Kosovo Women's Network

WCSOs Ask: What’s the Real Cost of Specialised Services for Gender-based Violence? 

30.05.2025

Governments across the Western Balkans (WB) have committed to the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence, also known as the Istanbul Convention (IC), promising to provide survivor-centred services for those affected by gender-based violence. But despite these commitments, a major question remains: are they putting their [public] money where their mouth is? Too often, governments fall short, underfunding essential services and leaning heavily on women’s rights civil society organisations (WCSOs) to fill the gap. These organisations play a critical role in supporting survivors, yet they remain underfunded, putting both their sustainability and services for survivors at risk.

To address this gap, a network of seven WCSOs in WB examining the actual costs of gender-based violence as part of their regional Action “Institutionalising Quality Rehabilitation and Reintegration Services for Violence Survivors II”, supported by the Austrian Development Agency. The initiative aims to strengthen and secure sustainable, quality services for survivors of gender-based violence, using gender-responsive budgeting (GRB) to estimate the real cost of these services. This research covers six WB countries and digs deep into the funding landscape for 2023–2025. It compares what governments planned to spend versus what they actually spent and looks ahead to whether upcoming budgets (2025-2028) are on track to meet the IC’s standards. Crucially, it also calculates what it would cost to deliver these services properly and what support WCSOs need to do their part sustainably.

Kosovo already is a leader in financing for specialised services. The Government Kosovo has budgeted for shelters, thanks to advocacy efforts by the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) and its members, particularly shelters coupled with efforts by institutions and parliamentarians to allocate a budget. Nevertheless, shelters still require additional financing to be fully sustainable and Kosovo still needs a Rape Crisis Centre, SOS hotline, shelter for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer or Questioning (LGBTQ+) persons, and specialised legal services by CSO watchdogs to fulfil IC requirements.

The methodology for this research draws on best practices in GRB, international guidance for costing social services, and KWN’s internationally recognised costing methodology, estimating the exact costs for service providers and institutions to deliver specialised services for survivors of gender-based violence. Specialised services examined include Rape Crisis Centres, SOS hotlines, shelters, and specialized legal aid. The research will assess the extent to which WB governments allocated and spent sufficient funds for specialised services in line with the IC during 2022-2024, and whether they have planned adequate budgets for 2025-2028. It will also estimate the costs of providing specialised services in line with IC standards, including the costs required to support WCSO service providers, for the period 2026-2028.

Key questions the research seeks to answer include: Are existing laws and budgets aligned with the Istanbul Convention? Where are the major funding and service delivery gaps? What roles do institutions play in budgeting and service provision? What would it truly cost to deliver high-quality, IC-compliant services? These are some of the critical issues the research will explore through legal and policy analysis, institutional mapping, budget reviews, and costing exercises. The forthcoming research aims to inform evidence-based advocacy to relevant institutions for adequate budget allocations, particularly for medium-term budget frameworks and annual budgets, starting from 2026. Providing comprehensive rehabilitation and integration services to survivors of gender-based violence is essential for healing, wellbeing and prevention of recidivist violence. 

Research began in April and is expected to be published as individual country reports in November. A consolidated regional report comparing results across countries is anticipated in April 2026.

30.05.25

WCSOs Ask: What’s the Real Cost of Specialised Services for Gender-based Violence? 

30.05.25

Budget Red Lines: Community Session Calls for Action on Menstrual Poverty

30.05.25

The Institutional Crisis Continues to Contribute to Discrimination Against Women

29.05.25

Preventing and Protecting Blind Women and Girls in Kosovo from Violence

29.05.25

The Journey of OPED: From Advocating for Drinking Water to Empowering Women and Local Accountability

28.05.25

Nermin Mahmuti: The Voice of Women That Doesn’t Stop, Even in Challenging Times

Budget Red Lines: Community Session Calls for Action on Menstrual Poverty

30.05.2025

On 29 May, a webinar titled ‘Budget Red Lines: Ending Menstrual Poverty Through Gender-Responsive Budgeting’ brought together activists, researchers, educators, and civil society organizations from across the region. The discussion focused on addressing menstrual poverty through policy, advocacy, and budget reform.

The session was opened by the Coordinator for Women’s Economic Empowerment and Gender Responsive Budgeting at the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN), Elirjeta Beka, who emphasized the importance of continuing the conversation beyond Menstrual Hygiene Day, marked globally on 28 May.

The session featured insightful contributions from:

Jelena Ružić, Executive Director of Žensko udruženje kolubarskog okruga (moderator)

Marina Sakač Hadžić, anthropologist and Communications Officer at EAEA in Brussels

Danijela Šakota, a professor promoting access to menstrual products in schools

Natasha Dokovska, Program Director at Journalists for Human Rights – JHR

Magbule Hyseni, Executive Director of EcokosWomen

EcokosWomen, a KWN member organization, presented findings from the first-ever research on the cost of menstrual hygiene products in Kosovo, conducted in Albanian. A corresponding policy brief in English was later developed under a Gender Budget Watchdog Network grant. The brief outlines the financial burden menstruators face and calls for removing the tax on menstrual products and increasing access to free products in schools and public institutions. During the session, Magbule Hyseni shared:

“We started working on menstrual hygiene management with a small grant from KWN. Even though it was a small amount, when the will is strong, even a small sum can make a difference.”

