KWN contributes with recommendations to public consultations about ERA

Prishtina – Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) on 24 April participated in public consultations with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) hosted by the Ministry of European Integration (MEI) for informing on the priorities due to the implementation of the European Reform Agenda (ERA) II, as well as the determining of further cooperation.  

Regarding the good governance and rule of law, KWN recommended continued Government’s support to the establishing and operationalization of a secure inter-institutional data management system and the system which manages cases, including here disaggregated data by gender by institutions such as Courts, Prosecution and Police. KWN also mentioned the importance of compiling a gender analysis prior to implementing action measures or policies to combat economic informality, and also underlined the importance of further investment in pre-school institutions, with a particular focus on rural areas.  

Ricardo Serri, Deputy Chief of the European Union Office (EU) in Kosovo, expressed gratitude to civil society participants for their contribution and further added that among the new additional of ERA II are the incorporation of human rights as well as environmental reforms. He added that ERA’s objectives align Kosovo with the EU.  

Both of the representatives of MEI and of the EU Office highly appreciated the KWN contribution through specific recommendations during the phase of public consultation. 

MEI announced that this is the first of the consultations planned with civil society in the framework of drafting the ERA Action Plan.  

KWN and ADA Organize Workshop on Gender Mainstreaming Programming

Kosovo Women‘s Network (KWN) on April 3 organized in Prishtina a one-day interactive workshop to support the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) partners to better reflect a gender perspective in their programming, particularly including tailored guidance in adjusting indicators in line with the Gender Action plan (GAP II)  and  the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) relating to gender equality.   

The workshop that gathered 37 participants, started with a review of the main concepts related to gender equality. Prior to the workshop, and funded through KWN’s existing ADA-funded Action, KWN reviewed partners’ current Actions, their reports, and the comments made by the ADA Gender Expert in order to inform the preparation of the workshop.  

Gunther Zimmer, Counsellor and Country Director of the Coordination Office for Technical Cooperation, Austrian Embassy Pristina and Selma Cekic-Dincsoy, Gender Focal Point of the European Union Office in Kosovo made their opening remarks. 

“I have to thank KWN on organizing a very much needed workshop with very useful information for the organizations present”, said Zimmer.  

Nicole Farnsworth, Program Director and Lead Researcher of KWN, elaborated the concepts and gender roles, the way they are perceived by the majority of Kosovar society and their sociological and biological aspects.  

David Svab, Programme and Project M&E Specialist from United Nation Development Program (UNDP), presented the “Leave no one behind” approach. He presented the concrete measures proposed by UNDP for governments and other state actors of the United Nations Member states on implementing Sustainable Development Goals. Whereas, Martin Schaller, Atashé of Austrian Embassy in Prishtina, shared briefly the reflections from the Austrian experience in reporting on the EU Gender Action Plan II.  

Furthermore, Farnsworth continued with the background, indicators and objectives of the EU Gender Action Plan II. On the second part of the workshop, she explained concrete ways through which participating NGOs can conduct gender analysis prior to incorporating indicators from GAP II in their programmes. The workshop proceeded with participants discussing in working groups. They analysed their logical frameworks and identified potential gaps where GAP II indicators or SDGs can be incorporated.    

Zimmer and Arsim Aziri, Head of Administration, ADA, praised KWN’s long term work in increasing social and institutional awareness on gender equality, and in accomplishing their objectives on empowering women in Kosovo. 

Concluding the workshop, participants expressed deep gratitude on the knowledge they had obtained. They have stated that as ADA partners they are now more capable to use thereviewed documents, and furthermore they have improved their skills in developing better programs in the future. 

The EU Gender Action Plan II (GAP II) is a continuance of objectives undertaken by states to ensure gender equality and women’s empowerment. This document was adapted on Sep. 21, 2015 by the European Commission and European External Action Service. The new Action Plan obliges all EU actors to report systematically on objectives pertaining to “institutional cultural shift”. 

This workshop was implemented by KWN and supported by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA).  

