The need to increase the presence of women in high level political processes and the need for more women taking an active role in all levels of politics in Kosovo were highlighted in a joint United Nations and European Union event.
More than 200 representatives from political and civil society institutions across Kosovo and the region attended the seventh Kosovo edition of the United Nations Global Open Day, under the theme ‘Trust-builders and Deal-Makers: Advancing the Women, Peace and Security Agenda in Kosovo’.
This year it was held in conjunction with the European Union, as both organisations expressed their desire to see an increase in women’s presence at the discussion table. The event also featured two panels and one televised debate, which was followed by a robust audience question session – moderated by renowned Kosovo journalist Jeta Xharra, to later be screened by the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN).
Some of the recommendations that came out of the day’s discussions include:
- The creation of mechanisms that ensure that future political processes are representative of women’s needs and priorities.
- Greater efforts to implement the Law on Gender Equality, with special care taken to protect the rights of women from non-majority communities – whose discrimination also relates to their minority status.
- Increasing existing gender quotas for MPs as well as proactively including women in political advisory roles, in order to encourage women to pursue political careers; with the clear implementation of sanctions in instances where gender quotas are not met.
- Including the needs and concerns of conflict-related sexual violence survivors in the agenda of political processes.
- Fast-tracking the existing initiative for the Regional Commission Tasked with Establishing the Facts about All Victims of War Crimes and Other Serious Human Rights Violations Committed on the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia (RECOM).
During his address, United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of UNMIK Mr Zahir Tanin said, as elsewhere in the world, women in Kosovo were the most important part of society.
“Their voices should be heard. Their role should be respected. Their visible and invincible reality should be recognised – not just by good talk and nice statements, but by practical steps.”
This year’s Global Open day had special significance in advance of the twentieth anniversary of the flagship United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, which provides the backdrop for the Global Open Days.
SRSG Tanin welcomed the joint organisation of Global Open Day with the EU and said the two organisations had a shared goal of promoting democracy and women, peace and security.
“The path towards the EU is the path towards improving women’s rights and their empowerment.”
Head of EU Office in Kosovo/EU Special Representative Ambassador Nataliya Apostolova said the full participation of women in society was improving in Europe and Kosovo but political participation still lagged behind.
“More women are needed in important political and peace processes. It is very worrying that Kosovo has no female mayors and has only two female ministers. This needs to change.”
She welcomed the day’s theme and called for a gender-sensitive legal framework, especially electoral laws and regulations, to be put in place.
Ambassador Apostolova cited the European Parliament’s January resolution on women’s rights in the Western Balkans which underlined the need to ensure the “involvement of women as experts in negotiations and dialogues between states, as well as in consultations with citizens regarding their priorities in such discussions”.
Head of EU Office in Kosovo/EU Special Representative Ambassador Nataliya Apostolova
The United Nations Development Coordinator for Kosovo Ms. Ulrika Richardson also gave opening remarks, in which she said statistics showed the world was still male-dominated and work must be done to combat gender stereotypes, discriminatory laws and non-inclusive political rhetoric.
“Women remain the greatest untapped resource for the achievement of sustainable security and durable peace globally. Kosovo is no exception to this global underrepresentation.”
United Nations Development Coordinator for Kosovo Ms. Ulrika Richardson
Chair of the Women’s Caucus and Member of the Kosovo Assembly Ms Mexhide Mjaku Topalli congratulated the early women activists who paved the way for women leaders of today.
“We must refocus our efforts and provide space for women peace-builders at all levels by backing up laudable commitments with the support of women’s political agency, requisite financial and political resources and enable women to do even more.”
She also called for a genuine commitment to providing meaningful opportunities for women in Kosovo’s political processes.
“Besides calling for seats at the table where decisions are made, we need to be vigilant about ending superficial efforts to include women that do not genuinely extend the opportunity to influence outcomes.”
Chair of the Women’s Caucus and Member of the Kosovo Assembly Ms Mexhide Mjaku Topalli
Amongst the impressive list of panelists was the first female chief negotiator in the world to sign a final peace accord, Ms Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, who made history when she negotiated on behalf of the Philippines government with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
The recommendations will be part of a summary of the event which will be shared with participants and the office of the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, in advance of his annual report on Women, Peace and Security. The televised panel will be broadcasted on RTK.
What is UN Global Open Day?
Launched in October 2010 by the Department of Peacekeeping, Department of Political Affairs, the United Nations Development Programme and UN Women in commemoration of the tenth anniversary of Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, Global Open Days events are designed to support regular dialogue between UN senior leadership and women’s organisations around the world.
Global Open Day consultations provide a platform where women’s voices can be heard and offer an opportunity to review the implementation of Resolution 1325. Today, Global Open Days are organised worldwide and inform the UN Secretary-General’s annual report on Women, Peace and Security.