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Story
16 April 2024
Igniting Change: Empowering Youth for a Sustainable Tomorrow through Engagement
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Story
16 April 2024
Early Childhood Development in Kosovo: A Leap Forward Enacted with the New Law
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Story
16 April 2024
Kosovo's Leap in Public Health: Introducing HPV Vaccine
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Latest
The Sustainable Development Goals in Kosovo
The Sustainable Development Goals are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the earth’s environment and climate, and ensure that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity. These are the goals the UN is working on in Kosovo:
Press Release
08 March 2024
PRESS RELEASE: IWD 2024
Today, on International Women’s Day, UN Women, Meridian Corporation and SPAR, unveiled the “Use Your Potential: Come Work with Us” initiative. This ground-breaking program targets middle-aged and older women who have been absent from the workforce until now, aiming to economically empower them by facilitating their entry into the private sector. The launch of this initiative underscores the crucial importance of investing in women’s economic empowerment, paving a direct path towards gender equality, poverty eradication, and inclusive economic growth. Internationally, the theme for International Women’s Day revolves around “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress.” Agon Gashi, CEO of Meridian Express, affirmed the company's commitment to corporate social responsibility (CSR) and their endorsement of the Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs). Underlining this commitment, they launched an initiative aimed at creating employment opportunities specifically tailored for middle-aged women, fostering mutual benefit. “One of the main goals of the company persists in empowering women through the provision of a secure and supportive work environment. We place a specific emphasis on the recruitment of women in the middle age bracket, alongside offering comprehensive training and development opportunities to enhance their professional capabilities. This dedication is substantiated by current statistics, with over 30% of our employed women falling within this demographic. Furthermore, we anticipate a steady rise in these numbers, as our goal over the next three years is to employ more than 100 middle-aged women.” Speaking at the launch, UN Women Head of Office, Vlora Tuzi-Nushi, emphasized, that this initiative is crucial at empowering middle-aged women by integrating or reintegrating them to work and changing perceptions around this social category. “Empowering middle-aged women through employment not only enriches their lives but also strengthens their position in society and family, thus leading to overall economic development. In line with this year’s global International Women’s Day theme “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress”, and we are delighted to align with this initiative, which promises tangible impacts on women's lives. Meridian Express serves as an exemplary model of how the private sector can actively engage in empowering women." Further, Meridian Express introduced Sanije, 52 years old, woman who recently moved to Prishtina and started working for the very first time in her life with the company in a sales position. “I needed a job, but I had never worked in my life previously. I live in the building just above the Meridian Express and I was a regular client here and one day I decided to ask if they need new staff. I am immensely grateful for their willingness to welcome me aboard and support me through this challenging transition." Women constitute a vital force within economies worldwide, contributing significantly whether in business ventures, agricultural endeavors, entrepreneurial pursuits, employment roles, or through their invaluable unpaid care work within households. As a leading employer of women, the private sector assumes a pivotal role in advancing gender equality and women's empowerment both within Kosovo and globally. Meridian Express stands among the first private sector companies to endorse the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) in Kosovo, aligning with over 9000 businesses worldwide committed to fostering practices such as equal pay for equal work, gender-responsive supply chain management, and a zero-tolerance policy against sexual harassment in the workplace. Established by the United Nations Global Compact and UN Women, the WEPs draw upon international labor and human rights standards, rooted in the belief that businesses bear a responsibility for promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment. Until the end of this year, UN Women, Meridian Express and SPAR, will endeavor to economically empower a significant number of women, catalyzing tangible progress towards gender equality and inclusive economic development.
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Press Release
08 March 2024
PRESS RELEASE: IWD 2024
Today, on International Women’s Day, UN Women, Meridian Corporation and SPAR, unveiled the “Use Your Potential: Come Work with Us” initiative. This ground-breaking program targets middle-aged and older women who have been absent from the workforce until now, aiming to economically empower them by facilitating their entry into the private sector. The launch of this initiative underscores the crucial importance of investing in women’s economic empowerment, paving a direct path towards gender equality, poverty eradication, and inclusive economic growth. Internationally, the theme for International Women’s Day revolves around “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress.” Agon Gashi, CEO of Meridian Express, affirmed the company's commitment to corporate social responsibility (CSR) and their endorsement of the Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs). Underlining this commitment, they launched an initiative aimed at creating employment opportunities specifically tailored for middle-aged women, fostering mutual benefit. “One of the main goals of the company persists in empowering women through the provision of a secure and supportive work environment. We place a specific emphasis on the recruitment of women in the middle age bracket, alongside offering comprehensive training and development opportunities to enhance their professional capabilities. This dedication is substantiated by current statistics, with over 30% of our employed women falling within this demographic. Furthermore, we anticipate a steady rise in these numbers, as our goal over the next three years is to employ more than 100 middle-aged women.” Speaking at the launch, UN Women Head of Office, Vlora Tuzi-Nushi, emphasized, that this initiative is crucial at empowering middle-aged women by integrating or reintegrating them to work and changing perceptions around this social category. “Empowering middle-aged women through employment not only enriches their lives but also strengthens their position in society and family, thus leading to overall economic development. In line with this year’s global International Women’s Day theme “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress”, and we are delighted to align with this initiative, which promises tangible impacts on women's lives. Meridian Express serves as an exemplary model of how the private sector can actively engage in empowering women." Further, Meridian Express introduced Sanije, 52 years old, woman who recently moved to Prishtina and started working for the very first time in her life with the company in a sales position. “I needed a job, but I had never worked in my life previously. I live in the building just above the Meridian Express and I was a regular client here and one day I decided to ask if they need new staff. I am immensely grateful for their willingness to welcome me aboard and support me through this challenging transition." Women constitute a vital force within economies worldwide, contributing significantly whether in business ventures, agricultural endeavors, entrepreneurial pursuits, employment roles, or through their invaluable unpaid care work within households. As a leading employer of women, the private sector assumes a pivotal role in advancing gender equality and women's empowerment both within Kosovo and globally. Meridian Express stands among the first private sector companies to endorse the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) in Kosovo, aligning with over 9000 businesses worldwide committed to fostering practices such as equal pay for equal work, gender-responsive supply chain management, and a zero-tolerance policy against sexual harassment in the workplace. Established by the United Nations Global Compact and UN Women, the WEPs draw upon international labor and human rights standards, rooted in the belief that businesses bear a responsibility for promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment. Until the end of this year, UN Women, Meridian Express and SPAR, will endeavor to economically empower a significant number of women, catalyzing tangible progress towards gender equality and inclusive economic development.
