Kosovo Women's Network

Lobby for Gender Equality held the first meeting for 2019

03.03.2019

On Feb. 11, the Lobby for Gender Equality (LGE) held its first meeting for 2019. The meeting started with discussions about current topics in our country, namely the case of sexual abuse of the minor girl from Drenas and the discriminatory logo of the 11^th anniversary of independence. Moreover, in relation to the logo of the 11^th anniversary of independence where in its foreground appears only the silhouette of a man, the discussions about the reaction to this issue concluded that this will only close the doors of the army for girls and women.

Therefore, immediately that day the Lobby and KWN sent a press release to the media, which can be downloaded here.

The meeting then continued with discussions about successful advocacy initiatives undertaken in 2018.

Igballe Rogova, Executive Director of KWN, presented a new initiative supported by the European Union Office which aims at strengthening the participation of women in politics, explaining how this four-year initiative will contribute to more meetings between KWN, Lobby and Coalition for Equality.

“We plan to organize meetings with women voters in every municipality. Today, we have in front of us a chance to work so that more women are included in decision-making positions. We need to change this situation, as now have the opportunity, after a long time, to turn to women voters. The goal is to give a message, and that message is solidarity among women”, Rogova said.

Municipalities of Mamusha, Fushe Kosovo, and Dragash are among the first places that were proposed to start the meetings with women voters.

Participants agreed that it is the time for women to publicly support each other.

While regarding the achievements of 2018 and the objectives for 2019, Lindita Dërvisholli from Municipality of Fushe Kosovo said that they have achieved to increase subsidies and advocacy for the mammography, with the latter being approved by the Municipal Assembly and budget will be allocated every year to ensure it.

In this meeting was decided that the meeting of the Coalition for Equality will be held in March. This meeting was supported by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA).

15.05.25

Women at the Center of Peace – Global Open Day 2025 gathers powerful voices for change

28.04.25

From Life in Spain to Volunteering in Kosovo

25.04.25

The Foundation House celebrates a decade of Girls in ICT

15.04.25

KWN Calls for Improved Attention to Gender Equality in European Commission’s 2025 Kosovo Report

12.04.25

A Tapestry of Resilience: KWN’s Annual Assembly Celebrates a Year of Unwavering Progress and Honors Courageous Voices

04.04.25

Activists to Assess Costs of Supporting Women, Children Survivors of Violence

Protest in Drenas against Sexual Violence in Schools

03.03.2019

On Feb. 6 in Drenas, starting at 12:00 hrs, a protest took place under the slogan “Pro Learning, No to Raping”, organized by the civil society of Drenas. Under the chanting “Pro Learning, No to Raping”, “Abortion is a choice, not an obligation”, “You are not an investigator but a rapist”, “School is ours, not of pedophiles”, the protesters marched from Gymnasium Gjergj Kastrioti Skëndërbeu toward the Police Station of Drenas.

The protest was also joined by teachers and students from Drenas school, and activists and citizens from different cities of Kosovo.

During the protest, organizers raised the following points:

Termination of the license of the gynecologist and closure of the clinic where the illegal abortion took place;
Dismissal of the teacher from the school;
More rigorous supervision by the director of the school;
Public commitment by the Commander of the Police in Drenas that: Upon his own initiative, to request from the Police Inspectorate to carry out a complete investigation of the Police Station in Drenas about similar cases; depending on the findings, to undertake measures; to organize trainings to increase the awareness of staff in relation to gender equality, dealing with such cases and ethics at work; to work closely with the civil society and youth organizations in handling social concerns; and to make sure that Article 37, item 9 of LAW No. 04/L-076 ON POLICE is rigorously implemented. After the protest, activists conducted a symbolic action, showing an banner in the form of a gratitude letter, on which was written: Vesel Veseli, rapist.

In relation to this case, a protest was held also yesterday, on February 7, in front of the Kosovo Police in Prishtina.

