KWN shares the experience with UNSCR 1325 in The Hague

02.11.2018

On 11 October, the annual meeting of the signatories of the National Action Plan 1325 (NAP 1325), “Implementing the women peace and security agenda: a joint local and international effort” was organized in The Hague, Netherlands, hosted by the Wo = Men Platform for Gender Equality, where the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) was one of the participants.
The NAP signatories come together twice a year in the Netherlands to reflect, share experiences and inspire their engagements for the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 (UNSCR 1325) on Women, Peace and Security. This time, a special meeting was hosted, inviting civil society partners from Yemen, Syria, Kosovo, etc., who participated as speakers at this meeting.
Igballe Rogova, KWN executive director, shared experience with the greatest achievements in the comprehensive peace processes in Kosovo. “Women and men were equal during the war. When the UN mission landed, they removed the women. Thanks to the UNSCR 1325 we were able to bring women’s perspectives into the negotiations,” said Ms. Rogova.

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Rogova attended the Second Annual Meeting of the NATO Advisory Panel on Resolution 1325

02.11.2018

Opened by H.E. Rose Gottemoeller, Deputy Secretary General, NATO, on October 8th at #NATO HQ in Brussels, the two-day NATO Civil Society Advisory Panel (CSAP) on Women, Peace and Security began its third Annual Meeting. CSAP brought together 28 individuals and institutions from countries/areas experiencing conflict, including Afghanistan and Ukraine, as well as countries engaged in supporting peacebuilding. KWN Executive Director Igballe Rogova has been a CSAP member since 2016, and also participated in this meeting.
The Civil Society Advisory Panel discussed new NATO’s policy and action plan for the implementation of UNSCR1325 and related Resolutions on Women, Peace and Security across NATO’s core tasks. It agreed its work methods for advising NATO on the implementation and revision of this policy and action plan and planned a series of activities.

NATO and its partners acknowledge the importance of the civil society role in promoting the Women, Peace and Security agenda, women and girls’ empowerment and protection of their rights. Through the Civil Society Advisory Panel on Women, Peace and Security, NATO wishes to systematically benefit from the knowledge and expertise of civil society in order to further develop the Women, Peace and Security agenda.

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“Jeta Vita” marks the month of breast cancer awareness

02.11.2018

On October 20, the “Jeta/Vita” Kosovo Center for Fighting Breast Cancer (KCFBC) hosted the 11th edition of its cultural and outreach event, where many citizens marched together under the “Early Discovery = Survival” motto of the organization, to express solidarity and increase awareness on breast cancer in the Kosovar society.

Citizens, representatives of women organizations and state representatives, gathered on the Prishtina Main Square with pink balloons, ribbons and scarves to support the mission of the Jeta/Vita KCFBC, aiming at using the event to raise social awareness of the risk of breast cancer and to create better conditions for early detection and optimal treatment of this disease in Kosovo.
The participants were greeted with a speech by the Prime Minister of Kosovo Ramush Haradinaj, the former President of Kosovo (2011-2016) Atifete Jahjaga, and the Executive Director of Jeta/Vita, Nafije Latifi, who launched the joint message that these women are not alone, because it is only by coming together that every battle can be won. The event also included ballet and poetry performances by renowned Kosovar actors.
For over 11 years now, Jeta/Vita cooperates with various organizations and institutions in organizing this march and in carrying out numerous advocacy activities for quality health care for women in Kosovo.
Meanwhile, the Kosovo Women’s Network expresses its gratitude to the Mr. Rex brand and the Telecom of Kosovo Vala, for their commitment to supporting the Jeta/Vita KCFB

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Kosovo Women’s Fund Grants 48 thousands Euros to 14 Women-led Organizations

30.10.2018

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 47,992.00€ 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 initative: “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 141 grants, supported 75 organizations, totalling €532,830.50. 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).

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Videot Dokumentari i Fondit të Grave të Kosovës, 2015-2017

26.10.2018

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08.11.24

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Nobel Recognizes Mukwege, Murad Fight against Sexual Violence

Nobel Recognizes Mukwege, Murad Fight against Sexual Violence

06.10.2018

The Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) congratulates Denis Mukwege and Nadia Murad, the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize laureates.

Mr. Mukwege is a Congolese gynaecologist who has helped thousands of persons who have suffered rape. Nadia Murad, an Iraqi Yazidi sold into sex slavery by ISIS, refused to remain silent, speaking out about crimes perpetrated against her and other women.

The Nobel committee said: “They have both put their own personal security at risk by courageously combatting war crimes and securing justice for victims.”

We thank the Nobel Peace Prize committee for utilizing this prestigious award to bring attention to sexual violence as a war crime and to those brave human rights defenders who consistently fight for justice. For too long, victims have remained silent due to public pressure and insufficient support. Finally the world is speaking out to support victims and to say, ‘We stand with you for justice. We stand with you for recognition. We stand with you.’

