Kosovo Women's Network

Kosovo Women’s Network Strengthens Municipal Mechanisms against Domestic Violence

31.07.2025

Over the past months, the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) met with five municipalities to formalize the partnerships with their Municipal Coordination Mechanisms against Domestic Violence (MCMDV). KWN held initial briefing sessions in Lipjan, Peja, Podujevo, Ferizaj and Fushë Kosovë to introduce the “Strengthened Capacity and Mechanisms to Address Gender‑based Violence” initiative and to outline the activities planned in collaboration with each municipality’s MCMDV.

During these meetings, mayors, deputy mayors, and gender‑equality officers were briefed on the support KWN will provide to their coordination mechanisms. All five municipalities have agreed in principle to a Memorandum of Understanding, and signatures are currently being collected.

On 24 July 2025, KWN and the Municipality of Fushë Kosovë officially signed their MOU, laying the foundation for a sustainable partnership.

Adelina Berisha, Programme Director for Addressing Gender-Based Violence, and Besarta Breznica, Programme Officer for Addressing Gender-Based Violence at the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN), met with Mr. Besnik Osmani, Deputy Mayor of the Municipality of Fushë Kosovë, and Ms. Lindita Dervisholli Prebreza, Gender Equality Officer at the Municipality, to sign the Memorandum of Understanding.

This week, KWN began conducting a detailed needs assessment of each MCMDV’s capacities and gaps in addressing gender‑based violence, including emerging online forms of abuse. Once data collection and analysis are complete, KWN will roll out tailored training modules for MCMDV members and provide ongoing support based on each municipality’s specific needs. These efforts are part of KWN’s contribution to improve the implementation of the Regulation for the Local Coordination Mechanism for Protection against Domestic Violence, Violence Against Women, and Gender‑Based Violence.

This cooperation is part of KWN’s and East-West Management Institute’s (EWMI, ewmi.org) initiative “Strengthening Capacities and Mechanisms to Address Gender-Based Violence,” supported by the U.S. Department of State: Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. Through this initiative, KWN will identify the needs of the mechanisms and provide tailored trainings that enhance institutional responses to victims of gender-based violence, particularly technology facilitated gender-based violence.

KWN provides free legal counseling and representation for all cases of gender‑based violence via the hotline: 048 105 800.

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KWN, KCSF Partner to Further Civil Society Capacities for Gender Mainstreaming

31.07.2025

On 22–23 July 2025, the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) collaborated with the Kosovar Civil Society Foundation (KCSF) and Community Building Mitrovica (CBM) to support the second module of the School for Activism, focused on Gender Mainstreaming Civil Society Work.

Nicole Farnsworth, Deputy Director and Lead Researcher at KWN, contributed to the training by applying more than two decades of experience in advancing gender equality in Kosovo and internationally. She guided participants through key gender concepts, gender equality challenges in Kosovo, gender-responsive programming and concrete methods for applying a gender perspective across all stages of the project cycle.

In the final session, Donjeta Morina, a gender equality expert, led an interactive discussion on applying a gender lens in Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL), offering practical insights from her work with institutions and civil society.

Participants found the training highly relevant. One stated, “While we had some basic knowledge, this training was incredibly valuable. It gave us the tools we actually need to apply gender mainstreaming in our organizations.”

This cooperation reflects KWN’s ongoing commitment to strengthening the capacities of civil society organisations to promote gender equality in practice, and KWN looks forward to continuing its collaboration with KCSF in future initiatives. The training was supported by the European Union and Sweden.

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Disability Rights CSOs Empowered in Gender-responsive Budgeting and Social Service

31.07.2025

The Organization of Persons with Muscular Dystrophy of Kosovo (OPDMK) held a workshop on 24.07.2025 in the Municipality of Fushe Kosovo, as part of the project “Strengthening the capacities of civil society to improve access to quality social protection for diverse women and men”, supported by the European Union, in partnership with the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) and Ruka Ruci.

During the workshop, participants deepened their understanding of Gender-Responsive Budgeting (GRB) and Law No. 08/L-255 on Social and Family Services, gaining practical skills for integrating a gender perspective into budgeting and policymaking processes. This activity aimed to strengthen the role of civil society in delivering inclusive, quality social services for all citizens.

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KWN Strengthens Gender-responsive Budgeting Skills for Social Protection in Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian Communities

31.07.2025

Six Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian activists were trained on Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB) for Social Protection Services, as part of the project “Improving the Capacities of Civil Society to Increase Access to Quality Social Protection for Diverse Women and Men,” supported by the European Union (EU) Office in Kosovo.