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Press Release
08 March 2024
PRESS RELEASE: IWD 2024
Today, on International Women’s Day, UN Women, Meridian Corporation and SPAR, unveiled the “Use Your Potential: Come Work with Us” initiative. This ground-breaking program targets middle-aged and older women who have been absent from the workforce until now, aiming to economically empower them by facilitating their entry into the private sector. The launch of this initiative underscores the crucial importance of investing in women’s economic empowerment, paving a direct path towards gender equality, poverty eradication, and inclusive economic growth. Internationally, the theme for International Women’s Day revolves around “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress.” Agon Gashi, CEO of Meridian Express, affirmed the company's commitment to corporate social responsibility (CSR) and their endorsement of the Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs). Underlining this commitment, they launched an initiative aimed at creating employment opportunities specifically tailored for middle-aged women, fostering mutual benefit. “One of the main goals of the company persists in empowering women through the provision of a secure and supportive work environment. We place a specific emphasis on the recruitment of women in the middle age bracket, alongside offering comprehensive training and development opportunities to enhance their professional capabilities. This dedication is substantiated by current statistics, with over 30% of our employed women falling within this demographic. Furthermore, we anticipate a steady rise in these numbers, as our goal over the next three years is to employ more than 100 middle-aged women.” Speaking at the launch, UN Women Head of Office, Vlora Tuzi-Nushi, emphasized, that this initiative is crucial at empowering middle-aged women by integrating or reintegrating them to work and changing perceptions around this social category. “Empowering middle-aged women through employment not only enriches their lives but also strengthens their position in society and family, thus leading to overall economic development. In line with this year’s global International Women’s Day theme “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress”, and we are delighted to align with this initiative, which promises tangible impacts on women's lives. Meridian Express serves as an exemplary model of how the private sector can actively engage in empowering women." Further, Meridian Express introduced Sanije, 52 years old, woman who recently moved to Prishtina and started working for the very first time in her life with the company in a sales position. “I needed a job, but I had never worked in my life previously. I live in the building just above the Meridian Express and I was a regular client here and one day I decided to ask if they need new staff. I am immensely grateful for their willingness to welcome me aboard and support me through this challenging transition." Women constitute a vital force within economies worldwide, contributing significantly whether in business ventures, agricultural endeavors, entrepreneurial pursuits, employment roles, or through their invaluable unpaid care work within households. As a leading employer of women, the private sector assumes a pivotal role in advancing gender equality and women's empowerment both within Kosovo and globally. Meridian Express stands among the first private sector companies to endorse the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) in Kosovo, aligning with over 9000 businesses worldwide committed to fostering practices such as equal pay for equal work, gender-responsive supply chain management, and a zero-tolerance policy against sexual harassment in the workplace. Established by the United Nations Global Compact and UN Women, the WEPs draw upon international labor and human rights standards, rooted in the belief that businesses bear a responsibility for promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment. Until the end of this year, UN Women, Meridian Express and SPAR, will endeavor to economically empower a significant number of women, catalyzing tangible progress towards gender equality and inclusive economic development.
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Press Release
07 March 2024
THE SECRETARY-GENERAL: MESSAGE FOR INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY
On International Women’s Day, we celebrate the achievements of women and girls across all walks of life, in all corners of the world.But we also recognize the enormous obstacles they face — from structural injustices, marginalization, and violence, to cascading crises that affect them first and worst, to the denial of their personal autonomy and rights over their bodies and lives.Gender-based discrimination harms everyone – women, girls, men, and boys.International Women’s Day is a call to action.Action to stand with women who are demanding their fundamental rights at great personal cost.Action to strengthen protection against sexual exploitation and abuse.And action to accelerate women’s full participation and leadership.This year’s theme stresses the need for technology and innovation to advance gender equality. Technology can expand pathways to education and opportunities for women and girls.But it can also be used to amplify abuse and hatred. Today, women make up under a third of the workforce in science, technology, engineering, and maths.And when women are under-represented in developing new technologies, discrimination may be baked in from the start. That is why we must close the digital divide and increase the representation of women and girls in science and technology. Women’s exclusion from the digital world has shaved an estimated $1 trillion from the GDP of low- and middle-income countries in the last decade — a loss that could grow to $1.5 trillion by 2025 without action.Investing in women uplifts all people, communities, and countries. Let us work together – across governments, the private sector and civil society –to build a more inclusive, just, and prosperous world for women, girls, men, and boys everywhere.***
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Story
16 April 2024
Kosovo's Leap in Public Health: Introducing HPV Vaccine
