Kosovo Women's Network

KWN Continues Efforts to Advance Gender Equality

28.05.2020

Kosovo, as well as the vast majority of the world is weathering the consequences of COVID-19 pandemic. While the workflow of civil society organizations has changed, the goal and endeavours remain the same.

The Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) has continued their mission of working for gender equity, despite being unable to implement some activities and advocacy that had been previously planned..

In response to the pandemic, KWN drafted a policy brief, identifying the different needs of women and men during quarantine and making policy suggestions to various ministries such as the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Health.

Read HERE for the full Policy Brief.

During this time, the KWN staff has contacted all member organizations to understand their concerns and identify their needs. KWN members expressed their gratitude by saying thanking KWN for their ongoing support.

“Thank you very much for your care and support, and for representing us.” said Sylbije Sahiti of Our Paradise, a local NGO (ALB: Our Paradise).

“Thank you very much for showing interest and for always being the first to address our needs.” said Shpresa Sejdiu of Educational Centre for Children with Special Needs (ALB: Qendra Edukative për Fëmijët me Nevojat e Veçanta).

Knowing that the situation of women who suffer from domestic violence only worsens during the pandemic, KWN has advocated for Kosovo’s shelters and has ensured that they get the urgent things they need.

KWN collaborated with the Security and Gender Group (SGG), to put together a campaign against domestic violence. The group issued a statement to the media urging institutions to protect people experiencing domestic violence, while urging citizens to report it.

KWN has also informed citizens about workers’ rights during the pandemic, through various social media campaigns.

Recently, the KWN staff held a virtual meeting with the European Association of Women Lawyers (EWLA) to discuss further cooperation with the four-year initiative “Strengthening Women’s Participation in Politics”.

Find below some of KWN media coverage during this time (Available in Albanian only).

https://kallxo.com/lajm/rrgk-i-propozon-qeverise-masat-per-adresimin-e-covid-19-nga-perspektiva-gjinore/

https://kallxo.com/gjate/analize/grate-dhe-thirrjet-e-humbura-per-mbrojtje-nga-dhuna-ne-familje/

https://ww.facebook.com/zeriamerikes/videos/1104147106612668/UzpfSTEyODEzODgëMzkxMzE0NToyOTc5NDA1MDY4Nzg2NDkë/?eid=ARDPoËfqCufgrvk_Ckel0CYId8dRfP3VëK87i6cVMIgTc2o0TtHo_4M_KkNKoMK-hc8NpUPV3oztjTKa

https://www.kosovalive360.com/rrgk-pa-drejtesi-nuk-ka-paqe/

https://ww.kosovalive360.com/edhe-me-ligjnder-me-te-avancuaritbarazia-gjinore-ngec-ne-praktike/.

01.04.26

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KWN Demands the Improvement of Women’s Working Rights

28.05.2020

Illustrative Picture from protest held on May 1 2019, Prishtinë

The Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN), on International Workers’ Day, demands greater attention for Women’s labour rights and for ongoing state efforts to combat gender-based discrimination in the labour market.

As a consequence of gender discrimination, according to KWN research, women continue to make up only 13.7% of the workforce in Kosovo. Moreover, even when they are employed, women are paid less than men for the same job, hold lower positions, are denied paid maternity leave and are exposed to sexual harassment in the workplace. Sexual harassment is especially prevalent in the private sector, which in most cases belong to the informal sector.

Due to social norms, women are also burdened with unpaid housework such as caring for children, the elderly and other household chores, which they cannot make an income from.

This year, while we are facing the global pandemic COVID-19, we need to take into account that the most jobs deemed “essential” are staffed by women. Women in these positions are not being paid overtime, are having their working hours doubled without increasing their pay, are having to take care of their children and home while doing their job, and are not receiving adequate personal protection equipment. In some cases, women are even losing their jobs if they raise concerns about their safety and their inadequate pay.

