Kadri Wessel: We must end the canon of gender inequality

Kosovo can take pride in the successful women it has, and who should be more represented in decision making.

So said Kosovo Assembly Speaker Kadri Wessel, at the opening of the Women's Week 2018.

He said that very good laws have been adopted over and over again in the Kosovo Assembly, but their implementation cuts in many segments and that there is serious neglect in implementing laws addressing gender equality. While adding that gender inequality canon should end.

“Today we have the independent and sovereign state that must lead the whole-city movement to end the Canon of Gender Inequity. This Kanun privileged men, so women should not rely too much on the good “willpower of the men and their vocabulary full of democracy and emancipation. Many still believe in the myth that the power of men in the family, society, and state is natural and unchanged power. This is a false myth, and today it is harmful and hindering from the progress of our land. It is up to us all, and first of all, you women, that, with their overall activism, we should take this myth to the museum of the past”, he said.

Wessel said Kosovo has given some examples of how the country's main institutions are entrusted to women, but that is not enough.

Kosovo can boast of the successful women it has and the level of accountability and accountability they have shown. We have given examples of how the country's main institutions are entrusted with guidance for women: Presidencys, Constitutional Court, Central Election Commission, deputy prime minister, minister, ambassador. I can truthfully say that in most cases they have been far more successful than men in these positions, of course, that's not enough. But there are positive signs and developments that need to continue and representation of women in decision-making should be increased, in line with legislation that we have personally adopted”, he said.

Meanwhile, Mjaku Topali, leader of the group of MP women, said that participation in Women's Week has given them the missing courage.

“I hope that discussions during the week of the woman 2018 will serve as a call for all relief agents to engage without reservation so that Kosovo can make a place where people can live with dignity. We women can do a lot of things that men cannot do. Even men can do many things that we women cannot do. But women and men together can do much more”, she said.

Meanwhile, Colleen Hyland, deputy head of the US mission in Kosovo, said Kosovo is not well found in the representation of women in institutional and social life, and that Kosovo needs more women engaged not only in politics, but in all spheres of life.

This week is a celebration but an opportunity to break up barriers to the political and economic participation of women. As Kosovo enters the second decade of its independence, fighting corruption and greater transparency in public institutions, it is ethical for Kosovo. So this week's topic of transparency and accountability is not only relevant but also timely. Kosovo should attract the talent and energy of any citizen, regardless of gender, religion or race. I think we should admit that this isn't happening right now. This is a problem that exceeds professions, sectors and regions. Unless we see the composition of the Government of Kosovo now we see that Kosovo is not doing well, there are only two ministers in the Government of Kosovo. No parliamentary group in the country is led by any woman. Women are terribly represented in political composition of political parties. If we look at 38 municipalities, no mayor is female”, she said.

Gresa Caka, judge of the Constitutional Court, said women will have a crucial role in the country's roads and addressing challenges.

The crossroad that we are in at the beginning of the second decade, the complete independence of our institutions, the distance between them and its citizens, reflected in the declining belief of this one in the first. The legitimate increase in public pressure for transparency and accountability should turn it into the possibility of a genuine partnership vow in addressing the challenges that await us in the life of democratic values embedded in our constitution. And on this road, our past should serve as hope and inspiration in realising future opportunities. And on this road, our women will have a crucial role”, she said. /S. Bird/