From kwn-news-admin at alb-net.com Thu Jan 3 11:56:55 2002 From: kwn-news-admin at alb-net.com (kwn-news-admin at alb-net.com) Date: Thu, 3 Jan 2002 11:56:55 -0500 Subject: [KWN-Voices] Volume 1, Issue 2 - English Message-ID: <00bc01c19477$a6bfeee0$de56fed8@org.speakeasy.org> --------------------------------------------------- KWN VOICES: Your link to the Women of Kosova --------------------------------------------------- Volume 1, Issue 2 - January 3, 2001 --------------------------------------------------- IN THIS ISSUE: * Editorial: In memory of Shehide Rashica * Network News - Certified Results of Election 2001 - Women and the Kosovar Economy by Vjollca Krasniqi - Campaign Against Violence Against Women and Girls * Member Profile: Femrat ne Veprim in Podujeva * Chronology of Key Events for the Women's Movement in Kosova (corrected version) * About KWN Voices * FROM THE EDITORIAL DESK: >>>In memory of Shehide Rashica, woman activist from Vushtrri who died recently at the age of 43.<<< While it is snowing outside in Prishtina, with the lights of the candles and the battery power of the laptop, the second edition of the KWN Voices is being written. Since after the war until now there are restrictions on electricity, sometimes 4 hours with and 2 hours without electricity. Most of the time during especially during the winter it is the opposite: 4 hours without and 2 hours with electricity. In this Chrismas Eve, while writing this Editorial my prayers are with those families who have no heating in this cold winter, with the people of Afganistan and Palestine, with the people who lost their loved ones in the September 11th tragedy in the US, with the women victims of violence around the world, with the women who don't dare to express their sexuality in their countries, with the women raped during wars all over the world, with the widows, with the little girls who are victims of child abuse. My prayers are with the family of Shehide Rashica who died just couple of days after we had the campaign against violence against women in her municipality. Shehide was so excited that evening after the campaign. She was full of energy. But she had suffered stressful times during the war in Kosova. Instead of taking care of her needs, she was taking care of the needs of the women in her municipality. I pray that women activists around the world (including myself) start thinking also about their own needs. We all know that Christmas season is time for message of peace. And I pray for peace in the world! But I also pray that the world leaders don't speak about peace only on Christmas but throughout the whole year. Despite the difficulties, bad weather, no electricity, the ignorance of the UN Mission in Kosova and OSCE, womens groups had their busiest time during the months of November and December 2001. They were involved in pre-election days, (election day was November 17th 2001), in Women and Economy Conference (29 and 30th November 2001) and in organizing Campaign Against Violence Against Women in Kosova (November 24th until December 10th 2001). In this newsletter you can read more about these activities. We owe an apology to the women's groups from Kosova who were not mentioned in the Chronology in the first issue of KWN Voices. The corrected version of the Chronology can be found below. In peace, love and solidarity, Igballe Rogova Womens Network Coordinator December 24th, 2001, Prishtina, Kosova * NETWORK NEWS - Women make up over 50% of the population of Kosova. They come from diverse ethnic backgrounds, from the cities, towns and villages, with all levels of education and from different economic backgrounds. These women have come together in the Kosova Women's Network (KWN) not to share their problems but to share their strength and their work. The Kosova Women's Network is engaged in six campaigns: Education, Women in the Economy, Violence Against Women/Domestic Violence, Coalition: NGOs and Politicians, Trafficking in Women and Refugee/IDP Women. While individual Network members may be working on other issues these campaigns are the primary focus of the Network. * CERTIFIED RESULTS OF ELECTION 2001 We will use the certified results that were given by OSCE and UNMIK to show you more details and statistics about the parliamentary elections held in Kosova November 17 2001 Thirty four (34) women won seats. By law there had to be 30% women candidates. The names of the women who won and the party they represent are listed below. PDK- Flora Brovina, Drita Statovci, Teute Hadri , Nerxhivane Dauti , Sala Ahmetaj , Exhlale Salihu , Hatixhe Hoxha , Sabile Basha. LDK- Nekibe Kelmendi , Edi Shukriu , Fetije Kepuska , Sanije Alaj , Edita Tahiri , Melihate Termkolli , Sofije Hargji , Nafije Berisha , Samije Zeqiraj , Remzije Nimani , Mevlyde Saraqi , Gjylshen Berisha , Besa Gaxheri , Zyhrie Maloku , Nurishahe Hulaj. AAK - Zylfije Hundozi , Sebahate Graj?evci , VATAN - Zehra Elezi KDTP - Nafiye Gash KP - Smiljka Milisavljevic , Ljliljana Kenic , Rada Trajkovic , Stojanka Petkovic, Cveta Vujacic , Ivana Markovic , Vesna Jovanovic. ELECTORATE Total - 1,249,987 In Kosova - 1,102,536 Voted in-person - 105,159 Voted by-mail - 42,292 TURNOUT Total - 803,796 - 64.30% In Kosova - 715,669 - 64.91% Voted in-person - 60,339 - 57.38% Voted by-mail - 27,788 - 65.71% VALID Total - 788,303 - 98.07% In Kosova - 702,045 - 98.10% Voted in-person - 58,657 - 97.21% Voted by-mail - 27,601 - 99.33% BLANK Total - 3,518 - 0.44% In Kosova - 3,169 - 0.44% Voted in-person - 302 - 0.50% Voted by-mail - 47 - 0.17% INVALID Total - 11,975 - 1.49% In Kosova - 10,455 - 1.46% Voted in-person - 1,380 - 2.29% Voted by-mail - 140 - 0.50% CONDITIONAL BALLOTS Total - 57,969 - 7.09% Voted in-person - 50,897 - 6.99% In Kosova - 7,072 - 11.51% ACCEPTED Total - 44,359 - 76.52% In Kosova - 38,389 - 75.42% Voted in-person - 5,970 - 84.42% REJECTED Total - 13,610 - 23.48% In Kosova - 12,508 - 24.58% Voted in-person - 1,102 - 15.58% SEAT ALLOCATION LDK - 47 seats PDK - 26 seats AAK - 8 seats LPK - 1 seat KP - 22 seats PDASHK - 2 seats; IRDK -2 seats BSDAK - 1 seat PD - 1 seat PSHDK - 1 seat VATAN - 4 seats PREBK - 1 seat, LK?K - 1 seat KDTP - 3 seats. * WOMEN AND THE KOSOVAR ECONOMY by Vjollca Krasniqi, Sociologist and Women's Rights Activist The concept of economy, primarily the concept of Kosovar economy and its development in Kosova is a worry and a concern of the women's movement in Kosova. This concern, otherwise, constitutes more than 50 percent of the Kosova population - that of the women. In its newest, postwar history of Kosova, economy and economic development were topics that raised no debate and an opened dialogue between the international community in Kosova and local structures. There might have been some initiatives of a dialogue on the Kosovar economy and its development, but there was no transparent ways of discussing about it. When it comes to the dialogue on the postwar problems of Kosova, Kosovar women were ignored a lot of times. Women did not participate in the forums and structures where the dialogue was led and conducted, where the policy was designed and decisions have been made regarding the future of our society. As if Kosova and its problems constitute an exclusive problem of the man. Someone might have thought that there in Kosova there was no quality and aptitude that would enable Kosovar women to debate, make a dialogue and make decisions on 'major issues of Kosova'. Therefore, the need to articulate problems, not only women are faced with but the society in its entirety, and the need for a well organized political activity by women in Kosova was expressed in the initiative to organize the conference 'Women and Economy' held Novmber 29th and 30th 2001 in Prishtina. In organizing this conference did participate women's local organizations of Kosova, international; organizations operating in Kosova, that support the empowerment of woman, and woman's rights activists. It is this conference that initiated the debate and the dialogue on the Kosovar economy including the woman as an equal partner in economy. Economy, as an abstract concept for a lot of people and not only for the Kosovar women, was demystified and a great number of Kosovar and international woman had the opportunity to freely express their opinions and their vision regarding future economic development. They took a step further and made it clear that they want to establish a partnership and share their experience, their active and academic potential to create better economic opportunities, including not only Kosovar women, but society as a whole. What was the objective of this women's forum on economy? The first objective was the improvement of the economic status of the women, the engagement that the policy makers in economy and donors support and provide an equal approach and opportunities regarding the economic resources for women and girls, thus offering conditions for women to participate in consultations, designing and making decisions on the politics of economy. In other words, the idea was that women not be just a being passively benefiting from the economy, but an active entity in building and implementing the policies and economic projects. To achieve these objectives it is necessary that another objective be attained, consisting on providing a data-base and the exchange of data regarding the actual economic status of the women in Kosova; the impact of the present economic policies on the women; gaps in the projects designed by donators when they support women and their economic development; women's limits regarding their access to the resources and economic opportunities; foreign investments and new trends in economy. As a third objective was the long-term commitment to change the discrimination on gender basis whereas emphasizing the inclusion of women from all the ethnic backgrounds