Women Can Do It In Kosovoa

1
Women Can Do It In Kosovo/a

• Project of WOMEN for WOMEN
• Centre for Research and Gender Policy
• October 2006-May 2007

2
Gender regimes Political and Social Context
in Kosovo/a

• Future political status of Kosovo/a over
  shadowing other political, economic and social
  issues.
• Status talks between Albanians and Serbs resulted
  in no agreement over future political status of
  Kosovo/a.
• UN nations urges decision at the UN Security
  Council
• Modernization process of Kosovo/a does not mean
  de facto advancement of gender relations or
  evasion of the status quo.
• Gender Mainstreaming high in the public
  discourse.
• Gender as a concept, as a planning tool,
  analytical category, etc. is kept in the margins.
  
• Paradoxes return to the tradition, and family,
  valorization of nation and nationess.
• Ahtisaris proposal recognizes gender as an
  important aspect of the peace-building process in
  Kosovo/a.

3
Legislation on Gender in Kosovo/a

• Gender Equality Law
• Anti-Discrimination Law
• Family law incorporated gender aspect
• UN regulation on Domestic Violence
• UN regulation on Combating Trafficking of Human
  Beings
• Constitutional Framework CEDAW Convention
  integrated.
• Election regulation last national elections
  closed lists with quota of 30
• New Election legislation open lists with quota
  of 30 in the candidate lists and elected seats.
• Gender Equality mechanisms national and local
  levels Agency for Gender Equality, Women Caucus
  at the Kosovo/a Parliament, Gender Equality
  municipal officers, commissions of gender
  equality in several municipalities in Kosovo/a.
  

4
WCDI Partners in Kosovo/aPolitical Parties --
debatable issues

• Political parties with not clearly defined
  ideological orientations. No Right, Centre and
  Left defined ideologies. A mixture of neo-liberal
  and social politics.
• Programs similar/different but no clear
  orientations on the future.
• Political Status of Kosovo/a main issue of the
  political parties.
• No focus on HOW THE STATE SHOULD look like, but
  WE WANT A STATE.
• Parties either too centralized, or too fragile
  the case of small political parties.
• A considerable number of women active in
  Political Parties, but they remain second in the
  political affairs.
• Women of political parties are mobilizing more
  around issues of gender, ex. The quota of 30.
• Young Women of political parties need
  encouragement and support.

5
WCDI Partners The Media and GM

• Media organisations the split between private
  and public too rigid and wide.
• Market oriented.
• News and information programs marketized.
• Distorted representation of women in the media
  either a good mother and a good professional
  or a beauty queen.
• Feminisation of the media industry.
• The editorial boards, and owners of the media
  remain men.
• More work needed with the media.
• Gender Equality mechanisms no resources, no
  expertise and fragile.
• Gender Equality mechanism a cosmetic tip to the
  Kosovo/a institutions.

6
2006-2007WCDI results

• One three day advanced TOT training. Nine
  newcomer trainers trained in four intensive
  training days.
• Four two day WCDI seminars with political
  parties seminar. 100 women political party
  activists.
• Five two day WCDI in media seminars with
  different electronic and print media from all
  local languages. 125 women journalists and media
  employees were enrolled in the seminars.
• Five WCDI seminars with young women. 125 young
  women political party activists of youth forums
  of political parties are trained.
• Four WCDI in local communities, 100 women of
  NGOs, experts, municipal service servants, and
  housewives were trained.
• Six local actions. 150 women participated in
  planning and organizing of local actions.
• Evaluation seminar. 25 trainers and project staff
  participated in the evaluation seminar.