Activities of Coalition for Equality get coordinated

Prishtinë- A coordination meeting of Coalition for Equality (CfE) was held on April 10, where present were Mexhide Mjaku-Topalli, Member of Parliament and Chairwoman of Women Caucus, board members of this group; members of Parliament (MP) Saranda Bogujevci and Teuta Haxhiu, as well as Executive Director of Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) Igballe Rogova.  

“Soon we will start the meetings with women voters, we will notify the female MPs to join us in these important meetings”, said Rogova. 

Further, the participants agreed to arrange meetings with media representatives, including here journalists and editors in chief-editors, in order to improve the public performance/appearance of women and increase their representation during electoral campaigns.  

The parties agreed to hold the second Coalition for Equality meeting of this year during June. 

READ ALSOCoalition for Equality discusses “Strengthening Women’s Participation in Politics”.  

KWN Contributes with Recommendations to Amend the Civil Code

Pristina – Executive Director of Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN), Igballe Rogova has participated in a panel discussion “Marriage, spouses and civil union in the Civil Modern Code of the Republic of Kosovo”, hosted on April 4 from the European Information and Cultural Centre (EUICC).  

Rogova highlighted the most important issues, such as early marriages, marriage, engagement and cohabitation.  

The reformulation of article 16 regarding the early marriages; the reformulation of articles, which define engagement; the marriage and cohabitation; eliminating such definitions with genderbased discrimination, were among the KWN’s recommendations.  

According to the KWN’s analysis, the compilation of the above articles directly conflicts the constitutional principles and legal acts that regulate gender equality and non-discrimination. 

Representatives of the Ministry of Justice have recognized the work done by KWN with these recommendations also 

Ardian Mehmeti, representative of this Ministry acknowledged the contribution of the KWN’s recommendations, that he considered them constructive. 

“We have received the recommendations of the Kosovo Women’s Network, the CEL organization and the other partners, we are reviewing the draft laws based on the status,” Mehmeti said. 

Blert Morina, Executive Director of Centre for Equality and Liberty (CEL), has stated that the Civil Code is contrary to the Constitution.  

Morina called that the article for marriage of the Civil Code to be in accordance with the definition of the constitution in regard to the right of family creation which is equally guaranteed to all.  

Whereas, Alfons Benjamin Lentze, Head of the EU Civil Code Project, said that if Kosovo wants to move forward, then it should work towards developing equal rights for all.  

Survivors of Sexual Violence during the War Gain Greater Support and Understanding 

Around 54 people from the municipalities of Gjakova, Deçan and Rahovec benefited from the initiative “Using community-based and trauma-informed approach for improving access of additional survivors of war rape to their status recognition”, implemented by two member organizations of Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN), Medica Kosova and Djepi i Buzëqeshjes, supported by Austrian Development Agency (ADA) through 12th grant round of Kosovo Women’s Fund (KWF).

Women, civil society activists and institutional representatives jointly-discussed topics as follows: How does trauma related to sexual violence affect the survivors, what are the triggers and consequences, trauma, the impact of trauma in psychological, cognitive,  and emotional sphere or well-being, and how to increase safety and confidentiality for the survivors as well.

Thanks to this nearly five-month initiative, 19 women participated in trauma recovery sessions, 8 survivors of Sexual Violence during the War gained assistance to fulfil the application form for qualifying for the status of survivors of sexual violence during the war, while 11 survivors are in the ongoing counselling sessions until a certain level of their emotional stability is achieved to cope with this process.

These very positive results are a major driving force toward achieving justice, solidarity and the dignified treatment of about 20,000 sexually abused women during the 1998-1999 war in Kosovo.

Taking into account that even two decades after the end of the war, these women still face discrimination, stigmatization, this particular initiative was warmly welcomed by three categories (Survivors of Sexual Violence during the War, CSOs, and institutions too), who have a crucial role towards furthering the rights of women survivors of sexual violence during the war. A very special importance and value are the impressions of the survivors themselves (See: Other Information).

Acknowledging that in 2017, the Kosovo Government authorized Medica Kosovo along with three other women’s organizations, to represent the survivors during the process of recognizing the Status of Survivors of Sexual Violence during the War, the support that the survivors gained about the process of application for status recognition was highly professional and productive.

