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

16.04.2019

On April 16, Ruka Ruci organization held an informative session with Serbs women in Fushë Kosova’s Uglarë, with the purpose to brief them with the initiative “Strengthening Women’s Participation in Politics”.

This four year-long initiative is implemented by Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) together with Ruka Ruci, Organization of Persons with Muscular Dystrophy of Kosovo (OPMDK), and the European Women Lawyers Association (EWLA), whereas it is supported by the European Union (EU) Office in Kosovo.

In this meeting present were representatives of the municipalities of Graçanica and of Fushë Kosova, and also co-operators and volunteers of the Ruka Ruci organization.

Initially, Nevenka Rikalo, Executive Director of Ruka Ruci, shared with the participants the most crucial information about this action, including here objectives and results they are expecting from the implementation of this joint initiative.

She has further mentioned the importance of solidarity between the women.

“There is a lack of solidarization between women and girls, and hence some networks exist in order for us to achieve our goals. Kosovo Women’s Network, Coalition for Equality (CfE) and Kosovo Lobby for Gender Equality (KLGE) are among these networks”, she stated.

Suzana Emini, Assistant Coordinator, Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation has acknowledged that the time has come for women to be in political positions and also have a say in decision-making process.

“During the election time there is a huge gap [between men and women]. Men receive more support and more money, while women cannot do the same because of the lack of contacts”, Emini stated.

While agreeing with the absence of support towards the women, Snezana Stajoneviq from the Municipality of Fushë Kosova, added that it is time for increased participation of women in politics.

“Women in politics are not themselves, they are usually somebody else’s marionette. We are always finding reasons to not take part, but now the time has come to be part of politics and for this we need support”, she said.

Participants further discussed the best ways of women’s public representation, sharing together the features that make a woman a successful public figure.

“Door to door” activities and grants to member organizations of KWN, are some of the issues that women present discussed, in order to know better the plan of initiative “Strengthening Women’s Participation in Politics”.

Such meetings will take place also in the Municipality of Gracanica, Novo Brdo, North Mitrovica, Zubin Potok, Obilic and Ranilug.

This initiative is supported by the European Union (EU) Office 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

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

15.04.2019

On April 11, at the EU Info Centre in Skopje, Reactor – Research in Action promoted the new research report on Gender Based Discrimination and Labour in North Macedonia.

The report analyzes the shortcomings in the relevant legal framework related to gender-based discrimination and labour rights; the prevalence and nature of gender-based discrimination in the labour market; the extent to which people have filed claims; how institutions have treated such cases; and contains recommendations for improving the existing legal framework, institutional mechanisms and practices for protection against gender-based discrimination in employment and access to work.

The results of the survey show that gender based discrimination at work affects women more than men.

„Not to lose my job, I was forced to return to work 14 days after I gave birth.”„ At a job interview, I was told that the work they do could not be performed by women because women are less intelligent than men.”; „ In the same working position, with the same work responsibilities and the same level of education, I received 3,000 denars less than my male colleague.” – are just a few of the testimonials of female workers surveyed in the research.

The gender-based discrimination that women face at work seems fuelled by sexism and gender stereotypes, which suggest that their ‘reproductive and care roles, and domestic work’ conflict with the work environment as it is perceived as a barrier for career development and progress by the employers and managers. Pregnancy remains a risky career move and women are often forced to choose between their careers or having children – this decision sometimes is predetermined for them by employers. Just because they are women, they are penalized with lower working positions (barriers in the promotion process) and lower salaries compared to men.

The findings of the study show that very few cases of gender-based discrimination against women at work have been reported to the different mechanisms available for prevention and protection from discrimination. The institutions responsible for addressing gender-based discrimination at work lack data about its prevalence. The precise prevalence of gender-based discrimination cannot be known given that cases often may not be reported. Interviewed stakeholders presume that gender-based discrimination is not reported due to lack of knowledge where to go, distrust in the institutions and lengthy and expensive processes to prove discrimination.

The panel will hosted several presenters: Sophie Beaumont, Programme Manager for education, gender equality and rights for persons with disabilities at the Delegation of the European Union; Jovana Trenchevska, State Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Social Policy; Olivera Lazarevska, State Labor Inspectorate; Kristina Ampeva, Glasen Tekstilec; and Igor Jadrovski, Network for Protection against Discrimination.

This research is part of the regional action “Furthering Women’s Labor Rights”, supported by the European Union (EU) implemented in six Western Balkan countries (North Macedonia, Serbia, Albania, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro). The research was done at the end of the year 2018.