It is imperative that the government urgently implements a comprehensive gender analysis, in order to inform and guide further government measures and to involve more women in drafting plans and policies that tackle this virus. In the long term, the government must ensure that working women are protected by the Labour Law that addresses maternity leave, paternity and parental leave. In addition, the government should work to improve the institutional response to reported cases of gender discrimination in the labour market by increasing the number of inspectors and their knowledge in this field. They also need to treat cases of sexual harassment seriously, as is stipulated by the Criminal Code of Kosovo.

Therefore, it is important that on International Workers’ Day and every other day we make sure that responsible institutions do not fail to protect workers’ rights. We need to advocate for social policies that strengthen gender equality, and fight for the well-being of women and men in Kosovo.

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In addition to issuing this press release, KWN also marked May 1 by participating in the discussion “Work and Women” hosted by the Kosovar Gender Studies Centre (KGSC). Adelina Tërshani, KWN Project Coordinator, was among the speakers to discuss socio-economic aspects of work, gender roles and gender discrimination in sharing the workload.

Click HERE to watch a live-stream of this discussion.

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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

Albanian and Serb Youth Come Together to Promote Gender Equality

28.05.2020

A total of 30 girls, 15 from the Albanian community and 15 from the Serb community are now more informed of human rights, and in particular women’s rights. This is thanks to a series of trainings they attended on domestic and international legislation dealing with these topics.

Moreover, about 170 young girls and women from 10 villages in the Municipality of Prishtina have been informed through training sessions about their rights, with an emphasis on the right of property and inheritance.

These are just a few of the results from the initiative “What tomorrow brings with me!” This initiative is the work of two member organizations of the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN), Open Door and Ruka Ruci. They are both beneficiaries of the 12th round of the Kosovo Women’s Fund (KWF).

The final activity of the project brought together high school girls from Prishtina, who discussed gender stereotypes in society, as well as the best ways to combat them.

Valentina Bejtullahu, leader of the workshop held in May, informed the students about gender and sex differences, gender roles, and gender stereotypes. The second part of the workshop focused on bullying and its impact on mental health.

“For the same job position, women get paid less than men, therefore making it seem that men are more qualified. However, we have both qualified men and women in Kosovo. According to the legislation, women and men have equal rights, but fact fails in practice.” said Bejtullahu.

Gender stereotypes were taught through an activity where students expressed their thoughts on the questions, such as: “Do men or women care better for children?”, “Are men more emotional than women?”, And “Are women more successful than men?”.

“Women are raised by the society to be more emotional, but I consider this to be a very good thing. Men should express their emotions just as much as women,” said one of the participating students at the Meto Bajraktari Elementary School.

Nevenka Rikalo, Director of “Ruka Ruci” has indicated that the same training was held for Serbian youth, in order to bring the two ethnicities together in the fight against the patriarchal system.

“During the implementation of the project, pupils understood the goal of this initiative and have appreciated its importance. Albanian pupils also visited the premises of Serbian schools which is an achievement because it enables pupils to meet and collaborate”, Rikalo said.

Belgjyzare Muharremi, Executive Director of the “Open Door”, presented the topics that were addressed during the workshops.

“Our aim is informing the youth of phenomena such as; gender inequalities, gender stereotypes, sexual harassments and the patriarchy. Both organizations work with women and girls of the Albanian and Serbian communities”, Muharremi said.

These two organization that have been in collaboration for many years now, and have created a space of open cooperation and commitment to improving the position of women and girls in Kosovo society.

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Without Justice, There Can Be No Peace

28.05.2020

April 27 marks the National Day of Missing Persons. Today the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) remembers the 1,641 men, women and children of Kosovo, whose fate remains unknown.

For 21 years, their loved ones have been waiting. The lack of political will of the responsible state continues to deny them their right to know, their right to the truth, and their right to justice.

Society must continue to support, remember and honor the victims of war, those who remain missing, and those who were victims of sexual violence,. The demand for justice should be at the center of all efforts for peace building between the two societies. Attempts to forget the past would be a breach of human rights and the right to justice. Without Justice, There Can Be No Peace.

