The reactions of Albanian women against the violence in Kosova
To: UNITED NATIONS COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN New York
From: WOMEN’S NETWORK OF KOSOVA/ EX-YUGOSLAVIA
Prishtine, February 1998
STATEMENT AND POSITION PAPER FOR RESOLUTION
Ethnic Albanian women in Kosovo/a are affected by the conflict situation ever since the year 1989. The political, economical and social system on which women depend is completely destroyed. This directly affects their human rights, and their emotional and psychological well-being. Considering the Beijing Platform for Action E. 137, 146b and 147a, women in areas of conflict should be regarded as actors and not only as victims. Therefore we ask your support to facilitate our position.
Ethnic Albanian women carry the burden of the violation committed by the Yugoslav/Serbian police and military forces. Within the national, local and household processes women are marginalised and even excluded from the decision making. Forced into homes due to insecurity, and without any perspective at all, as less then 3% of them work, women are baring the responsibilities in caring not only for their children, for their extended families, but they are denied of any human rights, facing atrocities by armed forces and police. Considering the Beijing
Platform for Action, E134, 142a and 144c and CEDAW, women have to be promoted in all forums with regard to conflict prevention, conflict resolution and peace activities at all levels, and not to be treated their activities with animosity by the state authorities.
We express grave concern about the situation of Albanian speaking children in Kosovo/a, specially with regard to their health and education. Besides the poor health of women and children we are facing the school dropouts of girls. It is they who are paying for adult mistrust. Poverty, hunger and desperation force girls and boys to child’s labour.
Ethnic Albanian women are displaced and evicted. Once they were dismissed from their jobs on ethnic grounds, they lost the right to live in state-hold apartments. Going to all over West Europe they are still seeking the status of a refugee, but they are denied of.Considering UDHR, CEDAW, the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women and the Beijing Platform for Action, women
should have access to refugee status. State Parties should recognise the human rights situation in the country of their origin.
We call upon all national delegations, and national and international women’s NGOs to support us and also take into consideration the complaints for future further global steps on strong status of women.
Signed by: Sevdie Ahmeti, on behalf of the Network
Women’s Network
Kosova, March 8,1998
STATEMENT OF THE PROTEST IN SILENCE
Today we are making a statement in silence because we, the women of Kosova, believe that we have sufficiently mourned as Albanian people of Kosova during these past ten years. Since November 1988 when as pacifists women, children and men barefoot or as they were at that moment marched, from their homes and from their schools towards Prishtine from all over Kosove in order to show to the world that we do not want imprisonment, we do not want hate, we do not want terror, enough of ethnocide and that we do not ask for anything more than freedom. This is our irrefutable right.
Directed towards the world, we acknowledge that we have said a lot and a lot has been said, we told what was happening, we obtained numerous resolutions, many statements were pronounced, you visited us, but still from the Serb party there is an absence of will for resolving this conflict. We can not remain indifferent face-a-face the most recent victims which can not be buried, whereas the wounded are not allowed to be treated. Amidst the victims there are maimed women and children. Since today, all the women of the world are in solidarity and share our pain, we summon the United Nations and the Security Council to immediately protect us as a nation in danger. We summon the United States of America as a friend for an immediate intervention. We summon the European Union to urgently reconsider its attitude towards Kosova.
We urgently demand a humanitarian corridor in order to aid the population of Drenica in medicine, food and clothing.
We are for peace, therefore with our white pieces of paper we show the world that we hold no rights and that we want to write them ourselves with peace and not with war. We stand firmly on our doorsteps to protect them.
Centre for Protection Of Women and Children
Women’s Forum of LDK
Women Intellectuals of Drenica
Women in Black
The League of Albanian Women
Women Artists and Veterans of Education
Media Project
Legjenda
Aureola
Sfinga Center