The Regional Women’s Lobby for Peace, Security and Justice in Southeast Europe (RWL SEE) strongly condemns the murder of the leader of the civil initiative as well as the leader of SPD party, which took place yesterday in North Mitrovica, Kosovo.

We are asking for the perpetrators of this crime to be found and punished as quickly as possible by the institutions of justice, both national and international, in order to prevent wider political implications, in particular for the peace and stability in Kosovo and the region.

We consider that the Brussels Dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, with the mediation of the European Union and the support of the United States of America, must continue for the benefit of peace and stability in the region.

We urge the European Union to accelerate the process of integration of all the countries of the Western Balkans, because, as it has already been obvious, delays only open up the space for the destabilization of the region.

We urge all the citizens of Kosovo and Serbia to actively engage in maintaining peace and stability in the region.

We also call on politicians to restrain themselves from negative statements and comments.

As  members of the Regional Women’s Lobby for Peace, Security and Justice in Southeast Europe, we remain dedicated and with the best of our efforts we try to help strengthening  the peace and stability in the region and promoting the Euro-integration of all our member states.  We are convinced that the empowerment of women can really contribute to strengthening of the peace and European future in the region.

Members of Regional Women’s Lobby for Peace, Security and Justice in Southeast Europe:

 Bosnia and Herzegovina: Memnuna Zvizdić, Lidija Živanović, Nada Tesanović, Ismeta Dervoz

Croatia: Gordana Sobol, Morana Paliković Gruden, Lovorka Marinović

Kosovo: Edita Tahiri, Luljeta Vuniqi, Teuta Sahatqija

Macedonia: Irina Pockova, Teuta Arifi, Savka Todorovska

Montenegro: Nada Drobnjak, Sllavica Striković, Ljubomirka Mira Asović

Serbia: Sonja Biserko, Natasha Mičić, Stasa Zajović, Ljiljana Radovanović,

Albania: Eglantina Gjermeni, Marieta Zaçe, Majlinda Bregu,

The Regional Women’s Lobby (RWL) for Peace, Security and Justice in Southeast Europe was established in 2006 with the support of UNIFEM, now UN Women. The Lobby promotes political and advocacy actions to advance peace and stability in the region, including the full implementation of Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, which calls for a large representation of women at all levels of decision making. The group is composed of women from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia.

The members are prominent women leaders, including politicians, members of parliaments, holding high governmental or public positions, as well as representatives of civil society.