Students from Amsterdam Appreciate the KWN’s Activism

On June 13 at the Faculty of Law building at  the University of Prishtina “Hasan Prishtina” a group of students from the Amsterdam University College, the Netherlands, met with the Kosova Women’s Network’s (KWN) Igballe Rogova and the Project Coordinator, Nertila Qarri-Gërguri. 

The students were introduced to the process of peace-building and activism in Kosovo during the ‘90s. 

During this interactive discussion, Rogova spoke about the “Motrat Qiriazi” Association, the history of the first movements on women’s rights in Kosovo, as well as the work done by KWN since its foundation. 

Qarri-Gërguri presented to the students an overview of the current work and strategy of KWN.

This was not the first year in which KWN met with students from this University, so the students expressed an interest in knowing more about women’s rights activists’ experiences in Kosovo, as well as recent developments and challenges in this area. 

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

 

 

 

Women Economic Forum addresses the MPs with Recommendations on the Labour Law

On June 12, the Women Economic Forum addressed a letter to the Kosovo Assembly MPs asking them not to pass the current draft Labour Law in parliament.

The Women Economic Forum considers that the current Labor law draft, which excludes all forms of regulating maternity leave, paternity leave, and parental leave, leaves women vulnerable to the labor market, and does not include a gender equality perspective.

This draft law in its current format is a serious threat to the well-being of women.

Given the urgent need to support 12% of women active in the labor market, in line with the National Development Strategy, the Women Economic Forum has presented the three following recommendations:

  • To include maternity leave, paternity leave and parental leave within the Labor Law
  • To include in the Labor Law the provision of breastfeeding hours in order to offer women protection to be breastfeeding infants during the first six months of childbirth, in accordance with EU directives
  • To transpose the concept of self-employment by adding a paragraph that would clarify the following:

“Self-employed parents who conduct economic activities for the purpose of profit, on their own account, are entitled to maternity leave and parental leave, same as employed parents.”

To read the full letter sent to MPs, click HERE.

Women’s Economic Forum is an independent body, which is comprehensive and unifying, which gathers around itself stakeholders, organizations and individualsof society that have an interest, play an active part and are engaged in the development of women in the economy. The Forum is jointly founded by eleven organizations throughout Kosovo that are actively involved in improving the position of women in Kosovo.

Members:

Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN)

Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN)

Riinvest Institute

Kosovar Gender Studies Center (KGSC)

Democracy for Development (D4D)

Shoqata e Grave “Medica Gjakova”

Center for the Protection and Rehabilitation of Women and Children “Liria”

Women for Women

The Network of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian Women’s Organizations (RROGRAEK)

Women’s Business Association SHE-ERA.

Women Economic Forum addresses the MPs with recommendations on the Labour Law

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Dear Deputies, 

We are writing to ask you not to pass the current draft of the Labor Law in parliament.

Women’s Economic Forum considers that the current Labor law draft, which excludes all forms of regulating maternity leave, paternity leave, and parental leave, leaves women vulnerable to the labor market, and does not include a gender equality perspective.

This draft law in its current format is a serious threat to the well-being of women.

Taking into account our concern, and hoping for your cooperation, we encourage you to support us in rejecting this draft law and in implementing its amendment with the following concrete recommendations that we have enlisted below, which are in accordance with the Kosovo Constitution, the Law on Equality Gender and relevant EU Directives.

Therefore, given the above-mentioned facts and the urgent need to support 12% of women active in the labor market, in line with the National Development Strategy, our recommendations are as follows:

  1. To include maternity leave, paternity leave and parental leave within the Labor Law

The current draft law does not recognize women as part of the working force. Instead, it excludes them from Labor law and treats them as a category that can’t contribute economically, but that can only reproduce. Workers should enjoy their rights in accordance with the Labor Law. The division of the provision of maternity leave from the entirety of articles of Labor Law is direct gender-based discrimination towards women.