The positive impact of this initiative can also be measured by the 11 survivors that attended 39 individual psychosocial counselling and 32 legal sessions.

More than 1,800 people from these particular municipalities had the opportunity to hear more about all of the abovementioned achievements, thanks to a program in Gjakova local radio which took place during March 25th, 2019. During this radio program, the Executive Director of Medica Kosova, Veprore Shehu, appealed to families and communities for supporting the survivors . By doing so this initiative has also played a role in raising the public awareness regarding this issue.

By supporting these two member organizations, KWN has proved its continuous and longstanding efforts seeking dignified treatment of Survivors of Sexual Violence during the War. For a very long time now KWN in various ways supported the Survivors of Sexual Violence during the War in Kosovo.

Other information:  

 “If there was no counselling on how to cope with the process, I would not be able to describe every single detail of my traumatic event in the application form. I would be feeling worse than before I came to apply”. –  A survivor of Sexual Violence during the War 

 

“I have not thought that I could come to apply for my status recognition without having to go directly and tell my story in front of the members of the Commission. I even thought that there would be cameras around to register my story”. –  A survivor of Sexual Violence during the War 

 

“I thought I knew a lot about the effects of trauma related to sexual violence and ways we can guide survivors to receive the necessary support. This training showed me how to balance my desire for support with adequate approach for not doing more harm to them.”  – The Gender Equality Officer from Gjakova.   

During a visit to the Commission on 8 June 2019, KWN expressed its unconditional support for the transparent and tireless work of the Commission.  

Whereas, on 20 May 2019 KWN supported and joined the march organized in support and solidarity with wartime sexual violence survivors in Kosovo.  

Read HERE the Press Release sent by KWN on 19 March 2019, calling for respect, Recognition for Survivors of Sexual Violence during the War. 

 

Women’s organizations active in conversation with the Self-Determination Movement

Before beginning his mandate as Prime Minister, Albin Kurti became the first leader to meet with women’s organizations to discuss with civil society the overall situation of women in Kosovo. The Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) was pleased to participate in the “With Women for Development” dialogue organized by the Self-Determination Movement (Lëvizja Vetëvendosje). The roundtable was opened by Nazlie Balaj, head of the Secretariat for Activist Women in the Self-Determination Movement. She mentioned the importance of social dialogue in Kosovo to build policies that improve women’s position and situation in society.

Kurti, leader of the Self-Determination Movement, spoke to emphasize the success of the women who ran in the October 6 elections, and expressed his willingness to work with civil society and women’s organizations to achieve gender equality.

“In me you will find the man who is interested in helping you get organized. We need more gender solidarity, because you can count on men, but not too much”, Kurti said. “So women being organized is necessary, gender solidarity is necessary. The woman should help one another”.

The lack of implementation of the legal framework regarding gender equality and the various problems women face in their daily lives were among the main topics discussed at this meeting.

Adelina Berisha, Gender-Based Violence Program Manager at KWN, said in her speech that:

“We are pleased that Parliament and MPs are expected to start their mandate on Thursday, and hopefully their work will begin immediately, because those affected by these difficulties are mainly women, who are left behind by many initiatives that have been cut in half, or whose lives have been put at risk. This is especially the case for victims of domestic violence, where today shelters still do not know if they will be able to function in the next two months because the previous government has not implemented the budget for shelters’ support”.

                                                                                     Photo: Lëvizja Vetëvendosje, Facebook

Berisha urged future lawmakers to support continued financial support for shelters and daycare centers for victims of gender-based violence. She further called for adopting the Istanbul Convention in the Kosovo Constitution. She requested that, while drafting secondary legislation and establishing mechanisms required under this Convention, there should be close cooperation with women’s organizations.

Berisha demanded that during the next 4-year mandate of new legislation to be completed, the amendment of the Labor Law should take recommendations from women’s organizations, especially related to maternity, paternity and parental leave provisions. These measures will directly influence creation of employment opportunities for women.

The Law on Health Insurance would directly improve women’s access to health care. In relation to the Civil Code, KWN requested consideration of its recommendations regarding Chapter 1138 Marriage, which required this chapter to be harmonized with the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo.

