10 March 2023

The Security and Gender Group (SGG) condemns the offensive and sexist reactions towards Deputy President of the Assembly of Kosovo Saranda Bogujevci made on social media following a debate in Assembly on women’s rights to have children through medical assistance that took place on 9 March. Some of the messages expressed in public and online constitute an attack on women in general and Ms. Bogujevci in particular and may amount to hate speech. The Assembly should leave no space for offensive discourse that targets individuals or groups based on inherent characteristics.

The issue of women's reproductive health is covered by the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), which is reflected in Article 22 of the Constitution and as such directly applicable. CEDAW recognizes and protects the right of women to health, including with regard to their sexual and reproductive health. In addition, the Law on Gender Equality clearly defines that direct or indirect gender discrimination is prohibited, including less favorable treatment of women due to pregnancy and maternity, marital status, nationality, race, disability, sexual orientation, social status, religious belief and faith, age, or any other basis established by law or international agreements and instruments in power.

The SGG calls upon relevant institutions to uphold their legal commitments, and to ensure that all women and girls are protected from discrimination and instances of hate speech.

Note to press:

The Security and Gender Group (SGG) is a multi-stakeholder group, chaired by UN Women. The following signatories are members of SGG and support this public statement:

International organizations: UN Kosovo Team(UNKT) agencies including the Office of the UN Development Coordinator, UN Women, IOM Kosovo, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP Kosovo), United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef Kosovo Programme), United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat Kosovo), Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA Kosovo), World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS Kosovo), Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR Kosovo); OSCE Mission in Kosovo; EULEX Kosovo (Official); Embassy of Sweden in Pristina; UNMIK - United Nations Mission in Kosovo; Austrian Development Agency; EU/EUSR .Women’s organizations and NGOs: SIT - Center for Counseling, Social Services and Research; Kosova Women's Network; Youth Initiative for Human Rights - Kosovo (YIHR KS) ; Jahjaga Foundation; Kosovo Gender Studies Center (Qendra Kosovare për Studime Gjinore); Kosovo Law Institute; Center for Equality and Liberty (Cel Kosovo); Network of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian Women's Organizations of Kosovo; Inject - Initiative for Justice and Equality; Kosova - Women 4 Women .

Kosovo Institutions: Office of the President of Kosovo ; Agency for Gender Equality(Agjencia për Barazi Gjinore/ Zyra e Kryeministrit)