All speakers agreed that menstruation remains a taboo topic in many societies, with limited access to information from a young age. Marina Sakač Hadžić reflected on her own experience, recalling that her teacher held a two-hour class about menstrual hygiene with only the girls, while the boys were sent out to play football—an early example of how gender norms shape education.

The session underscored the urgent need for gender-responsive budgeting to address menstrual poverty and called for evidence-based advocacy and systemic policy change. One of the main challenges that could arise from abolishing the tax is that businesses may not lower the prices of menstrual hygiene products.

30.05.25

WCSOs Ask: What’s the Real Cost of Specialised Services for Gender-based Violence? 

30.05.25

Budget Red Lines: Community Session Calls for Action on Menstrual Poverty

30.05.25

The Institutional Crisis Continues to Contribute to Discrimination Against Women

29.05.25

Preventing and Protecting Blind Women and Girls in Kosovo from Violence

29.05.25

The Journey of OPED: From Advocating for Drinking Water to Empowering Women and Local Accountability

28.05.25

Nermin Mahmuti: The Voice of Women That Doesn’t Stop, Even in Challenging Times

The Institutional Crisis Continues to Contribute to Discrimination Against Women

30.05.2025

On May 27, the Kosovo Women’s Network joined a symbolic civil society action in front of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo, on a day that marked the 22nd consecutive failure to constitute the Assembly. 120 empty chairs lined up at the entrance of the country’s highest representative institutions were not merely a symbol of the absence of MPs in their seats—they reflected the void created in the daily lives of women and girls for every day the Assembly remains non-functional.

Each chair carried a message: a call for accountability, political cooperation, and immediate action.

Among these messages was the voice of the women of Kosovo—a voice that for years has been calling for the adoption of key laws that directly impact their lives: the labor law, the civil code, the law on public finances, and many others. These are not just legal texts gathering dust in drawers—they are being held hostage by a system that, through a lack of political will, withholds the rights, safety, and well-being of half the population.

For the Kosovo Women’s Network, this blockade is not a temporary crisis—it is a symptom of a deeper reality, where political interests are placed above the lives and rights of citizens, especially women. For three consecutive months, the Assembly has failed to fulfill its most basic duty—representation. And where there is no representation, there is no decision-making. Without decision-making, there is no progress. And in this vicious cycle, it is women who are affected first and most—at work, in access to justice, in the provision of public services, and in every aspect of daily life.

The clocks placed among the empty chairs were not only an alarm—they were a reminder of the time we are losing, of the opportunities slipping away, of the rights that are being endlessly delayed. It was a call for awareness, for action, for the restoration of democratic functionality in our institutions.

The Kosovo Women’s Network, together with other civil society organizations, will continue to be present in every action, in every voice that demands accountability, in every step that seeks equality. Because for us, every empty chair is not merely a physical absence—it is a vacant seat at the table where decisions are made about the lives and futures of women and all the citizens of this country.

The organizations supporting the action were: Advocacy Training & Resource Center (ATRC) Assist Kosovo, Asociacioni i Mediave të Pavaruara Elektronike të Kosovës (AMPEK), Balkan Green Foundation (BGF), CEL Kosova, Center for Eduction and Community Development-Friends, CIPOF Childproof, Community Building Mitrovica (CBM), Community Development Fund (CDF), Democracy Plus (D+), Demokraci për zhvillim (D4D), Dylberizim, Ekovizioni, Fondacioni Kosovar për Shoqëri Civile (KCSF), Fondi për të Drejtën Humanitare Kosovë, Forumi Kosovar i Aftësisë së Kufizuar, Forumi për Iniciativa Qytetare (FIQ), Hyjneshat, Iniciativa për Progres (INPO), Iniciativa Qytetare Skenderaj, Instituti Demokratik i Kosovës (KDI), Instituti GAP, Instituti i Kosovës për Drejtësi (KLI), Instituti i Prishtinës për Studime Politike (PIPS), Instituti Kosovar për Hulumtim dhe Zhvillim të Politikave (KIPRED), Instituti për Politika Sociale “Musine Kokalari”, Instituti për Politika Zhvillimore (INDEP), Instituti Sekhmet, Këshilli për Mbrojtjen e të Drejtave dhe Lirive të Njeriut, Kosovo Advocacy & Development Centre K-W4W, Leadership Development Association Europe, Lëvizja FOL, New Social Initiative (NSI), Nisma e të Rinjve për të Drejtat e Njeriut – Kosovë, OJQ “ACCESS”, OJQ “Vision02”, OJQ EC Ma Ndryshe, OJQ Fortesa, OJQ Mundësia, OJQ Politeia, OJQ Zana, OJQ Pishtarët, Organizata Bubble, Organizata ÇOHU!, Organizata për Rritjen e Cilësisë në Arsim – ORCA, Qendra Kosova për Rehabilitimin e të Mbijetuarve të Torturës (KRCT), Qendra Kosovare për Studime Gjinore (QKSGJ), Qendra Kosovare për Studime të Sigurisë (QKSS), Qendra Kosovare për Zhvillim të Qëndrueshëm – QKZHQ, Qendra për Arsim e Kosovës – KEC, Qendra për Avokim dhe Kulturë Demokratike (ACDC), Qendra për Barazi dhe Drejtësi, Qendra Për Politika dhe Avokim (QPA), Qendra për Zhvillimin e Grupeve Shoqërore – CSGD, QIKA, Rrjeti i Grave të Kosovës (RrGK), Rrjeti i OJQ-ve AVONET, Rrjeti Qeliza, SHL – Kosova, Syri i Vizionit, The Foundation House (ish-IPKO Foundation), YMCA Movement.

