Prishtina, 15 April 2024
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, participated in the International Women, Peace and Security Forum, which event marked its second edition, where he made the opening remarks at the session “How to enhance the role of women in peace processes?”.
Prime Minister Kurti emphasized the importance of unity for the cause of justice for survivors of sexual violence during the war, in Kosovo and everywhere.
”We stand by the survivors, always, yesterday and today. Having paid a very high price for freedom, they become the best guardians of freedom, and they also work for peace. They bring it faster, their inclusion and participation ensure peace. Peace that endures and heals. Those who were the subject of Serbia’s genocidal project a quarter of a century ago are now our heroines. Resilient and silent heroines. Although we may not know their names, we all recognize their strength and resistance”, the Prime Minister said.
He stressed the importance of reflection, the need for peace, empowering women, and inclusiveness. “Our actions must speak louder than the words we utter. We are implementing laws that guarantee equality in rights, implementing policies and allocating funds that ensure equality in opportunities. During this mandate, a series of reforms have been implemented to advance women in society”, he added, mentioning the employment of over 12 thousand women with direct state support, the level of support for women and households through the “Government for Families” scheme, the launch of employment measures for women who are victims of violence, additional schemes for children and young mothers, with 90 thousand women opening bank accounts in their own names for the first time, as well as scholarships in STEM programs, science, technology, engineering, mathematics, benefiting around 3,000 female students.
Expressing that women’s economic independence is an important step towards individual freedom and social peace, Prime Minister Kurti also highlighted the importance of access and opportunities for all girls in education, underlining that their education is a guarantor of overall progress.
Furthermore, the Prime Minister recalled the resolution adopted in the Assembly of Kosovo in 2021 on condemning genocide in Srebrenica, and the 25th anniversary of many massacres in our country by Serbia. The Prime Minister added that “On April 27, Kosovo also marks the Day of the Missing Persons, in honour of the victims of the Meja massacre and all forcibly missing persons during the war in Kosovo, who remain missing. We remember the strength of women who stand in Meja, in Krusha, and everywhere else. We neither forget the “Calls of Mothers” of Kosovo, nor the mothers of Srebrenica”.
Prime Minister Kurti concluded his speech by saying, “We are grateful for the contribution of women across generations, their vigilance against inequality, and solidarity with each other, which are still inspiring for all women, for our entire people and each citizen of the Republic. We are grateful for your selfless work, for the double commitment that each of you makes. We are side by side and determined on the path of freedom, justice and equality, which are our common ideals”.
Following the Prime Minister’s opening remarks, the conversation continued with the discussion panel where participants included the Ambassador of the United States of America, Jeffrey Hovenier, former Deputy Prime Minister and Chief Negotiator in the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, Edita Tahiri, former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Meliza Haradinaj, Professor and Foreign Policy Analyst, Edward Joseph, Researcher and Author Jasmin Mujanovic, moderated by Expert Jeta Krasniqi.
Prime Minister Kurti’s full speech:
Honorable ladies and gentlemen,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Dear panelists,
Your Excellency, Ambassador Hovenier, we were on a panel regarding our successful solar energy auction nearly 10 months ago, at this same venue, whereas with professor Edward, who is just arriving now, we were on a panel 10 years ago at the Johns Hopkins University. Meliza, Jasmin and Edita, this may be our first time that we share the panel, but be sure and aware that the government follows what you say publicly on media humbly. I am pleased to be here with all of you at the Women, Peace and Security Forum. I will continue now my speech in Albanian language.
Three important words have brought us together here today: Women, Peace and Security. Today we are together for this closely related trinomial. Yesterday, we were also together to mark the Day of Survivors of Sexual Violence during the last war in Kosovo. We are together, every day in the cause of justice for survivors of sexual violence during the war, everywhere.
When Security Council Resolution 1325 was adopted in October 2000, we had about 20 thousand victims from the 1998-99 war. This resolution, among other things, relates to sanctions and categorical exclusion of amnesty in cases of sexual violence crimes during the war. Therefore, we stand by the survivors, always, yesterday and today. Having paid a very high price for freedom, they become the best guardians of freedom, and they also work for peace. They bring it faster, their inclusion and participation ensure peace. Peace that endures and heals. Those who were the subject of Serbia’s genocidal project a quarter of a century ago are now our heroines. Resilient and silent heroines. Although we may not know their names, we all recognize their strength and resistance.