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

Blace Story

12.04.2019

June 28th 2002, 9am

At a meeting at OSCE building in Prishtina organized by the former Us Ambassador in Austria, Ms. Swanee Hunt, I was listening the stories of two Bosnian women.

Six years after the war ended in Bosnia, it was still emotional for the women from Bosnia to talk about their experiences from the war. Three years after the war ended in Kosova, I realized while listening to them that there is still pain left in me from the war.

Especially there was still pain in me from the experience from Blace (no mans land between Kosova and Macedonia). I was in tears while they were sharing their stories and as I listened to them, my mind went back to March 1999.

March 1999,

When Nato started bombing Serbian Army positions in Kosova and Serbia, my whole family gathered at my mothers house so we could stay together. Serbian police and paramilitary units were going around Prishtina forcing Albanians to leave their homes and go to Macedonia or Albania. We were over 37 people at my mothers house: my brothers with their wives and children, my sisters with their husbands and children, my cousins. And we had very  little supplies.

Everyday we lived in fear of the police coming to force us out of the house.

On the 4th day of the bombing, the situation got worse. The Serbian police were taking out their brutal and aggressive revenge at Albanians for the Nato bombing.

We had to be quiet and in the night we only used candles, so no one would find out that we are inside the house. Friends from all over the world would call me and ask me to leave Kosova before it was too late. I refused. I was with my family. In the house where I grew up.

We had less and less supplies everyday. I ran out of the cigarettes as well. I decided to go to my Serbian neighbour to ask her buy me cigarettes, because in the shops only Serbian people were allowed to buy things.

Both of her sons had joined the Serbian police. My mother said its too dangerous to go and visit her. Maybe her sons will be at home and do something to me, she said. “ How can they harm me?” I answered.

I grew up with her sons. We played together. They were always poor so my family always helped them. Since  I got my first salary in 1984, I always gave some money to her.

I went to her house. She was alone and very surprised to know we were at the house. I gave her money for my cigarettes and also for herself. She promised that she would buy them for me.  She never did.

Two weeks after the bombing started, armed Serbian police came to our street, forcing Albanians out of their homes. We started to organize ourselves. Each of us packed something to carry with us because we had no idea where we would be going or how. In my bag I put my multivitamins, my mothers medicine and my toothbrush and toothpaste.

My mobile phone was not working in Kosova because the Serbian Regime had cut the Network so we wouldn’t be able to call each other but I decided to take it with me.

I asked my family not to answer the door if police would knock, hoping that maybe they would think we had left the house. Then they came, knocked at our door and continued on to the next house. I was watching the street through a tiny hole I had made in the curtain. I was happy when the police continued to knock at other doors. Then my neighbour came out of her house and ran towards the police screaming:

” Come back! There are people in that house!” –she pointed with her finger at our house.

If I hadn’t gone to ask her to buy me cigarettes she would not  know we were inside the house.

I had to think fast. I asked my family to take their bags and walk towards the street so that when the police would come they would think we heard the door but we were too busy packing our bags.When police came in anger and broke down our door, they started screaming at us pointing their guns at our heads. Somehow I found  the courage and screamed back:” Why you are angry? Don’t you see we were busy packing our bags and getting ready to leave?”

My reaction calmed them down and they replied:” Hurry up! Leave! Don’t you ever come back here!”

I was holding back my tears, as I walked down the street with my family. Now and then I would  turn my head back towards the house as if I had to say goodbye. Then  I looked back and saw my neighbour entering my house,

When we came to the center of town, there was police everywhere. From every streets came convoys of Albanians walking towards the train station, which where the police were directing us to go.

There were many thousands and thousands of people waiting at the train station. Above us and  everywhere around us were the snipers.

It started raining and we needed to find something to cover our mother. She had been ill before leaving the house. The trains were arriving and leaving filled with the thousands of people taking them towards the border with Macedonia.

Then it was our turn to leave. It wasn’t a passenger train but a train used for carrying cattle and goods. We were pushed inside as if we were a heard of sheep. We didn’t know where we were going. It was so crowded and no windows and so we made a circle around my mother so she could breath.

After a 40 min. journey  the train stopped. It was two am. We heard the police outside screaming:” Put gas on the train and burn them all.”

They let us panic inside the train for another two hours, while they continuously screamed  outside.

I couldn’t believe it when the train started moving again. We are saved, I thought at that moment.

Still I was holding back my tears. We arrived at Blace. The no land zone between  Kosova and Macedonia. The police made us get out of the train and said to us: “ Walk on the railway tracks because there are mines all around you and don’t you ever come back!”

