institutions. Including Police, Centre for Social Work, Victims’ Advocates, Prosecutor, Court, different Embassies, ‘’Jetimat e Ballkanit’’ (Eng: Balkan’s Orphans), Hospital etc. 15 of these cases were referred to OI. Of the original 15 cases, two cases are still being monitored by the Ombudsperson Institution and more than 800 women were informed about the role and the responsibilities of OI.

KWN through collaborations together with Kosovo Gender Studies Centre (KGSC), Women’s Alliance for Integration, Kosovo Blind Women Committee (KVGK), “HENDIFER”, and Nas Dom, were able to reach diverse women throughout Kosovo. The aim of this was to raise awareness of women in vulnerable communities, so they would know what support was available to them, and which institutions they could refer to. Overall, through in person and online campaigns, these organizations were able to reach more than 10,000 members of their communities.

KWN has been committed to women’s rights and a life without violence since its inception, and “A Life Free from Gender-based Violence” remains one of KWN’s key programs.

Many of the recommendations that KWN has made have been taken into account in standard development procedures as well as in the design of various policies by governments over the years.

KWN will continue to work with women to obtain information about relevant institutions and to enable them to be referred to these institutions and to combat gender-based violence in various forms.

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OPDMK Marks “Muscular Dystrophy Week” With The Motto “I Am Not Invisible”

21.05.2021

On May 21 in Prizren, Organization of Persons with Muscular Dystrophy of Kosovo (OPDMK) marked the Week of Muscular Dystrophy 2021 with the message “I am not Invisible”.

To mark this event, 42 rose saplings were planted in Marash Park, as a symbol for the deputies of the Assembly of Kosovo, as well as a fir tree sapling in honor of the President of Kosovo.

In order to raise public awareness about people with disabilities and their needs, the installation “I am not invisible” has been placed in Ura e Gurit (Eng. the Stone Bridge) in Prizren, and awareness messages have been placed in the main square, which will remain there. a week.

Antigona Shestan, Executive Director of OPDMK spoke about the importance of including women with disabilities in politics and decisionmaking processes.

“I am not invisible”, aims to raise public awareness of the rights and opportunities, but also of the problems faced especially by women with progressive neuromuscular diseases “, she said.

Further, Igballe Rogova, Executive Director of the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN), among other things, said that she has always been proud of the work and activities undertaken by OPDMK, as a member organization of KWN.

OPDMK has had so many activities and so much work and courage, that when we made the campaign “Vote for more women in parliament”, and when they took to the streets of Prizren in carts to distribute brochures, this was a sign “no one can stop the will of this organization and all its members”, said Rogova.

Whereas, Resmije Rahmani, Mobilizer within the initiative “Empowerment of Women Participation in Politics”, hopes that women in politics will be by their side.

“This is a good step for all of you to support us in our mission. “Today we will plant 42 roses and we hope that in the local elections to vote as many women as possible, I am appealing to you to vote as many women as possible, and why not have a representative of women with disabilities”, he said Rahmani in front of those present.

Further, the participant Pranvera Musaj said that the motto “I am not invisible”, says everything that needs to be said.

“Because most of the time we are considered as an invisible part of society, or at least that is how we feel with all the barriers and shortcomings that we constantly encounter during our daily engagements”, says Musaj, while explaining the meaning of this motto.

Part of this activity was also the Deputy Prime Minister, Emilia Rexhepi, as well as the MP Drita Millaku.

This activity was realized in the framework of the initiative “Strengthening Women’s Participation in Politics”, supported by the European Union (EU) Office in Kosovo.

Read HERE for last year’s Muscular Dystrophy Week note.

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KWN Contributes to Informing OSCE Work for Gender Inclusivity in Conflicts

19.05.2021

How can the OSCE work for inclusive and gender just peace throughout the conflict cycle? This side-event was organized on May 19, by the Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation in collaboration with the Swedish Chairpersonship of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and co-sponsored by the Finnish Permanent Delegation to the OSCE.

Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) Executive Director, Igballe Rogova, was among the panellists discussing the obstacles they have faced and their individual contributions to building sustainable peace in their respective context.

During her introduction, Rogova emphasised the crucial importance of local women’s rights organisations taking part in peacebuilding processes.

“Local women’s rights organisations and activists have the information and the trust of their communities. Without their involvement in all parts of the conflict cycle, we will not prevent conflict or build inclusive peace”, she emphasized.

“There is no peace, without justice”, Rogova added, while demanding for implementing the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security.

Rogova further invited all panellists to read the Facts and Fables, as a collection of stories about implementing this resolution in Kosovo since 2000.

Petra Tötterman Andorff, Secretary General of the Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation, also highlighted the significance of including women’s rights groups and women’s needs in all conflict-solving processes.

“The exclusion of women from peace and transition processes means that women’s specific perspectives and priorities are not considered. Women’s participation needs involvement of local women and women’s rights organizations throughout the conflict cycle.”

Other panellists were: Ekaterine Gamakharia, Head of Tbilisi Office, Cultural Humanitarian Fund “Sukhumi”, Nina Potarskaya, National Coordinator Ukraine, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, and Liliana Palihovici, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office’s Special Representative on Gender.

The message was clear from all the panellists- local women have the expertise, and the trust of their communities, and there is no meaningful and inclusive peacebuilding process without their involvement.

This side-event was organised as part of the online Conflict Cycle Seminar for delegations of OSCE taking part States and Partners for Co-operation hosted on 17-19 May by the Swedish OSCE Chairpersonship, in collaboration with the OSCE Secretariat. It’s intent is to inform stakeholders on how different OSCE mechanisms and other multilateral organisations can be improved in order to enable greater inclusivity of civil society and women peacebuilders throughout the different phases of the conflict cycle.