Kosovo

Two of Kosovo’s former presidents, Atifete Jahjaga (2011-2016) and Vjosa Osmani (2021-2026) have been champions of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda during their time in office. Additionally, Women-led civil society initiatives, such as Kosovo Women’s Network and the Kosova Rehabilitation Center for Torture Victims, are at the forefront of advocating for survivors, combatting stigma, documenting abuses, and expanding access to legal, psychosocial, and rehabilitation services.. These initiatives have elevated women’s voices in peacebuilding and transitional justice, but significant barriers to justice, gender equality, and meaningful participation persist.

Public institutions in Kosovo are legally required to ensure gender parity, including in leadership positions, although numbers typically fall short of targets. Despite being active leaders in public spaces, women and girls continue to encounter physical, digital, and structural violence rooted in both the enduring legacy of the war and gender-based discrimination. Women remain significantly underrepresented in business, formal employment, and politics; Kosovo has one of the lowest levels of women’s labor force participation in the world, with roughly one in four women participating in the labor market. The legacy of the war continues to pose a challenge to social progress, including unaddressed trauma and economic strain, contributing to a high prevalence of intimate partner and domestic violence as well as femicide. Impunity, a lack of social services, and lower rates of employment and property ownership for women make it harder to flee abuse and seek justice. Recurrent periods of political deadlock have deepened tensions, constrained economic growth, and delayed funding for public services and social protection programs, including initiatives that support women’s rights, survivor services, and gender equality. As Kosovo navigates renewed political uncertainty, ensuring women’s meaningful participation in decision-making—including in efforts to normalize relations with Serbia and advance transitional justice—will be critical to strengthening democratic institutions and sustaining progress on peace and security.

A February 2026 report documents systematic, gendered online violence against women in politics in Kosovo, including sexualized attacks, disinformation, and coordinated harassment designed to delegitimize their participation. Weak institutional responses, regulatory gaps in online spaces, and polarized media ecosystems have normalized misogynistic discourse and limited accountability, allowing abuse to persist with impunity. Without stronger prevention, protection, and accountability mechanisms, pervasive online violence risks undermining democratic representation and eroding gains in women’s political participation.

A survey of more than 100 women’s rights civil society organizations (WCSOs) in Kosovo found that— despite their critical role in providing social, political, legal, and economic support to their communities—WCSOs are facing drastic funding cuts amid a broader global decline in humanitarian aid. Nearly half of respondents reported reduced resources over the past two years, and less than 10 percent have funding secured for 2027 and beyond, undermining long-term planning and sustainability. These constraints have already resulted in staff layoffs, activist burnout, and reductions in services.

The launch of a government-led gender impact assessment aims to improve Kosovo’s public administration by integrating gender analysis into broader policy design beyond traditionally gender-focused sectors. The initiative provides a model for embedding gender-responsive approaches across economic and administrative reforms to strengthen evidence-based policymaking and improve the inclusive design and implementation of policies. The digitalization and simplification of processes helps reduce administrative barriers and expand access of women—particularly those in rural communities—to public services.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is considering a program to expand lending to women-led micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises as part of its Western Balkans Women in Business Programme—aimed at improving women’s access to finance. The funding would be lent to women entrepreneurs across Kosovo, where limited access to credit remains a significant barrier to women’s economic participation. Financing for women-led businesses can strengthen economic resilience and support inclusive recovery in post-conflict contexts such as Kosovo, as greater financial inclusion for women also contributes to broader social and economic stability.