The health and life prospects of Kosovo’s people are being boosted with the help of UN support. Forty-five minutes away from Shalë/Sedlare, in Obiliq/Obilić, Dr. Rejhane Zhushi Musliu is one of hundreds of health-care workers preparing to roll out a vaccine that is available in Kosovo for the first time.From early 2024, girls in grade six across Kosovo will start receiving the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, which research has indicated can cut cervical cancer rates by almost 90%. Cervical cancer is the fourth most common type of cancer in women, and more than 95% of it is caused by sexually transmitted HPV. In Kosovo, there were around 70 new cases of cervical cancer in 2023 alone.“We will start with 15,000 units next year for girls aged 13”, Dr. Zhushi Musliu explains, adding that this covers the entire cohort in Kosovo. “It all begins with prevention, and immunization will significantly boost the health of the general population”. QUOTE:For the first time we have the state-of-the-art facilities, capacities and vaccines. WE are contributing to public health through prevention. I am hopeful for the future!- Dr. Zhushi MusliuThe HPV vaccine, whose introduction in Kosovo was strongly advocated by the UN, is one of three new inoculations being added to Kosovo’s vaccination calendar. As announced during European Immunization Week in April 2023, it will join the rotavirus vaccine, which helps protect against the leading cause of severe diarrhea among young children, and the pneumococcal conjugate (PCV) vaccine, which is used to protect infants, young children and adults against disease caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae. Information materials on the vaccines for health-care workers and parents were distributed to 300 health-care workers at a conference organized by Institute for Pubcli health and supported by UN (WHO) in October 2023 to help prepare for the roll out. Dr. Rejhane believes that further outreach work will be required to help ensure that marginalized groups are aware of the new vaccines.Arbnesha Kelmendi-Draga, an Albanian language teacher from Peja/Peć, is a cervical cancer survivor. She is grateful that her daughter and school students will have the opportunity to receive the HPV vaccine, to save them going through everything she has had to endure. QUOTE:I have a message for all men, women, girls, and boys: Make frequent health checks because early detection saves lives- Arbnesha Kelmendi-Draga, cancer survivorThe introduction of these vaccines in Kosovo was made possible thanks to Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance, a public-private global health partnership that helps to secure access to vaccines for those that may otherwise not be able to afford them. With Kosovo’s access to this facility negotiated via the UN, it represents the first time that Gavi has made funding available to a place classified as ‘Upper Middle Income’.The new vaccines will also make use of a state-of-the-art central storage building, which was initially handed over in June 2022, and finally completely passed on to the local authorities in June 2023 by UNOPS, as well as recently revamped mobile and fixed cold chain technology, procuredure through WHO. As an epidemiologist, Dr. Rejhane feels a sense of professional pride at the kind of long-term investments that are being made into this area of people’s health.“The transportation has been upgraded and all family medicine centres now have brand-new cold storage units for vaccines”, she says. “The entire system became fully operational at the beginning of 2023, and we also conducted training for the staff and cold chain supervisors”.Dr. Rejhane highlights that the new system is now fully automatic, maintaining temperature and humidity while also providing escalating alerts in case of system failures. “The first failsafe message goes to the health-care worker, then to the responsible doctor, and finally to the head of the centre”, she says. “If there’s no response after all these failsafe messages, it sends a signal to the Ministry of Health through the Health Information System”.The positive foundations laid through both the vaccinations roll out and early childhood education form part of the UN’s joined up work under the Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2021-2025. Such positive steps forward help to ensure that social services such as health care, education and social protection services are more accessible, qualitative, and effective, especially for vulnerable and excluded groups. Written in Cooperation with Jack Butcher
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Story
16 April 2024
Early Childhood Development in Kosovo: A Leap Forward Enacted with the New Law
Principal Majlind Qeriqi has a glint in her eye as she proudly provides a tour of the Shalë/Sedlare Centre for Preschool Education. Located in the small village of Shalë/Sedlare in the municipality of Lipjan/Lipljan, the preschool only opened its doors in September, but 45 children from the local area are already enrolled and the brand-new building feels warm, bright and full of life.Bathed in natural light and with the distinct aromas of freshly cooked food in the air, enthusiastic staff engage grinning children in games as they sit at their tiny desks.“We strive to make it a one-stop-shop, aiming to strike the right balance between emotional growth and cognitive preparation”, Qeriqi explains as she points out some of the many books and toys around one of the classrooms. “The area is somewhat impoverished, or at least not very affluent. Children play in their yards, enjoying freedom, but we provide some structure and extensive preparation for school”.The Shalë/Sedlare preschool is one of three such new facilities to have been established in Lipjan/Lipljan, one of five UN ‘Demonstration municipalities’ in Kosovo. In each of these places, the UN agency has provided local authorities with close support through teacher training, capital investment, and monitoring and development assistance to showcase the benefits of holistic child development and play-based learning. Between 2021 and 2023, Qeriqi worked alongside the UN to trial providing early education in Shalë’s primary school. Recognizing the potential, within a year the municipality constructed the new purpose-built facility next door, and it now has a team of six, including a cook and a maintenance person, in addition to three teachers.Qeriqi points out that until this initiative, most children in the area simply had no access to a preschool institution, which meant they were ill-prepared to start school when they reached the age of six. “Regrettably, until now, many children had to be accompanied by their parents in the first grade since they had never experienced any institution beyond their families”, she says. “We will make this difference”.It’s a similar picture in many other parts of Kosovo, where preschool education simply hasn’t been accessible for many children, despite extensive evidence that children who receive at least one year of pre-primary education have improved life chances as adults. While 84% of 5-year-olds attend pre-primary education in Kosovo as a whole, that number drops to 45% for children who are Roma, Ashkali or Egyptian. And amongst the general population, only a small minority of children younger than 5 receive any kind of early childhood education.