On July 7, 2021, the National Democratic Institute (NDI), with USAID support, launched their Gender Assessment 2021 with a hybrid event in Pristina. The purpose of the event was to present the findings and recommendations from the report, and to discuss them with honorary speakers and members of the new Gender Policy Strategic Network. The report identified the barriers that women in Kosovo still face to achieving gender equality and provides recommendations to increase participation of women in Kosovo’s democratic processes.
To discuss the importance of women’s political participation and the report, the program featured Vjosa Osmani Sadriu, President of the Republic of Kosovo; Saranda Bogujevci, Deputy Speaker of Parliament of the Republic of Kosovo; and Christine Todd Whitman, 50th Governor of New Jersey. The event was opened with remarks from USAID Kosovo Democracy and Governance Office Director, Christine Danton, and Resident Director of NDI in Kosovo, Ambassador Nancy Soderberg. Both emphasized the importance of the report and the need for action, in particular as Kosovo is approaching local elections in Fall 2021. President Osmani reiterated this message during her keynote address, and encouraged women to consider running in the next elections. She also urged political parties to involve more women in decision-making processes and leadership positions within the parties.
During the first part of the event, NDI released the report’s findings and recommendations, which touched on many of the issues raised by the speakers. Key findings included the need for more women leaders at the local level, particularly mayoral candidates; and the need for political parties to reform from within and ensure inclusive internal policies and structures. The report also described how online violence against women hinders their engagement in politics and noted that women from non-majority communities are facing increased challenges that discourage their political participation. As part of the launch, USAID partners also used the occasion to announce the formation of the Gender Policy Strategic Network. This new network is comprised of both women and men in government, politics, civil society, and business, and will use the report’s findings and recommendations to spearhead gender equality legislation and policy initiatives.
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