To read the press release sent by KWN, please click below:

https://womensnetwork.org/sq/e-mitura-dhunohet-shantazhohet-dhe-i-rrezikohet-shendeti-i-dyshuar-kryesor-nje-zyrtar-policor/

15.05.25

Women at the Center of Peace – Global Open Day 2025 gathers powerful voices for change

28.04.25

From Life in Spain to Volunteering in Kosovo

25.04.25

The Foundation House celebrates a decade of Girls in ICT

15.04.25

KWN Calls for Improved Attention to Gender Equality in European Commission’s 2025 Kosovo Report

12.04.25

A Tapestry of Resilience: KWN’s Annual Assembly Celebrates a Year of Unwavering Progress and Honors Courageous Voices

04.04.25

Activists to Assess Costs of Supporting Women, Children Survivors of Violence

Women from the Dobrava village get informed about the reproductive health

03.03.2019

On Feb. 5, the Women’s Alliance for Integration (WAI) Organization held a meeting with the women of the Dobrava village of the Municipality of Ferizaj to discuss about the reproductive health. This initiative was taken under the framework of the “Awareness of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptina Women in the Municipalities of Ferizaj and Lipljan for Their Health” Project. 27 women and girls from different communities attended the meeting.

Doctor Zekije Shala informed about the importance of intimate care and consequences that could come as a result of improper care. She shared with the women present detailed advice, in response to the concerns that they had.

Among other things, Doctor Shala informed the participants about the cervical cancer and breast cancer. She also shared information about sexually transmitted diseases, and importance of intimate care.

Participants expressed their gratefulness for this activity, considering that the advice received from the doctor will serve them for a healthier life.

This project is supported by the Kosovo Women’s Fund (KWF) of the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) and funded by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA).

15.05.25

Women at the Center of Peace – Global Open Day 2025 gathers powerful voices for change

28.04.25

From Life in Spain to Volunteering in Kosovo

25.04.25

The Foundation House celebrates a decade of Girls in ICT

15.04.25

KWN Calls for Improved Attention to Gender Equality in European Commission’s 2025 Kosovo Report

12.04.25

A Tapestry of Resilience: KWN’s Annual Assembly Celebrates a Year of Unwavering Progress and Honors Courageous Voices

04.04.25

Activists to Assess Costs of Supporting Women, Children Survivors of Violence

Ministry to Release Long-Awaited Assembly-Approved Funds for Shelters

01.03.2019

For years, the Kosovo Women Network (KWN) has advocated for the government of Kosovo to allocate sufficient budget for covering all the expenses of shelters for women and children who have suffered domestic violence. Indeed, assuring the wellbeing and safety of women and children, is in accordance with Kosovo’s constitutional obligations and legal responsibilities.

In recent years, the lack of sufficient shelter financing, coupled with delays in such financing, have placed women and children at great risk. Shelter closures due to insufficient financing in December 2018 and January 2019, left some women and children on the street and endangered.

Initially, the draft budget for 2019, once again did not include sufficient funding or a specific budget line dedicated solely to financing shelters. While some budget existed under the social services budget line of the budget of the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare (MLSW), it would not cover all of the needs of shelters.

Therefore, on Dec. 7, KWN addressed the deputies of the Kosovo Assembly with a letter, requesting to add a new budget line in the draft budget, in the amount of €660,000. Discussions directly with shelters suggeseted that this amount would cover all the expenses of these shelters and daily care centres for women and children who had experienced domestic violence, human trafficking and children with no parental guidance. This proposed amount was calculated based on the previous expenditures and known needs of shelter staff. The calculations also considered the expenses for two new shelters for Serbian women in northern and southern Kosovo, respectively.

After sending this letter, KWN was invited to meet with representatives of several different political parties. The Women’s Caucus proposed and advocated amendments to the law soon after, towards ensuring a special budget line for the shelters.

On Feb. 3, the Kosovo Assembly approved the Budget for 2019, supporting KWN’s request to set a permanent budget line for shelters and day centres. This year’s budget includes a completely new line called “Basic Expenditure for Shelters”, in the amount of €880,000.

