Dialogue among women of different ethnic communities in Kosovo and women from the region of Western Balkans, was held in Gracanica and Novo Brdo on 21st and 22nd July 2015  The both meetings provided forum for discussion and recommendations on the issues of women empowerment in local level, particularly of Albanian and Serb women, the ways of increasing interethnic understandings and exchange of experiences on EU integration. 

The meetings focused specifically on Brussels dialogue and implementation of agreements, where through first hand briefings and discussions, women could share views on this important process and on what role women can play in helping effective implementation of these agreements that benefits all citizens of Kosova.   

This project of RWLSEE was supported by UN Women and the Finnish Embassy in Kosovo, to which RWLSEE expresses high gratitude for their support and participation to these important meetings. Also, our thanks goes to the Mayor of Novo Brdo and Gracanica Municipal Assembly Chairwomen for their hospitality and participation, and to all women participants from the two municipalities and from Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Macedonia. 

Following the debate and discussions the following recommendations are presented:

Recommendations:

• Dialogue between women of different ethnicities and countries should be supported by national governments and international organizations, in order for women voice to be heard on relevant issues that affect  women and countries in the region
• Further empowerment of women in political, economic and social life is necessary to ensure equal participation and representation of women in central and local institutions. 
• Increasing the women participation in political parties is one of main conditions for women empowerment in political decision making in local and central level 
• Women must be active and ready to take responsibilities in all levels and sectors of public life, regardless barriers of different nature because self-confidence and pro-activity leads to a greater inclusion of women in decision making levels and peace process. Women are a strategic asset that should be given equal opportunity to contribute for democracy, development and peacebuilding.   
• There should be more support offered to women at local levels in relevant areas including:
  • Economy 
  • Politics 
  • Social life 
  • Property issues 
  • Domestic violence, etc.
• Women participants support the  Brussels dialogue and calls for speeding up implementation of reached Agreements, in order to establish normalization of situation and integration of Serbs in the Kosova institutions, as well as, support normalization of relations between Kosova and Serbia with EU facilitation because it contributes for peace and stability in the region and speeds up European integration for Kosovo and all countries in region 
• Women participants highly value the role of the RWLSEE as a unique women organization of regional dimension and they call for more regional cooperation among women, based on RWL model.