30.05.25

WCSOs Ask: What’s the Real Cost of Specialised Services for Gender-based Violence? 

30.05.25

Budget Red Lines: Community Session Calls for Action on Menstrual Poverty

30.05.25

The Institutional Crisis Continues to Contribute to Discrimination Against Women

29.05.25

Preventing and Protecting Blind Women and Girls in Kosovo from Violence

29.05.25

The Journey of OPED: From Advocating for Drinking Water to Empowering Women and Local Accountability

28.05.25

Nermin Mahmuti: The Voice of Women That Doesn’t Stop, Even in Challenging Times

Preventing and Protecting Blind Women and Girls in Kosovo from Violence

29.05.2025

From the outside, violence against women might seem like a problem that affects everyone equally. But in reality, some women are doubly discriminated against, both by gender and by their different abilities. In silence, in the corners of the system and society, blind women and girls in Kosovo live a dual reality: excluded, invisible, and often without hope for protection.

This is precisely the reality that the Committee of Blind Women of Kosovo (CBWK), led by Bajramshahe Jetullahu, is challenging through a bold and sensitive initiative that aims to build bridges towards knowledge, awareness, and safety for blind women and girls living in Kosovo.

We have previously informed you about the CBWK’s initiative through the story Empowerment through Education: The Committee of Blind Women and the Endeavor for Support, and now we want to highlight its achievements.

Considering the daily challenges of this community, CBWK has planned a program that aims to ease the lives of blind women and girls, raise awareness among institutions, and improve societal consciousness.

“Our objective is clear: to protect and prevent violence against blind women and girls, who are doubly discriminated against; first because of their gender, and second because of their disability,” says Korab Jetullahu, a representative of CBWK.

The project began as a result of many stories heard over the years from women facing various forms of violence, without institutional support or access to basic information.

“Considering that blind people have limited access to information, due to scarce materials in Braille or audio, and on the other hand, they don’t have access to technology, we deemed it reasonable to conduct meetings directly with these individuals,” he further explains.

As part of the project, CBWK engaged a psychologist and a sociologist to conduct training sessions in four regions of Kosovo: Prishtina, Mitrovica, Suhareka, and Gjakova. In each city, three training sessions were held, with the participation of approximately 45 blind women and girls in each city.

The first and most sensitive topic addressed in these training sessions was violence: what it is, how it manifests, and how blind women and girls can protect themselves from violence.

“Many women lack knowledge about violence, they don’t know its forms, they don’t know who the perpetrators usually are, what psychological or economic violence is. For this reason, we started from the basic steps,” explains Jetullahu.

The training sessions also discussed legal frameworks and institutional protection mechanisms, although, as Jetullahu emphasized, the system in practice remains almost closed to women with disabilities. In Kosovo, there is still no shelter with staff trained to work with blind people, so CBWK aimed to inform these participants about protective mechanisms and places where they can seek help.

“Besides telling you what violence is, I’m also telling you where you can protect yourself,” he says.

“Violence usually starts in the family,” he begins to explain.

“It can also happen on the street, but the systematic kind, the one that gnaws at you from within, usually happens at home. And the person who does it is often also the one who accompanies you – you can’t tell them ‘take me to the police,’ or ‘take me to a shelter.’ You are dependent on them,” he recounts with pain.

Despite these limitations, the project has shown concrete signs of change. One of the participants, a blind woman who experienced physical and psychological violence for years, found the courage to tell her story to a Swedish medium collaborating with the National Association of the Blind of Sweden, a partner of CBWK. The story was published with her identity fully protected.

