Citizens react to discrimination in the workplace

05.12.2018

The Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN), together with five partner organizations from Albania, Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, is implementing the regional project “Fighting Discrimination, Improving Women’s Rights at Work”, funded by the European Union (EU). The project aims to consolidate the regional networks of civil society organizations. The KWN is collaborating with these five partners from five countries in the region, and the project is focused on empowering various civil society organizations in Southeast Europe to hold relevant institutions accountable for implementing legislation on protection against discrimination in relation to women’s rights at work.

Within this project, apart from other activities, it is envisaged to conduct a survey on the implementation of the anti-discrimination law, particularly with regard to women’s rights at work. The data from the research will serve as an indicator of how widespread gender discrimination is in the labor market, and at the same time, will provide concrete suggestions on the required course of action. An important part of this research is the anonymous questionnaire for the citizens of the respective countries, through which each partner organization in the region will measure, among other things, how widespread is gender discrimination in the labor market.

During November, the KWN in Kosovo, the Gender Alliance for Development Center in Albania, the Kvinna Foundation in Serbia, Reactor – Research in Action in Macedonia, the Center for Women’s Rights in Montenegro, and Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Banja Luka in Bosnia and Hercegovina, launched an online questionnaire for citizens, through which data on discrimination at work are collected, in particular on how discrimination can affect women and men differently.

Research teams are jointly working on the processing of data from interviews with relevant institutions and questionnaires. The research report is expected to be launched during the first months of 2019.

26.04.19

Women’s Rights Centre Launches Report: Gender-based Discrimination and Labour in Montenegro

24.04.19

KWN contributes with recommendations to public consultations about ERA

16.04.19

Ruka Ruci briefs women of Uglarë to the “Strengthening Women’s Participation in Politics”

15.04.19

Reactor promotes new report on Gender Based Discrimination and Labour in North  Macedonia

11.04.19

KWN Launches Report: Gender-based Discrimination and Labour in Kosovo

11.04.19

KWN Launches Report: Gender-based Discrimination and Labour in Kosovo

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Coalition for Equality discusses Kosovo’s Feminist Government

05.12.2018

On November 7, Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) organized the third meeting of the Coalition for Equality “Kosovo’s Feminist Government. When?”, attended by women in politics, representatives of women-led organizations and women activists.

Igballe Rogova, the KWN Executive Director, in her introductory speech pointed out that seeing that the idea that women from all spheres should join was obvious, and seeing that women remain underrepresented in politics at municipal and central level in Kosovo, and to address this issue Coalition for Equality was born. She emphasized that “The message of this union is solidarity among women and advancement of gender equality in decision-making”.

Her support for the Coalition was reiterated by Atifete Jahjaga, President of the Republic of Kosovo (2011-2016), who said: “We need to eliminate the traditional division of gender roles that continues to affect how we feel as a society.” Meanwhile, Mexhide Mjaku-Topalli, Member of Parliament and Chairwoman of Women Caucus, said: “Gender equality is not just a human right, but a necessity for the development of our society.”

Further, Clare Hutchinson, NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for Women, Peace and Security spoke about the implementation of UNSC Resolution 1325 in NATO and the importance of advancing the agenda for women, peace and security. “20 years after the adoption of the Resolution, we are still not where we should be,” she added.

Mrs. Karin Hernmarck Ahliny, Ambassador of the Swedish Embassy in Kosovo, spoke about how a feminist government looks like, discussing the government feminist policy and its importance. “Gender equality is not a cherry on the top of a cake, it’s the actual cake,” Ambassador Hernmarc said. She went on by quoting the Swedish Foreign Minister as saying: “No woman needs to be given a voice. Everyone has a voice. We need listening.”

Following the speeches, participants discussed the importance, challenges and solidarity that should guide the work and the commitment to achieve the goal of having a feminist government in Kosovo.

This meeting was supported by Austrian Development Agency (ADA).

Coalition for Equality was established on 22 June 2018 during the initiative “Strengthening Women Participation in Politics and Decision-Making in Kosovo”. The Coalition for Equality is a group composed of women in politics from the central and local levels, non-governmental women-led organizations and women activists who support and empower each other in improving the position of women in politics, decision-making and advancement of gender equality in Kosovo. The Coalition is committed to working towards fulfilling joint mission and vision on empowering and improving the position of women in politics and decision-making and advancing gender equality in Kosovo through mentoring, advocating, solidarity and support for each other.