of Kosova in the economic life and the urgent need for the education of the girls in Kosova. What the conference achieved? This conference, first of all, highlighted the articulated political opinion of the women in Kosova, the fact that they have a vision, expertise and motivation to address topics pertaining to economy. Second, they made it clear that this vision will be implemented in line with their commitment to eliminate discriminating policies on gender basis and third that they are ready to carry out the partnership with local and international organizations and structures that have such a mandate, objective and motivation regarding the economic development of Kosova. The conference also made clear recommendations for a political engagement of women in the sphere of economy and that these recommendations be a fundamental to a women's platform in Kosova concerning their economic activity. Recommendations include the following segments: * drafting of a 'map' that will show who are the structures that make decisions on the economy and economic development; who are the people that decide on economy; what is the relationship between UNMIK structures in Kosova and recently established Parliament and future ministries; * donors to call on Kosovar women who will have a counseling function on the developmental projects; as greater promotion as possible of the women as an entity in the economy; establishment of a network of women businesses in Kosova; formulation of a budget from a gender perspective; lobbying for non-discriminating economic policies on gender basis; reconsideration of the criteria for applying for the women's business in Kosova; * loan systems to be public and transparent; * women to participate when loans are allocated; * the future education ministry to have a separate budget that will support the education of the girls; * education curricula to promote the gender equality; * to organize campaigns regarding the girl's necessity to get educated, increasing the number of pupils in Secondary schools as well as organization of the education projects for women in order to produce conditions for an easy economic participation in free market. Two days work of this conference surely will not resolve problems in a short period of time and will not resolve problems women face. There remains a lot to be done in this respect. To carry out the strivings of more than a half of the population in Kosova it is necessary, first, that structures, like international ones (UNMIK, donors) and local structures as well (Parliament of Kosova, women members of the Parliament, women actively engaged in politics, future ministries), be as much as possible opened towards women's initiatives in Kosova and that the work they perform be done as much as possible from the women's gender perspective. I can assure everybody that this is not difficult to achieve. Everybody must make a question: what is the women's opinion on this issue or how this would influence women? If there, due to a lot of reasons, would not be an answer, than address it to expert women and woman activists on women's rights. Women will be ready to assume the responsibility together with you. * CAMPAIGN AGAINST VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS Since June 2001, the KWN in their monthly meetings started planning the Campaign Against Violence Against Women and Girls. It was decided to be a media and cultural campaign with these goals: * Increasing public acknowledgement of the problems of violence against women in the community: of domestic violence, rape in war and date rape, trafficking and prostitution. * Increasing public debate particularly in the media of the problems of violence against women. * Increasing the level of responsibility and action from the community to combat violence against women. * Prevention of trafficking - through increased publicity of cases within Kosova. * Breaking the isolation for women in violent situations. * Increasing the publicity about services already existing for victims of violence: e.g counseling, day shelters. * Message - it exists, it's a problem, the community is responsible to do something about it. Breaking the silence. Changing attitudes. * Setting violence against women in the context of other hate crimes. Making clear the connections between violence against women, violence against children, ethnic violence, violence against people based on identity. The campaign, launched in November 2001, utilized culture and arts as activities including; two popular songs, a radio drama, a theatre drama, two television spots, posters and press/information packs. THE SONGS The message of the songs is that women have rights and their bodies are their own. One song is about freedom of expression based on the text of an Eve Ensler monologue, 'My Short Skirt'. It is sung by famous singers from Kosova: Aida Baraku, Donika Gashi, Alma Bektashi and Iliriana