Organised by the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN), in cooperation with the Network of Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian Women’s Organisations of Kosovo (RROGRAEK), the training held on 14 July 2025 aimed to strengthen local capacities to monitor and advocate for inclusive social protection reforms. Facilitated by Elirjeta Beka, Officer for Women’s Economic Empowerment and GRB, the training equipped participants with tools and knowledge to continue advocacy efforts within their communities.

More specifically, participants learned about GRB, the Law on Gender Equality, and how to analyse local annual and medium-term budget frameworks from a gender perspective. The training also addressed good and bad practices regarding citizen participation in the budgeting process, with a specific focus on budget allocations for social services. Participants discussed the importance of public consultations and how to submit effective recommendations during these processes. The group emphasized the need for all communities to be involved in local decision-making, especially during budget planning, to ensure their needs are reflected in policies.

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Humanus Vita Sparks Change: Reimagining Sexual Education in Rural Kosovo

31.07.2025

In the rural municipality of Drenas, where conservative norms historically have often shaped school practices, the NGO Humanus Vita took a bold step to challenge entrenched stereotypes and promote gender equality through education. Their initiative focused on 8th-grade Biology teachers and school principals across four public schools in urban and rural settings. They aimed to assess how sexual education is currently addressed in schools, as well as to build awareness and encourage concrete change within schools and institutions.

A Grounded and Inclusive Approach

Fully supported by the Municipal Directorate of Education via a Memorandum of Understanding, Humanus Vita were granted access for observing classrooms and interviewing teachers and principals. This provided direct insights from those implementing the curriculum. Over the following weeks, Humanus Vita staff observed eight biology classes where sexual education topics were covered, even though such topics are formally planned for the second semester. This flexibility, granted voluntarily by teachers, was a clear sign of their willingness to improve how these subjects are taught. Simultaneously, structured interviews were conducted with four teachers and four school principals. Interviews explored how topics such as puberty, Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), sexual identity, and gender norms were being taught or avoided, and how much training teachers had received to handle them. Data revealed several gaps: no Biology teachers had been trained in gender-responsive or transformative teaching methods, or in sexual education. Moreover, while teaching, some teachers showed signs of bias toward Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex and other identifying persons (LGBTQI+) issues, highlighting a pressing need to address stereotypes among educators.

Meanwhile, student engagement, especially among girls, was high. Teachers noted that students, when given the space, asked questions without hesitation and showed great interest in accurate, age-appropriate information. A teacher remarked, “The pace of life and the information students access online make it essential for them to receive accurate and scientific education about sexually transmitted diseases, family planning, sexual identity, and puberty.”

From Data to Advocacy

After gathering information, Humanus Vita engaged with local institutions. On 16 Nov, 20 participants from local government, civil society, schools, and media gathered to discuss findings and recommendations. This included the urgent need for teacher training, curriculum reform, and improved school infrastructure, especially for girls and students with disabilities.

A school principal emphasized, “I believe that sexual education should be included as a separate subject in the school curriculum.” The roundtable opened a broader conversation about transforming the current system. Key actors, such as the Director of Education, a municipal representative, and the Gender Equality Officer, expressed readiness to consider concrete measures, including integrating sexual education as a standalone subject or strengthening its place within the Biology curriculum.

Toward Sustainable Change

Rather than imposing change from the outside, Humanus Vita built trust with educators, creating space for honest discussion. Teachers and principals openly acknowledged the challenges they face, not only in terms of curriculum, but also in infrastructure, training, and support for gender equality.

Through media outreach, including coverage by Radio Kosova, Syri.net, and the Kosova Times, their initiative raised public awareness about the importance of scientifically accurate and inclusive sexual education.

While systemic transformation takes time, Humanus Vita’s initiative has already begun to shift attitudes and spark institutional reflection. As one participant concluded: “At a time when human values are beginning to fade, it is necessary to introduce moral and sexual education as a school subject.”

Humanus Vita’s initiative “Inclusion of Sexual Education and Challenging Stereotypes towards Transforming Gender Norms through Education” was carried out with support from the Kosovo Women’s Network via the Kosovo Women’s Fund with funding from the Austrian Development Agency and the Swedish Development Agency, in the amount of €4,916.00, from August to November 2023. The initiative contributed directly to KWN’s Program on Gender Transformative Education, which aims to reshape social norms through inclusive and equitable learning.

