Kosovo Women's Network

Civil Society Organizations Demand that Qehaja Be Held Responsible for Justification of Sexual Violence and Homophobic Views

01.08.2019

On August 1. through a press release Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) with its partners from civil society have reacted against homophobic views expressed by the Kosovar pathologist, Dr. Nazim Qehaja.

Qehaja caused a scandal by openly justifying sexual violence, which, according to him, occurs because a girl/woman dresses in a way that is considered “immoral and anti-national”. After several reactions on social media by activists for human rights, women’s rights, girls’ rights, and LGBT persons rights, Dr. Qehaja continued defending his views that sexual violence is justified in some cases and that rapists should not be punished nor held accountable before the law.

Through this letter, the undersigned organizations, remind Dr. Qehaja that if sexual assault were specific to persons with mental disorders, then our state, through laws in harmony with those of democratic developed countries, would not define sexual assault as a criminal offense, punishable with 2-10 years in prison, but as a mental health disorder.

The Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo guarantees freedom and security for every citizen, regardless of gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, nation, race or religion. According to the law, any person inciting hatred and disunity must receive deserved punishment. Therefore, we also demand that the State Prosecutor’s Office urgently take action against Dr. Qehaja.

Read HERE the full Press Release.

Signed by:   

DokuFest

Lumbardhi Foundation

Kosovo Civil Society Foundation – KCSF

Cultural Heritage without Borders Kosovo Foundation – CHwB

Community Development Fund – CDF

INTEGRA

Kosovar Institute for Policy Research and Development – KIPRED

Kosovar Youth Council – KYC

Equal Rights for All Coalition – ERAC

GAP Institute

Youth Initiative for Human Rights – YIHR

Organization for Increasing Quality of Education – ORCA

NGO Consumer

Centre for Equality and Liberty of the LGBT Community – CEL

Center for Social Group Development – CSGD Kosova

Art and Community Center – Artpolis

Advocacy Training and Resource Center – ATRC

European Center for Minority Issues – ECMI Kosovo

Center for Legal Aid and Regional Development – CLARD

Kosovar Gender Studies Center – KGSC

Kosovo Women’s Network – KWN

Kosovar Stability Initiative- IKS

Syri i Vizionit

Center for Counseling, Social Services and Research- SIT

Shkëlzen Maliqi

Lawyers Association – Norma

Numismatic Association – Demastion

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OPDMK aims to Strengthen the Participation of Women with Disabilities in Politics

05.07.2019

The Organization of Persons with Muscular Dystrophy of Kosovo (OPDMK) on July 5, held its third informative session, within the “Strengthening Women’s Participation in Politics” initiative at the Informative Center of the European Union “Europe House” in Prishtina.

This session was attended by more than 20 participants from Handikos, the Association for the Blind, Women’s Group from the Association for the Deaf, as well as women with disabilities from the Prishtina region.

OPDMK is part of a four-year initiative implemented by the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) along with Ruka Ruci organization and the European Women Lawyers Association (EWLA). It is supported by the European Union (EU) Office in Kosovo.

Antigona Šestan, Director of OPDMK, briefed the attendees on this initiative, while acknowledging the contribution of the KWN in strengthening her organization and helping achieve its goals

“This initiative aims to contribute to the overall objective of strengthening civic engagement, gender equality and inclusive democracy through participation of women in politics and decision-making process in Kosovo in various ways. OPDMK made great strides thanks to KWN’s fund, and in this way we have worked on advancing the position of women with disabilities,” Šestan said.

Vesa Zatriqi, Project Coordinator, KWN, spoke about the activities of this initiative as well as the expected results from its implementation.

“The initiative will officially end after a four-year period, but our common purpose is that its impact does not end there”, Zatriqi said. “The work and activities to empower women’s participation in politics will leave marks even after the end of this initiative supported by the EU Office in Kosovo”.

Further, Zatriqi through an interactive discussion with the attendees briefed them about the initiatives of Lobby for Gender Equality (Lobby) and Coalition for Equality (CfE).

Resmije Rrahmani, OPDMK, addressed her experience of cooperation with KWN.

“KWN has always accepted us, me as an individual, and also us as an organization”, she said.

The participants jointly discussed the opportunity of benefiting from the open call of Kosovo Women’s Fund (KWF).