26.04.19

Women’s Rights Centre Launches Report: Gender-based Discrimination and Labour in Montenegro

24.04.19

KWN contributes with recommendations to public consultations about ERA

16.04.19

Ruka Ruci briefs women of Uglarë to the “Strengthening Women’s Participation in Politics”

15.04.19

Reactor promotes new report on Gender Based Discrimination and Labour in North  Macedonia

11.04.19

KWN Launches Report: Gender-based Discrimination and Labour in Kosovo

11.04.19

KWN Launches Report: Gender-based Discrimination and Labour in Kosovo

KWN finalizes New 2019-2022 Strategy

05.12.2018

On November 26, at the Sirius Hotel in Prishtina, the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) hosted its members, members of the Lobby for Gender Equality in Kosovo and key stakeholders to finalize the draft of the new 2019-2022 KWN Strategy.

With the support of the Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation, the journey of planning and drafting the new KWN Strategy together with the members started at the two-day meeting held in Durres on April 27-28, given that the 2015-2018 KWN Strategy would be completed at the end of this year, during which it was decided to introduce a new education program. During the year, the KWN has collected data to complete the new Strategy.

During the meeting in November were presented the long-term goals of each program and the expected results of the final draft of the new 2019-2022 KWN Strategy. Based on programming fields, participants were divided into working groups to discuss together, providing extraordinary contributions for the latest changes and suggestions in the current document, given that the document presents the relevant laws, the situation, the Network’s achievements and ultimately the expected results and the outline of the work plans for the next four years.

The Assembly of KWN members has decided that the programming areas of the 2019-2022 KWN Strategy are: 1. Strengthening the Feminist Movement in Kosovo; 2 Women in Politics and Decision Making; 3. Women’s Rights to Health Care; 4 Countering Gender-Based Violence Program; 5 Women’s Economic Empowerment; 6. Girls’ and Women’s Access to Education.

After one year of drafting, the 2019-2022 KWN Strategy will be adopted at the annual Assembly of Members that will be held on December 15 in Prishtina.

26.04.19

Women’s Rights Centre Launches Report: Gender-based Discrimination and Labour in Montenegro

24.04.19

KWN contributes with recommendations to public consultations about ERA

16.04.19

Ruka Ruci briefs women of Uglarë to the “Strengthening Women’s Participation in Politics”

15.04.19

Reactor promotes new report on Gender Based Discrimination and Labour in North  Macedonia

11.04.19

KWN Launches Report: Gender-based Discrimination and Labour in Kosovo

11.04.19

KWN Launches Report: Gender-based Discrimination and Labour in Kosovo

KWN participates in networking meeting of Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation

05.12.2018

Between November 19 and 22, the Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation brought together in Prizren eight partner organizations from Kosovo, at the networking meeting to discuss the theory of change and the theory of conflict. Mirjeta Dibrani, Kosovo Women’s Fund Grant Assistant (KWF), participated as a representative of the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN).

On the first day of the meeting, Yllka Soba, Program Officer, and Stina Magnuson Buur, Head of the Western Balkan Office of the Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation (KtK), presented the training topics as well as the items planned for discussion during these days. Further on, participants discussed the challenges that organizations have faced during this year.

In the following days, KtK representatives addressed topics related to the theory of change, the empowerment of the movement – the gap between generations, the transformation of conflict in theory and practice, as well as communication as a means of conflict resolution.

Most of the participants had never heard of these topics before, and stressed that they learned a lot, especially about the attention that should be devoted to all elements, from the writing of a project proposal to the final product.

The participants were happy with the training, pointing out that the discussed topics and group work would help them apply changes to their daily work.

At the end of the meeting, it was also recommended that KtK should organize at least twice a year networking meetings, considering the importance of empowerment through the exchange of information.

26.04.19

Women’s Rights Centre Launches Report: Gender-based Discrimination and Labour in Montenegro

24.04.19

KWN contributes with recommendations to public consultations about ERA

16.04.19

Ruka Ruci briefs women of Uglarë to the “Strengthening Women’s Participation in Politics”

15.04.19

Reactor promotes new report on Gender Based Discrimination and Labour in North  Macedonia

11.04.19

KWN Launches Report: Gender-based Discrimination and Labour in Kosovo

11.04.19

KWN Launches Report: Gender-based Discrimination and Labour in Kosovo

KWN shares experiences with leading women in Kachin

04.12.2018

The Kachin Women’s Association in Thailand, between November 19-30 organized a Women’s Empowerment Training program attended by leading women from Thailand. The training included several topics, with particular focus on human rights and advocacy and peace negotiations. At the sessions, the participants were introduced to the experiences of women’s organizations in the peace processes in Kosovo and Colombia.

