The partners organised a set of activities with the aim to raise awareness on the challenges that free press is facing currently. On 3 May, the AJK Executive Director, held a press conference, supported by the board of the AJK and colleagues reading a joint message to authorities, asking for more protection of the journalists   and media in their work, as well as calling on all colleagues and media to uphold themselves to the highest professional and ethical standards. Banners with the following messages were set up in front of the main government building for three days: Freedom of the Press is not only and Important Part of Democracy, but democracy itself! Press is not the Enemy! Media are a Watchdog to any Government!   On  4 May, AJK supported by Development Coordination Office of the UN and OSCE organised a conference, to discuss challenges of the journalists and other media professionals with the policymakers and other relevant institutions, that promote the rights of journalists. Researcher Getoarbë Mulliqi Bojaj presented the findings of the report "Indicators of the Level of Media Freedom and Security of Journalists 2021", followed by a discussion of the findings by: Chairman of the Board of AGK, Xhemajl Rexha, Imer Mushkolaj - Executive Director of the Press Council, Yll Zekaj - Legal Expert and Abit Hoxha - Expert. According to these findings, the situation of journalists continues to be serious, both by the pandemic and by political changes, the number of attacks on journalists has increased, while the tendency to silence of journalists through SLAPP (Strategic lawsuits against public participation) lawsuits is more prominent. While one of the recommendations of the report emphasized the need for journalists to report all cases of violation of their rights, the importance of RTK (Kosovo Public Broadcaster) financial independence, the independence of the selection of RTK and IMC (Independent Media Commission) boards, as and complete the KJC (Kosovo Judicial Council) Data Management System as soon as possible. Also, the panel discussed the denigrating language used against journalists and its impact on media trust. The panel consisted of Doarsa Kica Xhelili - Chairwoman of the Committee on Public Administration, Local Government, Media and Regional Development of the Assembly of Kosovo; Leonard Kërquki - Director of the Express Newspaper, Rrezarta Delibashzade Krasniqi - Executive Director of NGO D4D and Granit Musliu - Member of the Independent Media Commission. During the second part of the conference, the second panel discussed freedom of press from the zones of conflict was discussed.   The second panel was composed of Lyudmila Makey – Journalist from Ukraine, the Head of Journalists Union of the Ukraine; Saranda Ramaj – Journalist on KTV and Jul Kasapi, a Journalist from Albania, who shared with participants and viewers their personal experiences of reporting from the conflict zones. Through a direct link, the President of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine, Sergiy Tomilenko, joined the conference, expressing gratitude for the readiness of the of Kosovo to assist Ukrainian journalists. Journalist Saranda Ramaj and journalist Jul Kasapi also shared their first-hand experiences of reporting from conflict areas.      

Contracted as a casual worker by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) forestry program along with dozens of other workers, he is contributing in planting 33,000 beech and spruce seedlings in surrounding areas of his village in Dragash/s. “We are planting these trees for the future of our kids. Afforestation is very important to have cleaner air and to further develop tourism in this area”, he said. Looking after the forests is one of Çengaj’s biggest concerns. His family uses wood for heating, as many of other families in the rural areas do. But Çengaj and his fellow villagers are struggling to protect forests from illegal logging. They are fully aware on benefits that forests provide. “Forests provides three major functions: social, economic and ecological, so we must all be committed to conserving this resource that the Earth has given us”, said Muhamet Sofi, who is supervising the casual workers contracted by FAO for afforestation activities in Dragash/s area. “Here many areas are bare and it is important to reforest them”, he added. Forests covers 44% of the total area of Kosovo, which is higher than in neighboring countries. Through a programme co-funded by SIDA and EU, FAO is supporting the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development and the Kosovo Forest Agency to strengthen their capacities for sustainable and multipurpose forest management to improve rural livelihoods and address climate change in Kosovo. The programme aims to increase the forestry sector’s contribution to the national economy through participatory and multi-purpose forest management. In this regard, FAO is supporting also implementation of the National Afforestation and Reforestation Programme, as a major Kosovo programme to restore the forest cover and improve productivity. The aim of this programme is to use natively grown species in line with measures to reduce effects of climate change.  