In the dark we  walked two by two. I thought this is it. We are saved! We are going to go into a free country. I was almost letting my tears out, when I heard voices. Babies were crying and in front of me, spread around the muddy fields with no shelter were thousands of people who had been sent  here, the same way as we were.

Again I was holding back my tears. I thought its not time to cry but to think. I walked through the field  and asked the people  how long were they there. Some people said  two days, others even five days.

The Macedonian Police let only few people inside their country. They wouldn’t let   humanitarian organizations inside the no mans land. They also stopped  the International media entering inside no mans land. We were trapped between the two police forces. Those who forced us out of our country by guns and then welcomed by the guns by the Macedonian police. We were not even considered refugees. We were not even considered human beings. No, it was not Blace, no mens land. It was hell.

My first concern was my mother, I thought she would die if she stayed one  day in this hell. I had to think of something. I heard my mobile click. The Network was working  here.  I couldn’t believe it. My mobile is working. We are saved!

It was 6am and I waited a little longer and then started calling humanitarian organizations in Macedonia. They all gave the same answer:” We are not allowed inside Blace!”

 Trucks with bread were approaching Blace but they were not allowed inside. They started to throw bread out to the crowd of people who were pushing to the front just so they would be able to catch one piece of bread so they could feed their children.

It was cold so I put on another layer. We covered my mother with the blanket we took from home. She was not feeling well and I thought  I have to get her out of here, but how?

In the distance I saw a TV crew, I ran towards them, screaming with anger:”Where  are you guys? Don’t you see people are dying here? What took you so long?”

They were US TV  journalists from NBC TV chanel. The woman journalist understood my anger and said: “My name is Amy, I work for TV NBC. Tell us your story”. Still angry I answered:”Which story? What you see here is my story!”

Amy was very kind and was trying to calm me down. She explained how she had to come to be inside Blace. They had traveled  through the mountains because Macedonian police wouldn’t let them in.

I was impressed with her courage and became calmer then. I shared my story in front of the camera about how we were forced out of our homes and the journey to Blace.

Before she left, she hugged me, wishing us safe journey and then Amy said:” I might not have another chance to come inside here but since your phone is working here I can call you”

Then Amy and the camera man returned to Macedonia taking the same way back: through the mountains.

My mother was cold. I had an idea. I asked my mother to stand up and while holding her, we walked very fast around Blace, until she could hardly breathe. Then quickly I grabbed my sister and said:” Go to the Macedonian police and tell him she is dying!”. I watched my sister and mother walking towards the police who then  allowed them to enter Macedonia.  It worked. They entered inside Macedonia.

The word spread that my phone was working, so friends were calling me constantly. Outside no mans land, on the Kosova side there was an empty house, where electricity still worked so I was able to charge my mobile batteries.

The crowd of people grew every hour because trains were bringing more and more people in. In the afternoon I saw my friend, Flaka Surroi who was working for UNICEF Kosova. She was in Macedonia and with the badge of UNICEF around her neck, she was allowed in to look for her family but not to bring in any humanitarian aid.

Flaka said she could help me get out but she needed to go back and get a badge of UNICEF for me.

It was very tempting but then I thought of the thousands of people who would be  left behind in hell.

I had a mobile phone and I thought I could be useful to people and share the information so I decided to stay.

All the time there was a drizzling rain so we were wet constantly. In the evening people tried to light a fire to warm up but the drizzle was putting the fire out. I didn’t eat all day but I had water and took multivitamin pills. I felt happy that I had taken them with me.

I couldn’t sleep anyway because it was wet so I decided to go around and talk to people, encouraging them, giving them hope that things will change.

The next day I gathered children together to play and exercise gymnastics. I wished we had a ball to play with but since we had nothing, the gymnastic was just as good. This made the children happy and gave a smile to their parents.

Then the tragic  news started. Two newborn babies died during the night and an old man who was ill died because there was no medical care for him. I thought how each morning I would see things like this. Something had to be done fast.

I was informing the media through the phone about everything. Still no International Media or Humanitarian organization was allowed in. People started to cut with their hands some of the wood so that they could make temporary tents with blankets.

The days were always noisy. People talking in anger, wondering when things will change. They tried to get some bread when the truck came, but in the evening it was quiet so I did what I had done the previous night. Visit people around, talk to them, comfort them. Give them hope. Never thinking about my need, but their need.

The next day, as I feared, we heard about more people dying during the night.

They were buried on the other side of the small river.

I thought we have to do something. We can’t sit here and do nothing when people are dying in these conditions.