Furthermore, national legislation that does not specifically refer to pregnancy and maternity as a form of gender discrimination makes discriminatory practices less visible and consequently more difficult to deal with. The current law discriminates against men by not offering them equal rights to be with their children, while simultaneously contributing to reducing the level of women’s participation in the domestic economy. According to the Law on Gender Equality, in order to achieve equilibrium between parents in their equal role, equal economic and social rights and responsibilities, policies should be established, the implementation of which would provide a basis for an equal parental role.

  1. To include in the Labor Law the provision of breastfeeding hours in order to offer women protection to be breastfeeding infants during the first six months of childbirth, in accordance with EU directives.

Law on Protection of Breastfeeding Nutrition, no. 05 / L-023, suggests that if the worker breastfeeding does not use maternity leave after the sixth month, then from the sixth to a year she has the right to leave for a period of two hours per day within working hours, not including regular working hours, to feed the suckling baby. After the first year, an employee breastfeeding a breastfeeding child is entitled to a one-hour rest period. But this law does not offer women protection to be breastfeeding infants during the first six months of childbirth.

By not providing such protection, the law relies on the assumption that women will not work these past few months, while paradoxically hinders women to work. Breastfeeding rest should be regulated in the framework of the Labor Law, given the direct connection to this Law. It is unacceptable that the Labor Law that deals with working conditions and the health protection of workers, leave out employees that gave birth or the breastfeeding ones.

  1. To transpose the concept of self-employment by adding a paragraph that would clarify the following:

“Self-employed parents who conduct economic activities for the purpose of profit, on their own account, are entitled to maternity leave and parental leave, same as employed parents.”

Justification

The concept of self-employment should be transposed into law, so that all self-employed persons who develop economic activities for the purpose of personal profit on their own account, under the conditions provided by national legislation and spouses or self-employed partners who participate in carrying out activities in the self-employed business, have access to the benefits of social and maternity protection, relying solely on this family relationship.

Reiterating that it is unacceptable to pass a labor law that does not treat women as a workforce, we inform you that we are ready for a meeting with you in order to jointly address these recommendations and introduce the model of re-prepared by us.

 

Sincerely,

Women’s Economic Forum

Women’s Economic Forum is an independent body, which is comprehensive and unifying, which gathers around itself stakeholders, organizations and individuals of society that have an interest, play an active part and are engaged in the development of women in the economy. The Forum is jointly founded by eleven organizations throughout Kosovo that are actively involved in improving the position of women in Kosovo.

 

Members:

Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN)

Riinvest Institute

Kosovar Gender Studies Center (KGSC)

Democracy for Development (D4D)

Shoqata e Grave “Medica Gjakova”

Center for the Protection and Rehabilitation of Women and Children “Liria”

Women for Women

The Network of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian Women’s Organizations (RROGRAEK)

Women’s Business Association SHE-ERA.

Ruka Ruci Supports Women of Plemetin to Engage in Politics

On June 11, “Ruka Ruci” organization held an informative session with Serbian women in Plementin of Obiliq/Obilić to brief them on the initiative ‘Strengthening women’s participation in politics”.

This four-year-long initiative is implemented by Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) together with Ruka Ruci, Organization of Persons with Muscular Dystrophy of Kosovo (OPMDK), and the European Women Lawyers Association (EWLA), whereas it is supported by the European Union (EU) Office in Kosovo. 

Nevenka Rikalo, Executive Director of Ruka Ruci, shared with the participants the objective and expectations from the implementation of this joint initiative. 

“We need to stay united to further increase women’s empowerment in decision-making. For any gender-related issues that you may have, you can count on KWN.  Because KWN is a place where you can address your problems regarding the issues that are bothering you,” she said.

Rikalo also familiarized women with two ongoing and very important collaborations of women, which function under the KWN’s umbrella, namely the Coalition for Equality (CfE) and the Lobby for Gender Equality (Lobby).  

Whereas, Zivadinka Radosavljevic, leader of the organization “Idemo Pravo” (Moving forward) expressed her concern over the women’s lack of access to information. 

