Kosovar Women`s Voice - December 2013

December 2013
Hilmijeta Apuk Receives UN
Human Rights Award
Marking
the
International Day of
Human Rights at UN
headquarters in New
York, UN SecretaryGeneral Ban Kimoon recognized on
Inside this Issue
10 Dec. six people
who have fought for
KWN Recognizes Artists Contributing
human rights. Among
to Women’s Rights .............................. 2
them was Hilmijeta
New Prishtina Mayor Ahmeti Meets
Apuk from Mitrovica,
Hilmijeta Apuk from Mitrovica received the
KWN Representatives .......................... 3
Kosovo.
Human Rights Award from UN SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-moon on 10 Dec.
Apuk
has
OPMDK Holds Competition for People
advocated in Kosovo
with Special Needs ............................... 3
and abroad for the rights of persons with disabilities for more
than 30 years. She served as a member of the Ad Hoc
KWN Exchanges Experiences with
Committee of the UN General Assembly, which drafted the
Activists in Austria .............................. 3
Convention for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. She
cofounded and directs the Little People of Kosova, a non-profit
Jeta-Vita Recognizes President’s Fight
organization.
She also serves as the national coordinator for an
against Breast Cancer.......................... 4
awareness campaign towards employing persons with disabilities.
In her spare time, Apuk is an artist, working to promote the
SEVEN Involves Women’s Rights
rights of persons with disabilities through her art.
Activists in Kosovo .............................. 4
“This award is very important for me in my work and for Kosovo,
Activists Demand Women’s
my country,” Apuk said. “It strengthens the voice of people with
Participation in Kosovo Talks............. 4
disabilities, including myself, and encourages us to continue our work
towards human rights.”
The UN Secretary-General gives this award every five years to
persons
and
organizations
that
have contributed to
protecting
human
rights. Prior recipients
have included Nelson
Mandela,
Martin
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KWN Recognizes Artists Contributing to Women’s Rights
Approximately 120 representatives of KWN member
organizations, donors, partners, supporters and media attended
the Kosova Women’s Network’s 11th Annual Membership
Meeting on 7 Dec. at Sheshi 21 in Prishtina. During the meeting,
KWN recognized 17 artists and organizations that have
contributed to furthering women’s and girls’ rights.
“This event was very good and necessary,” said Kadire
Tahiraj from the Centre for the Promotion of Women’s Rights.
“The work that KWN did this year was very successful. KWN is
the only place where women’s organizations can find support.”
Following a performance by “Lira” Women’s Choir, a KWN
member organization, Ariana Qosaj-Mustafa, KWN Chair of
Doruntina Basha, among the artists recognized,
the Board, opened the meeting. On behalf of KWN, she
receives an award from KWN for her contribution to
recognized the following women artists for their contributions
women’s and girls’ rights as a film director.
to women’s and girls’ rights: NGO Artpolis, Arta Dobroshi,
Antoneta Kastrati, Blerta Zeqiri, Burbuqe Berisha, Doruntina Basha, Eliza Hoxha, Flaka Haliti, HAVE IT, Iliriana
Loxha-Basha, Kaltrina Krasniqi, “Lira” Women’s Choir, Rona Nishliu, Rita Ora, Sevdie Kastrati, Venera Mustafa and
Zake Prelvukaj.
Then KWN Executive Director Igballe Rogova reported to members regarding KWN’s work and achievements in
2013, showing short films to tell our story. Nermin
Mahmuti, a KWN Board member and member of
the Kosovo Women’s Fund’s Grant Review
Committee, spoke about the challenges faced and
results of the Fund this year. Representatives of the
following member organizations that received grants
from the Fund also shared their experiences,
challenges and successes: the Organization of
Persons with Muscular Dystrophy of Kosovo from
Prizren; Rikotta from Prishtina; the Committee of
Blind Women of Kosova from Prishtina; and the
th
Centre for the Promotion of Women’s Rights from
KWN gathers 120 participants at its 11 Annual Membership
Drenas.
Meeting, held on 7 Dec. 2013, at Sheshi 21 in Prishtina.
“KWN has empowered all of us member
organizations that work for women’s rights,” a member said. “Creating the Kosovo Women’s Fund was of great
importance because it gave organizations that lack funds the opportunity to work.”