As many women and some men in Kosovo continue to seek justice for the sexual violence crimes that were perpetrated against them, we are pleased that the government of Kosovo finally has taken steps to recognise and support them. We continue to stand with all women and men who have suffered such crimes in Kosovo and beyond. We hope that the recognition given with the most recent Nobel Peace Prize will bring further international awareness and action towards supporting you, too.

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KWN members hold their regular meeting

05.10.2018

 On 10 September 2018, at the Sirius Hotel, Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) held its regular membership meeting, which was attended by the representatives of KWN member organizations and supporters.
Igballe Rugova, KWN Executive Director, welcomed the present, especially the new members of the Network, pointing out that the number of member organizations has reached 138.
She informed the attendees that KWN staff was working on a summary of the new strategy and that a one-day meeting with member organizations and the Lobby on Gender Equality would be held to work on Strategy 2019-2022.
Further on, she shared the information that, during this time, the Kosovo Women’s Network has supported the protests against gender-based violence with the motto #BollMa, which was used to say enough to the murdering of women and children, enough to injustices, enough to selective justice.” To date, such protests were held in Gjakova/Đakovica, Pristina, Ferizaj/Uroševac, Gjilan/Gnjilane, Kaçanik/Kačanik, Prizren and Vushtrri/Vučitrn”, Rugova said. She also stressed that the protests have already started to yield results, taking as an example a murder case in Gjakova/Đakovica, where a mother and her daughter were killed by her former husband and father respectively. “Our institutions have not responded to their cry for help, and, as a result of the protests, police officers that were on duty have been suspended now”, she continued.
Later on, Nertila Qarri Gërguri, Kosovo Women’s Fund (KWF) Coordinator, reported on the first point of the KWN strategy, related to the development of member organization capacities. She shared information about the 12th round of the Kosovo Women’s Fund, which was open from 26 June to 10 July 2018, with a total of 58 applications received, out of which 50 were individual and 8 in partnership. Out of a total of 58 applications, 56 have met the KWF criteria. In this KWF round, the total amount for the grants will be €49,000, of which a maximum amount of €4,000 can be awarded to individual grants, and a total amount of €8.000 can be awarded to partnerships for change. This round will be funded by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA).
In the last part of the meeting, the members had the opportunity to share information about their recent activities and initiatives planned for the future.

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7 Cities protest #enough (#BollMa)

05.10.2018

During the months of August and September, the civil society organizations, supported by the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN), have organized several protests in several municipalities of Kosovo.
The first protest was organized in Gjakova, after the last case of domestic violence that had a tragic end and in which a woman and a child were killed. According to media reports, the murder has occurred in Brekoc of Gjakova, where the killer, having threatened the victim, a 40-year-old woman, on the phone first, has gone to her home and killed her and her 9-year-old daughter. The same was the husband of the 40-year-old woman.
According to KWN sources, the murderer had been held in detention before (in May 2018) for domestic violence against the late under the charge of criminal offence of “Light Bodily Injury”. Kosovo police were aware of his criminal background, and the court has released him after a month in detention. According to the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kosovo, the minimum sentence provided for this criminal offence is 3 months to 5 years of imprisonment. His release has resulted in the murder of the woman and the girl. KWN believes that had the same been convicted in advance, we would not be writing this response today and a woman and a child would still be alive. On the day of the murder, the late has warned the police of the threats that she had already received from her killer, but, as reported in the media, the police have failed to get hold of him.
Angered by the irresponsibility of the law and order authorities, concerned about the indifference to the lives of women and girls in our country, horrified by the macabre killings of women and girls in Kosovo, protests were organized to say #Boll [Enough] to the violence against women and girls in Prishtina, Ferizaj, Vushtrri, Kaçanik, Gjilan and Prizren, in which hundreds and thousands of citizens from all over Kosovo have taken part.
Through these protests, the society has demanded an impartial and objective inquiry into the cases of violence against and killings of women, a meritorious punishment for the murderers and an institutional responsibility in relation to the handling of cases of domestic violence and violence and killings of women in general.
The KWN has through the media conveyed the message: “It is high time for us to react against the killers of women and girls”. It is more than important to bring perpetrators to justice. It is more than important for responsible institutions and individuals acting in these institutions to get the proper punishment from the society. Moral punishment and legal punishment for the defenders of murderers, for the keepers of a patriarchal order, for whom the lives of women and girls have no value.”

