As a result of activities for promotion and empowerment of Women Caucus and sensitisation of municipal institutions for more commitment and engagement in implementation of Plan for Gender Equality, KDI organized today a roundtable discussion with the topic “Women Caucus and Action Plan for Gender Equality 2015-2017”.

Prizren Municipal Assembly in its session in March 2015 approved the Action Plan for Gender Equality 2015-2017, which plan defines 7 different areas that need intervention to improve the position of women in municipal decision-making as well as in social and political plan.

Mubexhele Zhuri-officer for Gender Equality in the Municipality of Prizren spoke about achievements so far in the office and highlighted the challenges that the office is facing at the local level, such as: lack of certification of Civil Society Organisations in provision of special services, lack of sufficient funds, lack of cooperation with Women Caucus (WC) as well as lack of a mechanism for monitoring project implementation.

Ajshe Shala as chairperson of WC in Prizren spoke about the initiatives so far taken by the Caucus, where compared to last year, there are some positive movements in activating the Caucus and highlighted the meetings of the Women Caucus in the villages of Has, Krushë e Vogël, and numerous meetings with business leaders in order to encourage women employment in the private sector, where some success is made. Action Plan for Gender Equality 2015-2017 will serve as a guide for us as Women Caucus and we will work towards meeting the objectives defined in the plan and we will be fully committed to this work.

Drita Millaku noted the role of women assembly members, by expressing the readiness that each request and decision that touches on gender perspective will rely on Municipal Assembly and expressed the position that the caucus must stand as “one and without political differences” when it comes to gender equality and the role of women in decision-making.

Fahrije Bytyqi asked for more frequent reports from the Municipal Assembly on implementation of the Action Plan 2015-2017, and added that they as WC must think of planning sufficient financial resources in the budget for 2016 for implementation of the plan.

Other participants in the meeting have stressed the need for frequent meetings of all stakeholders in order to discuss achievements, and challenges faced in plan implementation, and they agreed to continue organizing monthly meetings of Women Caucus, Gender Equality Office and Civil Society Organisations.

As part of this meeting, it was demanded that the Women Caucus is engaged in mobilising women in Prizren in order to include as many of them in local councils, knowing that the election process of these councils is now in its inception phase. Representation of women in local councils will be a good opportunity in advancing and empowering women in local decision-making mechanisms.

 

The activity was undertaken as part of the “Citizens’ inclusion for transparency and accountability” project, which is supported by The Olof Palme Centre (OPIC). Women Caucus members, Gender Equality Office, Social Welfare director, civil society organisations and OSCE attended the meeting.