As shelters still at the end of Feb. 2019 had not received funding for their operations during the last two months, several contacted KWN requesting support in advocating for the release of the funds recently approved by the Assembly. KWN sent a letter to MLSW requesting immediate release of these funds last week.

Yesterday, Minister of Labour and Social Welfare Skender Reçica requested a meeting with KWN Executive Director Igballe Rogova. He confirmed that shelters and day centres will be directly financed from this budget line, in accordance with the rules of public finances. This will assure the adequate functioning of shelters and will avoid temporary closures and similar problems that they have encountered in 2018 due to the insufficient budget.

KWN and MLSW agreed to future cooperation to ensure protection for women and girls who have suffered violence. KWN will continue to monitor the implementation of the legal framework in the coming years, as part of its Strategy for 2019-2022.

Meanwhile, KWN, shelter and day centre representatives have thanked the Kosovo Assembly deputies for their work and approval of this crucial support. Moreover, KWN thanks the diverse actors that have been involved in these advocacy efforts: the EU Office in Kosovo, EU Special Representative, Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, UN Women and other members of the Security Gender Group, among others.

In accordance with the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, which Kosovo has in its Constitution (Article 22), states have the responsibility to undertake all measures to combat violence, including protective measures and supporting services for victims. Setting a permanent budget for the shelters and covering their expenses, including counselling and caring for victims also is specified in the National Strategy of the Republic of Kosovo on Protection from Domestic Violence and Action Plan 2016 – 2020.

The long-term advocacy that contributed to this important development received support from the Austrian Development Agency and the Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation, who have financed the work of KWN staff members involved in drafting many letters, making evidence-based proposals and undertaking ongoing advocacy.

Photo credit: MLSW, 2019.

15.05.25

Women at the Center of Peace – Global Open Day 2025 gathers powerful voices for change

28.04.25

From Life in Spain to Volunteering in Kosovo

25.04.25

The Foundation House celebrates a decade of Girls in ICT

15.04.25

KWN Calls for Improved Attention to Gender Equality in European Commission’s 2025 Kosovo Report

12.04.25

A Tapestry of Resilience: KWN’s Annual Assembly Celebrates a Year of Unwavering Progress and Honors Courageous Voices

04.04.25

Activists to Assess Costs of Supporting Women, Children Survivors of Violence

Shelters, KWN, Ombudsperson Institution Cooperate to Address Violence against Women

28.02.2019

In close collaboration with the Ombudsperson Institution, the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) organized a workshop on the role of the Ombudsperson Institution (OI) in addressing violence against women for representatives of shelters and day centers that provide services to women who have suffered gender-based violence.

Building on the positive collaboration established between KWN and the OI, Merita Syla, from the OI provided information on the relevant legal framework and instances in which the OI can assist with such cases.

During the workshop, participants defined concrete steps for referring cases of violence against women and girls to relevant institutions and, eventually, when relevant, to the OI.

This workshop is part of the cooperation established between shelters, KWN and the OI to work towards the more dignified treatment of women who have suffered violence by relevant institutions. Their cooperation will continue this year in supporting women and girls who have experienced violence in seeking justice and filing complaints against institutions that fail to undertake their legal obligations. Participants also discussed important issues faced by shelters, including permanent funding of shelters and the security of their staff.

This workshop was funded by UN Women with financial support from the European Union. A KWN staff member supported by the Austrian Development Agency also shared her expertise.

15.05.25

Women at the Center of Peace – Global Open Day 2025 gathers powerful voices for change

28.04.25

From Life in Spain to Volunteering in Kosovo

25.04.25

The Foundation House celebrates a decade of Girls in ICT

15.04.25

KWN Calls for Improved Attention to Gender Equality in European Commission’s 2025 Kosovo Report

12.04.25

A Tapestry of Resilience: KWN’s Annual Assembly Celebrates a Year of Unwavering Progress and Honors Courageous Voices

04.04.25

Activists to Assess Costs of Supporting Women, Children Survivors of Violence

“Psychotherapists in Action” hosts roundtable about palliative care in Kosovo

26.02.2019

On Feb. 25 the association “Psychotherapists in Action” hosted a roundtable within the scheme of the initiative “Advancing palliative care in Kosovo and raising awareness among the community for people with special needs”.

