Students from the University of Vienna learn about KWN

In Jan., students from the University of Vienna and European Inter-University Centre for Human Rights and Democratization conducted a study visit in Kosovo. During this visit, on Jan. 19, the students met with Igballe Rogova, Executive Director of the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) at Hotel Sirius in Prishtina.

They demonstrated an interest in learning more about the experiences of women’s rights activists in Kosovo, recent developments, human rights challenges, peace and security, as well as obstacles and opportunities in the future.

Ms. Rogova initially spoke about activism during the 1990s in Kosovo, for the ‘Sisters Qiriazi’ Association. Even during the war in Kosovo, this Association did not cease its activities in helping Kosovars in refugee camps.

Attendees also heard about the history of the women’s movement in Kosovo, how the first women’s rights organizations in Kosovo were founded and about the history and work of KWN.  Rogova described KWN’s investigative reports on gender-based violence and sexual harassment in Kosovo, as well as initiatives and research monitoring the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security in Kosovo.

The students expressed their gratitude for the meeting and said that this was one of the most informative lectures that they had heard during their stay in Kosovo.

“Psychotherapists in Action” improving palliative care in Kosovo

On Jan. 28, “Psychotherapists in Action” association conducted its next visit as part of the initiative “Advancing palliative care in Kosovo and raising awareness among the community for people with special needs.”

On this occasion, a five-membered family in the village of Pediq of Gjilan was visited. Doctor Ramize Ahmeti-Ibrahimi together with a medical team conveyed health check-ups of all members, while also advising them on the next steps.

Family members expressed their satisfaction with this initiative, stressing that this was the first time that such thing is being done in this village.

Apart from residents, the benefits of this initiative were also acknowledged by Doctor Ahmeti-Ibrahimi, which revealed that through these kinds of visits they achieved to make early detections of illnesses too, which has also an impact in awareness raising about the importance of frequent medical examinations.

Whereas, Sevdije Musliu, Director of Psychotherapists in Action, stated that a large number of people of all ages have benefited from this initiative, even though it is still undergoing.

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kosovo Criminal Code Criminalizes Domestic Violence, Sexual Harassment

As of 14 Jan. 2019, domestic violence and sexual harassment are criminal acts in Kosovo, punishable in accordance with the recently amended Criminal Code of the Republic of Kosovo.

The lengthy process of amending the Criminal Code began in Sep. 2017. At that time, the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) cooperated with other members of the Security and Gender Group (SGG) to draft legal recommendations for including sexual harassment and domestic violence in the Criminal Code. KWN researched and prepared this legal justification in accordance with the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, known as the “Istanbul Convention”, as well as based on best practices in the region and Europe.

According to police statistics, domestic violence has been among the most common crimes perpetrated in Kosovo in the last decade. In 2018, more than 1,125 domestic violence cases were reported to police. Moreover, a 2015 KWN study showed that more than 62% of Kosovars have suffered some form of domestic violence in their lifetimes. Only in the last three years (2015-2017), 49 women lost their lives due to violence perpetrated against them by family members. However, there have been very few convictions for such crimes, court data suggests. According to KWN monitoring, this has been due in part to the fact that the Criminal Code did not define domestic violence as a criminal offence. As a result, courts often treated crimes perpetrated within domestic relationships only in civil proceedings, even when a criminal offence was committed and should have been prosecuted automatically (ex officio). The release of perpetrators without prosecution has contributed to recidivist violence against women, even death.

Meanwhile, KWN’s research on “Sexual Harassment in Kosovo” found that an estimated 49% of Kosovars have experienced some form of sexual harassment in their lifetimes and 45% did in 2014 alone. Women (64%) are significantly more likely to have been sexually harassed than men (33%). Yet, only 4% of persons who had suffered sexual harassment ever reported it to authorities. Moreover, the research found that representatives of relevant institutions tend to lack knowledge about sexual harassment, its definition, the relevant legal framework and appropriate procedures for addressing it. They tend to misunderstand sexual harassment as rape or sexual assault, while “less severe” forms were either unknown or dismissed as “unimportant”.

These worrisome findings led KWN to instigate advocacy towards amending the Criminal Code, so that it would clearly define both domestic violence and sexual harassment as criminal acts, thereby enabling improved access to justice for persons who have suffered such acts, particularly women.

When KWN faced initial resistance from the Ministry of Justice working group, KWN strengthened its collaboration with an advocacy coalition comprised of experts from SGG, including the Office of the National Coordinator on Protection from Domestic Violence, UN Women and the Kosovar Gender Studies Centre.  Together, they reviewed the recommendations and compiled a joint recommendation, which also received support from the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX).