Jelena Radosavljevic, a nurse, highlighted gender stereotypes that continuously discriminate against women. 

“For every imitative you take, no matter how good or skilled you are, you are still morally identified as a woman. It is very hard because society  stigmatizes you. Even in school if you go as a parent raising an issue, even in this case there are fingers pointing at you. Being a woman here means that you can do almost nothing at all, ” said Radosavlevic.  

The attendees agreed on the importance of increasing the number of women in politics and decision-making process. So far such meetings have been held in Gracanica, Novobërdë, Zubin Potok, Uglare and in North Mitrovica.

This initiative is supported by the European Union (EU) Office in Kosovo. 

 

KWN Held its Second Membership Meeting for 2019

Pristina– Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) on 10 June held its second membership meeting for 2019, attended by approximately 60 representatives of KWN’s member organizations, the Kosovo Lobby for Gender Equality (Lobby), Kosovo institutions and other supporters of KWN’s work and cause.

Igballe Rogova, KWN’s Executive Director opened the session by recalling the recent launching of the activist Sevdije Ahmeti’s book, while she added that the monetary amount collected from the sales will be donated for Kosovar girls’ education.

Additionally Rogova talked about the 13th round of Kosovo Women’s Fund (KWF) of Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN), which is expected to open within a few weeks.

“Providing grants is not the sole purpose, but it is also to empower our member organizations and enhancing their capacities. It is fortunate that we started this process with Kvinna till Kvinna, and now the chance to have more grants to support our members is increased”, she said.

An important part of this meeting was also the discussion about the exhibition against domestic violence, organized by KWN on 14,15 and 16 June at the “Skendërbeu” square in the capital city.

Advocacy and Research Coordinator on Gender Based Violence at KWN, Adelina Berisha shared with the participants the aim of this exhibition.

“This exhibition comes as continuity of the activities and the fight against domestic violence that women face. The exhibition is in all municipalities of Kosovo, and you are invited to support the opening of the exhibition in Prishtina to show solidarity among women”, stated Berisha.

 

More about this exhibition read HERE.

Nicole Farnsworth, KWN’s Program Director and Lead Researcher spoke about the advocacy that KWN is doing in the amending process of the Labour Law, specifically the part which stipulated maternity leave.

“We are advocating against the new Labour Law, because it encourages women to stay at home and not to work. We must oppose this law, we are advocating for gender equality”, Farnsworth said.

Feride Rushiti, Executive Director of The Kosova Rehabilitation Centre for Torture Victims (KRCT), spoke about the International Festival of Female Artists and Activists- FemArt, held from 10 to 16 June in Prishtina.

“As part of FemArt we also have a conference. It is very important to continue with the spirit of solidarity, we have named this conference “Unbreakable”, where there will be three panels to discuss about the silence surrounding this crime [sexual violence] during these years”, she said.

Shpresa Agushi from the Network of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian Women’s Organizations (NRAEWOK) has called for everyone’s support, recalling the attack on Roma woman which took place a few days ago.

Biljana Nastovska, Gender Advisor, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe- OSCE, stated that women’s movements are crucial in each state.

“Your work [Kosovo Women’s Network work] will give us “weapons” within our workplace, because no one wants to go against such a strong Network”, she said.

Members of KWN’s Assembly during this two-hour meeting shared information about the activities taking place in their municipalities/organizations. Also members were briefed with the activities by which FemArt Festival will be marked this year, as well as with the international conference “Women Deliver”, part of which is wartime sexual violence survivor Vasfije Krasniqi-Goodman.

This meeting was supported by the European Union (EU) Office in Kosovo and Austrian Development Agency (ADA).

READ ALSO: KWN Holds First Membership Meeting for 2019.

 

Support “Aureola”, Give Gratitude and Empower Women

Women’s Association “Aureola” was established in 1995 to support and raise awareness of women and girls for self-organization in order to overcome difficult economic, social and political situations that prevailed at that period of time.

