Women Can Do It In Kosovo/a Project of WOMEN for WOMEN Centre for Research and Gender Policy October 2006-May 2007

Gender ‘regimes’ : Political and Social Context in Kosovo/a Future political status of Kosovo/a over shadowing other political, economic and social issues. Status talks between Albanians and Serbs resulted in no agreement over future political status of Kosovo/a. UN nations urges decision at the UN Security Council Modernization process of Kosovo/a does not mean de facto advancement of gender relations or evasion of the status quo. Gender Mainstreaming high in the public discourse. Gender as a concept, as a planning tool, analytical category, etc. is kept in the margins. Paradoxes: return to the tradition, and family, valorization of nation and nationess. Ahtisari’s proposal recognizes gender as an important aspect of the peace-building process in Kosovo/a.

Legislation on Gender in Kosovo/a Gender Equality Law Anti-Discrimination Law Family law incorporated gender aspect UN regulation on Domestic Violence UN regulation on Combating Trafficking of Human Beings Constitutional Framework – CEDAW Convention integrated. Election regulation – last national elections – closed lists with quota of 30% New Election legislation – open lists with quota of 30% in the candidate lists and elected seats. Gender Equality mechanisms: national and local levels: Agency for Gender Equality, Women’ Caucus at the Kosovo/a Parliament, Gender Equality municipal officers, commissions of gender equality in several municipalities in Kosovo/a.

WCDI Partners in Kosovo/a: Political Parties -- debatable issues Political parties with not clearly defined ideological orientations. No Right, Centre and Left defined ideologies. A mixture of neo-liberal and social politics. Programs similar/different but no clear orientations on the future. Political Status of Kosovo/a main issue of the political parties. No focus on HOW THE STATE SHOULD look like, but WE WANT A STATE. Parties either too centralized, or too fragile – the case of small political parties. A considerable number of women active in Political Parties, but they remain second in the political affairs. Women of political parties are mobilizing more around issues of gender, ex. The quota of 30%. Young Women of political parties need encouragement and support.

WCDI Partners: The Media and GM Media organisations: the split between private and public too rigid and wide. Market oriented. News and information programs marketized. Distorted representation of women in the media: either ‘a good mother’ and a ‘good professional’ or a ‘beauty queen’. Feminisation of the media industry. The editorial boards, and owners of the media remain men. More work needed with the media. Gender Equality mechanisms – no resources, no expertise and fragile. Gender Equality mechanism – a cosmetic tip to the Kosovo/a institutions.

WCDI results –One three day advanced TOT training. Nine newcomer trainers trained in four intensive training days. – Four two day WCDI seminars with political parties seminar. 100 women political party activists. –Five two day WCDI in media seminars with different electronic and print media from all local languages. 125 women journalists and media employees were enrolled in the seminars. –Five WCDI seminars with young women. 125 young women political party activists of youth forums of political parties are trained. –Four WCDI in local communities, 100 women of NGOs, experts, municipal service servants, and housewives were trained. –Six local actions. 150 women participated in planning and organizing of local actions. –Evaluation seminar. 25 trainers and project staff participated in the evaluation seminar.