Political parties' trial before local elections in autumn

Living in the 20th century means that beyond being a statement and a promotion, gender equality is a natural response to the gender structure of the population and the balloons based on merit and achievement. Social and economic prosperity and prosperity cannot be achieved without creating the nature of active participation of women and men in all spheres in public life. Kosovo is no exception!

Efforts to achieve gender equality in our country have entered a period already clear, in accordance with the country's Constitution, the legal basis for gender equality. Since the summer of 2015, when the three laws that constitute the legal human rights package have been enacted: The Law on Gender Equality, the Law for Protection From Discrimination and the Law for the Ombudsman, equal participation of men and women is no longer just intention in the will, but binding legal obligation.

The three laws making up this package, with all the concessions they may have, remain among the most advanced laws the state of Kosovo has in place. They are the foundation of protection from discrimination and serve as umbrella laws regarding equal opportunities, treatment and representation in all spheres of life.

However, the gap between letter writing and implementation of legal obligations in daily social and institutional life continues to be great. Lists of political parties' candidates for the June 2017 elections for the Republic of Kosovo Assembly and their Certificate by the Central Election Commission (KQZ), despite the fact that they did not represent the equal gender percentage, are examples adding to the deepening of this gap.

The elections, as a fundamental process of expressing citizens' free will through vote, would have to be the focus of progressive movements and implementation of the Constitution and laws. Despite the call for the Ombudsman's institution (IAP) led political parties to submit to the CEC to lists, equal opportunities for men and women, and thus to observe Law No. 05 L-020 for Gender Equality, unfortunately, this did not happen.

Article 14 of the Law on Gender Equality says: “Political parties with their actions are obliged to implement measures to promote equal participation of men and women in the organs and party bodies, in accordance with provisions of Article 6 of this law.”, which Nen, among other things, specifys that “orggans legislative, executive and judicial at all levels, as well as other public institutions, are bound to approve and apply specific measures to achieve the representation of the least represented gender, until the performance of this male and male is equal in the law. ( article 6, Pgraph 7).

The same Law, clearly confirms that “equal gender representation in all legislative, executive and judicial organs and other public institutions is achieved when a minimum representation of 50 per cent (50%) for each gender, including their leading and decision-making organs (Nini 6, paragarfi 8) is provided.

To remove eventual legal hesitations and ensure equality between men and women and the sustainability of this human rights standard, Law No. 05L-020 for Gender Equality, in effect since the summer of 2015, specifically confirms that “Every provision, which is contrary to the principle of equal treatment under this law is abolished.” (Nani 5, paragraph 2)

In fulfillment of the basic principle of the country's Constitution, PRINCIPLE BUCHING equal opportunities and no discrimination on any basis is indiscretion. This principle could be considered fulfilled as if the participation of women and men on candidate lists would be equal. As the process and visions of a legislature and government emerging from free and democratic votes, the electoral process in its entirety would have to reflect according to this fundamental principle for a democratic state.

Failure to fulfill the specified legal quota distracts the woman's position within the political subjects and the thinking within which we function, not just as an individual, but as a host of institutional responsibilities.

The fact that the composition of the lists has respected the participation of 50 and 50% men of 50, meaning that no equal opportunity of representation has been given! Moreover, anyone attentive to the way political parties' media appearances during pre-future and election campaign have easily been able to note that, even there, political parties are rarely represented by women, harming equality as well!

This way of treating the woman, denying her the opportunity to extend intellectual preparation and individual political offering within the subject that a woman can represent, as well as, further for the voter, also denies that she is part of the competition of values and violates basically the principle of equality and non-discrimination.

Despite the discouraging signals that political subjects, but also public authority and influential organisations in Kosovo, have conveyed with disrespect the quota to representation of women within the candidate lists in the central elections, efforts to restore women's violated right, first as equal to men at opportunity, as well as to representation, as a natural result, should not cease!

Local elections, ahead of autumn of this year, are the next test for political and institutional will, but also for the will of society as a whole. The 50 percent representation of each gender, which provides respect for the Law No. 05L-020 for Gender Equality and the legal package of human rights, and with particular emphasis on compatibility with the spirit which the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo submits, must occur.

The ombudsman, in fulfillment of the mission he has and as an institution of equality, will continue to abort and insist that constitutional and legal obligations be respected and implemented, as a necessity for creating a favourable social and economic environment. Civil society and the media hope to be our partners in trying to enforce legitimacy, as a social rate, but also to respect equality between men and women as human beings, as a natural standard. /Call. com