Together, they argued that in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), within Kosovo’s Constitution, the state has a duty to protect women in both public and private spheres. Including domestic violence and sexual harassment as criminal acts would improve such protection, they said. Additionally, the proposed amendments would contribute directly to implementing the Kosovo Strategy and Action Plan on Protection from Domestic Violence 2016-2020 by “specifying domestic violence as criminal act in the Criminal Code of Kosovo in accordance with the definition of domestic violence from the Law on Protection from Domestic Violence”. The proposed amendments also sought to address a recommendation made by the European Commission in the Kosovo 2018 Report.

Throughout 2017 and 2018, KWN used these arguments in several working group meetings, tirelessly advocating for its recommendations. This included several Assembly of Kosovo working group meetings. On Jun. 14, KWN wrote an official letter to all parliamentarians, strongly encouraging them to ensure that the specific definition of domestic violence provided by KWN and other key actors in line with the Istanbul Convention, would be adopted: “We call upon all parliamentarians to ensure that our proposed amendments are included, as originally proposed, in the amended [Criminal Code] and to vote in favor of these crucial amendments,” the KWN letter stated.

In Nov. 2018, the Assembly adopted the amended Criminal Code, including new definitions of Domestic Violence and Sexual Harassment as criminal offences. The Code has recently entered into force.

“This was a very long and important process that involved all of the main stakeholders,” said Adelina Berisha, KWN Advocacy Coordinator. “Including these two provisions in the Criminal Code will help institutions better fight violence against women,” she said. “One of our main aims in this process was to ensure that perpetrators will be punished for the crimes that they commit, which has not happened to date.”

KWN’s monitoring of access to justice, research reports that informed its recommendations for the Criminal Code and time spent advocating were supported by the Austrian Development Agency and the Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation.

KWN – part of the panel on the impact of the public appearance of survivors of sexual violence during the war

On 5 December 2018, within the scope of 16 Days of Activism, the Kosova Rehabilitation Centre for Torture Victims (KRCT), organized the event: “The echo of her voice: The Impact of public appearance of Ms. Vasfije Krasniqi Goodman, a survivor of sexual violence during the war in Kosovo”.

The main part of this event was the launching of a awareness raising video-message made by Vasfije Krasniqi-Goodman, where she once again calls for a stronger support to all survivors.

In a panel composed of Feride Rushiti, director of KRCT; Igballe Rogova, director of Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN); Kadire Tahiraj, director of the Center for Promotion of Women’s Rights (DWG); Mirlinda Sada, director of Medica Kosova; Linda Gusia, sociologist; Ramize Murtezi Shala, journalist, and Fitim Fluga from the Islamic Community of Kosovo; opinions were expressed regarding the impact of Vasfije’s story on the empowerment of the survivors.

Further, Ms. Rushiti said that, “The year 2018 has been a historic one for the survivors of sexual violence”, stressing that during this year the status of victims of sexual violence began to be recognized and their compensation commenced.

Whereas, Igballe Rogova in her speech hailed the family support from where the courage of the public appearance of Vasfije originated. By stating that we still don’t know about many women’s stories since after the war, she recalled also the activist Sevdije Ahmeti, as the first person who publicly raised this issue, by sending women to testify at the Hague Tribunal.

Given that the discussion’s purpose was continuous sensitizing of Kosovo’s citizens about the survivors, addressing discrimination, the stigma, as well as the demand for access to justice for survivors of sexual violence and equal integration in society, this was unanimously emphasized also by the panellists.

This event took place within the scope of the “Be My Voice” campaign, implemented by KRCT and Medica Gjakova and supported by the United Kingdom Embassy in Pristina and Medica Mondiale in Germany.

KWN empowers girls to deal with gender issues through internship

In June 2018, Adea Roka began her internship at the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) as a legal assistant. For five months, she became part of the KWN staff, where she was mainly engaged in issues of gender-based violence, focusing on domestic violence.

A part of her experience was providing legal advice to cases of gender-based violence addressed to KWN, by advising on the legal framework as well as about the role and responsibilities of relevant institutions where victims can report their experiences. This was done in cooperation with the persons in charge within KWN.

Following the signing of the cooperation agreement between KWN and the Kosovo Judicial Council, Adea had the opportunity to start monitoring gender-based violence cases in the Basic Court in Prishtina, more specifically in the Serious Crimes Department. There, she had the opportunity to become familiar with the specifics and difficulties encountered when dealing with gender-based violence, through the analysis of case files handled in this department during years 2014-2017.

“Human rights, including women’s rights, are part of my work and interest. The practice in KWN has helped me understand the work of the justice system in Kosovo, as I had only theoretical knowledge. Here I have managed to hear the stories of victims of violence, which has enabled me to learn even more about gender-based violence. The experience in court through monitoring of archives has complemented my professional knowledge, so the experience gained during this time will serve me a lot in my professional career. Also the cooperation spirit that prevails in KWN has contributed so that I feel comfortable and perform my work effortlessly”, said Adea after having completed the internship.