Loxha. The music was done by Armend Rexhepagiq. The second song is a ballad directed to adults concerning domestic violence, with the key message not to keep silent about violence they are experiencing. The song is called 'I Am Hurt' (Jam e lenduar). It is sung by Iliriana Loxha. Aida Baraku wrote the text and the music was done by Armend Rexhepagiq. Both songs have become a hit and are played often on radio and TV. You can hear girls singing them in the streets. See the text of the songs below. RADIO DRAMA AND THEATRE PLAY The play is called 'Our Stories' which incorporates short pieces of women telling particular life stories, acted by actresses of the National Theatre, Prishtina - Safete Rogova, Drita Begolli, Xhejlane Godanci, Adriana Matoshi, Kumrije Hoxha and Sheqerije Buqaj. The play is designed to be thought provoking, and to motivate the audience to work to combat violence against women. The pieces are written not to be pathetic and tragic, but to give voice to how the 'victims' in each case overcame the prejudices of those around them, found help from supportive people or institutions and became 'survivors'. The pieces are as follows: * A story of a rural woman who didn't have access of education but she manages to send her daughter in school, despite all the difficulties, * A story of a woman raped in the war who manages to overcome her trauma by the help of her husband and a nurse in the hospital, * A story of a girl experiencing sexual harassment by local businessman and International organization and in the end she manages to start her own business, * A story of a girl trafficked inside Kosova and how she manages to get out and help other women who went through the same experience, * A story of a woman becoming a politician and all the struggles to get there, * A story of a young girl who is harassed daily in the street because she wears a mini skirt. THE CAMPAIGN The first phase of the campaign began in Prizren on November 24, 2001 and continued to tour in other municipalities: Peja, Gjakova, Podujeva, Mitrovica, Rahovec, Vushtrri and Prishtina. Each evening, the team of organizers together with the singers and actresses, traveled in bad snow conditions from place to place to play the performance. In every place we were, the municipality made it possible to use the place for free, in this way they showed they supported the campaign. Places were always full, thanks to good advertisement of the media. In particular we would like to thank TV 21 for the full coverage of the campaign, CMB production house for making possible the video clips of the songs and TV advertisements of the campaign, TV Koha, TV RTK, TV Hasi etc. Everywhere we went, the campaign had a great impact on people's attitudes and emotions. After the last piece, the story of the young girl being harassed because she wears a mini skirt, when the singers would come on the stage, the audience would stand up and dance and sing together the now very popular song 'My Short Skirt'. During the performance some men would go out in the lobby to have a cigarette but in fact they were crying because they were touched by the stories. When talking to them, they would say, 'I never thought how much women suffer under different violence and despite all the difficulties they have the strength to survive.' The strongest reactions came after the story of a woman being raped du ring the war. Many people said, 'Instead of supporting the women raped during the war, we condemned them. Big mistake! Big mistake!' In the spring we plan to continue the campaign in other municipalities in Kosova. We also plan to go to Macedonia and Albania. This campaign was sponsored by USAID/KTI and the Swedish Organization KVINNA TILL KVINNA (Woman to Woman). * The text of the songs: My Short Skirt (Fundi im I shkurte) Is not an invitation, provocation, for rape, for rape, It does not ask to be torn, to be pulled down, Does not allow, does not allow, It does not show I am spoiled, stupid, indecisive, easily manipulated, It gives stability to the head, heart and feet (the chorus) It is mine, has nothing to do with you It is mine, like everything under it It is mine, it's free breathing It's the beginning. Joy and existence It is the flag of the army of women This skirt of mine, my short skirt Friend of my most intimate territory in this road, It is my courage, it is a turn, a freeing, my short skirt I feel I am on this earth, I am alive, I see, this is me. * I Am Hurt (Jam e lenduar) I see my life in front of me, the dust storms worsen the weather, And the bad weather-love, I hear strange voices and some horrible refrains, River fast over the boat of children, and I can not sail, Unmerciful education, is there anything sacred for you, My pain is my shadow, I can not feel my heart You are used to no sacrifice, to have everything you want To attack when not forgiven, to destroy whenever stopped (the chorus) I am hurt, I am exhausted, I