My mobile rang. It was my partner Rachel. Before the bombing started the Serbian police had ordered all the Internationals to leave Kosova. She didn’t want to leave me but I had to convince her to go to Budapest. Everyday she would call me to ask how things are. When she heard we were forced out of our home, she took the first plane to Greece, then train to Macedonia, to see me. “Igo, where are you?”-she asked and continued: “I am inside Blace but its so crowded, I cant find you!”.

She was inside! My heart started jumping. While we were talking on the mobile phone we were giving each other directions on where to meet. “See that big tree before the river? Lets walk towards it” I said.

“I have an umbrella with me “-she said. I was walking toward the tree but still I couldn’t see her because of the crowd. Then she was there, in front of me. We ran towards  each other and hugged for a long time. I realized our friend Siobhan was with her, shooting everything with her camera.

They had managed to convince the Macedonian police to let them come inside the no mans land, but of course they to hide the camera.

They brought lots of food and cigarettes  which we immediately shared. They also  brought me a sleeping bag.

“We have to do something here” I told them “Some kind of protest. You could help us and inform all the media present in Macedonia. And all the political leaders.”

They stayed for four hours. While watching them leave, I felt for the first time, I want to leave with them. My heart broke but I had to stay and organize the protest.

We set up an organizing committee planning how to organize the  protest. We agreed that next day, at 11am  we would start packing our bags and making a line facing the Macedonian border and exactly at noon, start walking towards the border slowly, but loudly shouting: HELP!

That evening we informed all the people so they would be prepared for next day. Everyone had a smile on their faces because they felt good that at last they would do something.

A phone call came. It was Amy. She was constantly calling to ask about how the situation was but this time she said that NBC will call me live from the US. They asked me some questions about the situation and then they asked:” Igo, are you angry and at who are you are angry with”?

I answered:” I am angry at the Big Powers who knows what is happening here and is doing nothing to put pressure to Macedonian Government to let us in!”

 That night I opened up my sleeping bag Rachel brought and for the first time I slept. I felt I was in the most expensive hotel in the world.

Rachel and Siobhan informed all the International media present in Macedonia so the next morning around the border there was a big crowd of journalists but we noticed the uniform of the police had changed. They were wearing special uniforms with bullet proof jackets and huge batons in their hands. They knew about our plan!

Around 10 am, a phone call came from friend, who was living in Macedonia:” Igo, you have to stop this protest. This will lead to a bigger war. The police might even shoot the people!”

He was right, we had to change our plan quickly. Instead of walking towards the border, we decided we would just stand in a line and shout: Help!

We had a hard time to convince people to change our plan. At 11am they stood up, prepared the bags, I was shaking, afraid people would start walking but at 12, everyone stood in line in one place and for an half of an hour we all shouted: HELP!

The police were angry but didn’t intervene because we didn’t walk towards the border. After the shouting people slowly unpacked their belongings  and continued talking with each other.

Then a phone call came. “You did it! It worked! Tonight they are going to let people in!’

I started sharing the information to the people and asked them to spread the news. Everyone had tears in their eyes but not me. Not yet.

Then for the first time I felt tired and all my energy was gone. Its over. I felt my mission is over. I can call my Flaka from UNICEF to help me get  out from this hell.

When I called her, she said: ”We asked you the first day to come with us but you refused, so now you can stay there” I smiled. I knew she was joking with me.

Then she said ”At 1pm we are coming to get you out!”

Flaka was late because of  the trouble with the  Macedonian police. She had a UNICEF badge for me and I was supposed to play an International UNICEF staff. We started walking towards the border when I realized that a Macedonian police was following us. He was suspicious about me being an International staff of UNICEF. Then I started speaking loud to my friend pretending I am an International: ”Look all this mud on my trousers, cant believe this mud. I was here only thirty minutes and look at me now!!!”

The policeman turned back. It worked.

We walked toward UNICEF car. Only when I sat inside the car, I was able to cry out. I cried the whole way  to Skopje (capital of Macedonia).

June 28th  2002, 7pm

The former US Ambasador Swanee Hunt founded an organization called:” Women Waging Peace”. She came to Prishtina last year and also this year to have meetings with us, womens NGOs and women in the parliament. She has just published a book with the stories of the Bosnian women and she brought two women with her to share their stories to us.

In the evening she organized dinner at a nice restaurant in Prishtina. I went and sat on the table with the women from Bosnia. Ms. Hunt sat with us and then I gave her two books published by UNHCR-Kosova about the situation in Kosova before and after the war and the other one about  the Kosovar Women.

