United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM)
Mandate
UNIFEM is the women’s funds at the United Nations. It provides financial and technical assistance to innovative programmes and strategies; to foster women's empowerment and gender equality. Placing the advancement of women's human rights at the centre of all of its efforts; UNIFEM focuses its activities on four strategic areas: (1) reducing feminized poverty, (2) ending violence against women, (3) reversing the spread of HIV/AIDS among women and girls, and (4) achieving gender equality in democratic governance in times of peace as well as war.
In Kosovo since: 1999
At a glance:
- UNIFEM’s primary approach in Kosovo has focused in supporting women to claim their rights in the context of post-conflict and rehabilitation processes;
- Its presence in Kosovo has modeled a unique approach that focuses on facilitation partnerships for the capacity building of women’s organizations and government institutions;
- UNIFEM has been instrumental in bringing government and civil society together to prepare a Plan of Action for the Advancement of Gender Equality which was officially adopted by the government in 2004;
- After the establishment of the Office for Gender Equality under the auspices of the Office of the Prime Minister, UNIFEM has been supporting the office in developing a strategic working plan to ensure the implementation of the Plan of Action for the Advancement of Gender Equality;
- UNIFEM has been collaborating closely with security sector actors in Kosovo for several years. UNIFEM has supported the Kosovo Police Service (KPS)and Kosovo Protection Corps (KPC) through capacity building activities for achieving Gender Equality in both KPC and KPS such as establishment of the Gender Equality Board and provided with technical assistance in drafting the Board Regulation and Action Plan;
- UNIFEM supports the peace building network and interethnic dialogue among women of different ethnicities and the Government structures;
- UNIFEM contributes to strengthen the capacity of the Roma Ashkali and Egyptian women’s network;
- UNIFEM contributes in cross-border cooperation, advocating for peace and stability in the region;
- Civil society, organizations and networks focused on the advancement of gender equality are supported to develop capacity to strategically monitor and advocate for the implementation of gender equality frameworks, laws, and policies;
- Other initiatives undertaken by UNIFEM in Kosovo include: training for women on their rights as citizens and voters; training for municipal authorities to raise awareness of gender issues within local governance; specialized training on gender issues for legal professionals who will provide inputs to new laws; supporting analysis of the economic development framework; and advocacy with the Ministry of Labor to improve the status of women in the economy;
- UNIFEM has commenced the implementation of the new project (2008) “Women Building Peace and Human Security in Western Balkans” contributing in two dimensions: gender-sensitive security sector reform and womens’ engagement in in peace process at all political and social levels.
Contacts:
UNIFEM office
Ms. Vlora Nushi;
tel: ++381 (0) 38 224 645/654
fax:++ 381 (0) 38 28 224 651
Address: Perandori Justinaian 1/A (Payton Place)
10000 Prishtina
E-mail: vlora.nushi@unifem.org
More on UNIFEM: www.unifem.org and www.unifem.sk
UNIFEM office
Ms. Vlora Nushi;
tel: ++381 (0) 38 224 645/654
fax:++ 381 (0) 38 28 224 651
Address: Perandori Justinaian 1/A (Payton Place)
10000 Prishtina
E-mail: vlora.nushi@unifem.org
More on UNIFEM: www.unifem.org and www.unifem.sk