Currently the afforestation and reforestation activities are implemented in Dragash/s area and Shterpce/Strpce through community engagement contracted as casual workers, including women and youth, which ultimately benefits entire communities in terms of income generation through forest activities. Last year activities were conducted in Mitrovica and Suhareka. A total of 50 hectares with about 140 thousand seedlings will be planted by FAO by beginning of May 2022, in addition to afforestation and reforestation activities implemented by MAFRD and KFA. Special attention was given in selection of areas for this activity through stakeholder and community consultation avoiding generation of conflict for land use, ensure positive impact of afforestation to the community through selection of proper species and preventing natural hazards, by providing income generation to the local communities and contribute to prevent the biodiversity loss and fight climate change. On the occasion of the Earth Day, FAO donated 10,000 trees for a voluntary action of planting in the village of Kacandoll in Mitrovica, organized by the Local Climate Action Forum (LoCAF), in partnership with UN-Habitat Kosovo, FAO, Sustainability Leadership Kosovo (SLK), Municipality of Mitrovica South, and in cooperation with the Office of the President of Kosovo, the Ministry of Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development, and the Parliamentary Committee on Environment, Food, Agriculture, Planning and Development. The UN Development Coordinator, Ulrika Richardson welcomed the initiative for tree planting by volunteers, emphasizing that forests regulate ecosystems, sustain economies, and make people healthy and happy. “Of course, this is a small grain, but we know that the ocean is made of small drops, and forest is made up by seedlings, so if we don’t start, we will never get to rebuild our forests. We are not very proud of the legacy that we are leaving for younger generation, children and grandchildren, and I think it is time to change this legacy”, stated Richardson during the action of tree planting in Kaçandoll. Planting areas in Dragash/s and Kaçandoll were visited also by the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development, Faton Peci. “We have no other planet so we must protect our planet from any damages that may be caused and contribute to improving the situation. With small actions, we can address climate changes and address them either through policies that protect biodiversity, or through regular afforestation actions," said Minister Peci.

She is a single mother of three children, the youngest is only two years old. Her husband passed away two years ago. “Then we were hit by the pandemic,” she explains. “But we found salvation in good people who were willing to help us. I’m telling you, there is something when you’re a good soul.”, started Arieta our interview. Every day, Arieta must think about how to secure food and clothes for her children. Their house has been renovated, so that her children can have decent living conditions, especially her two young daughters. "I didn't go to school. My father thought it was unnecessary. I'm ashamed when they ask me to put the signature somewhere. My daughter will learn to write and read, and I will do my best to make it possible for her." Arieta says being a single mother is very difficult for her. She also has a mother-in-law, of whom she must also take care. She says she would love to go back to the old days, when she was smiling, happy and care-free. "Such was our childhood, barefoot, muddy... but happy. Now I have children who are not equally happy and that hurts me," says Arieta. She says it has been a little easier since the beginning of this year because there are not as many casualties of the Covid-19 virus. “Also, people move and work more and that is good”. Arieta likes to crochet and tie.  "I'm not an artist,” she says laughing “but I try.” From time to time, Arieta receives orders for handcraft items. “It is nice to earn money, but it also takes a lot of work! I apply for seamstress courses wherever I can. It's hard because I don't have an education," says Arieta. During the conversation, Arieta constantly reminds us that her children will attend school. "I want my daughters to be ladies who know how to talk, walk, write and read well, I don't want them to be like me! We, Roma, are hard to change. We are!" she says angrily.     She has been very emotional since her husband’s sudden passing.  “He was a great person,” she says as she looks at old pictures of him. “God took him away because of his greatness. And now, I have to move on for the sake of my children.” We noticed that many neighbors approached us during the interview, encouraging us to help Arieta more. Apparently, this special “soul” is known for her kindness and her life story.    For Arieta, it is challenging to have to explain to someone that you need everything, and that anything could help. "The biggest help is when they don't forget you, when we are a part of everything that is going on. I am not educated, but I would also like to work and become literate! Not to be a simple soul," explains Arieta.   