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MWAHR Pushes for Gender-Responsive Budgeting in South Mitrovica

30.07.2025

As part of the “Gender Budgeting as a Transformative Budget Tool for Municipal Institutions” project — and building on previous efforts to promote gender-responsive budgeting (GRB) — the Mitrovica Women’s Association for Human Rights (MWAHR), a member of the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN), has continued its advocacy to ensure that GRB and the meaningful inclusion of women are reflected in the Medium-Term Budget planning process of the Municipality of South Mitrovica.

Between September 2023 and August 2024, MWAHR organized a series of consultative meetings with the Director of Budget and Finance, Director of Agriculture and Rural Development, Director of Public Administration, Director of Social Welfare, and Director of Youth, Sports, and Culture in South Mitrovica. Together with local citizens, they discussed the importance of integrating gender perspectives in municipal budgeting and ensuring that services and programs are accessible and equitable for both women and men. Specific recommendations were presented to each directorate.

These discussions led to concrete commitments from municipal officials, including increasing the number of women and girls benefiting from scholarships, grants, healthcare support, and participation in cultural and sports activities. Notably, for the first time, the Medium-Term Budget Framework now includes gender equality objectives, marking a significant step forward in institutionalizing GRB in South Mitrovica.

A short video capturing key moments from the consultative meetings and voices from citizens and officials is available here.

This project was supported by the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) within the framework of the Gender Budget Watchdog Network (GBWN) in the Western Balkans and the Republic of Moldova, funded by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), which began in 2023 and was finalized in 2024.

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MWAHR: “Gender Budgeting as a Transformative Budget Tool for Municipal Institutions”

30.07.2025

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MWAHR: “Gender Budgeting as a Transformative Budget Tool for Municipal Institutions”

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Gender Responsive Budgeting

From Medicine to Human Rights: Saneea’s Internship with KWN

25.07.2025

After ten years of working as a physician in palliative medicine in Nova Scotia, Canada, Saneea Abboud felt a pull in a different direction. Although her work was deeply meaningful, she began to feel that it was time for something new – something that could create broader systemic change. The calling to do something different led her back to school, pursuing a Master of Science in Global Health. Saneea’s internship at KWN, facilitated through Isla Internships, marks the final component of her degree – and her first-ever experience in Kosovo.

Saneea’s interest in human rights – and particularly women’s rights – made KWN a natural fit when exploring potential internship opportunities. Even during her medical training, Saneea had a specific interest in helping women. At the time, she thought she might pursue gynecology. She didn’t, but the passion for women’s rights and well-being remained. When asked about where this dedication comes from, Saneea states that “It might just be that women are so inequitably served everywhere around the world, that I wanted to help in whatever way I can. I am an empowered woman myself, with a lot of privilege with my education, coming from the country that I come from… so, it just feels like I should help if I can.”

During her internship, Saneea has contributed across several areas, including KWN’s Health Program, where her background proved especially valuable. She has, for example, been involved in a new research effort focused on personal assistance for people with disabilities, where her contributions include a legal analysis. The research is related to KWN’s action “Improving the Capacities of Civil Society to Increase Access to Quality Social Protection for Diverse Women and Men”, which is being implemented together with two partner organizations, and supported by the European Union Office in Kosovo. It explores challenges faced by personal assistants – most of whom are women, and often family members of the person with a disability. Saneea notes that while similar challenges likely exist in Canada too, people there may have more protections in place.

Beyond the Health Program, Saneea has also contributed to research in other areas where health intersects with broader social and environmental issues. This includes work on a study on transportation, where she focused on health-related aspects – such as how air pollution can harm physical health and how the lack of accessible infrastructure may negatively affect mental well-being. She has also explored challenges in health policy, including why certain laws, like those related to health insurance, have yet to be implemented despite being in place for several years.

In addition to research and policy work, Saneea has supported communication efforts by updating materials for KWN’s website and program factsheets, and by writing stories from events such as the Women, Peace and Security Forum and the FemArt Festival.

The transition to Kosovo wasn’t difficult for Saneea, though a few things took some getting used to – especially the language barrier, and, she jokes with a laugh, “the smoking everywhere – but I don’t know if you want to put that in the story.” Still, she enjoys many aspects of life in Pristina, including how vibrant and walkable the city is. Back home, she lives too far from the city center to walk, so this was a refreshing change. She has also taken advantage of Kosovo’s location to travel on weekends, visiting Montenegro, Albania, North Macedonia, and Greece. Most of her trips have been hiking-focused. She quickly noted that Kosovo is perfect for hiking, and Montenegro was the biggest hike she has ever done in her life.