Read HERE more about the KWF’s Open Call.

This meeting and this initiative are supported by the European Union (EU) Office in Kosovo.

More on this story:

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OPDMK Advocates for the Participation of Women with Disabilities in Politics.

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Gjilan becomes the Second City to Host the “Break the Silence: Ending Violence behind Walls” Exhibition

27.06.2019

On June 27 at the “Agim Ramadani” Square in Gjilan, more than 100 visitors visited the exhibition “Break the Silence: Ending Violence behind Walls,” hosted by Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN). They closely observed the labyrinth revealing stories of women and men who experienced domestic violence in Kosovo, collected by the KWN.

“This exhibition carries within itself breath-taking stories of Kosovar women and men who experienced domestic violence”, said Adelina Berisha, Advocacy and Research Coordinator on Gender-Based Violence.

She shared with the public more information about this exhibition.

“After Prishtina, Gjilan becomes the second city to welcome the exhibition “Break the Silence: Ending Violence behind Walls,” while in the upcoming months we will visit other municipalities as well. By moving from one place to another, this exhibition aims to reach every individual, because only together we can fight domestic violence”, said Berisha.

Among the attendees were representatives from the Shelter of Gjilan, from the CSO Divine Woman (Albanian: Gruaja Hyjnore), as well as representatives from the Police Inspectorate.

“Standing walls” were an essential part of the exhibition, through which people were briefed about what the key institutions provide for addressing this type of violence and how citizens can reach out to these institutions to realize their rights. Confessions of domestic violence survivors affected those who dared to walk through this labyrinth.

“An excellent meaning,” “Very good and also very necessary,” “Perfect, very well, but I also hope that it will have an impact,” were just some of the impressions gained by the visitors.

The exhibition “Break the Silence: Ending Violence behind Walls” was open in Prishtina 14-16 June. After Gjilan, it will also be launched in Gjakovë, Ferizaj, Pejë, Mitrovicë, and Prizren.

This exhibition was supported by the European Union (EU) through UN Women (#EVAW), and the Austrian Development Agency (ADA).

For more information, you can find the Exhibition’s Booklet HERE.

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OPDMK Successfully Completes the “Health for All” Initiative

27.06.2019

Prizren – On June 27, Organization of Persons with Muscular Dystrophy of Kosovo (OPDMK) held its last meeting within the “Health for All” initiative, supported by the Kosovo Women’s Fund (KWF) of Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN).

At this meeting, present were representatives from civil society, Municipality of Prizren and KWN.

Antigona Šestan, Director of OPDMK, explained that the overall objective of this initiative was maintaining and improving the health of women and children with disabilities in the Municipality of Prizren.

During this interactive discussion with the participants, Šestan presented the achievements from the implementation of this initiative. During this 9-month long period, OPDMK has held meetings with persons with disabilities, with parents/guardians of children with disabilities, lectures with health specialists, physiotherapy sessions for persons with disabilities and their parents, as well as counselling session with nurses.

Šestan revealed that she will strongly advocate providing at least one hydraulic table which is needed to assist disabled women for performing gynaecological examinations.

Women and girls with disabilities highly appreciated the information and knowledge gained from these meetings, while at the end, they shared the common message that people with disabilities can enjoy a healthy life too.

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

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KWN Launches the 13 Grant Round of Kosovo Women’s Fund, member organizations appreciate this opportunity

26.06.2019

Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) on June 21 held an information session for the 13th grant round of the Kosovo Women’s Fund (KWF).

More than 30 representatives of member organizations participated in this meeting to learn more about the application process and the conditions to fulfil.

Diellza Olluri, Project Coordinator, KWF, shared application procedures with the participants, highlighting that ideas should contribute to advancing women’s rights and promote gender equality, including strengthening women’s participation in politics.

During this interactive discussion, Olluri further explained the selection criteria, emphasizing that advocacy initiatives are extremely important.

Same as last year, member organizations can apply for one of the two types of grants available: Advocacy Grants, for a single organization, and Networking for Change Grants, where two organizations can apply for a joint initiative.

Further, in accordance with the KWN Strategy for 2019-2022, the types of initiatives that will be prioritized for funding will include: Strengthening the Feminist Movement in Kosovo, Women in Politics and Decision-making, Women’s Right to Healthcare, A Life Free from Gender-based Violence, Women’s Economic Empowerment, and Improving Access to Quality and Gender Sensitive Education.