The mission of this initiative is to protect and improve health, with a particular focus on rural areas where there is a weaker access to health services and people also lack health education.

This event was attended by the Director of the Regional Hospital of Gjilan, the Director of Health Department in Gjilan Municipality, the Director of the Main Family Medicine Centre, as well as representatives of the civil society organizations (CSOs).

Doctor Ramize Ahmeti – Ibrahimi, presented the pace of the three-month work, during which time the “Psychotherapists in Action” conducted 230 visits to women, men and children from the villages of Gadish, Kishnapol, Verbicë, Zhegovc, Pidiq, Llashticë, Dazhnicë, Parallovë, and Makresh.

Further, the Director of Health Department in Gjilan Municipality, Selami Xhemaili appreciated the work completed by the Psychotherapists in Action.

Among the recommendations arising from the implementation of this initiative are the promotion, education, treatment and the counselling in the family that should be continuously followed, as well as families ought to be informed through media and schools on the role of the medical team.

This roundtable, respectively this initiative, is supported by Kosovo Women’s Fund (KWF) of Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN), and is funded by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA).

15.05.25

Women at the Center of Peace – Global Open Day 2025 gathers powerful voices for change

28.04.25

From Life in Spain to Volunteering in Kosovo

25.04.25

The Foundation House celebrates a decade of Girls in ICT

15.04.25

KWN Calls for Improved Attention to Gender Equality in European Commission’s 2025 Kosovo Report

12.04.25

A Tapestry of Resilience: KWN’s Annual Assembly Celebrates a Year of Unwavering Progress and Honors Courageous Voices

04.04.25

Activists to Assess Costs of Supporting Women, Children Survivors of Violence

Handikos Mitrovica, a strong voice of Children with Disabilities and their mothers

26.02.2019

On Feb. 25 Handikos Mitrovica held its last meeting on the project “Depression in mothers of children with disabilities and in people with disabilities”.

The meeting was attended by woman psychologist from Diakone Kosova Gjevahire Balaj, Director of Mundësia NGO Hasime Tahiri, Director of the Human Rights Unit in the Municipality of Mitrovica Fitim Rama, Director of Handikos Mitrovica Myrvete Hasani, and also the mothers of children and young people with disabilities.

In the beginning Hasani stated that this initiative benefited 15 mothers and 12 young people. Further she explained that mothers and children were trained to better understand and face issues related to symptoms and depression behaviours, confronting and fighting stress, and the postnatal stage with a child with disabilities.

Balaj added that the idea of this initiative is for mothers to gather and share their concerns and emotions. The lack of society’s support for mothers of children with disabilities was also part of this discussion.

Whereas Tahiri added that a civic lobbying is required in order for health and education institutions to contract psychologists for the needs of the mothers’ of children with disabilities.

Rama complained that the Municipality of Mitrovica has a limited budget and cannot provide financial support, while announcing that also this year a public call will be launched for a modest financial support of NGOs focused in this particular field.

This initiative is supported by Kosovo’s Women Fund (KWF) of Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN), and is financed by Austrian Agency for Development (ADA).

15.05.25

Women at the Center of Peace – Global Open Day 2025 gathers powerful voices for change

28.04.25

From Life in Spain to Volunteering in Kosovo

25.04.25

The Foundation House celebrates a decade of Girls in ICT

15.04.25

KWN Calls for Improved Attention to Gender Equality in European Commission’s 2025 Kosovo Report

12.04.25

A Tapestry of Resilience: KWN’s Annual Assembly Celebrates a Year of Unwavering Progress and Honors Courageous Voices

04.04.25

Activists to Assess Costs of Supporting Women, Children Survivors of Violence

Blind Women Advocate Successfully for Access to Benefits

13.02.2019

Blind and partially sited persons in Kosovo have benefits that are specified in the Law on Blind Persons. Lately, the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) and the Committee of Blind Women in Kosovo (CBWK), a KWN member, have collaborated to address violations of the rights of blind women.

