UNMIK/PR/179
UNMIK and the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) in collaboration with the UNMIK Office of Gender Affairs and with the Kosovo and international community will commemorate International Women's Day in Kosovo on Wednesday 8 March with activities related to this year's theme of "Peace."
A Women's Day was first declared in 1909 by the Socialist Party of America. In 1910, it was established as an international event to honor the movement for women's rights, particularly the right to vote. It is now celebrated throughout the world, designated a holiday in many countries and is particularly commemorated by the United Nations.
Promoting and protecting the equal rights of women has been one of the most intense and well-supported campaigns in the history of the UN. The UN Charter of 1945 was the first international agreement to proclaim gender equality as a fundamental right. Since then the UN has helped create a legacy of internationally agreed strategies, standards and programmes to advance the status of women. UN action has taken four directions: promotion of legal measures; mobilization of public opinion and action; training and research; and direct assistance to disadvantaged groups. A central principle of UN work is that no enduring solution can be found to society's most intractable social, economic and political problems without full participation and empowerment of women.
UNMIK radio interviews on women in Kosovo will run on Blue Sky Radio beginning Sunday. On 7- 8 March, UN-TV and RTK will run stories on the Women's Day events.
Five women photographers will display their images of women in Kosovo at the Students Vision/Vizioni I Studentëve gallery near Electro-Kosovo. Contributing to "Women of Kosovo: International and Local Perspectives" are photographers Andreea Anca-Strauss, Helene Caux, Aferdita Abraibmig, Drita Rexhepi and Flutra Limani.
In the same gallery, drawings by Kosovo school children on the theme "Violence-Free Kosovo" will be on exhibit.
The public is invited to the opening, 9 p.m. to midnight on 8 March, also featuring women musicians and poets. Both exhibits run from 9-22 March, from 10 a.m.- midnight.
On 8 March, a reception hosted by UNIFEM and the Office of Gender Affairs will be held in the UNMIK Government building featuring statements by UNMIK acting Chief of Mission Jock Covey; three local women leaders--Ms. Nekibe Kelmendi, Ms. Sonja Nikolic-Jusufi and Ms. Justina Shiroka-Pula--as well as by Mr. Hashim Thaci, Mr. Ibrahim Rugova and Mr. Rexhep Qosja.