She was left alone with her young daughter, excluded from her husband’s family after the violence she had experienced. She lived on only 250 euros per month, which is basic support for first-category blind individuals. Her courage to speak out is not just a personal story; it is a political act, a message for all women who feel they have no voice.

CBWK’s initiative has shown success, and through the participants’ stories, the organization aims to continue with this idea and approach in other areas of Kosovo, as despite the participation of only some individuals, a large number of blind girls and women still need to be informed about violence and protection from it.

CBWK’s ongoing work consistently aligns with the work and Strategy of the Kosovo Women’s Network.

30.05.25

WCSOs Ask: What’s the Real Cost of Specialised Services for Gender-based Violence? 

30.05.25

Budget Red Lines: Community Session Calls for Action on Menstrual Poverty

30.05.25

The Institutional Crisis Continues to Contribute to Discrimination Against Women

29.05.25

Preventing and Protecting Blind Women and Girls in Kosovo from Violence

29.05.25

The Journey of OPED: From Advocating for Drinking Water to Empowering Women and Local Accountability

28.05.25

Nermin Mahmuti: The Voice of Women That Doesn’t Stop, Even in Challenging Times

The Journey of OPED: From Advocating for Drinking Water to Empowering Women and Local Accountability

29.05.2025

The OPED organization was founded in 2017, driven by the need to raise a strong citizen voice for environmental issues in the village of Orllan, Podujeva municipality. This area, with significant tourism potential, suffered from a lack of drinking water supply and insufficient citizen awareness of its potential.

In line with the organization’s development and expanding scope, this year the organization changed its name from “Rule of Democracy in Kosovo” to the Organization for Partnership Engagement and Development (OPED), better reflecting its vision for broad engagement in partnerships and inclusive development. This rebranding occurred as the previous name was no longer deemed adequate.

OPED has received organizational support from the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) multiple times, enabling increased visibility and continuous organizational development.

Through prior organizational support received from KWN, OPED drafted its organizational strategy, with the strategic goal of increasing institutional accountability and democracy at the local level.

Due to the lack of women’s organizations in Podujeva municipality, the idea of forming a forum (or similar initiative) arose from the absence of municipal hearings on gender-responsive budgeting and a collective lack of awareness.

A key outcome of the latest initiative supported by KWN was the creation of the Women’s Forum for Local Development. During this initiative:

Three public meetings on gender budgeting were held in Podujeva, Shtime, and Dragash.

Approximately 30 women publicly expressed their needs for a fairer allocation of the municipal budget.

A work plan for the Forum was drafted, aiming to strengthen dialogue between women and local institutions, as well as partnerships with potential donors.

Logos and branding were created for the Forum and for two women’s businesses, providing them with identity and increased visibility.

Today, the Women’s Forum operates as an independent NGO and has secured its first grant from the municipality of Podujeva, while OPED continues to support it with expertise and mentorship.

As part of this support, OPED has contributed to increasing the visibility of women engaged in economic activities; the organization developed branding for these women’s activities, specifically for two of them and for the Women’s Forum itself.

Among the organizational supports from KWN was also the enhancement of the organization’s capacities and sustainability. The first organizational support led to the drafting of the strategy and the human resources manual. The latest support resulted in the financial manual and the organization’s active and functional website.

The launch of the website has contributed to increasing the organization’s credibility and strengthening the capacities of the organization and the work it carries out.

Increased Capacities and Organizational Sustainability

With KWN’s support, OPED has significantly advanced in its internal structuring and development. In the initial phases, the organization’s strategy and human resources manual were drafted, while later the financial manual was prepared and the organization’s official website was launched, which has increased credibility and transparency in communication.

Furthermore, OPED has contributed to increasing the visibility of women involved in economic activities in Podujeva municipality, including in agribusiness, handicrafts, and traditional food production. Women have become active participants in the Women’s Forum and are represented through a program plan that aims to empower them economically, provide information, and build partnerships with local institutions and donors..

30.05.25

WCSOs Ask: What’s the Real Cost of Specialised Services for Gender-based Violence? 

30.05.25

Budget Red Lines: Community Session Calls for Action on Menstrual Poverty

30.05.25

The Institutional Crisis Continues to Contribute to Discrimination Against Women

29.05.25

Preventing and Protecting Blind Women and Girls in Kosovo from Violence

29.05.25

The Journey of OPED: From Advocating for Drinking Water to Empowering Women and Local Accountability

28.05.25

Nermin Mahmuti: The Voice of Women That Doesn’t Stop, Even in Challenging Times

Nermin Mahmuti: The Voice of Women That Doesn’t Stop, Even in Challenging Times

28.05.2025

Nermin Mahmuti has been a member of the Board of the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) for several years. Now, for the second time, she holds the role of chairperson of this board, a position she views more as a collective responsibility than as individual power. According to her, the chairperson’s work is not separate from the commitment of the other board members—it is a shared voice that speaks on behalf of everyone, always in harmony and through joint decisions.