KWN asserts that crimes against humanity, genocide and other serious human rights violations are not prescripted. It is unacceptable to talk about amnesty, when victims from the war have been waiting for justice for over two decades. Peace agreements cannot integrate amnesty for these crimes. Since they are crimes against humanity they need to be internationally recognized and punished; attempts to deny this justice go against international law and UN conventions. It is the duty of states to protect human rights, and the denial of justice for crimes committed is a denial of this right.

As a society, we must make efforts to demand justice in order to unite all Kosovars, both in the majority community and minority community. We must unite in our demand to punish all those who commit war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity.

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

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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

Raising Awareness about Menopause among Women of Krusha e Vogël

28.05.2020

Women from Krusha Vogel were informed on the hormonal and emotional changes experienced during menopause. 80 women who attended these information sessions have improved their understanding on what women face during this time.

The Association of Women Farmers “Krusha e Vogel”, also organized activities on other women’s health topics, such as: breast cancer, breast self-examination, cervical cancer, climax, high blood pressure as well as diabetes.

“Women’s Support in Menopause” is an initiative that started in order to make women of this village more aware of the importance of health care during menopause. Krusha Vogel does not currently have access to information compared to their urban peers.

The women participating the sessions highly appreciated this initiative. Together, they discussed the difficulties they faced, 45-year-old L.SH, stated:

“When I first experienced the signs of menopause, it was very stressful. I was reluctant to see a doctor because I was ashamed to talk about it. These lectures have been very professional, and now we are much more relieved. We have also set appointments for gynecological examinations”, she said, emphasizing that she is very thankful for “Krusha e Vogël” and Kosovo Women’s Network for this opportunity.

“I have benefited a lot from this project, the topics that we discussed are very helpful for my personal care. I also understood the importance of regular check-ups in order to prevent various diseases,” said another participant. A total of 45 women attending these sessions went through gynecological examinations.

In addition to sessions with women, the Association of Women Farmers “Krusha e Vogël” has held meetings with Nexhip Berisha, Director of Health in Prizren.They advocated for the health department to draft a document on regular lectures in rural areas in the coming year. As a result of the meeting, an agreement was reached to hold sessions with women at the Family Medicine Center in Prizren.Agreements were also reached with Hanife Hoxha, a professional lecturer, to hold lectures about cervical cancer in the rural areas free of charge.

“Symptoms do not appear in the early stages of cervical cancer, women might face different signs such as: pain after sexual intercourse, bleeding after menopause, rapid weight loss, and recurrence of the cycle only shortly after it has ended.” Hoxha explained to those present at a lecture held in February.

During the implementation of this initiative, an advocacy meeting was also held with Myvexhele Zhuri from the Office for Gender Equality. They lobbied for more financial support in the health field and to gain access to grants from the local government.

The Association of Women Farmers “Krusha e Vogël”, over the past eight months, have contributed to the positive changes that women can make in the community. They have increased solidarity between women’s rights activists to come together as a women’s movement within the implementation of the KWN Strategy 2019-2022.

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Related articles:

Women of Krusha e Vogël Discuss About Cervical Cancer

Association of Women Farmers “Krusha e Vogel” economically empowers girls in rural areas

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01.04.26

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KWN Proposes Measures Addressing COVID-19 from a Gender Perspective: Recommendations to the Government of Kosovo

28.05.2020

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread rapidly and unpredictably on a global scale. Developing countries and countries in humanitarian crisis that have no proper economic and health infrastructure will suffer the most. History shows that in such pandemics, social inequality, particularly gender inequality, is even more pronounced. It is important that measures taken against the pandemic are gender-sensitive and that the positioning of different groups in society and the economy are considered, avoiding further deterioration of the situation, especially for marginalized groups. The economic crisis may worsen and deepen gender and social inequality, but measures taken in response to the pandemic and crisis may worsen inequalities if such measures are gender neutral. States are confronting the Coronavirus through emergency measures, but these do not always consider the different needs of women and men. This is also the case regarding the measures taken so far by the government of the Republic of Kosovo.