While she was looking at the books, her advisor approached her and asked her some questions. Then as she was looking at the books. She was looking at me as I was someone she knew from before. She recognized my voice. She saw my picture in the book and my name written under it then she turned to me and said:” Is that you Igo? I am Amy! Amy from Blace with TV crew!!”

I couldn’t believe it. In tears, we hugged each other for a long time. We didn’t recognize each other.

“What are you doing at Women Waging Peace Organization?” I asked her.

“Well, since I met you, you transformed my life so I decided to work for a womens organization so here I am!”

We talked and talked until it came time to leave. She was leaving Kosova the next morning but Amy promised to come back and catch up with the story.

***

Since I entered Macedonia with UNICEF car in 1999, I rested for two weeks and then worked with women and children in the refugee camps in Macedonia.

When we returned home in July 1999, I continued working with our organization “Motrat Qiriazi” with the support of the Swedish organization Kvinna till Kvinna. We tried to help traumatized women and children and helping people in need. I thought I dealt with my pain from the war, but while listening to the stories of the Bosnian women, I realized I didn’t deal with my Blace painful story and now finding Amy again it was a healing process.

All this time friends were asking why don’t I write about my Blace experience. I couldn’t but now I feel I can. So I sat all day by my computer and typed. I feel better now. Its all out of me now.

Igo Rogova

June 29th 2002

Prishtina Kosova

 

 

 

 

03.03.26

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27.02.26

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25.02.26

Breaking the Silence: Gender Justice in Northern Kosovo

13.02.26

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13.02.26

The Double Life of Growing Up Online and Being Safe

12.02.26

KWN Congratulates New Government, Calls for Urgent Gender Equality Reforms

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

11.04.2019

Download File

Pristina, 11 Apr. 2019 – The Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) in close cooperation with the European Union (EU), Agency for Gender Equality and Ombudsperson Institution launched a ground-breaking new report on Gender-based Discrimination and Labour in Kosovo. The event also served to launch officially a regional initiative to address gender-based discrimination in labour in six Western Balkan countries, co-funded by the EU and Sweden/Sida and led by KWN.

“Gender equality is a fundamental value of the European Union,” said Luigi Brusa, Head of Cooperation Section, EU Office in Kosovo. “I strongly encourage the government to address the recommendations made in this report. They need to harmonize laws with the Acquis Communautaire, including the Gender Equality Acquis. However, adopting laws is only the first step and is not sufficient,” he said. “The government must ensure implementation in practice.”

Recognizing the report, Edi Gusia, Chief Executive Officer of the Agency for Gender Equality in the Office of the Prime Minister said: “This research brings to our attention many important issues that also affect our work on a daily basis, which are: the collection of gender-disaggregated statistics in an improper manner and with an inconsistent methodology undermines the processes of law enforcement”.

“While the Constitution and legal framework are based on best international standards, including the values and principles of equal treatment between genders, women and girls in Kosovo, continue to live between two realities: legal and factual,” said Edona Hajrullahu, Deputy Ombudsperson. “Although unjust, this factual reality, which is often prejudicial and discriminatory against women, continues to prevail over the fundamental rights granted by the Constitution, international conventions and the primary legislation. Therefore, it is the duty of state institutions to ensure that the factual reality complies with the legal one, thus enabling equal opportunities.”

During this event, KWN presented key findings and recommendations resulting from the research, which was conducted in 2018 and involved mixed methods, including a desk review, online survey and interviews. The research provides information about shortcomings in the relevant legal framework; the prevalence and nature of gender-based discrimination related to labour; the extent to which people have filed claims; and how institutions have treated such cases.

Key findings, presented by two of KWN’s co-authors, Nicole Farnsworth and Iliriana Banjska, include:

• The legal and policy framework related to gender-based discrimination and labour in Kosovo seems rather comprehensive, particularly considering that much of the law is drafted in accordance with EU law. However, some overlap and unclarities require address.
• Most women and men survey respondents seemed aware that gender-based discrimination is illegal. While several knew that such discrimination should be reported to employers or the Labour Inspectorate, few knew of other institutions dealing with such cases.

• The institutions responsible for addressing gender-based discrimination at work lacked data about its prevalence. However, evidence shows that gender-based discrimination exists, particularly in hiring, promotion, maternity leave and sexual harassment at work.
• The odds of experiencing gender-based discrimination at work are 2.8 times greater for women than for men
• While police and prosecutors seem generally knowledgeable about their responsibilities in addressing gender-based discrimination at work, few such criminal cases have been reported, so they lacked practical experience and case law.