“The new Early Childhood Education law in Kosovo, a result of our advocacy, now enables comprehensive Early Interventions, significantly enhancing development in areas like Dyslexia and Speech impairments. It also introduces a diverse range of preschool education options, promoting holistic child development and higher academic achievements." -Dr. Mimoza Shahini To help give children the best start in life, in July 2023, the Assembly of Kosovo took a significant step forward by passing the new Law on Early Childhood Education. The new law, whose development was supported by UN agencies, makes it mandatory for all 5-year-olds in Kosovo to attend pre-primary education from the start of the new school year in September 2024. Research indicates a strong correlation between preschool education and academic success later in life, including performance in assessments like PISA. Studies have shown that preschool attendance enhances children's reading readiness, essential for future learning and school success. Kosovo’s declining PISA score in all thre areas: Reading mathematic and Science link to graph https://oecdch.art/a40de1dbaf/C023last few rounds indicates a strong need for early childhood engagement in academic and social activities. The law also diversifies options for service provision to help meet local needs and provides the framework for developing a core, child-centered, curriculum. The UN is currently engaged in the new curriculum’s development, with the aim of delivering a gender-transformative curriculum that challenges traditional gender roles and promotes a more equitable society. While a lot of work still needs to be done to ensure successful implementation of the new law, including the drafting of sub-legal acts, early childhood experts believe its introduction is nevertheless an important milestone for Kosovo. Mimoza Shahini from the Centre for Humane Services and Development is a leading expert on children’s development and was a member of the working group that helped to develop the new law. Shahini is pleased that it will guarantee legally binding minimum standards for pre-primary teachers for the first time and is excited that it introduces a joined-up approach to early childhood education.“The new law enables much-needed early interventions in all aspects of development such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, speech impairments, etc., which will be referred to experts through an early intervention setup”, she says. “The new system of preschool education provides for harmonic development, higher emotional intelligence and an increase in academic achievement. It introduces discipline and structure into early childhood development through proper education”.Shahini also explains that children who attend preschool institutions have improved linguistic skills, wider vocabularies and are able to better express themselves. “They learn to be more inclusive and better at teamwork”, she says. “Inclusiveness goes beyond just working beside other children, as they learn to get along with children from other ethnic groups, those with a different economic status and children with disabilities, while accepting differences and diversity as a strength with respect and honesty”. Written in cooperation with Jack Butcher
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Story
16 April 2024
Data-Driven Change: Improving Domestic Violence Response in Kosovo
In 2023, the scope and impact of the Unified Database for Monitoring and Prosecuting Domestic Violence Cases witnessed significant enhancement. By now, training has been provided to 200 institutional representatives, demonstrating a strengthened commitment to addressing domestic violence effectively through a systemic approach. This marks a notable progression from 2019 when the database was established as a key tool for monitoring and prosecution.Recent years have seen vital updates to the criminal code and adjustments aligning with the Istanbul Convention, a critical component of the legal framework. December 2023 marked a significant milestone with the integration of three new modules into the database: Kosovo Probation Service; Kosovo Correctional Service; Agency for Free Legal Aid. thereby enriching the system's capacity, reach and automation. Ms. Albina Stavileci, IT engineer, who has been a consultant to support to further development of DataBase, technically spearheading the project, is enthusiastic about project’s implementation until now, and its further expansion to include more elements that could improve public services for the survivors of domestic violence."The new modules have been integrated successfully into the database, enabling us to monitor the quality of the progress made in any given individual case, as well as complete support system, not only the punitive but the restorative elements, victim advocates and so on.” Ms. Albina seems to be particularly proud that the database as the first of its kind in the region and as far as we know in the world, bringing a lot of regional attention as a best practice. “People have been wowed throughout all our presentation in the region and further, but what is more important, we are improving the quality of services, for domestic violence survivors, increase in speed and quality of processing cases.”- she adds.Collaborating with Ms. Florentina Beqiraj, Human Rights Coordinator at the Ministry of Justice, they observe a nuanced trend in the data: a mild decrease in cases against women and girls, with a slight rise in cases involving men and boys. Ms. Beqiraj highlights the system's inclusion of nine institutions, significantly improving the coordination of responses to domestic violence and streamlining information exchange. “There is no more lag in the information exchange. No need to wait for that email, because with every prompt that is responded to, an email chain is generated and sent to specific responsible entity/ies.” she says nodding in confirmation. Current Impact and Future OutlookThe database stands as a testament to a strong commitment to preventing domestic violence, offering a model of best practice for integrated data analysis leading to effective institutional responses and policy development. The database has evolved into a more robust tool for combating domestic violence, aligning with broader objectives to reduce gender-based violence.Police, as initial responders to domestic violence incidents, play a crucial role in data entry, triggering specific institutional responses. Seargent Xhemile Behluli from the Kosovo Police emphasizes the system's enhancement of public services in security and justice. Despite our technological limitations, the database remains fully operational. Though there is a pressing need for technological upgrades to maintain efficiency, especially in terms of new workstation PCs or laptops for Police officers. Ms. Stavileci, Ms. Beqiraj, and sergeant Behluli concur on the necessity to expand the database to include gender-based cases and other complex situations involving marginalized groups. This expansion requires additional support from development partners and institutions.The Unified Database for Domestic Violence is a collaborative success story, symbolizing a systemic exchange of information for the benefit of all involved. It underscores the power of UN supported collective efforts in creating effective and impactful solutions.For publicly accessible data from the Domestic Violence DataBase, please follow this [LINK].