am hurt but not diminished yet In the middle of a desert I am building an oasis, There are scars in my body and scars on my soul No, I will not go crazy, I see a rainbow not just rain Wake up girl be a woman, don't live your life as a slave of their desire, Don't, don't be afraid to have everything you want Life is a good judge, time is a free witness, I am not for war but not for being oppressed either, I want a human, to be a human. * PROFILE: Femrat ne Veprim Each month we will profile a different member of the KWN. In this way we hope to show the depth and breadth of the women's groups working in Kosova. These profiles along with pictures and additional information about their programs in both Albanian and English will be available in the MEMBERS section of the KWN website once it is launched (http://www.womensnetwork.org) >>>'With the end of war and with the liberation of Kosova, we also feel that Kosovar women should be fully liberated and active participants in all activities regarding their daily lives..'<<< From Women in Action Coordinator, Igballe Hakiqi Femrat ne Veprim/Women in Action, founded in 1986, is a non-governmental organization based in Podujeva, Kosova. We work in Podujeva and the surrounding villages. At our center, in Podujeva, Femrat ne Veprim works with women from their community and displaced women from rural areas. The center provides women with the opportunity to come and learn English, work on computers, and acquire skills enabling economic independence. Our vision is to strengthen the position of women in society. Women in Action provides women with the opportunity to acquire skills in computer training, sewing courses, psychosocial assistance, certified driving instruction courses enabling women to gain their driver's license, and job training programs helping women to become economically self-sufficient. HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR WORK * Women in Action sponsored a project, in conjunction with UNDP, where 60 women won 400DM for their hand crafts; * Health Education; * Information sessions focusing on violence against women and domestic violence, and the trafficking of women and girls, as well as organizing community rallies regarding these issues; * Workshops on women's rights; * Psycho-social support to women and girls; * Sewing workshops; * Certified driving instruction courses; * Certified courses in Cosmetology enabling women to become licensed hairdressers and aiding in economic independence. Contact information: Femrat ne Veprim/ Women in Action Igballe Hakiqi,Coordinator +381 38 70-598 * (corrected version) A CHRONOLOGY OF KEY EVENTS FOR THE WOMEN'S MOVEMENT IN KOSOVA SINCE 1989 1989 The Serbian Regime led by Milosevic take away Kosova's autonomy, removing Albanians from the parliament in Prishtina. 90% of the population of Kosova (Albanians) are fired from their jobs including in health care, education and media. Albanians protesting for equal rights are met with violence from the police and military. The Albanian community began over ten year's of passive non-violent resistance to state oppression. 1990 Albanian Civil Society began organizing. The first Albanian NGOs are founded among them the women's group MOTRAT QIRIAZI, the PARAPLEGIC ASSOCIATION and the MOTHER THERESA HUMANITARIAN ASSOCIATION. Each year there were more new NGOs beginning their work. Womens activists formed ALBANIAN WOMEN'S LEAGUE. Women's rights activists found the CENTER FOR THE PROTECTION OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN in Prishtina. This provides specialist advice, health care, and documentation to women victims of human rights abuses The organization WOMEN'S VETERANS OF EDUCATION AND YOUNG ARTISTS was founded to support culture, education and young women artists. They organized cultural evenings in cafeterias because Serbian Regime closed down cultural Centres and forbid organizing any cultural activities in Albanian. Also was founded the MEDIA PROJECT who started trainings for young women journalists. They started with trainings, continued with publishing women's magazine, then Radio 21 on Internet. At present they run Radio and TV 21. 1995 International women activists and women's groups including women's groups from Former Yugoslavia begin to give more support to women organizing in Kosova. In Viti region, Oxfam UK/I helps set up the rural women's group LEGJENDA. Albanian women from Kosova begin what becomes a long term involvement in the Belgrade Women in Black Against Militarism annual meetings. AUREOLA rural women's group is founded, working in Obiliq. ELENA, group for women's rights, is founded, based in Prishtina. Another rural group was formed in Gjilan region called LIRIA. OCTOBER 1997 Serbian military begin clandestine preparations in Kosova for ethnic cleansing of Albanians and war. FEBRUARY 1998 The Serbian Army start military operations against Albanian civilians in central