Saneea sees her time at KWN not just as a professional milestone, but as part of a larger shift toward purpose-driven work. “Kosovo is definitely behind when it comes to equality and women’s rights – or even rights in general,” she says candidly. But she leaves with a better understanding of the global feminist movement and the people who are powering it. Reflecting on her time at KWN, Saneea expresses admiration for the organization’s hard work and dedication, stating “It makes me feel like the NGOs are really doing THE work.”

As she prepares to finish her degree, Saneea is still considering what’s next. She hopes to make a transition from full-time clinical work to something more directly related to human rights, possibly reducing her hours in palliative care while working part-time with another organization, potentially even remotely. Saneea has also expressed interest in continuing to support the work she’s been involved in at KWN, from Canada.

If you would like to contribute to KWN’s work, we are always looking for ways to engage dedicated volunteers from diverse backgrounds. To learn more about our Volunteer Program, please contact us at info@womensnetwork.org.

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From “Caring for Others” to “Caring for Self”

08.07.2025

From June 23 to 26, 2025, the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) organized a four-day workshop for the staff of shelters and organizations providing services to victims of gender-based violence and wartime sexual violence. The workshop aimed to support the emotional and professional well-being of social workers through sustainable supervision and the prevention of burnout.

During these days, participants shared their experiences, reflected on the emotional challenges they face in their daily work, and were equipped with concrete tools for self-care and stress management.

“I thought I wasn’t cut out for this job. After five years, I gave up because I had no one to talk to about the emotional burden I experienced every day,” one participant said during a reflective exercise.

Another participant added: “By trying to appear strong in front of our clients, we often suppress our own feelings. We don’t allow ourselves to feel, just to seem powerful for them.”

During the workshop sessions, topics such as the meaning and symptoms of burnout, building team resilience, clinical and peer supervision, and setting healthy emotional boundaries at work were addressed. A participant from the Serbian community emphasized: “Every time you talk about your experiences, I learn how to act in similar cases. Concrete examples help me reflect on my own challenges.”

The workshop was led by clinical psychologists Melis Bilibani and Tringa Lajqi, who, through their professional approach and interactive exercises, created a supportive space for all participants.

At the end of the training, the participants expressed satisfaction, emphasizing that they felt more energized and readier to continue their daily commitment to protecting women and girls experiencing violence.

This activity was developed within the Initiative for Institutionalizing Quality Rehabilitation and Integration Services for Survivors of Violence, funded by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA), with funds from Austrian Development Cooperation.

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“The Shirt of Freedom”: A Theater Tour Amplifying Women’s Voices Against Violence

01.07.2025

In May, a powerful and thought-provoking play debuted in Drenas, serving as a call for social awareness and reflection. “The Shirt of Freedom,” a production by the Center for Promotion of Women’s Rights (CPWR), began its tour with a strong message: support saves lives.

Written by playwright Arian Krasniqi and performed by the renowned actresses Safete Rogova, Kumrije Hoxha, and Igballe Qena, the play sensitively and realistically addresses a topic as painful as it is crucial—domestic violence and how society can (and should) respond.

After Drenas, the tour continued in Mitrovica, Rahovec, Dragash, and Gjakova, while in June, the public had the opportunity to see it in Podujeva, Lipjan, and Prishtina.

This is just the beginning, as the play is scheduled to be performed in other cities throughout the year, in collaboration with local organizations and communities. For instance, in September, the play will be staged in Kline and Obiliq.

Three Women – Three Stories Reflecting Reality

At the heart of the play are three women, each representing a common voice in our communities:

The Mother (Safete Rogova) is a figure of support and courage. She represents the parent who chooses not to remain silent, empowering her daughter to build a life free from fear and violence.

The Mother-in-Law (Kumrije Hoxha) starts as a critical voice, blaming the victim, but undergoes a journey of reflection and change. Her apology to her daughter-in-law is a pivotal moment that reveals the power of personal transformation.

The Neighbor (Igballe Qena) is a psychologist and mediator who brings the role of the community to the stage. She urges the audience not to be passive, emphasizing that violence is not a private problem but a societal one that demands action and reporting.

03.03.26