Gjakovë, October 17, 2013 – The coalition of NGOs “Democracy in Action” (DnV) organized a debate in Gjakovë on Thursday on the topic of “Women’s involvement in the electoral process in the Municipality of Gjakovë”. Participants in this debate were the candidate for mayor of Gjakova, Mimoza Kusari-Lila (AKR), the candidate for mayor of Gjakova, Arberie Nagavci, representatives of the Municipal Electoral Commission in Gjakova, of the Office for Gender Equality, representatives of civil society, organizations of different, etc.
The debate discussed the current state of women’s participation in the electoral process and their representation in electoral institutions, as well as finding alternatives for greater gender equality.
Ismet Kryeziu, leader of Democracy, spoke about the difficulties faced by women in the process of political empowerment and decision-making, as well as the role of women in the electoral process in general. Kryeziu asked the political subjects to enable women to participate and have freedom in the electoral process. “Our society and the responsible institutions, including political parties, must ensure the promotion of women’s participation in voting and guarantee her freedom to vote, as well as ensure that her vote is counted correctly,” he said.
Mimoza Kusari-Lila has assessed that the role of women has always been important in political processes, especially in electoral ones. She spoke about the space that her political subject has created for women. “Women bring a governing quality. Also, the women of the commissions and observers are much more agile and responsible”, Kusari-Lila has assessed, meanwhile she has promised that in case of receiving the mandate of the mayor of Gjakova, she will create even more space for women. She has mentioned possibilities such as: the formation of the women’s council for business, quotas of 30% in participation for boards of public enterprises, allocation of special budget lines for supporting facilities for self-supporting mothers, etc.
Meanwhile, Arbërie Nagavci has said that the quotas are not good, even though according to her it is determined that there should be a 30 percent quota for the representation of women. According to her, there should be more equality in representation. “Women are not numbers, quotas must be exceeded, every woman must have equal opportunities”, said Nagavci. She further appealed for women to be more involved in processes and to be active in society, promising and committing that for such a thing there is a need to work on the sensitization and awareness of men.
Meanwhile, Drenusha Mula from MEC of Gjakova spoke about the organization that MEC has made for these elections, as well as the level of representation of women in local electoral institutions. “There are women also in the Polling Station Councils (KVV) and there are women chairpersons in the KVV as well. However, no party has delegated any woman to the Municipal Electoral Commission”, she said.
On the other hand, Lumnije Shllaku from the office for gender equality said that the office she represents does not have a special budget that could have a greater impact on improving gender equality. “We have had numerous activities for the promotion of equal rights, especially the rights of women”, added Shllaku.
Meanwhile, the participants in the debate have asked for more responsibility and attention from political subjects to create more opportunities and space for women to be an important part of the electoral process. Likewise, the participants asked the candidates for president and assemblywoman to be more committed to women’s rights.
The debate was held in the framework of the project for the inclusion of women in electoral processes.