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Story
16 April 2024
Igniting Change: Empowering Youth for a Sustainable Tomorrow through Engagement
Kosovo's dynamic landscape, a new era is dawning for its young population. Their untapped potential is the heartbeat of change, and the United Nations, alongside local institutions, is stitching together opportunities for engagement, aiming to uplift this vibrant generation.The UN’s strategy is multifaceted focusing on enhancing young people's skills, preparing them for the workforce, and nurturing their leadership abilities and networking. This holistic approach is vital for including youth with disabilities in building a more cohesive society.Enhancing and validating the Kosovo Youth Strategy 2024-2032 was done through the 2023 UN Youth Assembly The 5th Edition of the UN Youth Assembly, a collaboration between the UN family and the Kosovo government, has been a cornerstone event. It's not just a meeting; it’s a forge where about 150 young leaders from Kosovo and the Western Balkans annually shape their futures. Among participants we meet Trina Hoti and Andi Qorolli. Trina’s story is emblematic of the transformative power of engagement. A Child Rights Expert at Save the Children, Trina began her journey with the UN in 2016. Her involvement evolved from a volunteer to a delegate, then to a facilitator, and finally now a changemaker and an expert herself."There is a lot of time and space between childhood, young adulthood, and being an engaged young adult. We need to fill that void with more opportunities," Trina says.Le us introduce to you a differently-abled Andi a testament to inclusion. We also ran into Andi at the Special Olympics event, his enthusiasm was infectious. He not only participated but also moderated the event, breaking barriers for young people with disabilities. Andi’s participation in the regional Special Olympics later that year further underscored the UN's commitment to inclusivity: “Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt,” Andi proudly states.The UN’s continues support for local institutions in investing in youth. Young people hold the keys to a sustainable, inclusive, and vibrant future. Their empowerment is not just an objective; it's a necessity for a cohesive society.Youth Engagement activities under the "Youth for Inclusion, Equality, and Trust" a Peace Building Fund initiative, took Andi and Trina and many other Kosovo youth towards finding their life’s path in different and meaningful ways.
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Story
16 April 2024
Celebrating International Roma Day
Roma Mahalla in the town stretches right to the centre of Janjevo. It is always lively, and on 12 April, it was the site of an interesting exhibition by a young Roma artist, followed by a brief history of the Roma in Kosovo. We were marking the International Roma Day, which is on 8 April, an good weather was on our side. Deputy Mayor of Lipjan, Mr. Diamant Bytyqi, and Deputy Mayor for Communities, Mr. Lulzim Qerimi, visited the exhibition on the occasion of the International Roma Day, along with community members in town. The event highlighted the significant role of the Roma community in Kosovo. Both deputy mayors agrees that activities have a special character when it comes to promoting multiculturalism in the community, particularly concerning the Roma community integrated in the city of Lipjan. "This exhibition plays an important role in creating awareness about the culture of this community today," emphasised Mr. Bytyqi. The organiser of the event, Mr. Rdvan Gashi, heading the NGO Multiethnic Culture of Kosova, enthusiastically stated that these small events serve as a reminder that the Roma community is present, has existed through the centuries, and will continue to exist. He proudly showcases the historic events described in the prints, from the origins of Roma people and travellers in India, to the first written documents of Roma present in Kosovo from the 14th century. Then, he continues to explain different periods in time when Roma language classes were added in the 80s as a result of the International Roma Union decision on language codification and promotion. We have just learned from Mr. Ridvan that the word ‘Roma’ in the Romani language means human beings, with the idea that Roma want to be equal to all others. The Kosovo authorities and the international community in Kosovo have not forgotten us, but more needs to be done to promote and include this marginalised community. This is a positive signal, as we are seeing an increased involvement of Kosovo in the processes of community development and cultural appreciation, addressing diversity across the communities.In addition to the history exhibition of the Roma community, a young Roma artist, Enisa Eminovic, displayed her paintings and held an outdoor class with Roma children in the town, further painting ethnic motives.
"I am proud of my heritage, and since my family are traditionally painters—my grandfather, my father—I took on the baton and will continue. I would love more young people, from Roma and other communities, to enter into creative arts."- Enisa Eminovic- painter The event was not just a showcase of culture but also an educational experience meant to inform members of the public about the rich heritage of the Roma people. This captivating event was made possible through collaborative efforts of the Development Coordinator's Office and the United Nations Development Programme in Kosovo on the 'Cultural Heritage as a Driver for Economic Revival of Janjevë/Janjevo' project, supported by the European Union in Kosovo and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports.
"I am proud of my heritage, and since my family are traditionally painters—my grandfather, my father—I took on the baton and will continue. I would love more young people, from Roma and other communities, to enter into creative arts."- Enisa Eminovic- painter The event was not just a showcase of culture but also an educational experience meant to inform members of the public about the rich heritage of the Roma people. This captivating event was made possible through collaborative efforts of the Development Coordinator's Office and the United Nations Development Programme in Kosovo on the 'Cultural Heritage as a Driver for Economic Revival of Janjevë/Janjevo' project, supported by the European Union in Kosovo and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports.
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Press Release
13 September 2023
FAO post-flood emergency recovery plan offers a helping hand to most vulnerable farmers
As part of the UN’s floods response and early recovery plan. Sponsored by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and FAO’s Emergency Fund, this initiative is dedicated to assisting the farming households affected by the January 2023 floods. Since the projects’ inception in May 2023, FAO has identified farmers’ main recovery needs and closely cooperated with the municipalities and the Emergency Management Agency to support those in need.
Rahovec/Orahovac, a primary beneficiary municipality, hosted an event to inaugurate the financial assistance on 13 September. Over 910 farming households from municipalities of Gjakovë/Đakovica, Istog/Istok, Klinë/Klina, Leposaviq/Leposavić, Mitrovica Jugore/Južna Mitrovica, Podujevë/Podujevo, Rahovec/Orahovac, Skenderaj/Srbica, Zubin Potok/Zubin Potok will benefit from the support.