On November 27, Igballe Rogova, Executive Director of the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN), conducted a mentoring session via Skype to share Kosovo’s experience and the role of women in the state-building process.

She talked about activism during the 1990s in Kosovo, the Sisters Qiriazi Association, as well as about the war period in Kosovo, when this association didn’t cease it activities to help Kosovars located in refugee camps. The participants also had the opportunity to be informed about the history of the women’s movement in Kosovo, how the first organizations for women’s rights were established in Kosovo after the war, as well as the background and work of the KWN, since its establishment in 2000 as an informal network. Among other things, Rogova also mentioned the investigative reports on gender-based violence and sexual harassment in Kosovo; the establishment of Council for Survivors of Sexual Violence in Kosovo; as well as initiatives and research related to the monitoring in Kosovo of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1325, Resolution on Women, Peace and Security.

26.04.19

Women’s Rights Centre Launches Report: Gender-based Discrimination and Labour in Montenegro

24.04.19

KWN contributes with recommendations to public consultations about ERA

16.04.19

Ruka Ruci briefs women of Uglarë to the “Strengthening Women’s Participation in Politics”

15.04.19

Reactor promotes new report on Gender Based Discrimination and Labour in North  Macedonia

11.04.19

KWN Launches Report: Gender-based Discrimination and Labour in Kosovo

11.04.19

KWN Launches Report: Gender-based Discrimination and Labour in Kosovo

KWN, Members Advocate for Improved Gender Perspective in EU Accession

03.12.2018

On Nov. 5-9, several representatives and members of the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN), together with other women’s rights organizations from the region, went to Brussels to meet members of the European Parliament, the European Commission and the European External Action Service in order to advocate for an improved gender perspective in the EU Accession Process. Key advocacy points have included the need to: include attention to gender-based violence in the Acquis chapters related to judiciary and fundamental rights (23) and justice, freedom and security (24); to consult with women’s rights organizations as part of accession processes, in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security and the EU Gender Action Plan II; and the need to better resource women’s rights groups and movements for their work in support of informing EU accession reforms with their expertise, advocating for reforms, raising awareness, and holding their governments accountable.

More specifically, KWN and the Kosovar Gender Studies Centre met with the Desk Officer for Kosovo, Julia Mueller-Hellmann, to provide input for the Kosovo Report (formerly known as progress report), regarding critical human rights issues in Kosovo.

They also met Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Igor Soltes, Parliamentary Rapporteur on Kosovo, to discuss better reflecting a gender perspective in political dialogues between the EU and Kosovo, as well as visa liberalization.

At a luncheon with MEPs, including from the Foreign Affairs and FEMM Committees, KWN Program Director Nicole Farnsworth presented on the needs of women’s rights groups in the region. This and issues presented by other women’s rights activists related to women’s political participation and violence against women will inform a draft parliamentary resolution being prepared by MEP Biljana Borzan in the FEMM Committee regarding gender equality in Western Balkan countries.

Other meetings took place with the European Commission and EEAS, during which additional strategies for furthering women’s inclusion in the EU Accession process were discussed.

This important annual advocacy trip is supported by the Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation.

26.04.19

Women’s Rights Centre Launches Report: Gender-based Discrimination and Labour in Montenegro

24.04.19

KWN contributes with recommendations to public consultations about ERA

16.04.19

Ruka Ruci briefs women of Uglarë to the “Strengthening Women’s Participation in Politics”

15.04.19

Reactor promotes new report on Gender Based Discrimination and Labour in North  Macedonia

11.04.19

KWN Launches Report: Gender-based Discrimination and Labour in Kosovo

11.04.19

KWN Launches Report: Gender-based Discrimination and Labour in Kosovo

A Gendered Reading of Kosovo’s 2019 Progress Report

03.12.2018

For a few years now, Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) has been using Kosovo’s EU Accession process as a tool to advocate for an increased focus on gender equality and women’s rights. As part this, KWN provided written comments from a gender perspective on Kosovo’s 2019 Progress Report. This document is an instrument that the EU uses to assess the progress that an EU Accession candidate country has made with regards to meeting the European agenda within a calendar year.  The mains issues which KWN raised this year were mostly taken from KWN’s ‘Kosovo Gender Analysis’ and are as follows:

Under the Democracy section

  • Women, particularly ethnic minority women, remain underrepresented as elected officials in municipal assemblies (35%) and the parliament (32%) and at all levels of governance;
  • Women’s Civil Society Organisations tend to be under-resourced; insufficient human resources make it difficult for them to engage in democracy and governance processes.