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Austrian Delegation visits KWN Offices

05.10.2018

On September 4, an Austrian delegation comprised of Minister for Internal Affairs, Ms. Karoline Edtstadler; Office of the Secretary of State, Mr. Gernot Maier; Dr. Elisabeth Lemmerer form Unit for Bi- and Multilateral Affairs within the Ministry of Internal Affairs; Amb. Gernot Pfandler, Austrian Ambassador to Kosovo; Mr. Gunther Zimmer from ADA; Ms. Dalia El-Hennawi, Police Attaché at the Austrian Embassy and Ms. Martina Berger, Press Officer met with President of Republic of Kosovo Ms. Atifete Jahjaga and activists from KWN. The latter spoke about their work, activities and challenges they face towards women’s empowerment and gender equality in Kosovo expressing the gratitude for Austrian Development Agency that supports the implementation of many KWN Strategic Programs.
During this meeting President Jahjaga spoke about current political affairs in Kosovo, emphasizing the need for justice for approx. 20,000 women who suffered sexual violence during the war in Kosovo, visa-liberalisation to broaden perspectives for youth and attention to domestic violence. While activists talked about their work, activities and challenges they face towards women’s’ empowerment and achieving gender equality in Kosovo.
KWN Executive Director, Igballe Rogova expressed her gratitude for Austrian taxpayers, respectively for Austrian Development Agency, that believes in women’s rights and women’s lead organizations. Through this support it was made possible implementation of many KWN strategy programs towards improvement of life women’s and girls in Kosovo and furthering gender equality in Kosovo.

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Remembering an Inspirational Activist: Dua Dauti Kadriu

05.10.2018

On 6 July, an angel departed from our earth Dua Dauti-Kadriu (36). KWN always remembers her with respect and love for her contribution and hard work. To honour the memory of Dua, on 17   September KWN organized a visit in Prizren, and paid tribute at her grave together with other activists and family members.
Dua’s name means love. In all her acts and words, she fulfilled the prophecy of her name. Dua was always patient, kind, honest, caring and ready with an encouraging word. Full of light and life, she refused to dwell on anything negative and constantly emphasized the positive aspects of every situation.
Dua’s life was full and her contributions many, likely far more extensive than those that we know. Here we humbly recount only some of her contributions to the women’s rights movement.
In 2005-2006, she worked as a researcher at the Kosovar Gender Studies Centre, where she contributed substantially to researching History is Herstory, Too. She spent several days (and nights) conducting oral history interviews with leading women’s rights activists and artists from Prizren, Krushe e Madhe, Vushtrri and Prishtina, documenting and preserving their stories of activism for generations to come.
In 2011-2012, she joined the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) as a staff member, researching and writing At What Cost? Budgeting for the Implementation of the Legal Framework against Domestic Violence in Kosovo. Dua was an intelligent and perceptive researcher, skilled at gathering information from diverse institutions and actors, with a flair for insightful analysis.
In the years that followed, whenever KWN was in need, of peer reviewers or last minute researchers (because someone had dropped out), Dua would jump in, travelling to Mamushe, Prizren and other municipalities at a moment’s notice. A skilled communicator, she conversed freely with diverse women in men in Turkish, Bosnian, Albanian and Serbian, including with regard to difficult topics like domestic violence. She volunteered regularly for KWN, donating thousands of hours to contribute to furthering women’s rights. She attended nearly every KWN bimonthly meeting, actively following the network’s initiatives.
In 2015, Dua became an individual member of KWN. She was a constant promotor of KWN and its work, recruiting several friends, family members and co-workers to join KWN as individual members, as well.
In 2015, KWN member organizations elected Dua as a member of the KWN Board of Directors, where she served in 2016 and 2017, including briefly as Chair of the KWN Board. In this position, she continued contributing substantially to KWN’s work with her positivity, encouragement and ideas.
With her unwavering energy and commitment, Dua was an inspiring role model for other women. While caring for her two children as a dedicated mother, she also worked full-time. Meanwhile, she simultaneously continued her own education. For years, she studied late into the night in order to finish her degree in psychology, as well as to finish in Law, passing the Bar exam.
Dua always divided time from her busy schedule to support others. She utilized her degree in psychology for counselling, not as paid work, but by lending a friendly ear to anyone who needed one, always ready to listen and offer support. She was an exceptional friend, and she always brought life, light and joy to social gatherings.
Dua served her community in many other ways. She was a member of the Independent Media Commission in 2017, and advocated for children’s rights, in her own way, for years. For example, after enrolling her children in school, she was concerned by the poor diets of children and the negative impact that it had on academic achievement. She worried for children who could not afford “cool” (albeit unhealthy) snacks and soda during recess, as they were teased by other children; and for the negative impact that consuming sugar has on children’s ability to focus and learn. She advocated both within schools and on television for parents and teachers to ban junk foods from school, promoting a healthy diet for all children. She also appeared regularly on television, discussing parenting techniques and child health.
Dua has left behind her wonderful and supportive husband, Halit; children Diella and Alpi; and the Kadriu and Dauti families from Prishtina, Gjilan and Prizren. We share our most heart-felt condolences with her family. Dua will forever live on in our hearts, memories and work.

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