Each household will receive vouchers that can be used to acquire agriculture goods such as equipment, fertilizers, seeds and planting material, tools, spare parts to repair damaged machinery, and other essential items.
Participants at the Rahovec/Orahovac event included the Mayor of Rahovec, the Deputy Head of Cooperation in the Swiss Cooperation Office, officials from the Emergency Management Agency and of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Rural Development, and FAO. They highlighted the project's significance and the aim of strengthening community resilience.
During his opening remarks, Rahovec's Mayor, Smajl Latifi, expressed gratitude to FAO and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation for heeding the institutions' call for assistance. He further noted, “While this won't fully compensate for the farmers' losses, it offers them significant support.”Laurent Torche, Deputy Head of Cooperation at the Swiss Cooperation Office, remarked, “We sincerely hope that this contribution will manage to support farming households to restart production and enhance livelihood.” In his closing remarks, FAO Team Leader Naser Krasniqi expressed gratitude to the Emergency Management Agency and the municipalities for their professionalism and collaboration. "At FAO, we mobilized all our resources to implement the project. We tirelessly sought the most effective assistance methods, working in close coordination with EMA and the municipalities."
To facilitate the voucher redemption process, beneficiaries received a comprehensive "voucher user guide" that lists 13 authorized vendors across the affected municipalities. The project's launch has garnered positive feedback from participants, especially on the organization of the assistance process. As the initiative progresses, FAO, in collaboration with local municipalities, will actively oversee the voucher redemption and provide technical advice to the affected households on how to improve their resilience to meteorological and other climate-related hazards with the adoption of good agriculture practices.
The voucher distribution will extend to other beneficiary municipalities in the upcoming days.
Upcoming voucher distribution schedule:
14.09.2023: Gjakovë/Đakovica, Kline/a and Leposavic/q
15.09.2023: Kline/a and Leposavic/q
18.09.2023: Zubin Potok/Zubinpotok and Skenderaj/Srbica
19.09.2023: Skenderaj/Srbica and Mitrovica South
20.09.2023: Istog/k
21.09.2023: Podujevë/Podujevo
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Press Release
14 June 2023
Supporting Gender Equality: EU-Funded Project Launches in Kosovo
PRISTINA, 13 June 2023 – Today, the Gender Equality Facility (GEF) project was officially launched in Kosovo, representing a significant step towards mainstreaming gender equality across sectors in Kosovo. Funded by the European Union and implemented by UN Women in Kosovo, this initiative aims to strengthen the gender equality mechanism and foster more equitable socio-economic development outcomes for women, men, girls, and boys in Kosovo.
The Gender Equality Facility project marks a milestone in the commitment to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls in line with Kosovo's legislative framework and the EU Gender Equality acquis. With an investment of 1.5 million euros from the European Union, this project will serve as a catalyst for transformative change, fostering inclusive societies that recognize and promote the rights of all individuals, regardless of gender.
Speaking at the launching event, Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti stated that the project will facilitate the process of Kosovo’s EU integration and will support government’s work on advancing gender parity.
"The Gender Equality Facility project funded by the European Union and implemented by the UN Women office in Kosovo, will be our right hand in achieving the objectives to ensure that we are in line with the EU directives for gender equality" .
Confirming the European Union's unwavering support for promoting gender equality and women's empowerment, Head of Cooperation Section in EU Office in Kosovo, Johannes Stenbaek Madsen expressed his optimism about Kosovo's significant advancements in advancing the rights of women and girls. Speaking at an event, he said
“In the past two years, Kosovo has made notable strides in addressing gender-based violence, enhancing women's representation in decision-making positions, and implementing measures to foster women's economic empowerment. While progress has been made, Kosovo's institutions must improve their functioning. Implementation of laws and policies is poor, and gender mainstreaming in the administration needs enhancement. A commitment to advancing equality is necessary, considering women constitute 50% of the population, including during the Kosovo stabilization and association process."
Further, Arnhild Spence the United Nations Development Coordinator, said that this project significantly contributes to Kosovo's journey towards integration into the European Union, providing substantial benefits to its citizens.
“The Gender Equality Facility is a great example of a triangular partnership between the UN, EU, and the Government of Kosovo. By working together, we are advancing SDG 5 – Gender Equality – and Kosovo’s progress towards meeting EU accession benchmarks, including its harmonization with the EU directive on work-life balance”.
Vlora Tuzi Nushi, the Head of Office of UN Women, expressed her confidence in the tangible results that Kosovo will witness through the implementation of the Gender Equality Facility in the coming years. Nushi emphasized that this project will forge a close partnership with key institutions, focusing on sector reforms, strategies, development programs, and plans to ensure alignment with the Gender Equality acquis of the European Union.
“GEF Project in Kosovo is designed to be implemented through three distinct components, strategically aimed at promoting the seamless integration of a gender perspective across all sectors of planning in Kosovo. This approach ensures that every new document, strategy, and policy developed aligns with the European Union's legal framework, thereby establishing a solid groundwork for Kosovo's path towards integration into the EU.”
The Gender Equality Facility will serve as a critical resource for government, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders seeking to accelerate progress towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal 5 on Gender Equality.
By facilitating knowledge exchange, providing technical assistance, and supporting innovative initiatives, the facility will strengthen the capacity of actors at all levels to drive gender-responsive policies and programs nation-wide.
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Press Release
12 April 2023
Safety and Health at Work: A Study of Cases of Sexual Harassment at the Workplace in Kosovo in the Public and Private Sector
The research "Safety and Health at Work: A study of cases of sexual harassment at the workplace in Kosovo in the public and private sector" was carried out by IDRA Consulting, while the demand to provide such data derived from the Institution of Ombudsperson in Kosovo.