Adea is now working on the Master’s Thesis, with the aim to continue to contribute to issues related to gender equality in Kosovo.

Handikos Mitrovica holds psychological group sessions for mothers of children with disabilities

On 11 December, the organization Handikos Mitrovica, in the framework of the project “Depression in mothers of children with disabilities and disabled persons” held a group session with the mothers of children with disabilities. This session was attended by 18 mothers of these children, psychologists and staff of the Psycho-social Center for Trauma Therapy “Diakonie”, as well as representatives from Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN).

Depression includes symptoms such as slowdown and regression in thinking, in movement, and the presence of feelings of worthlessness, weakness, reluctance, pessimism, suicidal thoughts and slowdown in physiological functions as well as the feeling of deep sadness. One of the main causes of depression in persons with disabilities, according to the World Health Organization, is reported to be the limited ability, respectively the conditions and prejudices that derive from the social environment.

“We have very often discussed with Handikos Mitrovica staff, about the importance of psychological sessions for the treatment of depression in disabled persons and have hoped that we will find financial support for providing such sessions”, said one of the psychologists leading the session. “We have also always emphasized the fact that only few suchlike opportunities are provided to family members who care for these people, namely the mothers of children and young people with disabilities, who usually take care of them in most of the cases. We have emphasized how necessary it is for mothers to be provided such sessions to try to relieve them from depression”.

Participation in such sessions for mothers of disabled persons is first of all challenging because they are permanent caregivers for their children and have no place where they can leave their children when they want to attend such sessions or whatever other activity outside the home, and consequently they neglect also the care for their personal physical and mental health.

Therefore, participants in this session discussed the importance of expressing emotions in order to release their mental loads, aiming for their well-being and the well being of their children at the same time.

Mothers began to talk to each other and to psychologists about their life experiences.

While one of the participating mothers said she “faces many difficulties as she has a daughter with autism and it is almost impossible to go outside her home without her daughter, as she is very closely bound to her”, another mother stressed that “when I see my child in bad condition, I get worse and my life gets even more difficult”.

Whilst another mother stressed that “the fact that she started contacts with the organization Handikos Mitrovica and her participation in the sessions and meetings organized by this organization have helped her a lot, and sometimes when I am very nervous and in poor emotional state and cannot come here, I try to remember what I have been taught and advised in the organization and manage to soothe myself”

Participating women were very thankful for being able to participate and express their opinions and receive advice from other mothers who are facing similar problems.

This project was supported by Kosovo Women’s Fund (KWF) and Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN)

and is funded by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA).

Artpolis unites young feminists from Kosovo and Serbia

From 29 November to 2 December in Belgrade, Serbia, took place the feminist school organized by the Art and Culture Center Artpolis from Kosovo and the Alternative Girls Center (Alternativni Centar za  Devojke) from Serbia.

This four-day meeting was attended by 10 girls from Kosovo, including Mirjeta Dibrani, the representative of the Kosovo Women’s Network Representative (KWN) and 10 girls from Serbia. The topics of the workshops that were dealt with during these days were: the faith, which was held by Vesna Bujosevic; along with the solidarity that was treated by one of the most prominent feminists in Serbia, Lepa Mladjenovic, who spoke also about the history of the feminist movement in the former Yugoslavia and the twining between activists from Kosovo and Serbia. Another topic that was dealt with was the transitional justice and its mechanisms, which was held by the historian Mariana Toma.

“While our statesmen build walls again, we women go to each other, help each other and exchange experiences among ourselves”, Sandra Farkas of the Alternative Center said at the opening of this meeting.

Another speaker who spoke to young feminists about the feminist ethics of disobedience was also Stasa Zajovic, one of the founders of the Women in Black organization in Serbia. Among other things, she mentioned the numerous protests that the Women in Black have organized against the war, in the early 1990s when they gathered for an hour at a square in Serbia each Wednesday, by holding posters reading Albanian women are our sisters.

After four days, a young activist from Kosovo said he was pleased to be part of this school because “Irrespective of ethnicity, women have the same challenges and pains”.

KMA demands institutional support to empower the midwives role in Kosovo

On 12 December, the Kosovo Midwives Association (KMA) organized the round table “Strengthening the professional role of midwives in Kosovo”, attended by directors of of Health and Social Welfare Departments from different municipalities of Kosovo, members of the Municipal Assembly of Prishtina, representatives of the Institute of Public Health and civil society organizations. The round table was intended to address the initiative of a draft law on the midwifery professional service and midwives role for the health of the population.