Among the representatives of women’s organizations, MPs, embassies and various agencies that participated in this dialogue, Ariana Qosaj Mustafa, head of the KWN Board, was present to express her concern for the justice system in Kosovo including the police.

“Making a system of vetting, maybe even increasing the number of women judges, prosecutors, police officers, maybe even adding a gender perspective during the vetting process, to have a justice that is dignified for women too”, Qosaj-Mustafa said. “Because women not believing in justice institutions, also means citizens not trusting the justice system”.

                                                                    Photo: Lëvizja Vetëvendosje, Facebook

A successful and exceptional experience

Four months of new learnings, good experiences and cultural exchange.

This is, how Taya Kohnen, a 30-year-old public health professional from Colorado, United Stations of America (USA) would describe her time spent working at Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN), between August and December of 2019.

She finished a Master’s in Public Health Systems, Management and Policy at the University of Colorado Denver in 2018. Prior to coming to Kosovo, she worked at a large family medicine clinic in Northern Colorado. After five years at this job she decided she was ready to pursue public health opportunities abroad.

Kohnen recalls meeting with KWN’s Program Director, Nicole Farnsworth, who brought her onto the KWN team to help with funding research.

“I heard a lot of good things about KWN from friends and colleagues so I met with Nicole as part of a networking effort on my part.. She wanted someone to help interview local funders, code qualitative research and draft the final research report.” .

Between August and November, Kohnen  investigated funding trends for women’s rights in the Western Balkans. In mid-November, Research gave way to co-authoring the final report, which is expected to be released in Brussels in 2020. She also helped with a UNICEF proposal for the training of local obstetric clinicians in gender mainstreaming, as well as with the editing of various press releases and articles for KWN.

She highlighted, “It was great to work with an organization that has been so effective in addressing gender-specific concerns in the region like gender-based violence and discrimination in the workplace.”

She went further, appreciating the hospitality she found in Kosovo and at KWN

“Everyone was approachable friendly.  Our common goal of empowering women and reducing inequalities made it easy to negotiate the occasional language gap. I hope to return to Kosovo and KWN in the future.”

                                                              Photo: Kohnen during Pride Parade, Prishtinë 2019

Kohnen especially valued working with Nerina Guri, Researcher / Project Coordinator at KWN, and the appreciation is mutual.

 “Working with Taya has been one of the best experiences, given her high professionalism, attention to details, organizing and researching skills. More than anything I loved her positive approach to things and her interest to learn new things, being these in our work or getting to know new things like our language, society and culture.”, says Guri.

While Kohnen is currently headed back to the United States, before leaving she thanked KWN saying, “KWN is one of the warmest and most empowering communities I’ve ever been a part of. I’m grateful for having had the opportunity to join the team in their mission to strengthen the feminist movement and improve human rights.”

 

SGG Calls for Specialized Services for Addressing Sexual Violence and Support for Survivors

Upon the closure of the global campaign of 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence under this year’s theme “Orange the World: Generation Equality Stands against Rape!” the Security and Gender Group (SGG) calls upon  the new government to define roles and responsibilities and to build specialized services for addressing sexual violence whilst committing to join efforts in protecting and supporting its survivors.

 As a globally occurring and evidently the most under-reported crime, sexual violence needs to be addressed in a manner presenting the least risk to and the ones seeking assistance in the most dignified way. Relevant Standard Operating Procedures need to be developed, as a matter of urgency. The SOP’s should define the roles and responsibilities of each institution involved in supporting victims of sexual violence, and perpetrators should be held criminally liable and punished as prescribed by legal framework.

 Examinations conducted by Kosovo Forensic Institute show that majority of victims of sexual violence are  minors, with over 60% under 16 years old. The latest figures of sexual violence committed against minors are deeply shocking, but also reveal that not even the most vulnerable, whilst courageous find the appropriate response due to the lack of specialized services for sexual violence cases – vital to move beyond the trauma.