This field research aimed to collect the opinions and perceptions of employed women regarding their general safety in the workplace, exposure to sexual harassment of women and the impact of sexual harassment on physical and mental well-being.
Ombdsperson, Naim Qelaj fully supported the prevention cause by vowing that the institution he leads will extend its efforts to address and give voice to the phenomenon. Furthermore, he said that this report will raise concerns at the right address to achieve a solution and oblige relevant institutions to treat these cases.
Meanwhile, Vlora Tuzi Nushi, head of UN Women office for Kosovo, said that the phenomenon affects both women and men in the workplace, however global statistics show that women are more exposed.
"Sexual harassment can happen to anyone, regardless of whether it is a man or a woman. According to a global ILO survey, one in 15 people globally had experienced sexual harassment in the workplace. However, despite the fact that the phenomenon affects both sexes, statistically women experience sexual harassment at work more than men".
On the other hand, Arnhild Spence, the United Nations Development Coordinator in Kosovo, said that 'Everyone has the right to a workplace free form sexual harassment. Let us have zero tolerance for violence and harassment at work – or anywhere!'.
The survey carried out with 500 women respondents from different professional sectors in the public and private sector conducted in the 7 largest regions in Kosovo (Prishtina, Prizren, Mitrovica, Ferizaj/Uroševac, Pejë/ć, Gjakovë/Đakovica, Gjilan/Gnjilane) highlighted that at a general level 72% of the sample was familiar with the term sexual harassment in the workplace and 24% stated that they were not aware of it.
On the other hand, when asked if they experienced sexual harassment, only 9% of women declared that they were sexually harassed, while 84% of respondents said that they themselves or someone they know was not sexually harassed, 5% of them did not know, meanwhile 2 % refused to answer.
However, it should be noted that due to the sensitivity of the subject, these data do not represent reality.
Meanwhile, regarding the form of sexual harassment that they have witnessed mostly happening in the workplace, comments of a sexual nature are listed with (25%), electronic or physical stalking (20%), sexual coercion or quid pro quo - something in exchange for something (19*).
This study was conducted under the framework of the labour rights campaign “A decent job for a dignified life”, under the leadership of Ministry of Finance, Labour and Transfers with support of Embassy of Sweden in Prishtina. Implementing partners of the campaign are Labour Inspectorate, Tax Administration of Kosovo, International Labour Organization, UN Women, Community Development Fund, Kosovar Stability Initiative, Center for Policies and Avocation and LENS.
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Press Release
08 March 2023
THE SECRETARY-GENERAL -- OPED FOR INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY
Around the world, progress on women’s rights is vanishing before our eyes. The latest forecasts estimate that on our current track, it will take another 300 years to reach full gender equality.
Today’s cascading crises, from the war in Ukraine to the climate emergency, affect women and girls first and worst. And as part of the global pushback against democracy, women’s rights over their bodies and autonomy over their lives are being questioned and denied.
Two statistics make our failure very clear:
Every ten minutes, one woman or girl is murdered by a family member or intimate partner.
And one woman dies every two minutes during pregnancy or childbirth. Most of those deaths are entirely preventable.
On International Women’s Day, we must commit to doing better. We need to reverse these horrific trends and stand up for the lives and rights of women and girls, everywhere.
This is one of my core priorities and a central plank of the work of the United Nations around the world.
From South Sudan to Myanmar, we are supporting women and girls in crisis and making sure their voices are heard in peace processes.
The Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, recently visited Afghanistan with a message for the authorities: women and girls have fundamental human rights, and we will never give up fighting for them.
This year, International Women’s Day focuses on closing gender gaps in science, technology, and innovation. Globally, men are 21 percent more likely to be online than women — and over 50 percent more likely in low-income countries.
But even the richest countries lose out because of gender-based stereotypes and historic bias. In the tech industry, men outnumber women two to one. In Artificial Intelligence, it’s five to one.
Big data is the new gold, and the foundation of today’s political and business decisions. But it often ignores gender differences – or turns a blind eye to women altogether.
We should all be alarmed by products and services that bake in gender inequality right from the start, and digitize patriarchy and misogyny.
The Silicon Valleys of this world must not become Death Valleys for women’s rights.
Medical decisions based on data from men’s bodies can not only harm women; it can be deadly.
Discrimination against women in science and technology is the result of centuries of patriarchy, discrimination and damaging stereotypes. Women account for just three percent of Nobel Prize winners in scientific categories since 1901. And women online – including scientists and journalists – are often targeted for sexist hate speech and abuse designed to silence and shame them.
But they will not be silenced. Women and girls everywhere are demanding their rights, and their words reverberate around the world.
We need action on several fronts to make sure women and girls can make their full contribution to the world’s knowledge through science and technology.
We must break down barriers — from discriminatory data to stereotypes that push girls away from studying scientific subjects at an early age.
Decisionmakers of all kinds must broaden women’s participation and leadership in science and technology, through quotas if necessary.
They should be creative, widening the recruitment pipeline and hiring for skills. And they must be persistent. Gender equality will not happen by itself; it has to be prioritized and pursued. This approach is getting results at the United Nations, where we have our own strategy for gender parity among our personnel.
We also need action to create a safe digital environment for women and to hold accountable both the perpetrators of online abuse, and the digital platforms that enable them.
The United Nations is working with governments, civil society, the private sector and others on a Code of Conduct aimed at reducing harm and increasing accountability on digital platforms, while defending freedom of expression.
Women’s rights are not a luxury that can wait until we solve the climate crisis, end poverty and create a better world.