During the roundtable, Magbule Elezi, the President of the Kosovo Association of Midwives, called for support from the participants, so that with their institutional and state responsibility and influence they continue their joint commitment in this regard.

“Through health policies, institutional support and professional development we can improve the quality of services and increase the well-being of our women and citizens, as well as improve their lives”, said Ms. Elezi.

Whereas, Besa Baftiu, the Head of the Parliamentary Committee on Health and Social Welfare, said that “As a committee, we have raised concerns about the closure of maternities and we are continuing cooperation with KMA to find a solution for midwives to have the deserved role”.

Further, the Deputy Ombudsperson, Medi Geci, added that “further work needs to be done to promote the role of midwives in relation to the general population, but also within the institution, given that they are professional staff and should be considered as such”.

This roundtable was organized within the initiative “Strengthening the role of midwives’ professional service” supported by the Kosovo Women’s Fund (KWF) and Kosovo Women’s Network (KFG), and funded by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA).

KIPRED and Artpolis launch the Research Report on Accessing Justice for Victims of Gender-Based Violence

Within the scope of 16 Days of Activism, on 3 December, at the National Library in Prishtina, the Kosovo Institute for Policy Research and Development (KIPRED), the Group for Legal and Political Studies (GLPS) and the Art and Community Center Artpolis, published the research report Accessing Justice for Victims of Gender-Based Violence in Kosovo: Ending Impunity for Perpetrators, in which took part the key representatives of judicial and non-judicial institutions for human rights in Kosovo. The Media were also invited to participate in the launch event.

The report analyzes access to justice processes for victims of gender-based violence, including domestic violence, sexual violence, sexual assaults and harassment, as well as violent crimes against the LGBT community. The report analyzes existing laws and policies, as well as their practical implementation. The analysis is conducted with reference to the requirements of international human rights standards, in particular the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (Istanbul Convention). The report specifically identifies the shortcomings in the current legal framework and its practical implementation. It illustrates the serious legal and institutional difficulties faced by victims of gender-based violence when trying to seek justice. The report also provides concrete recommendations.

The panellists Annette M. Fath-Lihic, Political Adviser / Executive Coordinator / European Union Office in Kosovo, Hilmi Jashari, Ombudsperson, Igballe Rogova, Kosovo Women’s Network and Albulena Haxhiu, Chairwoman of the Committee on Legislation, followed by Ariana Qosaj-Mustafa, Program Director, KIPRED made the presentation of key findings and recommendations. Among other things, the panellists called upon Kosovo institutions to take urgent steps to implement the recommendations arising from this, by highlighting the poor access to justice for victims of gender-based violence.

You can read the full report by clicking here: Accessing Justice for Victims of Gender-Based Violence in Kosovo: Ending Impunity for Perpetrators.

KWN – part of the panel on the impact of the public appearance of survivors of sexual violence during the war

On 5 December 2018, within the scope of 16 Days of Activism, the Kosova Rehabilitation Centre for Torture Victims (KRCT), organized the event: “The echo of her voice: The Impact of public appearance of Ms. Vasfije Krasniqi Goodman, a survivor of sexual violence during the war in Kosovo”.

The main part of this event was the launching of a awareness raising video-message made by Vasfije Krasniqi-Goodman, where she once again calls for a stronger support to all survivors.

In a panel composed of Feride Rushiti, director of KRCT; Igballe Rogova, director of Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN); Kadire Tahiraj, director of the Center for Promotion of Women’s Rights (DWG); Mirlinda Sada, director of Medica Kosova; Linda Gusia, sociologist; Ramize Murtezi Shala, journalist, and Fitim Fluga from the Islamic Community of Kosovo; opinions were expressed regarding the impact of Vasfije’s story on the empowerment of the survivors.

Further, Ms. Rushiti said that, “The year 2018 has been a historic one for the survivors of sexual violence”, stressing that during this year the status of victims of sexual violence began to be recognized and their compensation commenced.

Whereas, Igballe Rogova in her speech hailed the family support from where the courage of the public appearance of Vasfije originated. By stating that we still don’t know about many women’s stories since after the war, she recalled also the activist Sevdije Ahmeti, as the first person who publicly raised this issue, by sending women to testify at the Hague Tribunal.

Given that the discussion’s purpose was continuous sensitizing of Kosovo’s citizens about the survivors, addressing discrimination, the stigma, as well as the demand for access to justice for survivors of sexual violence and equal integration in society, this was unanimously emphasized also by the panellists.

This event took place within the scope of the “Be My Voice” campaign, implemented by KRCT and Medica Gjakova and supported by the United Kingdom Embassy in Pristina and Medica Mondiale in Germany.