During the meeting, members completed anonymous evaluation forms regarding KWN’s performance in 2013,
and evaluation results will be distributed in 2014. The evaluation process provides members with the opportunity to
express their thoughts, as well as their needs and requests for future KWN services.
KWN members also elected three new Board members, as part of the regular board rotation process. The new
members of KWN’s seven-member board are: Sevdije Ahmeti (48
votes), Zana Hoxha-Krasniqi (36 votes) and Belgjyzare Muharremi
(29 votes). Members also agreed that Sevdije Ahmeti should remain a
permanent member of the KWN Board. All members present at the
meeting unanimously approved this proposal. Other candidates who
did not receive sufficient votes for joining KWN’s Board included
Valdete Idrizi (24 votes), Sarah Maliqi (16 votes) and Nita Luci (13
votes).
“It is my pleasure to be part of 11th Annual Membership Meeting
of KWN,” said Drita Vukshinaj from the Association of Women with
Disabilities “Women for Women”. “KWN gathers us all and reports
on the work they have done. They are very transparent. They
KWN members discuss and share
empowered not just me, but all of the organizations that are part of
their 2013 experiences.
this network.”
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New Prishtina Mayor Ahmeti Meets KWN Representatives
The recently elected Mayor of Prishtina, Shpend Ahmeti,
visited KWN on 23 Dec. He was the first mayor of Prishtina
to ever visit KWN’s office.
KWN shared information about the organization’s
Strategic Plan and programs. Mayor Ahmeti expressed his
readiness to cooperate with KWN, particularly towards
empowering women and girls.
Mayor of Prishtina, Shpend Ahmeti, visits KWN on 23 Dec.
OPMDK Holds Competition for People with Special Needs
The Organization of Persons with Muscular Dystrophy of Kosovo (OPMDK) gathered people with special needs
from throughout Kosovo in a competition that included chess, street ball, ping pong and wheelchair races. The
competition created a space for having fun and meeting new friends.
“I feel very good,” said Fatime Gerguraj, a participant. “I like the games a lot. Also, this is very good for us because
we are meeting new friends.”
Since participants came from diverse cities, the competition provided an opportunity for them to socialize, as well
as to become involved in various sports.
“I myself have special needs, and I think this enabled effective organizing,” said Resmije Rrahmani from OPMDK. “I
don’t like it when people without disabilities organize these types of events because they don’t understand our needs
in the same way that we understand each other. When we organize something, I plan everything because I have the
same problems that others face with stairs, bathrooms and transportation.”
In the end, OPMDK recognized the winners and persons who support OPMDK.
KWN Exchanges Experiences with Activists in Austria
KWN and Sudwind organized a five-day study visit in Austria. During the visit, women activists from Kosovo learned
more about the position of women in Austria.
The visit began in Sant Polten (Sankt Pölten), the capital city of the region of Lower Austria. Participants met
successful women politicians, discussing participation in politics and decision making, domestic violence and women’s
inheritance rights. The next day, participants drove to another city, Hibps, where they visited a women’s shelter,
learned how they deal with domestic violence and discussed the legal mechanisms in place for punishing abusers and
treating victims. On the third day they visited Danube University in the city of Krems. Participants discussed women’s
position within institutions and criteria for selecting job applicants.
In Sant Polten, they visited NGO Sudwind, learning about their work related to fair trade: selling products for their
real value so those who make products do not face discrimination. On the last day they visited the Ministry of
Women’s Affairs in Vienna. Participants learned about the Ministry and its work.
“This exchange of experiences has been very useful for us,” said Shefkije Mehmet, Head of the Municipal
Assembly in Novoberdo. “We had the chance to meet women
leaders working in various high level government institutions; visit
those institutions; and learn from the experiences of these women.”
Following this very informative exchange, participants from
Kosovo concluded that women in Austria (a “developed”
country) face very several similar issues as women in Kosovo:
they continue to fight for women’s rights as human rights; several
women still suffer domestic violence; women who possess the
same qualifications as men receive lower salaries; and there are
fewer women in decision-making positions than men. The only
difference, they concluded, was that women in Austria have
stronger legal mechanisms towards furthering women’s rights.
