The Minister for Dialogue, and also the Chairwomen of Regional Women’s Lobby, Edita Tahiri, attended the UN Women international conference held in Istanbul, Turkey on 11 and 12 February 2016. The conference was attended by the representatives of Europe and Central Asia governments and civil society, committed to women agenda for peace and security.

This international conference themed “Promotion of women agenda for peace and security through cooperation between Europe and Central Asia”, and the UN global study on women’s empowerment progress and challenges fifteen years post- adoption of Resolution 1325 of the UN Security Council and other subsequent resolutions on the women’s empowerment served as a basic document for discussion. Among the speakers were important personalities, including Ingibjorg Gisladottir, Director of UN Women for Europe and Central Asia, Päivi Kannisto, Director of UN Women, the Department for Women, Peace and Security, UN New York, Julia Kharashvili, Member of the High Level Advisory Group of the Global Study, Chairperson of the IDP Women Association Consent, Georgia, Edita Tahiri, Minister for dialogue and chairwomen of RWLSEE  Kosovo, Mara Marinaki, Chief counsellor for women’s affairs in EU Foreign Service, Ann Sofie Stude, ambassador for women, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland, Samra Filipovic Hagjiabdic, Director of Gender Equality Agency from Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as representatives from Turkey, Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan, etc.

The Minister for dialogue, Edita Tahiri, in her speech stressed, among other issues, that women worldwide are playing an increasingly important role in building greater peace and security for all humanity. The role of women should be appreciated as a strategic value because they represent half of the world, and taking into account their power, the number of women in peace processes and peace negotiations particularly should be increased. She also stated that; for this purpose UN and all countries should directly engage to fulfil the obligations arising from UN Security Council resolutions, such as 1325 and seven others subsequent resolutions. “Today, fifteen years post UN- Resolution 1325, we recognize and appreciate the progress on women’s empowerment, but also wish to emphasize that this progress is not yet satisfying. Women have done a much for the states and societies, but the question is whether states and society are doing enough for women,” stated Minister Tahiri.
Talking about her history in the negotiations for peace in many phases before and after the war in Kosovo, she said that the peace negotiations which have brought the end to the war and genocide in Kosovo have been more difficult than the negotiations for good neighbourhood relations with the former –occupier, in these negotiations she is engaged as the chief negotiator in the Brussels dialogue. Minister Tahiri underlined the fact that she has been and remains the only woman negotiator in the region, clearly shows how little space is given to women in peace talks. Therefore, the role of women must in peace processes at all levels, global, regional and national level must be empowered. Tahiri added that the fight for freedom is very hard, but the good side is that you do it together with your people, whereas the peace you have to reach with your enemy and that peace can be reached only after the justice is in place. “In the case of Kosovo, a peaceful neighbourhood between Kosovo and Serbia can be reached only after the recognition of the state of Kosovo from Serbia. I am convinced that tangible results achieved from Brussels dialogue will be crowned by the mutual recognition between the two countries, as an essential condition for both countries adherence to the EU, “stated Minister Tahiri.

Speaking in her capacity as President of the Regional Women’s Lobby (RWLSEE), Edita Tahiri emphasised that the Regional Women’s Lobby provided a tremendous contribution to awareness and empowerment of women in decision-making, peace and security processes in the light of UN resolutions. “Regional Women’s Lobby has been a supporter and promoter of Brussels dialogue and Vienna talks and has promoted interethnic dialogue in all countries of the region. RWLSEE is a good example of regional cooperation and we are ready to share our experience with women of Central Asia countries, especially in terms of sustainable peace building and security. We need more support from the European Union; as we are the only regional organization comprised of high-profile politician and from civil society women from seven countries in the region,“ stated Minister Tahiri.