CBWK and KWN have raised their concerns regarding the pre-conditions set by the Association of Blind Persons in Kosovo, which requested that blind persons pay a membership fee in order to receive state benefits relating to discounted electricity bills and booklets of blindness. However, these should be provided free of charge in accordance with the Law on Blind Persons, Article 14. Meanwhile, according to this, the Association of Blind People in Kosovo is the ony association authorized to represent blind people in Kosovo when applying for these benefits. Therefore, the requirement of association fees hindered several blind women from claiming their rights in accordance with the Law.

Representatives of CBWK have constantly contacted the Department for Pensions in Kosovo in the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare (MLSW) to ask that they put an end to this violation of rights and implement the Law on Blind Persons.

Bajramshahe Jetullahu, CBWK Director said: ‘This issue is directly harming blind people’s identity and rights’. She quoted the law on blind people, firmly emphasizing that ‘they should be protected from all kinds of abuse, discrimination and insult and that blind persons should be able to claim their rights granted by law’.

With support from KWN’s Legal Assistant, CBWK met with the Ombudsperson of Kosovo, Hilmi Jashari. He agreed that this situation of the Association of Blind Persons conditioning rights on the basis of membership to their Association as a very serious violation of rights and that MLSW should undertake immediate measures to resolve this issue.

The Ombudsperson expressed his support to CBWK and KWN in monitoring further occurrences of this situation. Meanwhile, MLSW has demonstrated its good will by making the Association of Blind People in Kosovo issue a decision on 07 Feb. 2019, through which the Association commits to distribute booklets of blindness and to file for electricity payment benefits for all blind persons, not only its members.

KWN offered their constant support to CBWK in contacting responsible institutions and drafting letters to better adress the issue to responsible institutions. KWN also supported CBWK to send a letter to organisations supporting blind persons in Kosovo, explaining their rights deriving from the Law on Blind Persons and informing them about potential violations of these rights from the Association that represents them.

For CBWK, this is a positive step towards respecting the rights of blind and partially sited persons. However, they will continue to monitor the process and to offer unconditional assistance in related complaints.

15.05.25

Women at the Center of Peace – Global Open Day 2025 gathers powerful voices for change

28.04.25

From Life in Spain to Volunteering in Kosovo

25.04.25

The Foundation House celebrates a decade of Girls in ICT

15.04.25

KWN Calls for Improved Attention to Gender Equality in European Commission’s 2025 Kosovo Report

12.04.25

A Tapestry of Resilience: KWN’s Annual Assembly Celebrates a Year of Unwavering Progress and Honors Courageous Voices

04.04.25

Activists to Assess Costs of Supporting Women, Children Survivors of Violence

Women Survivors’ Trauma of Wartime Sexual Violence Treated by Medica Kosova

13.02.2019

On Feb.12, “Medica Kosova” organized the workshop “Trauma-based approach”, an event within the inventiveness “Using community-based and trauma-informed approach for improving access of additional survivors of war rape to their status recognition”, an initiative which is implemented in cooperation with Djepi i Buzëqeshjes organization.

Psychologist of Medica Kosova, Emirjeta Kumnova stressed that the purpose of this meeting is to build the capacities of civil society and local institutions in Gjakova and Deçan for a trauma-based approach during the process of verification and referral of sexual violence cases experienced during the wartime. She added that this matter should drag a special attention by police and judges who have direct access to cases of violence.

During the second part of the workshop the Verification Process and the Recognition of War Victim Status for the survivors of rape was addressed.