Key recommendations include:

• The importance of amending the Labour Law, Law on Gender Equality and Law on Protection from Discrimination to reduce overlap, clarify procedures and provide clearer sanctions for gender-based discrimination;
• The need for all relevant institutions to collect and maintain better data disaggregated by the gender of plaintiffs and defendants in accordance with the Law on Gender Equality, as well as by the specific articles violated;
• The need for more labour inspectors, particularly women, who are trained on recognizing and addressing gender-based discrimination at work;
• The need for inter-sectoral collaboration among relevant institutions and civil society, including trade unions, in raising women and men’s awareness regarding what constitutes gender-based discrimination and how to report it; and supporting persons who have experienced such discrimination in seeking justice.

The findings and recommendations will inform the actions of KWN and its partner organisations, among others, in coming years.
Speakers during the launching event, moderated by the KWN Chair of the Board, Ariana Qosaj-Mustafa, included Luigi Brusa, Head of Cooperation Section, EU Office in Kosovo; Edi Gusia, Chief Executive Officer, Agency for Gender Equality, Office of the Prime Minister; Edona Hajrullahu, Deputy Ombudsperson; Nicole Farnsworth, Program Director, Co-author, KWN; and Ilirijana Banjska, Co-author, KWN.

This action is co-funded by the European Union and Sweden/Sida.

For more information, please visit https://womensnetwork.org or call +381 (0) 38 245 850

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 Launches Report: Gender-based Discrimination and Labour in Kosovo

11.04.2019

Pristina, On 11 Apr. The Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) in close cooperation with the European Union (EU), Agency for Gender Equality and Ombudsperson Institution launched a ground-breaking new report on Gender-based Discrimination and Labour in Kosovo. The event also served to launch officially a regional initiative to address gender-based discrimination in labour in six Western Balkan countries, co-funded by the EU and Sweden/Sida and led by KWN.

“Gender equality is a fundamental value of the European Union. I strongly encourage the government to address the recommendations made in this report. They need to harmonize laws with the Acquis Communautaire, including the Gender Equality Acquis”, said Luigi Brusa, Head of Cooperation Section, and EU Office in Kosovo.
Edi Gusia, Chief Executive Officer of the Agency for Gender Equality in the Office of the Prime Minister while recognizing this report has stated its impact in institutional work.

“This research brings to our attention many important issues that also affect our work on a daily basis, which are: the collection of gender-disaggregated statistics in an improper manner and with an inconsistent methodology undermines the processes of law enforcement”, she stated.

Whereas, Edona Hajrullahu, Deputy Ombudsperson said that “while the Constitution and legal framework are based on best international standards, including the values and principles of equal treatment between genders, women and girls in Kosovo, continue to live between two realities: legal and factual”.

Read HERE the press release that KWN has issued for this case, where included are key findings of this research.

The main recommendations, presented by two co-authors of KWN, Nicole Farnsworth and Iliriana Banjska, included:

  • The importance of amending the Labour Law, Law on Gender Equality and Law on Protection from Discrimination to reduce overlap, clarify procedures and provide clearer sanctions for gender-based discrimination;
  • The need for all relevant institutions to collect and maintain better data disaggregated by the gender of plaintiffs and defendants in accordance with the Law on Gender Equality, as well as by the specific articles violated;
  • The need for more labour inspectors, particularly women, who are trained on recognizing and addressing gender-based discrimination at work;
  • The need for inter-sectoral collaboration among relevant institutions and civil society, including trade unions, in raising women and men’s awareness regarding what constitutes gender-based discrimination and how to report it; and supporting persons who have experienced such discrimination in seeking justice.

This initiative is co-funded by the European Union and Sweden/Sida.

Reports treating this issue have also been launched in North Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro, while launches are also expected in Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina, as part of a regional initiative to address such discrimination in six Western Balkan countries.

 

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11.04.19

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

Kvinna till Kvinna Launches New Report, Action on Gender-based Discrimination and Labour in Serbia

10.04.2019

Belgrade – Yesterday the Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation launched a new report on Gender-based Discrimination and Labour in Serbia. The event dually marked the official launching of a regional initiative to address such discrimination in six Western Balkan countries, supported by the European Union (EU) and Sweden/Sida. 

“Gender issues include men [and] protecting women’s rights serves the betterment of society as a whole,” said Noora Häyrinen, Head of the Political Section of the EU Delegation to Serbia in her opening remarks. She welcomed this new EU-supported action and observed the important role of women’s rights groups. “Strong women’s networks can push the agenda forward,” she said.  

