RWL condemns strongly the harassment on the premises of the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia on September 30, 2008. RWL considers that the group of gangs who exercised such criminal acts in the name of international war criminals is trying to stop the voice of justice and humanity coming from the credible leader of the Helsinki Committee, Sonja Biserko.

The upcoming elections on June 1, 2008 in Macedonia give citizens a chance to prove to themselves, to the region and to the international community their readiness to build a just and sustainable peace and inclusive democracy. The strongest way to send this message is by electing a parliament of genuine pro-European democratic forces and on the basis of full gender equality. Macedonia’s political parties are presenting lists that give considerable choice to voters, but not all the choices lead to strengthening democracy, stability and gender equality in the country and region-wide.

Message from Members of the Regional Women’s Lobby for Peace, Security and Justice in South-East Europe on Upcoming Elections in Serbia

Serbia is once more at a crossroads. The upcoming elections on May 11th give Serbian citizens a chance to prove to themselves, to the region and to the international community their readiness to build a just and sustainable peace and inclusive democracy. The strongest way to send this message is by electing a parliament of genuine pro-European democratic forces and on the basis of full gender equality. Serbia’s political parties are presenting lists that give considerable choice to voters, but not all the choices lead to strengthening democracy, stability and gender equality in the country and region-wide.

Message from Members of the Regional Women’s Lobby for Peace, Security and Justice in South-East Europe on Attacks Against Prominent Human Rights Activists in Serbia

The members of the Regional Women’s Lobby for Peace, Security and Justice in South-East Europe strongly protest the attacks of the last few days against Natasa Kandic, the Executive Director of the Humanitarian Law Fund in Belgrade, by political figures, leaders of political
parties and the media in Serbia.

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The RWL welcomes the arrest of Radovan Karadjic . We consider him as one of the persons chiefly responsible for mass murder, systematic terror including rape and other forms of sexualized violence against the non-Serb population of Bosnia and Herzegovina. At the same time we are deeply concerned that Karadjic will not be held responsible for the gender specific crimes committed against women. This would be a denial of justice for the thousands of women who suffered and endured mass rapes and sexual torture during war.

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The Regional Women’s Lobby for Peace, Security and Justice in Southeast Europe would like to request a meeting between our representatives and the UN Security Council fact-finding mission scheduled to visit Pristina and Belgrade in April 2007.

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In May, Kosova Women’s Network Executive Director Igballe Rogova spoke at two important international events.

Dear President Ahtisaari,
Women from Kosovo and Serbia established the Women’s Peace Coalition to monitor negotiations regarding Kosovo’s final political status. As efforts to resolve the future status of Kosovo intensify, we believe it is necessary to remind you, the negotiation teams, and the international community of some very essential points.

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Message from Members of the Regional Women’s Lobby for Peace, Security and Justice in South-East Europe on upcoming Elections in Kosovo
Kosovo is on the brink of a new era. Kosovo’s upcoming elections on November 17th give us a chance to prove to ourselves, to women and men from our international coalitions for peace and justice and to the entire international community, our readiness to build a just and sustainable peace and inclusive democracy. The strongest way to send this message is by electing a parliament on the basis of full gender equality. Kosovo’s political parties are presenting lists on which women are at least one third of candidates but the most powerful step is to vote for women, as voters can make selections from these lists.

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The Regional Women’s Lobby for Peace, Security and Justice in South East Europe wasestablished as an outcome of consultations among women political leaders and women’s human rights activists from countries of South East Europe. The Lobby is dedicated to
engaging in political and advocacy actions to advance lasting peace and stability in the region. The Lobby is furthermore committed to advancing the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 of October 2000 that calls for ensuring the presence and contribution of women in all phases of peacemaking and peace-building processes. The Lobby has identified the future status of Kosovo as a priority for focus at this time.