Prime Minister Kurti participated in the ceremony organized by the Jahjaga Foundation, with the theme “Advancement of the Role of Women, Peace and Security”

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, participated in the ceremony organized by the Jahjaga Foundation, with the theme “Advancement of the Role of Women, Peace and Security”, which was held in Pristina.

In his address, Prime Minister Kurti said that marking the 25th anniversary of the end of the war and the liberation of our country this year was full of events of reflection and inspiration, such as today’s, organized by the Jahjaga Foundation.

And while we work for the future, Prime Minister Kurti emphasized that it is essential to remember the past, the challenges experienced and the extraordinary courage shown by our people, and in particular the women of Kosovo.

“The narratives of survivors of sexual violence during the war in Kosovo prove that all wounds require both social care and state justice. They remind us that support for survivors is a joint obligation and task, which requires permanent commitment. Their voice is essential in our transitional justice processes, which recognize the pain of the past and encourage hope for the future”, said the Prime Minister.

He continued his speech by emphasizing that the Strategy for Transitional Justice has been approved, for the first time after the end of the war in Kosovo, the documentation of the crimes committed during the war in Kosovo has begun, and the government is supporting the application of the survivors to the Governmental Commission for Recognition and Verification of the Status of Victims of Sexual Violence during the War, by funding authorized organizations.

In front of the audience, Prime Minister Kurti said that while we mark 25 years of freedom and peace, we remember all the victims and survivors, and we honor the resistance of women and girls without distinction, who are building present and future peace on top of the destruction of war.

He emphasized the commitment of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo that women and girls, from every community, have the same opportunities and support and that the agenda for equality, beyond being a promise of the future, is our daily commitment. Thus, working together for the present, we are raising strong and stable foundations of equality between individuals and peace between peoples, to leave a legacy for future generations.

On behalf of the Government of Kosovo, Prime Minister Kurti thanked each and every one, including the Jahjaga Foundation, for their contribution to our Republic, assuring that we are side by side and persistent in the path of freedom, justice and equality, which are our common ideals.

Prime Minister Kurti’s complete speech:

Dear Ms. Atifete Jahjaga, former president of the Republic of Kosovo,
The Honorable Mr. Xavier Bettel, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Luxembourg,
Dear Ministers of the Government, Members of the Assembly,

Mayor of the Municipality of Pristina,
Excellencies ambassadors and you other diplomats accredited in our country,
The honorable commander of KFOR, major general, Barduani,
Dear representatives of civil society institutions and organizations,
Dear survivors and survivors of sexual violence during the war in our country,
Dear attendees,
Ladies and gentlemen,

This year, being the 25th anniversary of the end of the war and the liberation of our country, was full of events of reflection and inspiration, such as today’s, organized by the Jahjaga Foundation.

It is essential that while we work for the future, we remember the past, the challenges experienced and the extraordinary courage shown by our people, and in particular the women of Kosovo.

The stories of survivors of sexual violence during the war in Kosovo prove that all wounds require both social care and state justice. They remind us that support for survivors is a joint obligation and task, which requires permanent commitment. Their voices are essential in our transitional justice processes, which recognize the pain of the past and encourage hope for the future.

In this process, we have already approved the Strategy for Transitional Justice, for the first time after the end of the war in Kosovo. Also, we have started documenting the crimes committed during the war in Kosovo. We are supporting the application of survivors to the Governmental Commission for the Recognition and Verification of the Status of Victims of Sexual Violence during the War, by funding the authorized organizations.

Therefore, while we celebrate 25 years of freedom and peace, we remember all the victims and survivors, and we honor the resistance of women and girls without distinction, who are building present and future peace on top of the destruction of war.

Dear ladies and gentlemen,

Peace cannot be achieved without inclusiveness. We recognize the importance of women’s participation and representation, for them to be heard and for their views to be respected. The diversity we have in Kosovo is a common wealth and potential for our country, with equal opportunities for each and every one. A society that values ​​every voice, every contribution and every dream of all citizens.

The Government of the Republic of Kosovo is committed to ensuring that women and girls, from every community, have the same opportunities and support.

For this reason, we are supporting education and employment for all girls, especially starting from high school. The competition for scholarships for Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian students in secondary schools is also open this year. For the 2023-2024 school year, 467 scholarships were awarded, of which 244 (52%) were for girls. Meanwhile, in public universities, 55 students from the Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities have benefited from scholarships in the 2023-2024 academic year. Of these, 64% (or 35 scholarships) were allocated to girls.

Through the Kosovo Generation Unlimited platform, we offer paid internships, where the majority of interns so far – 59% – are women and girls. Young people from non-majority communities are over-represented, with 16% of the total number of apprentices coming from minority communities. Among the trainees from the Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities, 68% are women and girls.

The Government’s commitment to ensure that girls and women have access to the labor market and full rights to education and health is also reflected in the activities of the Working Group established 11 months ago for the reporting and prevention of early marriages.

The agenda for equality, beyond being a promise of the future, is our daily commitment. By working together for the present and in the present, we are raising strong and stable foundations of equality between individuals and peace between peoples, so that we leave this as a legacy to future generations.

On behalf of the Government of Kosovo, I want to thank each and every one of you, and in particular the Jahjaga Foundation, for the contribution to our Republic.
We are side by side and persistent in the path of freedom, justice and equality, which are our common ideals.

Once again I welcome my friend Xavier, His Excellency Bettel from Luxembourg, with whom I have had the pleasure and honor to meet three times in two years and at the last meeting we learned that my tie is from Luxembourg, while his jacket is from Kosovo. And quite by chance, the manufacturer of his jacket is the same as the manufacturer of my shirt, which is proof of the friendship between Luxembourg and Kosovo, but also of the growing production in our country, where women are once again the irreplaceable and indisputable engine.Thank you!