Kosova. Tens of thousands flee the war to other parts of Kosova. Massacres, murders and rapes begin. The sixteen month's of violence cause the deaths of almost ten thousand civilians and included the rapes of thousands of women. Kosova NGOs, women's groups and human rights organizations immediately organize helping displaced people with food, medical care, shelter, and education. In these days, women's NGOs begin regular monthly meetings to support each other and share experiences. The CENTER FOR THE REHABILITATION OF MOTHERS AND CHILDREN is founded specifically to work with displaced from Drenica. SEPTEMBER 1998 Kosovar rural women's groups organize as a network comprising Aureola, Elena, Legjenda, Liria, Motrat Qiriazi. As the 'RURAL WOMEN'S NETWORK' they develop a common program in order to provide more support to women and girls in the conflict areas of Kosova, and to increase networking with feminist women's groups outside of Kosova. Women with disabilities begin to self-organize by founding their group 'ZGJIMI (awakening)' Women judges founded the organization NORMA working with law and women 's rights issues. MARCH 1999 NATO begins its response to the human rights abuses being conducted by the Serbian authorities in Kosova. Military targets in Kosova, Serbia and Montenegro are bombed. Paramilitaries acting together with military forces intensify their attacks on civilians, deporting Albanians from their homes, and murdering many others. More than half the Albanian population is forced, in many cases on foot, into the mountains, and on terrible journeys to safety in Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro and Bosnia Hercegovina. Kosovar women's groups, themselves refugees, begin to fundraise, and to organize humanitarian and empowerment work in camps and communities in these places. JUNE 1999 The Kumanova agreement is signed by the Yugoslav state, signaling their submission to NATO's authority, and the beginning of their military withdrawal from Kosova. The agreement fails to include hand over of political prisoners. As a result many women cannot be reunited with their men folk, who remain in jails in Serbia, in many cases until 2001. Political prisoners also include some women. Albanians begin rapidly to return to their burnt homes and decimated villages. They start to rebuild their lives. Serbs and Roma begin to leave Kosova fearing reprisals. OCTOBER 1999 Many new women's NGOs were organizing in their communities to help post war situation. Women's groups become increasingly disaffected at the way the international community is failing to include them as equal partners, but is marginalizing them. The groups struggle against the neo-colonialism functioning under the auspices of the UNMIK and the OSCE, which gives little respect for the years of self organizing by the Albanian community. JANUARY 2000 A few individuals within international institutions give support to women in their self organizing. One of these initiatives results in the formation of the KOSOVA WOMEN'S NETWORK (KWN), an umbrella organization, which represents over 32 women's groups, most of them founded in 1999. Its regular monthly meetings include women from these groups and from international organizations. JUNE 2000 KWN organizes the first regional Albanian women's conference. Its topics include health, education, violence against women, trafficking in women, legal rights. JUNE 2001 At their request KWN supports minority women's groups to organize. KWN expands to include women's groups from Turkish, Roma, Ashkali, Egyptian and Serbian communities. NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2001 KWN organizes the second women's conference with the topic of 'Women and the Economy'. KWN organizes their second annual Kosova wide campaign against domestic violence. The innovative campaign features pop songs, tv spots, monologues, posters and other media/cultural activities. The KWN launches an e-mail newsletter, KWN VOICES and a website http://www.womensnetwork.org ---------------- About the KWN Voices ---------------- KWN Voices is published monthly by the Kosova Women's Network (KWN). The KWN is made up of over 32 women's groups from throughout Kosova. We hope that you find the information we disseminate of value and that when we make a call for action we can count on your support. Please forward this newsletter to others and encourage them to subscribe. TO SUBSCRIBE: send an e-mail to kwn-news-request at alb-net.com with only the word 'subscribe' in the body of the message or visit http://www.alb-net.com/mailman/listinfo/kwn-news Inquiries and submissions can be sent to info at womensnetwork.org. Back issues of the newsletter can be found at http://www.womensnetwork.org. This newsletter has been produced with generous support from OSI-Budapest http://www.soros.org Editorial Board: Igo Rogova, Motrat Qiriazi Ilirjana Loxha, KWN Information Officer ----------------