To the Government of Kosovo

Urgently conduct a comprehensive gender analysis to inform and guide further government measures. State strategic plans and preventive measures against COVID-19 should be based on gender analysis, including an ex ante gender impact assessment, in accordance with the Law on Gender Equality and international legislation. It should take into account gender roles, the unequal share of care responsibilities among women and men and other issues resulting from the latter. Gender impact assessment would ensure that the following preventive and mitigation measures will address the burden of women’s unpaid work and their increased risk of exposure to gender-based violence. Indeed, gender impact assessment is required as part of the Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA), which the government must apply whenever any new regulatory framework is proposed, drafted or evaluated. It can support the appropriate integration of a gender perspective in new laws, policies, and programs, including related to COVID-19.

Include more women in drafting programs and policies related to COVID-19 and in proposing short-term and long-term measures, especially related to social, economic, and health issues, including protection from gender-based violence. The inclusion of more women in decision-making positions, particularly from the health system, can contribute to better address of the needs of diverse women and girls. Such a practice is in line with UN Security Council Resolution 1325, concerning the participation of women in decision-making processes.

To the Ministry of Economy, Employment, Trade, Industry, Entrepreneurship and Strategic Investments and the Ministry of Health

Include special measures and ongoing efforts within medium-term measures to identify rights violations related to the informal economy, address the needs of women in this sector, and to ensure women have access to and benefit from private sector financial support schemes.
Address the burden of women’s unpaid labor through special measures related to the delivery of social assistance, psychosocial services, and medical-hygienic services.

Ensure the Labor Inspectorate monitors and addresses violations of labor rights in the private sector, particularly in essential services, where women are over-represented. This includes addressing prolonged working hours without extra pay.
Ensure recognition of unpaid care work as part of the economic system, as specified in Article 18 of the Law on Gender Equality, especially during the formulation and implementation of macroeconomic policies and measures in response to the pandemic. This can be done by modifying the leave of absence and by encouraging the latter to be split between both parents, or by enabling women to benefit from public provisions for children and elderly care. Such practice should be applied especially in the essential sectors, where work is ongoing and children or the elderly are at risk of being left without adequate care.
Collect regularly gender-disaggregated data to understand better how women and men are affected differently by the virus, not only in terms of infection, but also economically, in shared care responsibilities, and in relation to domestic violence. Such information should be used by relevant ministries and municipalities when implementing the national response plan.
Prior consultation with organizations that have expertise in gender equality issues is crucial, and as such, is recommended as part of the nation response plan.
Integrate the needs of nurses and physicians in strategic plans related to COVID-19. Ensure that nurses and women physicians, as well as women in other occupations in the health system, have their essential hygienic and sanitary needs met, including the provision of menstrual products and hygienic wipes where lacking. Ensure that they are sufficiently equipped to maintain personal hygiene and to be protected while serving on the front lines of health services.

Recommendations for the Inter-Institutional Response to Gender-Based Violence

Prioritize services for preventing and responding to gender-based violence, including domestic violence, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, including sufficient funding to cover any extra costs for civil society organizations, shelters and day care centers that serve persons suffering from gender-based violence. Ensure that these centers have sufficient medical, hygienic and sanitary means. Ensure access to psychological treatment, even virtually.
Develop a protocol for the treatment of women who cannot be admitted to such centers as a result of infection, including safe quarantine and access to testing.
Specify measures to be taken related to gender-based violence, including ensuring continued work of Victim Advocates and policy preparedness in emergency treatment of violence cases. Inform the public about the work of these institutions and where they can access support.

Ensure that health workers have gender-sensitive responses to gender-based violence, which may be associated with or worsened by the pandemic. First responders should be trained to know who needs extra care or who should be brought to treatment centers.

