At the third panel of Anibar 15, the discussion focused on women’s insecurities in public spaces

The third panel for Anibar 15 took place at the Peja Art Gallery at 17:00. Moderated by Donika Çapriqi and with panelists Brikena Avdyli, Gresa Rrahmani and Vlora Tuzi Nushi

The third panel for Anibar 15 took place at the Peja Art Gallery at 17:00. Moderated by Donika Çapriqi and with panelists Brikena Avdyli, Gresa Rrahmani and Vlora Tuzi Nushi, they spoke on the topic of women’s insecurities in public spaces. 

 

The quality of public spaces in cities and countries should be judged by what they offer to their inhabitants – the right to live, move and work with dignity and safety. However, many women and girls in Kosovo face various forms of harassment and sexual violence in these spaces, limiting their freedom of movement but also negatively affecting the mental health and general well-being of women and girls. In this panel the discussions will be on what are some of the main challenges that women and girls face in public spaces in relation to safety and sexual harassment? What are the mechanisms for addressing sexual harassment and violence? What are the responsibilities of public institutions? How can citizens be made aware of creating a safe environment?

 

Vlora Tuzi Nushi emphasized that while Kosovo has a better legislative framework, it is crucial to focus on addressing and implementing preventive measures regarding women’s safety.

 

Gresa Rrahmani discussed the importance of creating safe public spaces for women without neglecting private spaces. She pointed out that women’s experiences are often not taken seriously, which is a significant problem. Rrahmani believes that meaningful change will come from society itself rather than from a top-down approach.

 

Brikena Avdyli elaborated on how problematic behaviors are often normalized and minimized. She noted that different generations approach gender-based issues differently, with younger generations being less tolerant of such behaviors. Avdyli suggested that increasing awareness requires both education and the serious implementation of effective measures.

 

We invite you to join us on the last panel of this edition tomorrow at the Art Gallery at 17:00.

 

Biographies:

 

Donika Çapriqi is the co-founder and currently the Program Director of NGO SpaceSyntaKs based in Prishtina. As a researcher, her work focuses on exploring social inequalities, urban segregation, and gender disparity. She is currently investigating public safety through SpaceSyntaKs’s SAFOMETER initiative, with a particular emphasis on gender dynamics in public spaces. Her most recent research, conducted in collaboration with the Department of Psychology at the University of Prishtina, was published under the title ‘High School Girls’ Perception of Personal Safety While Navigating Public Spaces of Prishtina – A Qualitative Study’.

 

Brikena Avdyli is a gender and social inclusion specialist with a decade of experience focusing on the inclusion of women and marginalized groups in the workplace, as well as in electoral and political processes. Throughout her career, she has contributed to women’s empowerment and social inclusion through her roles in both local and international organizations, as well as within the public sector. Notably, she led the Jahjaga Foundation for three years and served as an Inclusion Officer at the International Foundation for Electoral Systems. Currently, Brikena is an Adjunct Professor at RIT Kosovo and a consultant for various organizations on gender and social inclusion issues. She holds a master’s degree in International Development from American University in Washington D.C. and is completing her second master’s degree in Social Innovation and Management from the WU Executive Academy in Vienna.

 

Gresa Rrahmani is a researcher and feminist activist from Prishtina, focusing on sexual violence, discrimination, and social justice. Currently, she is pursuing a Master’s degree in Sociology of Law at Lund University in Sweden. Gresa has also completed an LLM program in Human Rights at Leiden University in the Netherlands and has worked as a legal advisor for women’s rights organizations, LGBTIQ+ rights, and the government of Kosovo.

 

Vlora Tuzi Nushi is the UN Women Head of Kosovo Office. She holds a Master of Pharmacy and has been working for UN Women/UNIFEM for the past 20 years. During this time, Vlora has led multi-sectoral programs and has been a driving force behind some of the largest UN Women initiatives. She has played a significant role in reshaping dialogues on critical issues impacting the lives of women and girls in Kosovo. Through her leadership, commitment, and contributions to UN Women Kosovo Office programming, she has advanced the Women, Peace, and Security agenda, Gender-Sensitive Transitional Justice, and efforts to end violence against women. Her work also includes responses to COVID-19, support for women in STEM and ICT, Women’s Economic Empowerment through Gender Responsive Budgeting, and the promotion of decent work and gender-sensitive occupational safety and health standards in the workplace.

 

For more information:

Email: [email protected] 

Phone: +383 44 131 516