Women's right to heritage still remains taboo in Kosovo

According to the data, only 4 percent of women in Kosovo were respected. Some 15 percent of the property is registered in their name. Various women's protection organizations say that one of the challenges for women is their right to inherit property until they have proposed leaving the article that allows the legacy to be removed.

Kosovo's laws guarantee equal rights for women and men, but the influence of culture, tradition, economic conditions and level of education have influenced against achieving pre-lawed equality. Law enforcement of the legacy is still in the way, and improvements are slim. Edona Selimi, from the Justice and Equality Initiative, told Radio Kosovo that unfortunately few women are aware of their rights, and especially for its participation in the heritage.

I think there is still such a mentality of giving up the legacy for the sake of the family. Approximately, according to data from past years, some 4 to 5 percent of women in Kosovo participate in family heritage. Thus, the position of the woman in society regarding inheritance is not well, even though it is entitled to the Law of Heritage. However, this law is not applying to our society. According to one research, about 18 percent of women give up inheritance because of their families and not create conflicts”, she said.

According to reports, about 15 percent of property is registered in the name of women. Selimi pointed out that according to the Law on Heritage, any property purchased during marriage, it is recorded in the name of both mates.

“The consequences of non-subheriting women in the family is the result of inequality in property heritage. If women do not inherit property as men inherit property, then only 50 percent of the population - men - have economic empowerment, whereas many women who do not inherit property - are not economically independent of men. For this reason, awareness of society and family should begin in order to develop 100 percent of society, not just 50 percent”, she said.

Meanwhile, Adelina Tarshan of the Kosovo Women's Network told Radio Kosovo that network member organisations have proposed the amendment of the Law on Heritage, completely removing the article allowing the removal of the legacy.

The truth is that the Law for Heritage that is in effect, you see that the heir can give up wealth, not specify that such an article should be used only by women. But given the patriarchal mentality in Kosovo, it is the article that is most misused by notaries, judges, prosecutors and families themselves, where women subsequently give up their property. So for years with member organizations, we've arranged that such a article must change, but there is still no movement in this direction. But the moment the Law is discussed to be amended, we have recommendations on our findings that such an article must be removed, so that it cannot be given the opportunity to be misused in the evil of women”, she said.

In Kosovo's Law for Heritage, Article 3 points 1 says that “all physical persons under the same conditions are equal in inheritance”. According to the Law on Heritage, legal heirs are the children of the inheritancers, his adopted ones, and their descendants, their husbands, parents, brothers, and sisters.

Legally, Article 7.2. The Kosovo Constitution clearly prohibits discrimination against women. Furthermore, Article 22 stipulates that the Convention for the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women is specifically involved in Kosovo's laws.