To the Ministry of Finance

Review the mid-term budget using best principles of gender responsive budgeting, and drawing from the findings of gender impact assessments, as provided by the Law on Gender Equality. Consider the different needs of diverse women and men.

To the European Union

Ensure that all European Union (EU) funds are programmed and distributed based on ex ante gender impact assessments and involving gender mainstreaming; all programs also should take into account the principles of gender responsive budgeting.
Ensure mid-term programming includes special measures to attend to the social and economic protection of women, as a marginalized group, as initially stated in the EU declaration on planning and distributing these funds.

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Read HERE the full KWN Policy Brief.

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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

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Advocacy Leads Kosovo’s New Government to Establish Budget Line for Shelters

28.05.2020

Ongoing advocacy efforts by the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) for a permanent budget line for shelters and day centres serving persons who suffered domestic violence, trafficking in human beings, and children without parental care has led the new Government of Kosovo to commit to allocating €900,000 from the 2020 budget to support shelters and day centres in Kosovo.

Shelters in Kosovo continuously have faced financial struggles. In 2017 some shelters even closed due to insufficient financing. Women and children were turned out, into the streets, and some were forced to return to live with perpetrators, placing them at great risk of recidivism.

Since 2012, KWN has advocated for a sufficient budget to cover all expenses necessary for shelters to protect women and children who have suffered violence. More recently, on 7 December 2018, KWN together with representatives of shelters and day centres, addressed a letter to Members of Parliament (MPs) of the Assembly of Kosovo amid discussions on the draft budget for 2019. They called on MPs to allocate a budget for shelters and day centres. The parliament allocated funding for shelters for 2019.

However, shelters still faced problems receiving these funds. Despite KWN’s and shelters’ advocacy, the allocation of funding was very delayed and less than anticipated. The lack of sufficient financing, coupled with delays in receiving such financing, placed women and children at risk.

To address this and to identify a more sustainable solution, in February 2020, KWN met with the recently elected Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti, then new Minister of Justice Albulena Haxhiu and then new Speaker of the Kosovo Assembly Vjosa Osmani, respectively. During these meetings, KWN advocated for a permanent budget line dedicated to shelters and day centres.

Responding to these requests, Osmani promised to support KWN in its aim to establish a separate budget line for shelters. “Kosovo’s newly formed institutions will increase their care and attention toward different social categories, especially for domestic violence victims”, Osmani said.

Indeed, on 15 March, the parliament approved the budget for 2020, which includes €900,000 for shelters and day centres in Kosovo.

Such support to shelters is crucial. According to a 2017 KWN report, From Words to Action?, supported by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA), domestic violence remains widespread, with 62% of Kosovars having experienced domestic violence in their lifetimes (68% of women and 56% of men); 31% had suffered domestic violence in 2014 alone (41% of women, 20% of men).

While shelter is never an ideal solution, it is essential to have such services available for the worst-case scenarios, in which women and children have nowhere else to turn. Shelters offer a temporary, safe place to live for persons at risk of violence.

Kosovo has a National Strategy on Protection from Domestic Violence and Action Plan 2016-2020, which clearly states the legal and institutional obligation of the Republic of Kosovo to financially support the work of these institutions.

Despite progress, shelters in Kosovo still face serious challenges. Long-term living solutions and reintegration programs for women and children transitioning from shelters into society remain under-funded or non-existent. However, the passage of this budget represents a positive step in the right direction.

Addressing gender-based violence remains a programmatic focus area in the KWN Strategy 2019-2022. Much of KWN’s advocacy work on this issue is supported by ADA, leading to this and other important changes towards protecting persons suffering from violence.

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KWN and KGSC Condemn Sexist Language of Kosovar Men MPs

28.05.2020

The Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) and Kosovar Gender Studies Centre (KGSC) condemn the sexist language and misogynistic attitudes shown yesterday toward women MPs, during the session of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo.