Honorable ladies and gentlemen,
We cannot progress towards global peace without deeply reflecting on what it means to be human – to reflect on our humanity and transcend archaic social hierarchies that serve neither the common good nor the future of humanity. We are increasingly witnessing the state of global security crisis today as a result of fragile egos of men who want to prove who has the biggest artillery muscles. I believe that humanity is much better than this.
And for peace, a great humanism is needed. This human resource, along with knowledge, maturity and courage, has been offered by girls and women throughout our history. We have inspiring examples of their contribution to efforts for freedom, in the construction and functioning of our Republic, and in the democratization of our institutions. Their names are present in every historical event as well as in important state decisions. They offer security not only to each other but generally to the citizens of Kosovo, to everyone without distinction.
Today, despite the battle for justice, despite the known facts of crimes, as leaders we are obliged to act not only from our conscience but also from the obligation arising from documents such as Resolution 1325 and others like it, which have emerged as demands of women and victims.
One of the goals is for women not to be portrayed and seen as victims. Kosovo is challenging this portrayal with women in the highest state institutions, with women in security institutions, and with sexual violence survivors who are now public activists and synonymous with strength. They know best and teach us, the rest, that security is uncompromising and that peace is an obligation.
Peace cannot be achieved without inclusiveness. We recognize the importance of women’s inclusion in dialogue. It is essential that they are heard and their perspectives respected. Dialogue has two levels: the work and engagement done by the team, together with the institutions of the Republic, as well as participation in meetings in Brussels. In both of these, in the respective teams, women are involved according to their area of expertise.
Our actions must speak louder than the words we utter. We are implementing laws that guarantee equality in rights, implementing policies and allocating funds that ensure equality in opportunities. During this term, a series of reforms have been implemented to advance women in society. Supportive policies and measures for a more equal and fair society; I will mention just a few of them.
With direct state support, over 12,000 women have been employed. In three years of governance, more than 10 thousand young people aged 18-29 have been employed through the Superpuna Government Platform, half of whom are girls and women.
Through the “Government for Families” measure, where we subsidize the worker’s wage, ensuring that at least one family member is employed, we have over 2,600 beneficiary families, again half of them are women, female heads of households.
At the end of last year, jointly with the Minister of Justice, Albulena Haxhiu, and the Minister of Finance, Hekuran Murati, we launched, for the first time, the employment measure for women who are victims of violence. Through this measure, we will subsidize 70 percent of the employed women’s wages for 6 consecutive months. So far, there are dozens of applicants expected to benefit from this measure. Meanwhile, there is currently an open call for the economic empowerment of women and girls who lost family members during the war.
As a result of the additional child allowance scheme, namely for new mothers, 90 thousand women have opened bank accounts in their own names for the first time. The economic independence of women is an important step towards the development of individual freedom and social peace.
Around 3,000 female students have benefited from scholarships in STEM programs, science, technology, engineering, mathematics. At the end of this month, we are organizing the annual “STEMinists” conference for the second time. Access and opportunities for all girls in education because their education is a guarantor of overall progress.
Honorable ladies and gentlemen,
The Republic of Kosovo is committed to peace and equality among nations in the Balkans. We believe that the foundation of peace is justice for the victims and the punishment of criminals. Effective dialogue can occur when parties are not afraid of distancing themselves from the crimes.
On April 27, Kosovo also marks the Day of the Missing Persons, in honour of the victims of the Meja massacre and all forcibly missing persons during the war in Kosovo, who remain missing. We remember the strength of women who stand in Meja, in Krusha, and everywhere else. We neither forget the “Calls of Mothers” of Kosovo, nor the mothers of Srebrenica”.
In 2021, the Assembly of Kosovo adopted a resolution condemning the genocide in Srebrenica. This resolution ”Calls on all states in the region to make additional efforts to bring to justice all those responsible for planning and committing the genocide in Srebrenica.”
This spring, as we commemorate the 25th anniversary of the massacres committed in our country by Serbia, we also remember all the victims of the wars of the 1990s in the Balkans and the strength and resistance of women and girls, who, over the devastation of war, are building peace.
We are grateful for the contribution of women across generations, their vigilance against inequality, and solidarity with each other, which are still inspiring for all women, for our entire people and each citizen of the Republic. We are grateful for your selfless work, for the double commitment that each of you makes. We are side by side and determined on the path of freedom, justice and equality, which are our common ideals.
The Women, Peace, and Security Agenda, beyond being a promise for the future, is our daily commitment. By working together for the present, let us strengthen and sustain the foundations of equality among individuals and peace among nations, so that we leave a legacy for future generations.
Thank you. Thank you.
Last modified: April 17, 2024