Second OSCE Dialogue Academy for young women from Prishtinë/Priština and Belgrade
Twenty-three young women from civil society and youth organizations, as well as students and professionals from Prishtinë/Priština and Belgrade, got together in Stadtschlaining, Austria, for the second edition of the ten-day OSCE Dialogue Academy.
They discussed the role of women in politics, the building of advocacy networks, and learned about mediation, conflict analysis and resolution techniques through lectures from international academics. They also engaged in outdoor teambuilding activities and role playing scenarios with concrete examples of cases in the EU and the Western Balkans. The event aimed to encourage the young women to play a stronger role in promoting women’s rights and contribute to reconciliation.
The delegation of the upcoming Austrian Chairmanship of the OSCE and prominent women from the “Follow Us” Initiative visited the participants to show their support for the Academy. These prominent women shared their experiences in politics, and discussed with participants the common issues affecting women in the region.
The event was organized by the OSCE Mission in Kosovo in co-operation with the OSCE Mission to Serbia as part of their work to enhance women’s participation in dialogue and conflict resolution, as well as in decision making processes. In 2012 the two missions launched the “Follow Us” Initiative, a dialogue of prominent women from Prishtinë/Priština and Belgrade that included members of parliament, academia, civil society, and media, and have facilitated the initiative ever since.