 Cognizant of stigma and fear that the survivors of this crime are faced with, the SGG commits to join efforts in promoting the rights of survivors of sexual violence and calls upon competent institutions to protect those rights by providing specialized training for all stakeholders involved to offer the support to which survivors are legally entitled, and establish specialized government-funded shelters for sexual violence survivors.

 Providing adequate and rehabilitative services is not only a sexual violence survivor’s right, but also a prerequisite for feeling safe and empowered, for ending impunity for perpetrators and closing the serious gap in under-reporting. SGG calls to work collaboratively with various stakeholders, educational institutions, community, media, civil society organizations and other institutional partners for sexual violence prevention efforts.

 We strongly condemn any act of violence against women and girls, and we amplify and unite our voices and efforts to end this intolerable suffering to society.

 

The Security and Gender Group (SGG) is a multi-stakeholder group, chaired by UN Women. The following institutions are members of SGG and support this public statement:

International organizations: UNKT agencies including the UN Development Coordinator, UN Women, UNFPA, UNHCR, UN Habitat, IOM, as well as the UN Mission in Kosovo, European Union in Kosovo/ EUSR, OSCE, Embassy of Sweden, Embassy of Finland, Norwegian Embassy

Kosovo institutions: Agency for gender equality, Kosovo Police,

Women’s organizations and NGOs: Kosova Women’s Network, Kvinna till Kvinna, Kosova – Women 4 Women, NGO Zensko pravo(Women’s rights), KIPRED, Jahjaga Foundation, Kosovar Gender Studies Center, Youth Initiative for Human Rights – Kosovo

KWN Part of Zensko Pravo’s Panel Discussion on Women’s Rights

NGO Women’s Rights, a member organization of Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN), hosted an artistic performance and a debate on women’s and LGBTQ’s rights as human rights on December 10 at the premises of Gallery Aquarius, North Mitrovica.

During the 16 Days of Activism, dynamic panelists were brought together to discuss Kosovo’s challenges and opportunities to combat gender-based violence and discrimination.

Ružica Simić, executive director of NGO Women’s Rights; Igballe Rogova, executive director of KWN; Ariana Qosaj-Mustafa, chair of KWN board; and Ulrika Richardson, United Nation (UN) Development Coordinator in Kosovo, were part of the panel discussion.

This interactive debate focused on laws and mechanisms of Kosovo pertaining to human rights, and on international standards on this matter as well.

Richardson from the UN pointed out that awareness-raising is fundamental to changing the norms that keep women subordinate to men in society. She further emphasized the rights guaranteed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the need for the continuous struggle for gender equality and combating gender-based violence.

During the debate, Rogova, Qosaj-Mustafa and Simić shared their knowledge and experiences as women’s activists. In a less-formal discussion, the panelists talked about women’s status throughout history.

Qosaj-Mustafa has spoken more broadly regarding the mechanisms required for human rights protection.

Part of the event was a performance titled “The Orange Feet”, which used art as a means to raise the awareness of all forms of gender-based violence and gender-roles. The presentation portrayed experiences of women and men suffering from violence motivated by intolerance for their gender identity.

 

 

 

 

 

Ombudsperson  Launches Human Rights Platform 

The Ombudsperson Institution has launched its new electronic guide, “Human Rights Platform”during an event at the National Library “Pjetër Bogdani in Prishtina. 

The platform aims to promote the implementation of fundamental human rights and freedoms, as guaranteed by the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo, international human rights acts, and applicable laws in Kosovo. 

This platform will serve to provide easier access to information about local and international human rights laws. The platform offers two guides making a structured link between legal and judicial instruments on human rights and 17 Sustainable Development Objectives. 

The platform is a working tool that gives an overview of the Ombudsperson’s conventions, laws, and recommendations with just one click. The platform is accessible to all of us, free of charge, and I hope it will be an auxiliary tool for all citizens of Kosovo,” said Hilmi Jashari, Ombudsperson. 

Marta Gazideda from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) said: “The platform we are launching today is aimed at effectively promoting basic human rights in Kosovo. The platform will also include stakeholder trainings.” 

The Human Rights Platform was designed by the Ombudsperson Institution and developed in cooperation with UNDP with financial support from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

Visit the platform HERE – http://hrg.rrota.com/ .