Nowadays, after more than two decades, Sanije Grajçevci, Executive Director of “Aureola”, reveals these and other activities of the association, as well as challenges faced by the organization. 

Presently “Aureola” through the program for women’s economic empowerment established the Social Enterprise “Aureola”, in order to increase the participation of women in society and to achieve sustainability of the organization by offering paid services (design, textile and tailoring courses)

“We are not as a private business where all it matters is the profit, for us social impact is very important, as it is important to increase the number of employed women and increasing their access to labor. The goal is that through this Social Enterprise to increase women’s employment, and to create stability for the organization”,  said Grajçevci. 

She continues saying that despite her wishes, currently, they cannot offer free courses, even that there are such requests. 

“If somebody supports us, we can also offer free courses to women. We are empowering some women whom no one has ever considered before, including here the engagement of unemployed women and those facing social challenges”,  she says.

Grajçevci mentioned the need for volunteers in the organization, as a very important part of the support.

“We need volunteers, yet we need them, especially in the field of technology, in that way we would have better marketing for our work”, she added. 

Grajçevci said that during this process they have learned that tailoring courses increase women’s employment/self-employment, as well as boost their self-confidence. 

“You are invited to become part of this action to increase the professional skills of women and also their employment rate. Only united we will achieve our goals. Give love, gratitude, and power to the woman”, is Grajçevci’s message to all supporters of this cause. 

So far, “Aureola” implemented its program through projects supported mainly from international donors. Kosovo Women’s Fund (KWF) of Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) has also contributed to Aureola’s work by supporting two initiatives: “Advancement of inheritance law”, and “Women’s advocacy for their right to property and inheritance”. 

All this way “Aureola” has employed 7 women and has managed to professionally train 60 women in tailoring field (mostly 18-50 years old). 

 

Kosovo Becomes the 48th Running Host to Support Sexual Violence Survivors 

Claire McFarlane from Australia on June 8 ran 16 kilometers in Prizren. This run carried in itself her own strength as a survivor of sexual violence and the powerful message of solidarity with the other survivors of sexual violence around the world as well. 

McFarlane is the founder of an NGO called Movement to Inspire: A global inclusive sports movement to peacefully end sexual violence. The main project is called Footsteps to Inspire. 

Kosovo on the map of McFarlane marks the 48th place in which she ran with the purpose to contribute to a world-wide dialogue around sexual violence.

“Speaking of sexual violence and rape is a very difficult thing for people, running is a peaceful way to talk about this matter in a safe place, although we do not need to talk a lot, we just need to stay together as a sign of solidarity”, she said before starting the run. 

This activity was supported by local organizations; the Organization of Persons with Muscular Dystrophy of Kosovo (OPDMK), FemAktiv and the Shelter for Women and Children-Prizren. 

Resmije Rrahmani, OPDMK, revealed why they have decided to join this running of McFarlane. 

“We support this initiative that comes from Australia, we are supporters of Prizren and Prishtina, and we are great support for civil society initiatives. Sexual violence is much worrying, even though is it not spread as much, because we have a low mentality. I believe that even women with disabilities face violence, albeit we are not talking about it”, Rrahmani stated.  

Kosova Women’s Network (KWN) supported this activity in Prizren, reminding the demand for the dignified treatment of sexual violence survivors and the battle against prejudices they face. 

In this link you can watch McFarlane’s story in TEDx:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNpSg8XSVf8&feature=youtu.be 

 

Sevdije Ahmeti’s Book “The Journal of a Kosovar Woman” Launched

Kosovo’s National Library “Pjetër Bogdani” on June 7 was the meeting place of many people gathered in the launching of the book “The Journal of a Kosovar Woman” (February 1998-March 1999)- by activist Sevdije Ahmeti (1944-2016). 

“Buzuku” publishing house promoted this book as part of the 20th anniversary of NATO’s intervention in Kosovo, whilst incomes of this book will be donated for the education of Kosovar girls.

