The Acting Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, stated that support for women and addressing gender inequality have been the focus of the Government of Kosovo.
On the occasion of International Women’s Day, where a network of women in decision-making positions in public administration and independent institutions was presented, Kurti said that since taking power in 2021, the number of employed women has increased, and 50% of appointed members in public enterprises are women, KosovaPress reports.
The government leader emphasized the need to strengthen the union representation of women.
“Addressing gender injustices and inequalities has been at the center of our work as a government. During this first full term, we have taken many steps that are not small. We directly supported the employment of 12,000 women. Of those recruited into public administration in 2023, about 48% were women, while in 2024, 68% were women. We supported the employment of over 4,000 people, 55% of whom were women who had no family members employed… Maternity and child allowances benefited 400,000 children and nearly 70,000 women, with two-thirds of them being unemployed. About 100,000 women, as a result of allowances, have opened bank accounts for the first time in their lives,” he said.
However, the government leader mentioned that obstacles for women still remain in Kosovo, which, according to him, are not only legal and political, but also cultural.
“Although women in Kosovo hold more leadership positions than before, obstacles still remain. These obstacles are not only legal and political but are embedded in the way power operates. They are structural in spaces where decisions are made. They are cultural in the way women are judged for what they say, how they speak, dress, and present themselves. They are also institutional, as the system that shaped the past continues to influence the present to a greater or lesser extent,” said Kurti.
At the event, the Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Kosovo Jonathan Hargreaves was also present, who stated that progress has been made in advancing the position of women in Kosovo, but emphasized the need for even greater progress for women in Kosovo.
“There has been great achievement in Kosovo, especially when it comes to women’s rights, empowerment, and in particular the agency and various ministries. It is not just about equality but also about quality, in decision-making and leadership in this country. Globally, as we know, women continue to be underrepresented according to the United Nations across the world,” said the British ambassador.
It was also emphasized that policies promoting gender equality need to be pushed forward, as they were considered essential for the development and democratization of Kosovo’s society. /KosovaPress/
