Kvinna till Kvinna EU-närmande och kvinnors rättigheter Västra Balkan 2020-2026

Immediate results/outputs - During 2023, 15 local partners participated in the program (through grant agreements, capacity building, joint advocacy). The partners have continued to build capacity through the program, conducted research and built evidence, implemented their advocacy strategies at the national level and conducted joint advocacy towards the EU. The focus and overall aim has continued to be to gendering the EU accession process. - The main activity - EU Advocacy Week - took place in November 2023 when 25 representatives from the Women's civil society from the region went to Brussels for one week of advocacy meetings, together with Kvinna till Kvinna program officers from the local offices and Stockholm. The delegation had meetings with desk officers and thematic officers at DG NEAR, members of the European Parliament (MEPs), the joint parliamentary committee, council through the member states. The 7th edition of the Women's Rights in Western Balkans report was launched in the European Parliament. Huge preparations had taken place prior to the advocacy week and the meetings and events went well. Examples and indications of change - As a result of the program, there is an established consultation process in Brussels with civil society on the topic of gender equality, as well as with the EU delegations (EUD) in several of the Western Balkan countries. This contributes to putting the issue of women's rights and participation on the agenda. - In all countries, there are examples of policy development and legislation at the national level that have taken gender equality aspects into account, where local partners' advocacy at national and EU level have had an influence. - The latest EU country reports have mainstreamed gender in more sections compared to the previous ones, and the reports include more intersectionality aspects. The program has contributed to these changes. These improvements go slow, but there is a steady progress. - There are examples of advocacy messages from the women's rights movement in the communication from EU MEPs and other EU officials in their meetings with politicians from the region. - The Women's Civil Society from the Western Balkans was increasingly recognised and seen as an important resource of data among EU officials (both on a political and a technical level). - Relationships between women's civil society and EU officials have been stronger and there has been contact throughout the year, not only through the advocacy visits. - The alliance between partners and activists from Kosovo and Serbia was strengthened during the year through meetings and joint advocacy towards the EU. - The program has contributed to increased knowledge, capacity, as well as networking and advocacy around common themes, both among individuals and among civil society organisations. Partner organisations were more comfortable to speak in formal settings, they gave recommendations and asked questions, they were more self-confident. The Advocacy week has provided access for women from the Western Balkan region to decision-makers in the EU and capitals. - Kvinna till kvinna has managed to secure funding for other activities related to WSCO's EU advocacy (gender mainstreaming of the Berlin Process with GIZ), which is a result of more advocacy and direct contacts with member states. Synergy effects - The bilateral programs have been instrumental in bringing partners together for national level meetings and capacity development sessions. Synergies with the bilateral programs imply much broader evidence in the advocacy. - Synergies between this program and REAKTOR regional program (partner-led where Kvinna till Kvinna participates), with joint advocacy efforts and joint monitoring, led to development of Kvinna till Kvinna's capacities and stronger arguments for evidence-based advocacy. Results examples at country level Albania: The partner network AWEN influenced the formulation and endorsement of Albania's second Action Plan on on UNSCR 1325 and provided technical input for the development of the National Action Plan against Trafficking in Human Beings. Campaigns led to improved understanding among the general public and communities in 8 regions where AWEN members are working on the implementation of the existing legislation on women human rights and advancement of gender mainstreaming in national policies, as per EU policies and legislation. Support from the Swedish Embassy in Tirana has also enabled this result. Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH): The Women's Advisory Board in BiH, led by Rights for All, has resulted in increased recognition by the EU delegation in BiH, leading to important consultations that validated their role in the EU accession process. Women's rights organisations have provided input to and influenced several reports and policy processes, such as the Strategy for combatting human trafficking in BiH, CEDAW report for BiH, and ensured a gender perspective in the area of civil protection in BiH. Kosovo: Through the advocacy towards EU institutions, women's righs organisations are called for by the Kosovo government, such as invitations to Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) discussions. Kosovo Women's Network successfully improved attention to furthering gender equality in at least five laws and policies, including laws on budget; family and social services; and to address gender-based violence. Montenegro: The partner Women's Rights Centre produced comprehensive analyses and inputs directly addressed to the EU institutions for EU-related policy papers at national level, such as the Country Level Implementation Plan (CLIP) where 60 % of their comments were accepted. Submitted comments on a series of other national documents, including the Draft Strategy for Informing the Public about Montenegros Accession to EU 2023-2026 and the Sectoral Analysis for the Area of Gender Equality. North Macedonia: The partner organisation Coalition margins, which has a strong lgbt-right focus, has raised lgbt-issues in the EU advocacy, and also mobilised the national lgbt-movement in North Macedonia, as well as the regional network ERA, to become more vocal in the advocacy towards the EU. They have also influenced policy development related to education in North Macedonia. As a result of the Macedonian women's movement's advocacy, the anti-gender movement countrywide was mentioned in the EC Country Progress report for 2023 for the first time, in connection to the delay of adopting crucial reform laws for gender equal society. Serbia: Kvinna till Kvinna facilitated the establishment of a Women's Civil Society Sounding Board (WCSS) in Serbia, which is a mechanism for regular and meaningful dialogue between WCSO's and the EU delegation to Serbia. Women's rights organisations have frequently engaged in the advisory meetings, and thereby influenced and promoted women's rights and gender equality. Through it's research and advocacy, the partner organisation ASTRA have managed to influence important reports such as Council of Europe's GRETA report, the US State Departments Trafficking in Persons Report, and the Annual EU Commission report for Serbia. Kosovo/Serbia: The regional EU-advocacy programme supported a meeting of women peace activists from Kosovo and Serbia that took place in Montenegro in the spring of 2023. A joint letter on the importance of including women in processes and negotiations was developed and sent to Miroslav Laják (EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue), signed by both Serb and Kosovar WCSO's. Thanks to Kvinna till Kvinnas support (this and other programs), twenty-six women's rights activists from 17 local women's groups in Mitrovica region, Kosovo and Rasina district, Serbia established the Peace and Security Network, which has carried out numerous activities, e.g. the women's peace caravan in Serbia and Kosovo, mutual visits and exchanges among young women and cultural events. The Network addressed officials at the national and international level, in accordance with UN Resolution 1325 and subsequent resolutions, with the request to include women in the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, both directly at the negotiating table and through widely held consultations with women's groups. Their activities came to a halt during the autumn violence in North Kosovo.

Intended impact: Womens rights are increasingly respected and equal participation in decision-making takes place in the Western Balkans Programme outcomes: 1. Kvinna till Kvinna and Women's Civil Society Organisations (WCSOs) have strengthened engagement on gender equality with European Union (EU), member states, United Nations (UN), and other national stakeholders 2. Kvinna till Kvinna and targeted WCSOs have built new alliances and strengthened existing ones to promote gender equality in Western Balkans. 3. Targeted WCSOs have the capacity to conduct effective advocacy. Assumptions: Western Balkan Governments and parliaments • continue to be committed to the EU accession processes; • realise the necessity to promote, respect and implement laws and policies relevant for womens rights and womens participation and influence, and to persecute any violations of such legislation; • commit to upholding the rule of law. EU and other international stakeholders • uphold their own commitments andde clared principles regarding realising gender equality and protecting womensrights and womens participation; • uphold their own commitments and declared principles regarding priorities in the pre-accession process of the Western Balkan countries; and • insist on adherence/fulfilment of the requirements of the acquis.