During the event, Sofija Vrbaški, Project Coordinator from the Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation and a co-author of this new publication presented the methodology, key findings and recommendations resulting from the research.   

This report includes information on shortcomings in the relevant legal framework; the prevalence and nature of gender-based discrimination related to labour; and the extent to which people have filed claims. Some key findings include:  

  • While both women and men tend to be aware that gender-based discrimination is illegal, they struggle to identify which specific acts can constitute gender-based discrimination;  
  • Extensive evidence exists that gender-based discrimination affects women in particular, including related to hiring, promotion, unequal pay and sexual harassment; 
  • Institutions tend to lack data regarding the cases that they have treated and some did not participate in the research, making it difficult to assess the quality of institutional response to such discrimination;  
  • Survey data indicate that women have 2.5 times greater odds of experiencing sexual harassment in the workplace than do men; and 
  • Reporting workplace gender-based discrimination remains a challenge; some individuals are even more vulnerable to multiple discrimination based on the grounds of gender as well as sexual orientation, gender expression or gender identity, ethnicity and different abilities. 

Research findings in Serbia have several similarities with those in other Western Balkan countries, according to Nicole Farnsworth, Program Director from the Kosovo Women’s Network. She shared initial findings from the region, highlighting these similarities. Moreover, she spoke of opportunities for future collaboration among women’s rights groups in addressing the issues identified, such as through joint advocacy, awareness-raising campaigns and legal aid, to be supported through grants to organisations made through this new action.  

 

Milica Lupšor, worker, activist and a member of the ROZA women’s labour rights collective from Zrenjanin, presented moving stories of discrimination faced by women, particularly those working in sports, agriculture and factories. The organization’s activists have self-produced short films narrating these real-life stories of discrimination faced by women workers. 

Event participants engaged in a discussion of best practices to date, including those highlighted by a representative of the Commissioner for the Protection of Equality, as well as key challenges, such as how best to support women in accessing justice for discrimination given the real risks affiliated with reporting such cases. Women’s rights activists agreed to continue these discussions in the future, coordinating their efforts to support women affected by gender-based discrimination related to labour. 

The report is available HERE. 

This 36-month action is being co-implemented by the Kosovo Women’s Network, the Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation (Serbia), Gender Alliance for Development Centre (Albania), Helsinki Citizens Assembly Banja Luka (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Reactor – Research in Action (Macedonia) and Women’s Rights Centre (Montenegro). The partners plan to collaborate with broader networks of women’s rights groups and activists in the coming years. 

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Activities of Coalition for Equality get coordinated

10.04.2019

Prishtinë- A coordination meeting of Coalition for Equality (CfE) was held on April 10, where present were Mexhide Mjaku-Topalli, Member of Parliament and Chairwoman of Women Caucus, board members of this group; members of Parliament (MP) Saranda Bogujevci and Teuta Haxhiu, as well as Executive Director of Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) Igballe Rogova.

“Soon we will start the meetings with women voters, we will notify the female MPs to join us in these important meetings”, said Rogova.

Further, the participants agreed to arrange meetings with media representatives, including here journalists and editors in chief, in order to improve the public performance/appearance of women and increase their representation during electoral campaigns.

The parties agreed to hold the second Coalition for Equality meeting of this year during June.

READ ALSO: Coalition for Equality discusses “Strengthening Women’s Participation in Politics”.

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Women’s Association “Aureola” advocates for amendments in the Law of Inheritance

06.04.2019

The Women’s Association “Aureola” on April 5 held the last meeting in the framework of the initiative “Advancement of the Law of Inheritance”.

At this meeting present were Mexhide Mjaku-Topalli, Member of Parliament and Chairwoman of Women Caucus, Daut Morina, Director of Central Administration of the Free Legal Aid Agency, representatives of the Centre for Social Work from Obiliq, as well as representatives of civil society.

The purpose of this initiative is advocating in Parliament for the abolition or suspension of the Article 130.1 of the Law on Inheritance.

Sanije Grajçevci, Director of the “Aureola” organization evaluated that this would have an impact in creating a more favourable economic position for women. She informed that the creation of an electronic database has been recommended, so that no family member can be left aside from being included in the inheritance.

While Violeta Berisha, Director of the Amza organization, stressed that around 80 percent of women are unware that property belongs to them.

This initative is supported by Kosovo Women’s Fund (KWF) of Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) and financed by thr Austrian Development Ageny (ADA).

