Women and peacebuilding

By Maria van Wijnen

Last Friday (13 June) we met with a representative from the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN), a leading organisation dedicated to promoting gender equality and advancing women’s rights across Kosovo. An important part of KWN’s work involves collaboration across ethnic lines. By working closely with civil society organisations representing different backgrounds, KWN helps address common issues that affect women regardless of ethnicity, such as gender-based violence, economic inequality, and access to healthcare and education. This was particularly interesting because, as we have learned, there are high ethnic tensions in Kosovo from both sides. Thus, the way that the KWN has been able to create a sense of solidarity among all women is very inspiring and I believe, sets a strong example of how to bridge communities through shared challenges.

Kosovo Women’s Network Logo

KWN explained how one of the major challenges facing women is domestic violence which had increased after the war as a result of the violence. I found it interesting how Adeline spoke about this, as she explained that many men struggled after the war because of the violence they had witnessed or experienced. She was careful to not frame this as an excuse for this behaviour, saying “everyone experienced violence.” I found this quite important because while PTSD or other trauma-related mental health challenges are important to explaining this violence, they do not justify it. Adeline went on to explain how after the war, the government did not realise or understand that there was a need for women's shelters, so women started just taking each other in and forming unofficial shelters. This is one example of really powerful solidarity among women.

 

Another challenge facing women is the high rate of unemployment. While we had discussed this in class as it is an issue facing the entire country, I had not thought about how this might disproportionately affect women. Moreover, unemployment exacerbates economic dependency, making it harder for domestic abuse victims to escape dangerous situations. The KWN has advocated for laws and policies that provide greater protection for survivors and works closely with shelters and service providers to ensure that survivors have access to essential services, including safe housing, psychological support, legal aid and health care. The organisation also monitors how these services are funded and delivered, pushing for sustained government funding so that women are not left vulnerable due to budget cuts or political shifts. Through public campaigns, KWN raises awareness about domestic violence, challenges harmful gender norms, and encourages both survivors and bystanders to speak out and seek help. KWN also partners with other organisations to provide training, capacity-building, and mentorship opportunities to improve women’s skills and employability.

 

Overall, the KWN has gained great legitimacy in Kosovo’s government; however, there are still challenges in achieving true gender equality, including gender quotas. While quotas are important to changing norms and proving that women are capable in governmental roles, they are still controversial. As Adeline discussed, many politicians will only back female politicians who they know will not challenge institutions or speak out against injustices. She said that sometimes, politicians will just back the first female politician on an alphabetical list. This means that while statistically, women’s representation in government might have increased significantly, there is still a lack of true representation. I am not sure how this can be fixed but I do think that KWN’s work in advocacy and changing norms surrounding feminism and women’s rights will help form societal norms that will allow for full representation and inclusion of women in Kosovo’s society. Overall, speaking to Adeline about the KWN was truly inspiring and, in my eyes, a testament to how important women are to the peacebuilding process.

President Jahjaga’s speech at the Annual Convention of the Kosovo Women’s Network