Investing in women and girls is the surest way to uplift all people, communities and countries, and to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Together, let’s work for a more inclusive, just, and prosperous world for women and girls, men and boys, everywhere.
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Press Release
01 December 2022
DEEPLY SADDENED BY THE MURDER OF A PREGNANT WOMAN ALLEGEDLY BY HER PARTNER, THE SECURITY AND GENDER GROUP CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE AND CONCRETE PROTECTION OF WOMEN
The second femicide in Kosovo in less than a week has stained the annual global campaign to bring an end to violence against women and girls, this time with a nine-month pregnant woman shot dead allegedly by her partner.
The devastating death of the pregnant woman on Wednesday, 30 November in Prishtinë/Priština, whose unborn child also did not survive the shooting, follows on the murder of S.G by her husband in her sleep on Friday (25 November), International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the same day that the annual 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence began around the world.
The Security and Gender Group (SGG) strongly condemns these atrocious acts. We express indignation at the number of women’s lives lost in Kosovo to violence perpetrated by their partners or former partners. We also strenuously call upon relevant institutions urgently to address the institutional protection failure which allows reported domestic violence to result in femicide, and to provide effective protection to those victims whose lives are still at risk.
Also, the SGG extends heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims.
As the whole world marks the annual international “16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence” campaign, we are shocked at these blatant cases of apparent partner violence directed at women– giving the dreadful statistic of two cases of femicide only five days apart.
Gender-related killings of women, known as femicide, are the most brutal and extreme manifestation of a continuum of violence against women and girls. This kind of violence remains the most pervasive human rights violation around the world.[1] A global report launched a few days ago by UN Women and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) revealed that, around the world, on average five women or girls are killed every hour by someone in their own family.[2]
Such extreme forms of violence against women and girls are preventable. This can be achieved through early intervention and multi-stakeholder and multisectoral partnerships.
According to the study on Gender and Small Arms in Southeast Europe, the likelihood of women being killed increases by between five and twelve times if the perpetrator of domestic violence has a firearm, legal or illegal.[3] In this case, although the victim had a protection order, the perpetrator managed to murder her using a firearm. In Kosovo, during 2012-2016, 71.4% of women and 81.8% of men killed by a family member utilized a firearm. All the women killed by an intimate partner during this period were killed with firearms.[4]
According to Article 24(1) of the Law on Protection against Domestic Violence, the Kosovo Police shall respond to any report relating to acts of domestic violence or threats to commit such acts. The Law further states that the “Kosovo Police shall use reasonable means to protect the victim and prevent further violence.” It established specific measures to be taken in such cases. In this case, the victim had been issued a protection order against the suspect, valid until 13 March 2023. Furthermore, an indictment was filed against the suspect with charges of threat against the victim in August of this year and the initial hearing was held in September.
There were 2,273 cases of domestic violence reported to the police from January to the end of October 2022; sadly, but not surprisingly, more than 85 per cent of the victims were women.
To ensure that all women and girls are protected effectively in the future, SGG members appeal to relevant institutions to:
guarantee justice for victims, concrete actions to prevent violence against women and girls, protect victims, prosecute, and sentence the perpetrators in line with the Istanbul Convention.
initiate perpetrator programmes aimed at changing violent behavioural patterns
implement electronic monitoring technologies through bracelets to enable judicial and executive authorities to restrict, regulate and enforce the perpetrator’s locations, movements, and schedules, and thereby prevent the reoccurrence of violence.
allocate adequate resources to ensure more effective reporting mechanisms from social workers
allocate adequate resources to the police to treat domestic violence cases with the highest priority and determination
properly conduct a multi-agency review of these latest gender-related killings to ensure organisational failings are identified and lessons are learned that allow those failings to be addressed and not to reoccur
establish an independent Task Force composed of representatives from state stakeholders’ institutions and specialized NGO representatives and specialized NGOs to assess and evaluate the treatment of the latest cases of femicide by respective officials and institutions.
invest in fighting gender stereotyping and a culture of violence against women and girls since early education.
Ensure effective risk assessment of Domestic Violence cases and develop adequate safety plans for the victims.
Rigorously monitor protection orders and provide victims with immediate access to police protection.
Seize firearms immediately when a Domestic Violence case is reported.
The SGG will not stop raising the voice of women victims to ensure we increase effective means to educate, deter, prevent, protect and prosecute domestic violence and femicide. We will be the voice for those who may believe they are voice-less, and we will stand firm against gender-based violence.
Note to press
The Security and Gender Group (SGG) is a multi-stakeholder group, chaired by UN Women. The following signatories are members of SGG and support this public statement:
International organizations and Embassies: UN Kosovo Team (UNKT) agencies including the Office of the UN Development Coordinator, UN Women, IOM, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT), Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR); The Embassy of Sweden in Kosovo, The Embassy of Finland in Kosovo, EULEX, UNMIK-UN Mission in Kosovo, EU Office/EUSR in Kosovo, OSCE Mission in Kosovo.
Women’s organizations and NGOs: Kosova Women’s Network; Kosovo Gender Studies Center (KGSC), YIHR KS, Network of Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian Women Organizations (NRAEWOK), Jahjaga Foundation, Kosovo Law Institute (KLI).
Kosovo Institutions: Agency for Gender Equality
[1] https://www.unwomen.org/en/news-stories/in-focus/2022/11/in-focus-16-days-of-activism-against-gender-based-violence
[2] https://www.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/publications/2022/11/gender-related-killings-of-women-and-girls-improving-data-to-improve-responses-to-femicide-feminicide
[3] Gender-Analysis_Report_KOS_ENG.pdf (seesac.org)
[4] Gender-Analysis_Report_KOS_ENG.pdf (seesac.org), see page 21
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