Traditional handmade products created by women, including those made by survivors of sexual violence, are among the highlights of this year’s EtnoFest. Women are also passing traditional arts and crafts on to younger generations, including crafts such as gobelin weaving, helping to preserve and carry these traditions forward. 

As part of the Festival, ArtPolis, the Center for the Promotion of Women’s Rights (CPWR), and the Kosova Rehabilitation Centre for Torture Victims (KRCT), all member organizations of the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN), have collaborated to highlight women’s skills, traditions, and creativity. Their work demonstrates how cultural heritage can also create opportunities for women’s empowerment and economic independence. 

On this occasion, CPWR Director Kadire Tahiraj emphasized the importance of collective action in bringing about sustainable change: 

“Only as a collective, together, can we bring about change,” she said. 

From 3 to 10 August, the village of Kukaj in Prishtina became a gathering place for art, culture, memory, and stories that continue to resonate in our society. With “Memory” as its central theme, EtnoFest 2026 brought together stories, testimonies, and creative works that invite us to look back, listen to the voices of the past, and reflect on our responsibility for the future.  

On 6 August, KRCT organized the discussion “Testimony, Dignity, and Hope” which centred on the experiences and testimonies of survivors of wartime sexual violence in Kosovo. 

The “Eye to Eye” exhibition was also presented at EtnoFest, featuring the stories of survivors of wartime sexual violence and their family members. Through these personal stories, the exhibition creates a space where memory is not simply preserved as part of the past, but becomes a means of dialogue, recognition, respect, and shared social responsibility. 

Survivors of wartime sexual violence were also present. Through their personal journeys, they have challenged silence and brought their testimonies into the public sphere. 

Dr. Feride Rushiti, Executive Director of KRCT, together with the KRCT team, emphasized to those present the importance of preserving these testimonies and the memories of women and men who survived sexual violence during the war in Kosovo. 

The “Eye to Eye” exhibition, created in collaboration with Pro Peace – Kosovo, reminds us that confronting the past is not only an individual process. It is also a collective responsibility to ensure that survivors’ stories do not fade away or become forgotten. 

As part of the collaboration between ArtPolis, EtnoFest, and CPWR, an exhibition and sale for women artisans was also held. The event featured handmade products, including jewelry and other crafts. 

Some of these products were created by survivors of violence, turning handicrafts into a means of economic empowerment, greater independence, and building more sustainable livelihoods. 

The products can also be purchased at the “Moment” Museum (the first museum for war survivors in Kosovo), established by the Jahjaga Foundation, and at Pristina International Airport. Purchasing these products directly contributes to supporting and strengthening the economic independence of survivors. 

This spirit of collaboration is precisely what makes the participation of KWN member organizations in EtnoFest so special: women’s voices, art, memory, and activism come together in a shared space.