But what is it about this “soul” - as she calls it - that is so important to Arieta? “Everything is in the soul. It shows what kind of a person you are. That is why it matters,” she explains. “Good souls have helped me get through a difficult period of my life. I was left without a husband, and with three children to raise all on my own, when the pandemic started. But I want to get back up. I want to be able to earn money from my work; I can do everything from sowing to knitting, but I need a machine. I can also read cards and coffee cups too,” she says laughing. “How do you do “coffee cup”?” “I read someone’s future!” “OK. Can you see yours? What does it say?” “Happiness and friendships,” she says with a beaming smile. Arieta is one of the many single-mother-headed households that have benefitted from the Voucher Scheme initiated by the “Response to Covid-19 Emergency and Early Recovery Support” project, funded by the European Union Office in Kosovo and implemented jointly by UNDP Kosovo and the Department for Social and Family Planning of the Ministry of Finance, Labor, and Transfers. The aim has been to provide immediate support to families and communities most affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, primarily targeting people living in extreme poverty or those struggling to make ends meet. The support has been targeted particularly on single-parent-headed households, non-majority communities, victims of gender-based violence, and people living in remote rural areas with limited access to social services.   The project is at the heart of UNDP’s Covid-19 recovery efforts and is based on the United Nations’ ‘leave no one behind’ principle. The disbursement of vouchers for those living on social assistance; the deployment of the UN Community Volunteers to Centers for Social Work through Kosovo; the interventions at the Centers and residential shelters, and the project’s other activities aim to provide relief to the most vulnerable groups, by providing temporary financial support and strengthening capacities in social work.   The article is originally published at the UNDP Kosovo site. https://undpkosovo.exposure.co/a-good-soul-the-story-of-a-resilient-roma-woman Story by Danijela Mitic, photos by Arben Llapashtinca for UNDP Kosovo

One of UNFPA’s strategic objectives in recent years has been to promote and facilitate gender-responsive family-friendly policies across the board, with a particular focus on the business community. Under this notion, in 2020 UNFPA launched the project Expanding Choices: Gender-Responsive Family Policies, which is being implemented in Kosovo, Albania and Moldova, financed by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA), the operational unit of Austrian Development Cooperation. The project – set to continue throughout 2022 – works with key stakeholders to broaden opportunities and options for women and men as they balance their careers with family life, and fulfil both their career and fertility aspirations. Through a comprehensive and rigorous assessment of over 25 private companies operating in Kosovo, UNFPA has identified seven business organizations that have demonstrated the drive and passion to further advance the company rules, policies, and practices conducive to a family friendly workplace. Leading by example, the Champion Companies will demonstrate how family friendly policies do not just expand choices for women and men in the labor market, but also broaden company capacities, agility and ultimately position in the market. To ensure mainstreaming of gender responsive family friendly policies throughout private and public sector in Kosovo, UNFPA has teamed up with Kosovo Chamber of Commerce and Kosovo Women’s Network, both of them actively involved in mentoring the Champion Companies in advancing as family-friendly workplaces. The centrepiece of this collaboration was the introduction of  The Best of Kosovo 2021 award in the category of Family Friendly Workplaces, presented by the Kosovo Chamber of Commerce in Pristina on 18 February 2022. Along with other awards for companies with outstanding performance in different sectors, Cacttus Sh.A., Gjirafa and KIVO Kosova, all of them  Champion Companies, received the acknowledgement of the Chamber of Commerce and business community for their commitment and achievements  to promoting work-life balance through gender-responsive family-friendly policies and practices. According to Ariel Shaban, Quality and Development Manager at KIVO Kosova, the award was “… a testament to seven years of creating a welcoming environment for our employees and their families… [The award] strengthens our reputation as a premium employer and is an invaluable tool for employee retention and recruitment in the future. We will therefore continue to streamline and develop our efforts to expand KIVO’s benefits for our employees and their families.” “Through this award we got a recognition for the company’s policies which are designed to be suitable for a family–friendly work place,” expressed her satisfaction Loreta Tahiri from the Human Resource Department of Cacttus Sh.A. ”We will continue to work towards providing the best possible policies for our employees, thus implementing the recommendations of our partners: the Kosovo Chamber of Commerce, UNFPA and Kosovo Women's Network," she added. Greta Kamberi, Head of People and Culture for Gjirafa, reacted by saying that “We at Gjirafa are committed to nurturing a unique environment of shared purpose, which fosters innovation and collaboration; and we know that embracing a balance between life and work is key. We are honoured to be part of this project and thus able to learn, implement and contribute to further promote family-friendly workplace best practices.” UNFPA and Kosovo Chamber of Commerce will continue to contribute towards creating more family-friendly workplaces in Kosovo. We are all looking forward to celebrating the family-friendly businesses every year and encourage all Kosovo companies to embrace this concept.