Naxhije Buçinca, activist, also the winner of the KWN’s award “Sevdije Ahmeti”, said that the contribution of Ahmeti was extraordinary.

“I thank the Kosovo Women’s Network for taking the courage to establish “Sevdije Ahmeti” award, there are not enough words to describe her work. Sevdija worked hard for Kosovo, she loved Kosovo very much”, stated Buçinca.

Likewise, Former President Atifete Jahjaga highly appreciated Ahmeti’s contribution, adding that she was an ally for the rights of sexual violence survivors. 

“I remember Sevdije as a brave, vocal, uncompromising woman when it came to women’s rights. My memory of Sedije is as a powerful ally in our battle for legal recognition and justice for wartime sexual violence survivors in Kosovo”, Jahjaga said, adding this book should serve for keeping alive the memory of Ahmeti’s works. 

Ahmeti’s contribution and work, by French writer, Juan Asensio, assessed as a form of resistance. 

“Sevdija did not give up, instead she proved the horrors that have occurred in front of her eyes”, said the French critic Asensio.  

The son of the late Ahmeti, Urim Ahmeti, said that his mother belongs to a generation that cultivated culture, sacrificed and also built the spirit of respect. 

“After returning from village visits, until the late night she wrote these stories daily. Villages, or wherever she has been during these toughest days. I recall myself waking up from sleep and founding her writing in front of the computer. This is a voluminous work that she has done and this work spread all over the world,” he said.  

Violin melodies accompanied the launching of this book, while poems about Ahmeti recited Safete Rogova, Shukrije Gashi, and Sheqerie Buçaj.

We recall that Sevdije Ahmeti was among the first women’s rights activists in Kosovo, a movement that began in the ‘90s vis-à-vis the demand for freedom and independence. 

READ ALSO: KWN’s Proposal for Heroinat Monument to be Named “Sevdije Ahmeti” discussed. 

KWN alarmed by another attack on Roma Woman in Ferizaj

On May 31 Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) through a Press Release expressed its concern about another attack on Roma woman in Ferizaj, and the lack on her protection, a responsibility of institutions in charge of order and security.

KWN called upon the responsible institutions to find a safe place for this woman where she can stay these days till the situation calms down, as well as until the perpetrators of this violence get held responsible for the attack by the competent authorities. We profoundly believe that if there was a proper reaction a day before, when she was first attacked in Lipjan, and if her attackers would have faced with the justice, then it would have conveyed the message that our country does not tolerate violence, even less the violence based on the ethnic background of any citizen.

Furthermore, KWN demanded from the State Prosecution to urgently act in investigating and prosecuting this case in accordance to the Article 141 of the New Penal Code of Kosovo, for both attacks on the Roma woman. In accordance with this article anyone who incites hatred and publicly uses hate speech, disunity, and intolerance must be held responsible by the law. As a society we must come up with a clear message that such kinds of violence and hatred speech should not be tolerated in any way possible.

Read HERE the full Press Release.

KWN contributes in the Discussion of the World Bank study on Women, Business and Law

Pristina – At the invitation of the World Bank office in Kosovo on May 23, Simeon Djankov, Director of the World Development Report and Diego Garrido Martin, Senior Operations Officer in World Bank Kosovo Office held a meeting with the Executive Director of the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN), Igballe Rogova.

The purpose of this meeting was to discuss the World Bank study on Women, Business and the Law 2019. Rogova briefed Djankov and Garrdio Martin with the challenges and opportunities for further improving the economic situation of girls and women in Kosovo.

The guests highly appreciated the contribution and work that KWN does in economic empowerment of women, including here also the other areas which contribute to improving the position of girls and women in Kosovar society.

Since 2009, Women, Business and the Law has enhanced the study of gender equality and informed discussions on improving women’s economic opportunities and empowerment. Over the last decade, this study has expanded coverage to 187 economies and 8 topics relevant to women’s economic participation.

The 2019 study Women, Business and Law can be found HERE.