For Mahmuti, the motivation to be part of the KWN is clear: a deep belief in the mission and role this organization plays in the public and political life of the country.

“The Network is a very important organization whose mission is the role of women and girls in all fields of life, and it is unique in terms of what it does—it is a voice that has brought about change in Kosovo,” she emphasizes.

In a challenging period for civil society organizations, especially with the decrease in financial support from international partners, Mahmuti has focused her attention on one of the most critical aspects of institutional survival—securing funds.

“There will be future consequences from the withdrawal of American state support for funds, and this is also present in other countries. The focus will be on lobbying and finding new funds in the future, because not only the Network but all of civil society will be in a financial crisis—and this is the challenge.”

In addition to her strategic role, Mahmuti also shares a personal advantage that makes her sensitive to the KWN’s challenges—her experience as a director of a civil society organization. This has given her a particular sensitivity to the administrative, financial, and structural difficulties that organizations face daily.

“I myself am in the shoes of a director of a civil society organization, and I know the pains and challenges, which is why it’s easier to understand the Network’s challenges,” she states.

For her, the Board’s role does not stop at moral support but requires concrete dedication to lobbying and raising their voices to secure the necessary support for the organization and its work. She says that the Network, under the leadership of Igballe Rogova and with a dedicated staff, has managed to keep alive a mission that is essential for Kosovar society.

But Mahmuti doesn’t stop there. She has a strong call to the new generation of women and girls who are growing up in a reality that, according to her, is showing alarming signs.

“My message is for girls to be a bit more active regarding the rights that belong to them—no one has given them these rights. Unfortunately, what I am observing as a woman who belongs to a slightly older generation—some problems are emerging in families—various abuses, and I fear that we are moving backward,” she says.

This concern is a call to action. For her, the protection of rights is not a finished battle but a process that requires continuous vigilance and involvement.

“We must continue to work on advocacy, and young women and girls must be more vocal—to raise their voices when needed—in the family, in society, and in the community,” she says.

Finally, Mahmuti emphasizes that equality and empowerment cannot be achieved without the involvement of everyone—including men.

“Feminism must also have a contribution from the male gender—because the only way to achieve success is when we are all together,” she said.

Nermin Mahmuti’s voice is clear, determined, and unstoppable—a voice that not only represents women but calls on all girls never to be silent.

30.05.25

WCSOs Ask: What’s the Real Cost of Specialised Services for Gender-based Violence? 

30.05.25

Budget Red Lines: Community Session Calls for Action on Menstrual Poverty

30.05.25

The Institutional Crisis Continues to Contribute to Discrimination Against Women

29.05.25

Preventing and Protecting Blind Women and Girls in Kosovo from Violence

29.05.25

The Journey of OPED: From Advocating for Drinking Water to Empowering Women and Local Accountability

28.05.25

Nermin Mahmuti: The Voice of Women That Doesn’t Stop, Even in Challenging Times

Kosovar Women Activists Call for EU Support to Reforms towards Peace and Security

20.05.2025

During the annual Brussels Advocacy Week 2025, determined women’s rights activists from Kosovo, and the region, are calling for the European Union (EU) to support the rights and security of women at home. Today, they asked the European Commission (EC) for stronger political support and more focus on gender equality in the forthcoming EC Kosovo Report, which is being prepared by the Directorate-General for Enlargement and the Eastern Neighbourhood (DG ENEST).

Vetone Veliu from the Mitrovica Women Association for Human Rights (MWAHR) focused on the political and security situation in northern Kosovo, particularly the lack of safety for women amid growing political tensions. “When the Dialogue stops, the tensions grow,” she said, referring to the frozen EU-facilitated Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue. She emphasised that women’s voices remain left out of peace talks between Kosovo and Serbia. The Government of Kosovo’s closing of Serb-run institutions, with insufficient prior notice to the local population, has contributed to difficulties for people, particularly for the elderly who struggle to access their pensions and medicine, she said.

Indeed, research by the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) also has shown that due to economic inequalities among women and men, minority women face added barriers accessing transportation and thus pensions, healthcare, and medicine.

Dafina Prekazi Pallaska from the Kosovar Gender Studies Centre (KGSC) expressed concern over continued delays in forming the Government of Kosovo after the February elections. She noted the urgent need to amend electoral laws prior to forthcoming elections, ensuring equal representation of women and men at 50%, as defined by the Law on Gender Equality. She mentioned several laws that the Government has delayed and which the EU should encourage them to adopt urgently with inclusive public consultation processes, including the Labour Law and the Civil Code. She emphasised that the Government must listen to women’s groups when making new laws and be more transparent.

Nicole Farnsworth, KWN Deputy Director and Lead Researcher, spoke about the need to protect women from violence. While praising the Government’s progress on related legislative reforms, she highlighted the need for the EC to focus on implementation, as a Rule of Law issue. She asked the EU to call upon the Government to amend the Criminal Code to include clearer provisions on technology-facilitated gender-based cyberviolence, to establish the Rape Crisis Centre, to establish clear protocols for relevant institutions based on the new legal framework and institutionalise training for them, to improve operations of municipal coordination mechanisms and to budget adequately for social services, all as per the existing legal framework.

