Press release

January 30, 2018 – On January 29-30, 2018, the Regional Women’s Lobby for Peace, Security and Justice in South East Europe (RWL SEE), comprised of representatives from 7 countries of the region, in close partnership and with financial support from UN Women and the Swedish Government, held meetings with women from municipalities of Partes and Kllokot and other municipalities of Kosovo to discuss women’s empowerment and participation in peace-building at local level.  The aim of the Conference is to include women from different communities of Kosovo in the inter-ethnic dialogue and peace processes in line with the UN Security Council resolution 1325 in order to advance women, peace and security agenda with a focus on multiethnic municipalities of Parteš and Klokot.

With participation of RWL SEE Steering Committee members; its Chair Edita Tahiri from Kosovo, Gordana Sobol from Croatia, Irina Pockova from Macedonia, and Nuna Zvicdić from Bosnia and Herzegovina who all shared their regional perspectives on this important topic, women participants engaged in a vibrant and creative debate for analyzing the problems and challenges to women’s participation in peace-building processes. They discussed how to join efforts to increase the role of women in peace-building and in the European-integration processes of municipalities and emphasized that women at the local level are important actors of change who must enjoy greater support from national and international institutions.

Topics of discussion involved how women can be more involved in peace-building and governance at the local level, the current situation, the motivations and barriers to women’s participation in these relevant processes, and how cooperation and networking with women at the national and regional levels could impact the empowerment of women at the local level. In addition, the meeting participants discussed  local women’s role in EU integration process as well as the role of women in the implementation of peace agreements, namely Brussels Agreement between Kosovo and Serbia facilitated by the EU.

During the discussions, participants emphasized that peace-building is more likely to succeed when it includes more women at the local level and the fact that inclusive local peace-building efforts are critical to the success of overall peace-building. They emphasized the need for advancing women’s participation in local governments so that municipal governance is not only a men’s business as women represent half of the population and their capacities and involvement can help resolve daily concerns of the community, such as issues of education, employment, transportation, security, among others. They also addressed the crucial role of women in improving interethnic relations and the European integration of municipalities in Kosovo. Participants pointed out the importance of collaborative efforts for seeking common solutions to advance women’s role in peace-building and stability at the municipal, national and regional levels. They also pointed out the importance of their voices being heard by governments and international organizations, as they said their needs are often ignored or misunderstood.

In addition to women politicians, members of parliaments, governments, RWLSEE Steering Committee members, participants at the meeting also included municipal mayors, representatives from the Kosovo Ministry of Local Government Administration, civil society activists, local leaders, as well as the women assembly members and women civil society representatives of these municipalities and municipalities of Novo Berdo, Gracanica and Sterpce where similar meetings were held by the RWL SEE in 2015 and 2016.

RWL SEE members expressed their heartfelt thanks to UN Women and head of Kosovo office, Ms Flora Macula, as well as to the Swedish Government, their strategic partners, for their valuable support, cooperation and generosity extended throughout RWL SEE’s journey for women’s empowerment.

The Regional Women’s Lobby for Peace, Security and Justice in Southeast Europe (RWLSEE) represents a successful model of regional cooperation in the construction of peace that can be used as a model for peace processes in other regions of the world.  It advocates for sustainable peace, democracy, justice, security and reconciliation in post conflict countries; respect for different cultural values; and the creation of a new future for the region.

Members of the Regional Women’s Lobby for Peace, Security and Justice in the Southeast Europe (RWL SEE):

Albania: Eglantina Gjermeni, Marieta Zaçe, Majlinda Bregu

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

Croatia: Grodana Sobol, Morana Paliković Gruden, Lovorka Marinović

Kosovo: Edita Tahiri, Teuta Sahatqija, Luljeta Vuniqi

Macedonia: Irina Pockova, Teuta Arifi, Savka Todorovska

Montenegro: Nada Drobnjak, Slavica Striković, Ljubomirka Mira Asović

Serbia: Sonja Biserko, Natasa Mičić, Liljana Radovanović, Stasa Zajović