The Problem

Despite legal commitments to equal participation, women in Kosovo remain underrepresented in decision-making due to persistent patriarchal norms, political party control, and systemic barriers. While quotas have improved participation rates, women – especially from marginalized communities – rarely hold real power or influence, limiting their ability to shape policies or represent diverse women’s interests. This exclusion is also evident in peace and security processes: although women have led peace efforts at local and regional levels, they are marginalized in high-level negotiations such as the Prishtina-Belgrade Dialogue and are rarely consulted by EU or national negotiators. As a result, women’s needs and priorities are often overlooked. This stands in contrast to the UNSCR 1325, which Kosovo once committed to through a National Action Plan that has not been renewed since its expiry in 2015.

KWN’s Strategy

Increasing and improving the participation of women in politics and decision-making at local and central levels, realized through:

• Enhancing the capacities of women in politics to advocate for women’s priorities;
• Increasing public officials’ awareness of the importance of harmonizing the Law on Gender Equality with election laws;
• Increasing officials’ awareness of the need to improve attention to gender equality in laws, policies, and programs;
• Improving the participation of diverse women and girls in decision-making processes on environmental issues and climate change.
• Increasing the awareness of government officials, the EU, UN, and other actors about the importance of engaging diverse women in peace processes with Serbia and addressing women’s priorities in these processes, according to UNSCR 1325.

Main Activities

• Empower women in politics at local and central levels through training, mentoring, networking and advocacy support;
• Advocate for the harmonization of the Law on Gender Equality and election laws through public meetings and awareness campaigns;
• Prepare gender-focused comments and recommendations on laws, policies, and programs in different sectors, sending input to responsible officials;
• Organize meetings with women and girls and advocate to relevant institutions for integrating attention to furthering gender equality as part of efforts to address environmental issues.
• Continue advocating for the engagement of women in peace and Dialogue processes through advocacy, meetings with public officials, EU and UN officials, and awareness campaigns.

Our Achievements

• KWN Executive Director mentored 112 diverse women in politics, supporting their leadership development and advocacy;
• Engaged a total of 6,661 diverse women in politics and decision-making processes, since 2012;
• Advocated for harmonizing the Law on General Elections with the Law on Gender Equality (50% participation); contributed to inclusion of campaign funding provisions for women candidates;
• Influenced at least 212 laws and policies since 2012;
• Commented on 276 laws and public policies since 2012;
• Engaged with the President, PM’s Office, Ministry of Justice, EU, and CEC through the Gender Policy Strategic Network and WEF to promote gender parity in politics.
• KWN is global leader in advocating implementation of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda: Executive Director, Igballe Rogova, has served as a member of the NATO Civil Society Advisory Panel on Women, Peace and Security and the High-Level Advisory Group of Experts for the Global Study on the 15-year implementation of UNSCR 1325; KWN has published two editions of “1325 Facts & Fables“, which combines data and personal stories that illustrate the challenges and achievements in implementing UNSCR 1325 in Kosovo from 2000 to 2020, while urging national and international actors to take stronger action.
• In 2024, KWN sent 13 advocacy letters and met officials, advocating diverse women’s inclusion in peace processes.
• Between 2024 and 2025, KWN conducted a comprehensive “Gender Analysis on Peace and Security in Kosovo” – commissioned by the EU Office in Kosovo – offering evidence-based insights to support more inclusive, gender-responsive, and sustainable EU external action in the country.