Under the Rule of Law and Fundamental Rights section

  • On gender-based violence, further efforts are needed to address the weak coordination between the police, prosecutors and other players and to address the inadequate monitoring by the police and the courts of protection orders in cases of domestic violence. It is also imperative to ensure that shelters for victims of gender-based violence and trafficking in human beings are sustainably funded and that measures are taken for the effective reintegration of victims;
  • Obligatory training and refreshment courses for prosecutors and judges on gender-based crimes still need to be developed and institutionalized, including power relations, male violence, sexual violence, sexual harassment and victim-blaming, particularly following any amendments to the Criminal Code related to gender-based violence;
  • Police, prosecution and judiciary need to operationalise secure, inter-institutional data management and case management systems, inclusive of gender-disaggregated data;
  • Despite improvements, women still own substantially less property (17% of properties) than men;
  • LGBTI persons still face discrimination in access to public services.

Under the Social Policy and Employment section

  • Women’s labour force participation remains particularly worrying.

Under the Education and Culture section

  • The lack of gender balance among teachers at all levels and remaining gender stereotypes in curricula contributes to continued reinforcement rather than undoing of traditional gender norms and inequalities;
  • Gender segregation exists in academic pathways, with men significantly underrepresented in education, and women underrepresented in computer science, agriculture, business and geosciences;
  • Very few women attend Adult Education courses.

Under the Agriculture section

  • Women working in the agriculture sector face challenges including lack of education, access to funding, property ownership and husbands who use their names to secure subventions, though in practice women do not have decision-making roles in businesses.

Under the Statistics section

  • Even though obliged by law, very little gender-disaggregated data is being collected and maintained in Kosovo.

 

26.04.19

Women’s Rights Centre Launches Report: Gender-based Discrimination and Labour in Montenegro

24.04.19

KWN contributes with recommendations to public consultations about ERA

16.04.19

Ruka Ruci briefs women of Uglarë to the “Strengthening Women’s Participation in Politics”

15.04.19

Reactor promotes new report on Gender Based Discrimination and Labour in North  Macedonia

11.04.19

KWN Launches Report: Gender-based Discrimination and Labour in Kosovo

11.04.19

KWN Launches Report: Gender-based Discrimination and Labour in Kosovo

Kosovo Women’s Fund Grants €48 thousand to 14 Women-led Organizations

27.11.2018

On 29 Oct., the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) organized the Orientation Session and the Press Conference to officially announce 14 recipients of 12 grants of the Kosovo Women’s Fund (KWF), two of which are partnerships, amounting €47,992 funded by Austrian Development Agency (ADA).

By supporting these women-led organizations’ initiatives, KWF contributes to changes that they bring about in their communities. KWN, through KWF, also encourages solidarity among women’s rights activists, and working together as a women’s movement towards implementing KWN’s Strategy 2019-2022, which is being compiled and will be approved in accordance with KWN’s member organizations.

Nertila Qarri Gërguri, KWF Coordinator and Besa Shehu, Finance Manager at KWN, during the first part of the meeting, shared detailed information regarding the process of narrative and financial reporting, and how to create and maintain a monitoring and evaluation database, which will facilitate beneficiaries during the reporting process throughout the implementation of these projects.

Igballe Rogova, KWN Executive Director, in her welcoming speech, recalled the time in which the Kosovo Women’s Fund was established back in 2012. In that time, it came into being because of the great need of women-led organizations for funding, especially for those working in rural areas that did not have access to donors. She expressed her gratitude that KWF now has expanded and is enabling KWN members to implement the strategy.

Meanwhile, Arsim Aziri, Programme Manager Economic Development, said that “through women’s empowerment in economics and education we are trying to achieve a gender balance.”

