Kosovo baffles in implementing gender equality law

So said at the “Profiling women's participation in politics” of the Kosovo Women's Network, where it was stressed that empowering girls and women means empowering the entire society.

Kosovo Women's Network Executive Director Igballe Rogova said the women's lobby over the years has held many meetings in municipalities.

We were supposed to make a four-year project. The main goal is empowering women in politics. For change, we have to have women in decision making”, she said.

Annette Faith Lijic from the EU Special Representative's Office in Kosovo said the European community remains committed to helping increase the percentage of women in politics. According to her, solidarity among women is essential.

Thanks to this project, today we have the first results that made me happy. This is going on with the help of the international community, because empowering women is a social issue. The framework for gender equality in Kosovo has been formed well, but the problem lies in implementation. I have to use this opportunity to call for Kosovo authorities to close this space between implementation and the” legislation, she said.

United Nations Development Co-ordinator Ulrika Richardson said gender equality has to do with power and power related to politics. She said there should be initiatives for increasing quotas for women.

Despite criticism of the quotas, she indicated that this has given her results. According to her, there are still ways to make for gender equality.

We need more women in politics. In countries where we have women in politics, the impact is greater. When we have women in politics, we have taken care of our home, care of the elderly, rest, and leukemia. But this is not just where women are interested, they are good in economies, infrastructure and numerous other areas. Let it not be a matter of women choosing to be professional or of having a family. Both must be combined”, she said.

Richardson said Kosovo is not a member of the United Nations, while adding that he hopes this will happen soon.

Kosovo has not been able to be an agenda member 2030, but has voluntarily drafted the resolution in the Parliament, and that is good because the limits of sustainable positions. It means it's empowerment. We have 17 targets in the agenda, and they all put women's empowerment within them”, she said.

MP Mjaku-Topali said this project will not only manage to move things that are of interest to citizens, it will manage to bring all women together to support each other.

By increasing the number of women in public office, she said it helps change public opinion with the ability of women to participate in politics.

“While the law saying women should be 50 percent in decision-making has not been implemented. The parties must respect the quota, supporting women as party and government leaders. Civil society and the media should engage in awareness of citizens for the importance it has”, Mjaku-Topali said.