The exchange visit was made possible with support from the
Austrian Development Agency.
KWN representatives took part in an
exchange visit in Austria on 9-12 Dec.
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`
Jeta-Vita Recognizes President’s Fight against Breast Cancer
On 17 Dec., the President of Kosovo Atifete Jahjaga welcomed Nafije
Latifi, Executive Director of the Kosovo Centre for Fighting Breast
Cancer Jeta-Vita, Minire Zuna-Bunjaku, a member of the Centre’s Board
and Igballe Rogova, KWN Executive Director.
During the visit, Jeta-Vita expressed their gratitude for the President’s
contribution and commitment to fighting breast cancer. On 12 Oct.,
President Jahjaga supported Jeta-Vita’s annual initiative that gathered
citizens in marching with the motto: “Early Detection Equals Survival”.
During their visit, the delegation presented President Jahjaga with a
Certificate of Appreciation.
“In this way we want to express our gratitude for Mrs. Jahjaga’s
contribution and commitment in fighting breast cancer,” said Nafije Latifi.
Nafije Latifi from Jeta-Vita recognizes President
Jahjaga with a Certificate of Appreciation for
her contribution in fighting breast cancer.
SEVEN Involves Women’s Rights Activists in Kosovo
On 30 Sep., the innovative documentary “SEVEN” was screened at the Palace of Youth and Sports in Prishtina.
SEVEN is a Swedish documentary that portrays the stories of seven women’s rights activists around the world,
including women from Nigeria, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Russia, Northern Ireland, Cambodia and Guatemala.
The innovative concept of the show involves bringing on stage seven women’s rights activists, public figures and
politicians to read the stories of the seven women portrayed in the film.
SEVEN’s ensemble in Kosovo included: Suzana Novoberdaliu, Member of the Parliament of the Republic of
Kosovo and Head of the Parliamentary Committee for Human Rights; Anamari Repic, Deputy Head of public
television station RTK; Saranda Bogujevci, an artist and survivor of the Bogujevci family massacre that occurred in
March 1999; Rajmonda Sylbije, a Human Rights Activist from
NGO CEL; Linda Gusia, a sociologist and feminist; Vesa Qena,
a playwright and performer in “Have It” performance group;
and Shpresa Agushi, Director of the Network of Roma,
Ashkali and Egyptian Women’s Organizations of Kosovo.
SEVEN was initially created by Paula Cizmar, Catherine
Filloux, Gail Kriegel, Carol K. Mack, Ruth Margraff, Anna
Deveare-Smith and Susan Yankowitz, together with the Vital
Voices Global Partnership. The Swedish International
The innovative documentary “SEVEN” was screened on 30
Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and Civil Rights
Nov., at the Palace of Youth and Sports in Prishtina.
Defenders (CRD) supported SEVEN’s screening in Kosovo.
Activists Demand Women’s Participation in Kosovo Talks
Women’s rights activists from Kosovo, Serbia and Sweden sent a letter to High Representative of the Union for Foreign
Affairs and Security Policy, EEAS, Baroness Catherine Ashton on 4 Dec. regarding failures to implement United Nations
Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security during the ongoing talks between Kosovo and Serbia.
Activists noted that women from civil society had not been included in the talks. Activists urged Baroness Ashton to:
ensure that the principles of right to information, participation, and non-discrimination are observed in the dialogue;
facilitate regular consultations with women’s organisations and civil society and include their input in the dialogue; request
that government representatives of Kosovo and Serbia participate in civil society consultations; ensure that UNSCR 1325
is mainstreamed into any future agreements; consider supporting women groups financially and politically, as appropriate;
and ensure that the governments of Kosovo and Serbia adopt and implement their national action plans on 1325, updating
plans with targets related to the dialogue, in consultation with women groups.
The signatories of the letter, sent via Kvinna till Kvinna, included: Igballe Rogova from KWN; Vetone Veliu from the
Mitrovica Women’s Association for Human Rights; Stanislavka Zajović from Women in Black Belgrade; and Lena Ag from
the Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation in Sweden. The letter also was sent to the ambassadors of all EU member states. The
full letter is available here.
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