Women in Kosovo must have a greater say on municipal budgets, say OSCE workshop participants

A two-day OSCE-supported workshop for six Kosovo municipalities representatives on inclusion of women in municipal budgeting process concluded in Elbasan, Albania, on 21 May 2013.

The workshop is part of the Mission’s efforts to further develop the culture of gender responsive public financing in Kosovo.

“Women make up almost half of the population in Kosovo, yet their representation in municipal decision-making bodies and mechanisms is below 28 per cent. This must change; women as equal members of the society must have a greater say,” said Ambassador Jean-Claude Schlumberger, Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo.

“Having men and women equally involved in the budgeting processes will help the municipalities better reflect true priorities of their residents, and contribute to respecting the principle of gender equality as stipulated by the law.”

The OSCE Mission will support the municipalities in the collection and analysis of data on gender representation in education, health care and social welfare services. Based on the data, recommendations for gender responsive municipal budgeting will be drawn. 

The OSCE Mission in Kosovo in mandated with human right protection and promotion, democratization and public safety sector development.