During the press conference, Resmije Rrahamni from Organization of Persons with Muscular Dystrophy of Kosovo (OPDMK), a beneficiary of this round, said that this is was the fourth time that OPMDK has received grants through KWF. “The grants that we have received from Kosovo Women’s Fund has helped us to improve the lives of people with disabilities, especially to help women to have equal access to healthcare. Throughout the years, Kosovo Women’s Network has been our most powerful voice and we are very thankful for this support,” said Resmije.

KWN and its member organizations signed contracts for grants, as following:

Advocacy Grants for a Single Organization:

 

  • Organization of Persons with Muscular Dystrophy of Kosovo with the initiative: (OPDMK) with the initative: “Health for all” (€3,840.00)
  • Women’s Association with the initative: “Advancing the law on Inhertance” (€3,395.00)
  • The Midwives Association of Kosovo with the initative: ”Strengthening the role of midwives’ professional service” (€3,055.00)
  • Handikos Mitrovica with the initiative: “Depression in mothers of children with disabilities and people with disabilities” (€3,346.00).
  • Psychotherapists in Action with the initative: “Advancing palliative care in Kosovo and raising awareness among the community for people with special needs” (€3,351.00)
  • Luna with the initative: “Promoting and protecting women’s rights against gender-based violence” (€3,511).
  • NGO Gruaja Bashkëkohore with the initative: “The Stigma of Society on Sexuality” (€3,164.00)
  • Women’s Alliance for Integration: “Areness raising of health care for Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian women in the municipality of Ferizaj Urosevac and Lipjan” (€3,665.00)
  • Center for Protection of Women and Chdilren “Raba Voca” with the initative: “Parental leave as a future model in Kosovo” (€2,795.00)
  • Women’s Farmers Association “Krusha e Vogël” with the initative: “Women’s support in menopause (€3,460.00)

Networking for Change Grants:

  • Medica Kosova & Cradle of Smile with the initiative “Use of a community-based approach and trauma to improve the access of survivors of sexual violence during the war during the process of recognizing of their status” (€6,894.00)
  • Open Door& Ruka Ruci with the initiative: “What tomorrow brings with me!” (€7,516.00)

KWN’s Kosovo Women’s Fund offers small grants for women’s organizations that lack of other funding opportunities and that want to work for women’s rights, especially groups working in rural areas and/or with marginalized persons. Since 2012, KWF has distributed  a total of 144 grants and supported 75 different women’s rights organizations, totaling €532,830 It has had more than 19,564 beneficiaries, and contributed to at least 29 policy changes towards improving the lives of women and girls in Kosovo. In 2018, the Kosovo Women’s Fund is receiving support from the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) and the European Union Office in Kosovo.

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  

28.03.25

Shaping Change: A Swedish Political Scientist Contributes at KWN 

KWN, Members Advocate for Improved Gender Perspective in EU Accession

08.11.2018

This week several representatives and members of the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) are in Brussels, together with other women’s rights organizations from the region, where they are meeting members of the European Parliament, the European Commission and the European External Action Service in order to advocate for an improved gender perspective in the EU Accession Process. Key advocacy points have included the need to: include attention to gender-based violence in the Acquis chapters related to Judiciary and fundamental rights (23) and Justice, freedom and security (24); to consult with women’s rights organizations as part of accession processes, in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 and the EU Gender Action Plan II; and the need to better resource women’s rights groups and movements for their work in support of informing EU accession reforms with their expertise, advocating for reforms, raising awareness, and holding their governments accountable. This is part of an annual advocacy trip supported by the Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation.

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  

28.03.25

Shaping Change: A Swedish Political Scientist Contributes at KWN 

KWN and KJC sign cooperation agreement

02.11.2018

On October 3rd, Igballe Rogova, executive director of the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN), and Nehat Idrizi, Chair of the Kosovo Judicial Council (KJC), signed a cooperation agreement on the monitoring of court proceedings, in order to jointly contribute to the best interest of the public and the judiciary.

This agreement arose as a need after the KWN initiative regarding the monitoring of court hearings of Gender-Based Violence and Gender Discrimination at Work cases, as well as the monitoring of archives for disposed cases, aiming at assessing the trends of convictions in cases from the aforementioned categories.
Through this cooperation agreement, the KJC expressed its commitment to provide full access and cooperation to the KWN in monitoring court hearings conducted in Kosovo Courts, since the KJC provides impartial judiciary services for all Kosovo citizens, and simultaneously works on the capacity building of judges for the protection of persons who have experienced gender-based violence and discrimination.

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  

28.03.25

Shaping Change: A Swedish Political Scientist Contributes at KWN