Attendees appreciated the information gained from this briefing session, thanking the KWN that provided this opportunity to its member organizations since establishing the Fund in 2012.

This meeting and the 13th grant round of KWN’s Kosovo Women’s Fund is supported by the European Union (EU) Office in Kosovo and Austrian Development Agency (ADA).

Click HERE to see the full Request for Applications for the Kosovo Women’s Fund 2019.

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KWN against Retrial of Murderer Pjetër Nrecaj’s case

24.06.2019

On June 24, the Supreme Court returned to retrial the case of Pjetër Nrecaj, which is serving a life sentence for the murder of this wife, Valbona-Marku Nrecaj, and their 9-year old daughter, in August 2018.

Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) has immediately reacted through a Press Release condemning this decision.

KWN recalled to the public that Pjetër Nrecaj deliberately using a fire gun took the life of his wife Valbona-Marku Nrecaj, and their daughter. Furthermore, before committing the premeditated murder, he had sent threating phone messaged to the late Valbona-Marku Nrecaj, after which messaged he committed the murder. There was also a lawsuit against Pjetër Nrecaj, for the possession, control, and unauthorized weapons possession.

KWN considers that the retrial for such cases directly affects the loss of trust in the justice system for potential victims of domestic violence and their family members.

Therefore, we demand the Supreme Court not to change the verdict of the Court of Appeal, taking into account all the legal aspects, as well as social and moral values which are in compliance with the life imprisonment sentence for double murder.

Read HERE the full Press Release.

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KWN against Retrial of Murderer Pjetër Nrecaj’s case

24.06.2019

Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) has immediately reacted through a Press Release condemning this decision.

KWN considers that the retrial for such cases directly affects the loss of trust in the justice system for potential victims of domestic violence and their family members.

Therefore, KWN demands the Supreme Court not to change the verdict of the Court of Appeal, taking into account all the legal aspects, as well as social and moral values which are in compliance with the life imprisonment sentence for double murder.

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KWN against Retrial of Murderer Pjetër Nrecaj’s case

24.06.2019

Download File

Today, on June 24, the Supreme Court returned to retrial the case of Pjetër Nrecaj, which is serving a life sentence for the murder of this wife, Valbona-Marku Nrecaj, and their 9-year old daughter, in August 2018.

Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) through this Press Release condemns this decision of the Supreme Court, recalling to the public that Pjetër Nrecaj deliberately using a fire gun took the life of his wife Valbona-Marku Nrecaj, and their daughter. Furthermore, before committing the premeditated murder, he had sent threating phone messaged to the late Valbona-Marku Nrecaj, after which messaged he committed the murder. There was also a lawsuit against Pjetër Nrecaj, for the possession, control, and unauthorized weapons possession. At the very moment of the murder, according to the eyewitnesses, present were also the other children of this couple, which could also suffer from the shooting of Pjetër Nrecaj. The Court of Appeal rightly sentenced him to life imprisonment for these acts.

However, today the Supreme Court in its reasoning for this retrial, states that “the first instance verdict contains essential violations of the provisions of criminal procedure and that the Second Instance Court while accepting these defects in guilty plea procedure, it was obliged to review and reject the judgment, and not to move on with this violation, which is present and also limits legal qualification, since it may be the case of serious murder under Article 179 par. 1 subparagraph 1.11 of the KPC, exclusively if two or more premeditated murder were committed”.

Reminding the Supreme Court that the Penal Code, Article 44.par.1 states that: “The law may foresee a life sentence for the most serious criminal offenses committed in extremely severe or for offenses that have caused very serious damages, whereas lifelong imprisonment shall be imposed on any person who according to Article 179, par.1, sub.1.1 deprives a child of his or her life, and according to Article 1.3 deprives a family member of his or her life.

KWN considers that the retrial for such cases directly affects the loss of trust in the justice system for potential victims of domestic violence and their family members. The punishment of murders, especially of those who are legally recognized as domestic violence recidivists, such as the case of Pjetër Nrecaj (reminding that he has been in detention since in the presence of the children he conducted domestic violence against the deceased) shows that the justice system protects the victims of domestic violence and that the murder as a consequence of this violence is not tolerated.