Activists also raised concerns regarding the continuing EU measures against Kosovo. “We implore the EU to continue the dialogue,” they said, explaining how discontinuing the political dialogue has undermined progress towards EU Accession. Specifically, this has resulted in civil society, including women’s groups, losing the opportunity to dialogue with the EU and Government via Stabilisation Association Agreement (SAA) Committee and Subcommittee meetings, they said. This hampers civil society monitoring and pressure for progress on reforms, undermining inclusive democratic discussion around reforms. It also leaves space for narratives counter to EU Accession to gain footing, as people have fewer opportunities to see progress via these dialogues, or to see how it is affecting their lives, as civil society used to be able to demonstrate during prior dialogues.

“The solution is to dialogue” and not to discontinue it, they said. Activists warned that without continued political dialogue, the risk exists of growing narratives counter to EU Accession and even conflict. They called on the EU to urgently reinstate the political dialogue with Kosovo, inclusive of diverse civil society organisations.

This advocacy trip was made possible with support from the Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation, funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida). KWN has participated in this advocacy work since 2010, MWAHR since 2012 and KGSC since 2012.

As Nicole, Vetone and Dafina reminded actors in Brussels, progress towards EU Accession can only take place with the full engagement of diverse women.

For more information about the issues that they are raising in Brussels this week, see their brief, here:

https://womensnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/FINAL_DG-ENEST-Kosovo-input-2025-1-2.pdf

30.05.25

WCSOs Ask: What’s the Real Cost of Specialised Services for Gender-based Violence? 

30.05.25

Budget Red Lines: Community Session Calls for Action on Menstrual Poverty

30.05.25

The Institutional Crisis Continues to Contribute to Discrimination Against Women

29.05.25

Preventing and Protecting Blind Women and Girls in Kosovo from Violence

29.05.25

The Journey of OPED: From Advocating for Drinking Water to Empowering Women and Local Accountability

28.05.25

Nermin Mahmuti: The Voice of Women That Doesn’t Stop, Even in Challenging Times

Women at the Center of Peace – Global Open Day 2025 gathers powerful voices for change

15.05.2025

With an atmosphere full of energy, today at the Global Open Day for Women, Peace and Security Preparations, a series of powerful statements and reflections were given on the role of women in Kosovo’s journey towards peace and security.

Today, May 14, 2025, at the Emerald Hotel in Pristina, this event focused on the vital role of women in building peace and security. This day took place on the eve of the 25th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, with the theme: “Women, Peace and Security: Lessons Learned and Ways Forward”.

Caroline Ziadah, Head of UNMIK, emphasized the vital role that women play as heroines and builders during conflicts. She addressed the women present directly, saying: “Progress is yours – more and more girls and women are being educated thanks to you.”

However, she acknowledged that sexual violence and gender-based violence still remain as shadows, but emphasized that such violence is always unacceptable. Ziadah stressed the need for economic empowerment of women so that they can continue to flourish in peace. She also noted the importance of respecting linguistic diversity and that the media should reflect reality without manipulation. “Justice that excludes women is not justice at all,” she declared. Her concluding message was powerful: “When women rise, Kosovo rises.”

The Executive Director of the Agency for Gender Equality, Edi Gusia, reflected on Kosovo’s progress in gender equality, mentioning the establishment of the Agency for Gender Equality in 2005 and the creation of the Action Plan for Resolution 1325 in 2013. Gusia highlighted the 79% success rate in the implementation of activities from the plan, a rare achievement compared to other strategic documents. She mentioned the establishment of a Commission for the verification of the status of victims of sexual violence during the war, the licensing of four NGOs, and Kosovo’s commitment to providing €11.3 million to support survivors.

However, she emphasized the importance of giving Kosovo the opportunity to present the gender equality agenda before the UN CEDAW committee.

The Executive Director of the Kosovo Women’s Network, Igballe Rogova, shared a strong criticism of the way Resolution 1325 has been implemented. She emphasized that although the resolution was created to support women’s organizations, recognizing them as key agents for building peace and stability, those who signed it did not respect it.

Rogova recalled that in the post-war period, the international community often overlooked the inclusion of women. Ironically, many of the meetings organized around this resolution were held without any women present – a painful contradiction for a resolution that has at its core the inclusion and empowerment of women. At that time, one of the strongest allies was Ambassador Chowdhury, who pushed forward Resolution 1325 until it was adopted.

Rogova spoke of the disappointment at the exclusion of women during the Kosovo-Serbia negotiations, mentioning regional initiatives such as the Women’s Coalition for Peace, a coalition between KWN and Women in Black, bringing the perspectives of women who were absent during the negotiations.