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KWN and ADA Organize Workshop on Gender Mainstreaming Programming

05.04.2019

Kosovo Women‘s Network (KWN) on April 3 organized in Prishtina a one-day interactive workshop to support the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) partners to better reflect a gender perspective in their programming, particularly including tailored guidance in adjusting indicators in line with the Gender Action plan (GAP II)  and  the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) relating to gender equality.

The workshop that gathered 37 participants, started with a review of the main concepts related to gender equality. Prior to the workshop, and funded through KWN’s existing ADA-funded Action, KWN reviewed partners’ current Actions, their reports, and the comments made by the ADA Gender Expert in order to inform the preparation of the workshop.

Gunther Zimmer, Counsellor and Country Director of the Coordination Office for Technical Cooperation, Austrian Embassy Pristina and Selma Cekic-Dincsoy, Gender Focal Point of the European Union Office in Kosovo made their opening remarks.

“I have to thank KWN on organizing a very much needed workshop with very useful information for the organizations present”, said Zimmer.

Nicole Farnsworth, Program Director and Lead Researcher of KWN, elaborated the concepts and gender roles, the way they are perceived by the majority of Kosovar society and their sociological and biological aspects.

David Svab, Programme and Project M&E Specialist from United Nation Development Program (UNDP), presented the “Leave no one behind” approach. He presented the concrete measures proposed by UNDP for governments and other state actors of the United Nations Member states on implementing Sustainable Development Goals. Whereas, Martin Schaller, Atashé of Austrian Embassy in Prishtina, shared briefly the reflections from the Austrian experience in reporting on the EU Gender Action Plan II.

Furthermore, Farnsworth continued with the background, indicators and objectives of the EU Gender Action Plan II. On the second part of the workshop, she explained concrete ways through which participating NGOs can conduct gender analysis prior to incorporating indicators from GAP II in their programmes. The workshop proceeded with participants discussing in working groups. They analysed their logical frameworks and identified potential gaps where GAP II indicators or SDGs can be incorporated.

Zimmer and Arsim Aziri, Head of Administration, ADA, praised KWN’s long term work in increasing social and institutional awareness on gender equality, and in accomplishing their objectives on empowering women in Kosovo.

Concluding the workshop, participants expressed deep gratitude on the knowledge they had obtained. They have stated that as ADA partners they are now more capable to use the reviewed documents, and furthermore they have improved their skills in developing better programs in the future.

The EU Gender Action Plan II (GAP II) is a continuance of objectives undertaken by states to ensure gender equality and women’s empowerment. This document was adapted on Sep. 21, 2015 by the European Commission and European External Action Service. The new Action Plan obliges all EU actors to report systematically on objectives pertaining to “institutional cultural shift”.

This workshop was implemented by KWN and supported by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA).

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The Government Strategy for Cooperation with Civil Society 2019-2023 is launched

04.04.2019

Pristina – On 4 April, the Government’s Strategy for Cooperation with Civil Society 2019-2023 has been launched. Strategy’s objective is to increase the participation of Civil Society in policy making.

This Strategy is of a great importance to civil society activists, taking into account that only an active and empowered civil society can influence better policy making for citizens, as well as monitor the implementation of these policies.

It is foreseen the recruitment of two new officials responsible for assisting the implementation of the Strategy, with an allocated budget of 253.300 Euros for the implementation of the Strategy and of the Action Plan.

In total there are four strategic objectives for the implementation period 2019-2023. The first strategic objective is for Increasing the participation of civil society in policy making. This objective aims to raise citizens’ and also civil society’s knowledge of public consultations, as well as improve civil society capacities to contribute to this process.

The second strategic objective is for increasing accountability and transparency in public financing of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs). According to this objective, the Government should draft and adopt standards and procedures for offering public services by CSOs, including here the coverage of licenses.

The third strategic objective is developing practices and procedures for contracting public services from CSOs. It aspires to improve the overall political and institutional framework for regulating the economic activities of civil society organizations. It also foresees systematic gathering and publication of the information on the potential of these organizations to provide public services to public institutions.

And the fourth strategic objective is set for the increment and the promotion of volunteering in programs of public interest. The intent here is to establish a comprehensive legal and institutional framework to support the development of volunteering, including also civil society capacity building to recruit, engage and manage volunteers.

Noteworthy that in addition to the funds from the state budget, the implementation of these strategic objectives will be supported by technical assistance from the European Union (EU) as well. Furthermore, additional funding is expected from donors in the field of civil society development as well as by CSOs whose mission is to develop civil society or specific areas addressed by the respective strategic objectives.

Read HERE the full Albanian version of the Government Strategy for Cooperation with Civil Society 2019-2023.

 

 

 

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