Kosova Women’s Network (KWN)
Submission to the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
Prishtinë, 24 September 2008
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In the past, Kosovo being a part of SFRY, a state party to Resolution 2200 A (XXI) provided to its citizens enjoyment of the rights set forth in it. At the time of Slobodan Milosevic’s regime, Resolution 2200 A (XXI) was severely violated and Kosovo citizens were deprived of the rights protected by it, the most basic violation being the massive expulsion from their working places.
After the war, after UNMIK’s administration was installed in Kosovo, the application of this covenant was disregarded due to other priorities and the provisional nature of this administration. However, this practice became ever stronger with the adoption of the constitution and declaration of independence, since the covenant was not one of international treaties included in it. The new setting deprives Kosovo’s citizens from the right to call upon this resolution in preserving their economic, social and cultural rights.
KWN remains worried regarding the position of women and children that fall prey to the non-application of this resolution in relation to employment and sheltering, social insurance and economic exploitation.
Content Page
1. Introduction
2. Social aid, Article 6 and 9
3. Economic exploitation/employment, Article 10, para.3
4. Employment and sheltering, Article 11
5. Contact information
1. Introduction
Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN), established in 2000, is a non-formal network of women’s groups and organizations from different Kosovo regions.
KWN was developed to become a network that advocates on the rights of Kosovar women at local, regional and international levels.
Representing over 80 such women organizations from all ethnic groups in Kosovo, KWN represents a leading network of civil society organizations in Kosovo and the region.
Its mission is to support, protect and promote the rights and interests of women and girls throughout Kosovo, regardless of their political affiliation, religion, age, level of education, sexual orientation and ability.
In 2006, KWN became the first non-for-profit, non-governmental organization to adopt a code of conduct, thus representing an example in terms of transparency and accountability.
Unfortunately, due to the short timeframe, we had no opportunity to analyze UNMIK’s report and offer our comments on the report. However, we found it necessary to prepare this report, in order for us to raise some issues that preoccupy us and that deal with Articles 9, 10 and 11 of Resolution 2200 A(XI), of 16th December 1966.
2. Social Aid - Article 6
Unemployment too represents a serious social wound for Kosovo. In this regard, women are affected the most. According to Kosovo Statistical Office, in 2007 unemployment among women reached 49.2% while men’s unemployment reaches the figure of 33.7%.
Article 9
Social aid for a 3-member family adds up to 55 Euros. Furthermore, persons that enjoy this right are obliged to reapply for its extension in quarterly basis, being obliged to present numerous documents for the issuance of which they need to pay almost a monthly sum of social aid. The most affected category in this sense is the one of women family heads.
3. Economic exploitation/employment - Article 10 (paragraph 3)
Another preoccupation for KWN remains the issue of economic exploitation of children. In the streets of Kosovo, it is common to note children that work in selling cigarettes and other small edible items (chewing gums, peanuts, other nuts and snacks, etc.) that also frequently visit night life locals (bars, restaurants, etc.) even late at night. No one among the authorities finds this activity to be damaging for both their morale and health, since they do nothing to address this.
4. Employment and sheltering - Article 11
In Kosovo, there is no institutional care offered to women sheltering, even in the most severe cases such as domestic violence. There are NGOs active on this issue, the expenses of which as relates to food, medication, professional counsel are covered by the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare, whereas other expenses (rent, hygienic means and other expenses) depend on donors that offer their contributions on annual basis.
5. Contact information
Igballe Rugova
Director of KWN
Address: C-2 II/8 Hajdar Dushi Str, 10000 Prishtina, Kosovo
Tel: +381 38 245 850
E-mail: ,
www.womensnetwork.org
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