With the title "Women's participation in public and political life", the Agency for Gender Equality in cooperation with the Kosovo Center for Gender Studies held the regular consultative meeting, on the eve of the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Platform, the 24th anniversary of Resolution 1325 Women Peace and Security.

This traditional meeting is held with the aim of advancing women's rights in political and public life.

Ud, the Executive Director at the Agency for Gender Equality from the Prime Minister's office, Edi Gusia, has emphasized that this meeting represents one of the rare practices where meetings between the executive and civil society become a regular tradition on an annual basis to meet and discuss priority issues of gender equality, as the agency and the Kosovar Center for Gender Studies have been doing for seven years in a row.

"What really made us so selfless, sacrificial and insistent that as Kosovar women and girls, regardless of race, age, sexual, religious or political orientation, we should be consistent, say what is hindering us, discuss what is keeps us away from taking advantage of the opportunities, but surprisingly somehow we manage to overcome, forget, recover and insist that the future of Kosovo has a woman's face... Kosovo has its challenges, but it has monumental achievements with its figures of women and girls that stand out in political, public, cultural and sports life. Kosovo has legislation, there are instruments and, above all, powerful figures of women who have made and are making history. But these achievements and results must be protected , we must take care not to lose them overnight as is happening in the world and more closely, where the results achieved over the years are questioned and lost due to the pressure of various currents against women's rights and gender equality. Violence must be prevented and addressed, challenges, obstacles, risk must be analyzed, and above all the results must be protected and ensure that what has been achieved with effort and sacrifice must not be lost," she said.

Meanwhile, the Executive Director, Kosovar Center for Gender Studies, Luljeta Demolli mentioned the progress report published a few days ago, for which she said that the evaluation of this report shows that the responsibility of the institutions to promote gender equality still remains wanting.

"It is a special opportunity to be on an equal level and advocate for women's rights and gender equality. This cooperation is an example of how to move forward in our feminist work and commitments. Two days earlier, the European Commission published the progress report, the assessment of this report shows that the responsibility of institutions to promote gender equality remains wanting. The report shows specifically where gender issues need to be addressed in order to achieve progress in terms of gender equality of the legal framework but also of its practical implementation are necessary, therefore it is much better for the state of Kosovo that they be done with our initiative than after the demands of our EU partners continuous investment in the promotion of gender equality is essential," she said.

On the other hand, Saranda Bogujevci, the deputy speaker of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo, also spoke, who said that equality is not only an activity, but should be a mindset, adding that here too there should be a greater focus if inequality must be eliminated.

"Today, in 2024, not only in Kosovo, but globally, as women, we are living in a time that is not very easy and full of challenges. As much as we have progressed, the political changes, the strengthening of the extreme right has pushed back many elements of progress for which has been fought for a long time in the interest of women... As much as we as a Republic have advanced in the role of women at the political and public level, and the measures taken by the Government to create greater equality in the country for each category, we still have a lot of work to do. This is closely related to the creation of the mindset, equality is not only an activity, but it must be a mindset, and this is where we need to have a greater focus if we want to eliminate inequality harshness towards women in politics in the public sphere, and that unfortunately comes from men, not women", she said.

The main political adviser in the European Commission, Cyprien Francois, has said that the EU will help Kosovo in the advancement of women's rights.

"The EU is the main donor for the advancement of women's rights in Kosovo, with the Swedish embassy also supporting this event today... The institutions and the government of Kosovo have shown the will to advance women's rights. Kosovar society recognizes the needs for gender equality. We have two presidents, the majority of women are deputies and we have more women, this is very positive. Equality will start as soon as possible, women should be engaged in all areas, be placed in more decision-making positions. To have the same opportunities for men and women", he said.

The Kosovo Program for Gender Equality 2020-2024, approved by the Government of the Republic of Kosovo, places the issue of women's participation in political and public life as one of the main strategic objectives. In accordance with the objectives that emerge from this Program, the Agency in cooperation with the Center aims to bring attention to the position of women in political and public life from an intersectional perspective.