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KWN supports the Commission on the work for Recognition and Verification of the Status of Wartime Sexual Violence Survivors

18.06.2019

On June 18, Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) representatives visited the Government Commission on Recognition and Verification of the Status of Sexual Violence Victims during the Kosovo Liberation War.

The aim of this visit was to gain a closer understanding with the progress of the process of recognizing and verifying the status of Sexual Violence Victims during the war, know the challenges that the Commission faces, as well as express KWN’s support for the tireless and transparent work ethic of the Commission.

“We have been part of this Commission’s journey since its establishment and we know it’s impartial and transparency,” said Ariana Qosaj-Mustafa, Chair of the KWN’s Board.

Whereas, Minire Begaj-Balaj, the Chairperson of the Commission, has shared with the staff the challenges and the work of this Commission.

“The work is done and efficiency of the Commission should not be measured solely by the number of approved applications: we should take into consideration the fact that dealing with such cases sometimes means handling a single case up to six times as a result of incomplete files. In this way we would underhand that the figures for our work are mathematically higher than the number of approved cases, she said.

Appreciating the commitment of the Commission, Igballe Rogova, KWN’s Executive Director said “As KWN has always pointed out, the will of the survivors should be respected in relation to the application process for recognition and verification of their status, because not everyone wants to apply. Therefore, providing an encouraging application environment, as well as providing the survivors with support and a confidential and impartial process is very important to us”.

Regarding this visit KWN has issued a Press Release, which you can read HERE.

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KWN supports the Tireless and Transparent work of the Government Commission on Recognition and Verification of the Status of Sexual Violence Survivors during the Kosovo Liberation War

18.06.2019

Download File

On June 18, Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) representatives visited the Government Commission on Recognition and Verification of the Status of Sexual Violence Victims During the Kosovo Liberation War. The aim of this visit was to gain a closer understanding with the progress of the process of recognizing and verifying the status of Sexual Violence Victims during the war, know the challenges that the Commission faces, as well as express KWN’s support for the tireless and transparent work ethic of the Commission.

“We have been part of this Commission’s journey since its establishment and we know it’s impartial and transparency,” said Ariana Qosaj-Mustafa, Chair of the KWN’s Board.

Among the key challenges of the Commission’s work, Minire Begaj-Balaj, the Chairperson of the Commission, listed the problem of incomplete cases that reach the Commission from the very beginning when they are brought for application, as well as delays in responding to verifiable requests made to organizations (which does not include the four organizations that are already authorized to receive the applications: Kosovar Rehabilitation Centre for Torture Victims (KRCT), Medica Kosova, Medica Gjakova and the Centre for Protection of Women’s Rights (CPWR) in Drenas).

Further, Begaj-Balaj through figures briefed on the work of the Commission starting from its inception period in February 2018. She stated that from the beginning of the Commission’s work, they have received 1,058 applications, of which 395 were approved, 152 were rejected, 52 are still proceeding, thus consisting 599 the number of all cases treated, while 461 remain in the treatment. She emphasized that most of the applicants are women, a small percentage of men, as well as that most applications are from the Albanian community, but there are also other communities applying for this status.

“However, the work is done and efficiency of the Commission should not be measured solely by the number of approved applications: we should take into consideration the fact that dealing with such cases sometimes means handling a single case up to six times as a result of incomplete files. In this way we would underhand that the figures for our work are mathematically higher than the number of approved cases, she said.

Recent developments in Kosovo, including the publication by MP Flora Brovina of a photograph aimed to witness the rape of a woman by Serbian military forces during the war in Kosovo, an act which KWN condemned, and later the authenticity of this image was contested, violate the dignity of sexual violence survivors, as well as serve as a discouragement for reporting from other sexual violence survivors. Furthermore, it serves as a dangerous precedent for all those individuals reporting sexual violence what they can expect from the process.

“After the publication of this photograph, we received numerous phone calls from sexual violence survivors who applied for their status and/or from their relatives seeking to withdraw the application fearing that their testimonies and pictures will circulate publicly as well, and their confidentiality will be affected”, Begaj-Balaj stated.

Supporting the tireless work ethic and the transparency of the Commission, KWN repeats its call for everyone to be cautious, to offer their support for the survivors, and to build a more encouraging environment for the recognition and verification of the status of wartime sexual violence survivors in Kosovo.

28.03.25