The Presidency of Austria invited Igballe Rogova, Executive Director of the Kosovo Women’s Network, to provide a video message to mark 8 March 2024, International Women’s Day, during an event hosted by the Presidency in Vienna.  

In her requested 1.5-minute message, Rogova emphasised the importance of cooperation between decision-makers and grassroots organisations in making things happen and moving society forward. 

She shared how Kosovo President Jahjaga collaborated closely with women’s rights organisations assisting survivors of sexual violence during the war when she established the National Council for Survivors of Sexual Violence During the War in 2014. 

In the end, Rogova thanked Austrian taxpayers for their support, through the Austrian Development Agency (ADA), to KWN activists, which has contributed to this and other substantial impacts in Kosovo.  

KWN has cooperated with ADA since 2012, realising several achievements, including the following, among others: 

• Since 2012, through the Kosovo Women’s Fund (KWF), KWN has awarded more than 100 grants worth €346,607 to grassroots organisations, benefiting 13,204 people with better healthcare, education, economic wellbeing, and protection from violence. KWF has empowered more than 1,700 women to engage in decision-making and politics, some for the first time. 

• KWF-supported initiatives involved 264 advocacy efforts that contributed to more than 15 policy changes, improving women’s lives in Kosovo. 

• Since 2021, KWN members inspired 659 women to advocate and documented 73 abuses of women’s rights to health, holding institutions accountable to quality services, using a rights-based approach. 

• Gender bias in eight schoolbooks was analysed, 22 teachers trained, and 65 courses observed to promote inclusive teaching, leading to eight reports recommending improvements to curricula. 

• KWN’s advocacy shaped the National Strategy and Action Plan Against Domestic Violence (2016-2020), integrating 70% of KWN’s ADA-supported 2015 research recommendations. 

• KWN used strategic litigation for gender-based violence cases, advocated Kosovo’s 2020 adoption of the Istanbul Convention, and supported the criminalisation of domestic violence and sexual harassment in the Criminal Code. 

• Together with shelters, KWN’s advocacy contributed to securing sustained government funding for shelters and day centers for gender-based violence survivors. 

• Since 2021, KWN provided free legal aid in 129 cases and monitored 186 cases of gender-based violence towards furthering justice. 

• KWN has influenced 277 new laws and policies related to on gender-based violence, including related to social services. Among them, KWN co-led the drafting of Kosovo’s State Protocol for Treating Sexual Violence Cases (2022). 

• At the Government’s request, KWN developed curricula for social workers to better treat gender-based violence cases and trained 15 social workers (2023). 

• The “Ending Violence Behind Walls” exhibition educated 5,580 people across ten municipalities on how to report violence. 

• KWN’s 1325 Facts & Fables report (2011, 2022) documented Kosovo’s implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR 1325) on Women, Peace, and Security, informing the global Women, Peace, and Security Agenda, including NATO’s work related to UNSCR 1325. 

KWN looks forward to continuing collaboration with the Austrian people, through ADA, to further women’s rights in the future.