On 21 Feb., a delegation of women\u2019s rights activists from Western Balkan (WB) countries met representatives of the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Stockholm, Sweden to discuss the situation of women\u2019s rights activists in the region.<\/p>\n
The timely meeting occurred in the context of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs designing their new Strategy for the WB. Activists encouraged the Swedish government to continue with its bold Feminist Foreign Policy and the priorities of its current Strategy, which remain very relevant: democratic accountability; increased trust and reconciliation; human rights, gender equality and non-discrimination; and a pluralistic civil society, particularly one that recognizes and includes women\u2019s rights activists.<\/p>\n
On behalf of the Kosovo Women\u2019s Network (KWN), Nicole Farnsworth spoke about the importance of Sweden\u2019s continued political support in promoting women\u2019s rights as human rights in the region.<\/p>\n
\u201cSweden has been among our greatest allies in pushing forward reforms over the last 10 years\u201d, Farnsworth stated.<\/p>\n
Sweden, through its embassies, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and the Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation, have provided important long-term political and financial support to women\u2019s rights organizations, enabling them to bring about positive changes within their countries and communities.<\/p>\n
Towards building resilient democracies, forging peace and furthering human rights, women\u2019s rights organizations have been a leading force, sometimes among the only critical voices and watchdogs holding their governments accountable, Farnsworth said.<\/p>\n
Maja Raicevic from Women\u2019s Rights Centre in Montenegro explained, for example, that autonomous women\u2019s rights groups play a crucial role in providing services to survivors of violence and meanwhile holding justice institutions accountable. Their work diagnoses serious issues with the justice system and state services, which then can be used to hold governments accountable.<\/p>\n
Farnsworth later observed the many other roles women\u2019s rights groups play, \u201cWe have contributed important research to inform democratic processes and new laws. Sometimes we have even written the laws and policies,\u201d she said. \u201cWomen activists also have supported integrating a gender perspective in the EU accession process; raised awareness about democratic values and gender equality; facilitated public consultations and citizen engagement, particularly of women [and] built peace across divides,\u201d she continued.<\/p>\n
Despite these important developments, several challenges still exist in the region, which remains highly unstable, activists said.<\/p>\n
\u201cDemocracy continues to be under threat amid patriarchy, nationalism and corruption,\u201d Farnsworth said.<\/p>\n
Marija Bashevska from Reactor in Macedonia spoke of the challenges of nationalism and its impact on women\u2019s rights activists\u2019 work, but also on individual women citizens.<\/p>\n
Women\u2019s voices are regularly left out of negotiations, Bojana Mumin from the Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation in Bosnia and Herzegovina explained. Snezana Jakovljevic from Sandglass organisation in Serbia similarly emphasized that women\u2019s priorities have not been considered in the dialogue between Prishtina and Belgrade, a point that KWN often has<\/a> reiterated.<\/p>\n Big political issues like border exchanges, threats of potential war and ongoing negotiations continue to dominate public space, activists said. By keeping the focus on these \u201cpolitical crises\u201d, political leaders divert public attention away from the real issues that affect people\u2019s everyday lives, like high unemployment rates, poverty, poor healthcare and weak education systems, all of which affect women in particular.<\/p>\n Moreover, perhaps since women\u2019s rights activists often are among the few voices holding officials accountable, some activists have been declared \u201cenemies of the state\u201d. Activists shared stories of violence and threats against them, including by politicians who maintained full impunity; policies put in place and corrupt procurement practices that inhibit their access to resources and influence; and policies attempting to control women\u2019s bodies amid nationalistic arguments of increasing natality rates.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, many foreign funders have stopped funding women\u2019s rights organizations in the region, with the understanding that governments should take responsibility. However, this has not happened in practice. All of these issues, among others, have contributed to what has been termed the \u201cshrinking space<\/a>\u201d for women\u2019s rights activists.<\/p>\n