Through this press release, KWN and KGSC express their concern regarding these actions. Moreover, they consider this display of men chauvinism unacceptable as it is a continuation of gender-based offending by men. This sexist and misogynistic language is denigrating women and their position in society, in addition to being a violation of basic human rights which are rooted in the fundamentals of the Kosovo Constitution.

For KWN and KGSC, this sexism manifested in vulgar language toward women politicians exposes the discriminating attitude many men politicians have. Furthermore, it encourages the unequal social, economic, and cultural constructs between women and men; a situation which threatens to undermine the role of women in politics.

Such outrageously discriminatory attitudes toward women contradict the objectives set by the Beijing Declaration and the UN Platform for Action. To women’s organizations, this presents a serious concern toward gender progress in Kosovo, which is currently facing a possible regress.

Women are continually being a constructive part of political processes in Kosovo. Any attempt to undermine their political role through sexist and misogynistic acts is strongly condemned by women’s organizations. This practice fundamentally challenges the achievement of an equal, inclusive society and damages the progressive aspirations of Kosovo.

We demand individual accountability of the MPs, as well as collective accountability of the political parties for the given statements and attitudes.

28.03.25

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KWN Advocates for Gender Responsive Budgeting on the IPA-III

25.05.2020

Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) has recently issued a policy brief addressing specific recommendations on the gender mainstreaming of EU Regulations that will define the objectives for EU external financing. More specifically, on mainstreaming the new upcoming objectives of The Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA III).

This brief was endorsed by 190 organizations throughout the Western Balkans. KWN, together with these WCSOs, has expressed its profound conviction that several opportunities exist for integrating an improved gender perspective within these regulations. This could contribute to furthering the Women, Peace and Security Agenda, as well as gender equality in the WB region and beyond.

KWN has accepted significant input from EU officials, who consider this brief accurate and timely.

IPA II is the main financial instrument in providing EU support to beneficiary countries. The IPA II regulation came into force on 16 March 2014 and is only applicable until the end of 2020. The IPA II regulation is complemented by the Common Implementing Regulation (CIR), which is a set of simplified and harmonized implementing rules and procedures for all external action instruments. Some of the CIR dispositions regarding financing of Western Balkans will be regulated through the Neighbourhood, Development, and International Cooperation Instrument. This analysis also recommends incorporating a gender mainstreaming of NDICI regulation.

The policy brief has been written by the KWN (151 member organizations) and endorsed by the:

Albanian Women Empowerment Network – Albania (8 members)
Foundation United Women – Bosnia and Herzegovina
National Network to End Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence – North Macedonia (19 members)

Reactor Research in Action – North Macedonia
The Association of Women Sandglass – Serbia
“Vatra” – Psycho-Social Centre – Albania
Women’s Rights Centre – Montenegro

01.04.26

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KWN Expresses Deep Concern Regarding the Discrimination Toward Women in Decision-Making Positions in Kosovo

21.05.2020

Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) expresses deep concern toward the recent attacks made on women in decision-making positions, regardless of their position or capacity. KWN condemns the portrayal of these capable women as incompetent.

Women in decision-making positions should be praised for their hard work and performance. Instead, we are witnessing, first-hand the, discriminatory approach of an outdated patriarchal mentality that continues to plague Kosovo.

We recall that in the last Parliamentary elections held on October 6, 2019, 26 out of 39 women MPs were elected without the gender quota. This was a large increase in the number of women who previously won seats in parliament. In addition to this, women continue to be a constructive part of the political process in Kosovo. Any attempt to invalidate their political role through sexist and misogynistic acts is completely unacceptable.

Through this statement, KWN would like to express concern about a global increase in this type of behaviour. Language with the sexist and misogynistic intent is a disgrace to the core of the Constitution of Kosovo and denigrates women and their position in society.

Furthermore, this practice radically undermines an equal, inclusive society, as well as damages the democratic and progressive aspirations of the country.

KWN has repeatedly called for an end to this harmful approach, which jeopardizes the maintenance and reproduction of unequal social, economic and cultural relations between women and men.

28.03.25