Lawyer Arbnore Shehu-Bunjaku, mentioned the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) contribution for recognizing the status of victims of sexual violence from the war. Furthermore, she stated that the process of applying for this status is accompanied by women’s fears, this because women are still being stigmatized by the society.

This initiative is supported by the Kosovo Women’s Fund (KWF) of Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) and funded by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA).

15.05.25

Women at the Center of Peace – Global Open Day 2025 gathers powerful voices for change

28.04.25

From Life in Spain to Volunteering in Kosovo

25.04.25

The Foundation House celebrates a decade of Girls in ICT

15.04.25

KWN Calls for Improved Attention to Gender Equality in European Commission’s 2025 Kosovo Report

12.04.25

A Tapestry of Resilience: KWN’s Annual Assembly Celebrates a Year of Unwavering Progress and Honors Courageous Voices

04.04.25

Activists to Assess Costs of Supporting Women, Children Survivors of Violence

KWN Attends MEI Public Consultations for SAA Sub-Committee on Innovation, Information Society and Social Policy

06.02.2019

The Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) Subcommittees on Innovation, Information Society and Social Policy will have their third meeting later this week on Feb. 8 in Brussels. This will be their first meeting in 2019.

The sub-committees are mechanisms of the technical dialogue, as part of the Process of Stabilization and Association (SAA) for Kosovo. During these meetings, the European Commission and the Kosovo government discuss technical and policy issues and progress in making the necessary reforms related to Kosovo’s EU Accession process.

Prior to this upcoming Policy Dialogue meeting between the Kosovo Government and European Union (EU) representatives, the Ministry of European Integration (MEI) Department for Stabilisation and Association organized a public consultation with civil society organisations (CSOs) on Feb. 5 in Pristina, attended by the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN), among others.

This is the second round of public consultations that KWN attended this year, organized this time with a focus on Innovation, Information Society and Social Policy. Jeton Karaqica, Director of the Department of Economic Criteria and Internal Market in the Ministry of European Integration, opened the discussion on these sectors by thanking CSO representatives for their presence. The importance of these consultations relies on gathering information and reflecting it in the country Progress Report, as well as on agreeing on further objectives for the upcoming year, he said.

With regards to Kosovo’s progress on Social Policy and Employment, KWN recommended that a gender balance should be sought when hiring women and men at all levels, according to the Law on Gender Equality. MEI said that there is an increase in funds that will support equal employment of citizens.

The issue of inadequate childcare services was followed by a discussion among all CSO representatives present. They agreed that investing in childcare can and does indeed impact the percentage of employed women, as mentioned in KWN’s Kosovo Gender Analysis.

Regarding education, KWN re-emphasized the need for closer monitoring of the gender review of education curricula towards transforming existing gender norms through education, as well as follow-up actions to train teachers based on reforms. MEI confirmed that curricula still are not applied fully and that confusion remains among teachers regarding use of the new textbooks.

KWN also mentioned the need to update the curricula and adapt school books so that they comply with the needs of children with disabilities; the state also needs to set aside sufficient funds for personal assistants, without which these children’s access to education is limited. MEI officials said that this issue, among others, will definitely be a priority to be included in the second European Reform Agenda’s (ERA 2) objectives.

ERA is an agreement reached in May 2016 between the European Commission and the Kosovo government to maximize the economic and political benefits of the SAA. For this purpose, ERA sets short-term priorities for the Kosovo government in the areas of good governance and the rule of law, competitiveness and investment climate and education and employment. The priority actions within the ERA are identified and updated annually by the Kosovo government and the European Commission in close consultation with international financial institutions (IFIs), the business sector, civil society and social partners.

According to MEI officials, priorities for ERA 2 will soon be made public, and they will include the fulfilment of objectives that were not accomplished in the first ERA. Moreover, MEI officials stated that this year’s objectives will be more specific and realistic, so that they may be implemented within the expected timeframe.

The fulfilment of these priority actions will assist Kosovo in making progress towards implementing the SAA and thus advancing towards joining the European Union.

15.05.25