Rogova also called for stronger solidarity among women and emphasized several times that international organizations should not compete with local ones, but support and cooperate with them.

“Kosovo institutions should not close their doors to women’s organizations, while women should be more in solidarity with each other,” said Rogova.

Emilija Rexhepi mentioned that women in Kosovo have shown leadership in peacebuilding.

The Executive Director of the NGO Žensko Pravo (Women’s Right), Ružica Simić, emphasized the lack of education and dialogue as essential elements for building a better future.

The Executive Director of the Kosovo Gender Studies Center (KGSC), Luljeta Demolli, emphasized the importance of integrating women’s issues at all levels of the system. She mentioned that Kosovo’s progress serves as a model for the entire region.

Finally, Sanija Murati, Executive Director of the NGO Lady, gave advice to women, especially those from other regions: “Learn the language of the country where you live,” she said. She also spoke about misunderstandings and misinformation about Kosovo and its people in the region, noting that politics often divides everyday life. “In Kosovo, I have no enemies,” she said firmly, emphasizing the power of choice and unity.

Throughout the event, participants also had the opportunity to visit an exhibition of handicrafts made by women, promoting local creativity and entrepreneurship as an important part of peacebuilding.

These voices at the Global Preparatory Open Day presented a picture of the ongoing efforts and extraordinary resilience of the women of Kosovo. The message was clear: continued solidarity, support, and active participation in both local and global platforms will be essential for building sustainable peace and equality.

30.05.25

WCSOs Ask: What’s the Real Cost of Specialised Services for Gender-based Violence? 

30.05.25

Budget Red Lines: Community Session Calls for Action on Menstrual Poverty

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The Institutional Crisis Continues to Contribute to Discrimination Against Women

29.05.25

Preventing and Protecting Blind Women and Girls in Kosovo from Violence

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The Journey of OPED: From Advocating for Drinking Water to Empowering Women and Local Accountability

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Nermin Mahmuti: The Voice of Women That Doesn’t Stop, Even in Challenging Times

From Life in Spain to Volunteering in Kosovo

28.04.2025

Can we truly “pack” our entire lives into a suitcase for just a week and begin anew? Anda’s story illustrates how she accomplished precisely that and now dedicates herself to contributing to her country.

Anda Krasniqi is one of the enthusiastic volunteers who joined the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) team in February of this year. She spent a significant part of her life in Spain, raised by two Kosovar parents who had left Kosovo before the war began, and she has always felt a strong connection to her country of origin. “I thank my mother for emphasizing the importance of learning the Albanian language for me; she pushed me to be very connected to the Albanian language and to Kosovo,” Anda said.

When Anda’s mother decided to return to Kosovo to be closer to her family, the trajectory of Anda’s life also changed significantly. Within a short time, she made the decision to return to Kosovo at the age of 18. “Coming to Kosovo and starting my studies here was a colossal change for me,” she recounts.

With the start of her studies at the University of Prishtina, in the Philosophy department, Anda began a new life in Kosovo, socializing and forming a new circle of friends here. “The change I made by returning to Kosovo has been extremely good for me; I have gained so much richness in the social aspect in this country,” Anda added.

Since Spain is one of the countries that still does not recognize Kosovo as an independent state, this was one of Anda’s strongest motivations for leaving the comfort and stability of the life she had built there to return to Kosovo. “I always had to identify with a national identity that I didn’t want. Even though I have the best friends there and they were very much in favor of Kosovo’s independence as a state, it’s about how the state itself identifies you,” Anda explained.

With enthusiasm and curiosity for the work, and energy to contribute to a strong cause, Anda brings a fresh spirit to the Network. She is involved in the “Women, Peace and Security” project, through which she shows that she is also familiarizing herself with different work processes and aspects she was not previously acquainted with. Laws and their functioning, the situation of minority communities in Kosovo, and other important topics are things Anda is learning during her work at the Network.

Anda has an undeniable enthusiasm for contributing to KWN, expressing that each person should feel responsible towards the society they are part of and not remain silent. “It seems to me that each person should have that responsibility towards society… People are being punished for who they are,” she stated.

Over the past three years, Anda has worked as a health insurance consultant, an interesting job that has helped her find a part of herself by developing her communication skills.

She works at KWN several hours a day during the week and enjoys being actively engaged in some activity; she plays tennis as she did as a child and has a passion for painting. She is a film enthusiast and spends part of her time dedicating it to her favorite movies.

Anda has made a big change in her life and has set an excellent example of how passion and commitment can lead to positive and significant changes for society.

The Kosovo Women’s Network continues to call on individuals from all groups and communities, regardless of age and affiliation, to actively engage in strengthening the feminist movement in Kosovo. When more people come forward, more voices are heard, and real change becomes possible. This is a moment to stand together, to challenge inequality, and to build a society where gender justice is not just a goal, but a reality.

Through our Volunteer Program, we offer a space for learning, advocacy, and action. Whether you are a scientific researcher, activist, student, or simply someone passionate about human rights, your engagement can make a difference. By joining us, you will have the opportunity to develop new skills, contribute to research, and deepen your understanding of the challenges faced by women in Kosovo, such as gender-based violence, economic inequality, and systemic discrimination.

Over the years, we have engaged at least 392 different volunteers from Kosovo and beyond, empowering them with the tools to become advocates for change. Now, we are expanding this movement and we need you. Together, we can build a stronger and more inclusive feminist movement – a movement that amplifies voices, influences policies, and paves the way for a more just and equal future.

If you wish to contribute as a volunteer, like Anda and our other dedicated volunteers, please contact us at info@womensnetwork.org to learn more about our Volunteer Program.

30.05.25

WCSOs Ask: What’s the Real Cost of Specialised Services for Gender-based Violence? 

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Budget Red Lines: Community Session Calls for Action on Menstrual Poverty

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The Institutional Crisis Continues to Contribute to Discrimination Against Women

29.05.25

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The Foundation House celebrates a decade of Girls in ICT

25.04.2025

To mark the 10th anniversary of Girls in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and the International Day of Girls in ICT, The Foundation House (formerly IPKO Foundation), a Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) member, organized a powerful conference at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) Kosovo campus on April 24^th. Celebrating a decade of inspiring and empowering young women in technology, the event aimed to raise awareness and create a local environment that encourages girls and young women to pursue careers in ICT. In collaboration with RIT Kosovo, The Foundation House has been organizing impactful events for ten years, offering a platform to share success stories, foster networking, and create new opportunities for young women and professionals in the ICT sector.

Ms. Artane Rizvanolli, the Minister of Economy, spoke about the progress made by girls and women pursuing studies in STEM and Energy fields. She highlighted the scholarships offered to encourage more girls and women to enter these areas.

Abetare Gojani, the Executive Director of The Foundation House, spoke about the journey of a decade of growth and impact. She highlighted the major project focused on girls in ICT, an initiative that provides each girl in Kosovo not just the opportunity to use technology, but to develop it further. A decade later, more than 3,000 girls have walked through the doors of The Foundation House. “Today, a decade later we continue to believe that when you believe in a girl, she transforms the world”, she said among other things in her speech. “But despite the progress, the data speaks clearly: today, over 55% of graduates in STEM and ICT fields are women, yet only 3.5% are part of the labour market in these sectors. This is a call to action—because talent has no gender”, said Ms. Gojani.

Çamërie Mazreku, a Software Engineer at Netflix, led an inspiring conversation that filled the room with motivation. Seeing a fellow woman in such a prestigious position at a company like Netflix deeply inspired the girls already pursuing careers in these fields. With a lot of determination and hard work, she said that no matter where you come from, you can always achieve the dreams you have, and that comparison can kill a lot of dreams, as we often have a lot more potential than we think we do.

She said that is important to work and not give up on what you want and invest time and energy in yourself. “Companies invest in people who invest in themselves,” said Mazreku.

The conference continued with a panel discussion: Empowering voices: Youngsters present policy recommendations in STEM and Energy- moderated by Rinora Gojani, the young panellists: Ema Rudi, Florinda Hasani, Ema Nallbani, Shefki Sllamani and Florent Sahiti.

They all shared experiences of the struggles they face as students within the STEM and Energy fields, giving recommendations to institutions and more. One of the problems is the decrease in the number of study hours in STEM and energy fields.

“Anything I can imagine, I should be able to do”, said Florinda when they were asked why they went into studying these fields.

Another panel discussion followed with the topic: Policies and Strategies for supporting youth in STEM and Energy, the panellists Sibel Halimi – Director of Culture at the Municipality of Prishtina, Teuta Sahatqija – Ambassador, Women in Tech Kosovo, also a member of KWN, Laura Kyreziu – Executive Director of Leadership and Growth Council, Vigan Perani – Architect and Urban Planner.

With a changing environment in the fields of STEM and Energy the situation is different now from how it used to be, but we need better collaborations between institutions, the University of Prishtina and businesses, offering jobs to women, including them more in the work force.

Ms. Sahatqija reflected on her past, recalling a time when she was the only female student in her field. She shared how, in our society, it was commonly believed that math was too difficult for women, and that they should pursue something lighter and easier instead.

Continuing with workshops, the conference featured an AI & Cybersecurity Hackathon, Military Activity with Kosovo Security Force officials, and a Drones & GIS Mapping session guided by FSK experts.

The International Girls in ICT at R.I.T Kosovo ended with a job fair, offering the participant a great chance to get familiar with possible places to get to work and encourage them to apply for also give career exposure.

The International day of Girls in ICT at R.I.T Kosovo ended with a job fair, offering the participant a great chance to get familiar with possible places to get to work and encourage them to apply for also give career exposure.

30.05.25