Culture

Portraits of women become leaders for breaking barriers

women leaders in focus

"Leading women in focus", opened on Tuesday in "Barabar", comes with the second chapter, now expanded with ten portraits and profiles of women leaders and examples of overcoming challenges

The portraits of women's figures in the "Barabar" cultural center are simple. The subject is in the center, the background is blurred. Their attitude shows unwavering self-confidence in the face of challenges. They are the protagonists of the exhibition "Leading women in focus" curated by Eliza Hoxha, with photographs taken by Arben Llapashtica. 

The exhibition comes as a retrospective of that of April this year when ten figures appeared on the screens scattered around the space. This time, on Tuesday night, the exhibition expands. Ten more are added to the previous ten figures. 

In them, the story of the challenges that have led them on their professional journey is carried. Again the photographs carry the messages of these women in the yellow ribbons. They come as a symbol of leadership. In this concept, the exhibition of the "Integra" organization was developed. 

Figures like Atifete Jahjaga, Zake Prelvukaj, Gjyljeta Mushkolaj, Shukrije Markovic, Kaqusha Jashari, Feride Rushiti, Edita Tahiri, Fahrije Hoti, Mimoza Gavrani, Ramize Shala, Jeta Xharra, Teuta Sahatqija, Gordana Gjoriq, Mirjeta Qehaja, Urma Menekshe, Majlinda Kelmendi and Hiljminjeta Apuk, among others, come from different fields. But not only. Another element is inclusiveness in terms of ethnicity. 

The curator of the exhibition, Eliza Hoxha, said that the exhibition represents the journey of the country's women, which, as she said, was not easy. 

"Despite the successes they have had, they have remained in the shadows due to political, historical and professional dynamics. But I am glad that today we return to the many profiles that do not always have the right light and not even by chance. As long as they are among us, we should be by their side and be enlightened by their work, their commitment, their experience", said Hoxha. 
He considered the twenty women whose portraits were exhibited as torchbearers for young women. 
"Today we celebrate 20 women of different profiles who have proven that beyond the many challenges they have had in their professional and personal journey, they have succeeded. They have shone a light for themselves and for Kosovo. Today they shine for us and will continue to be torches for young girls", said Hoxha, curator of the exhibition "Leading women in focus". 

The event coincides with the "16 days of activism against gender-based violence" initiative. The Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), Caroline Ziadeh, communicated with him. 

“This campaign – '16 Days of Activism' – celebrates women and their achievements. Women are builders of peace and the future. Many times the campaigns raise awareness about women by addressing the victims, the weaknesses of women. Today we are bringing all the strong ones. Today we celebrate their transition from being a victim to a party. Women are here today and we must transform their pain into strength", said Ziadeh. 

Together with the exhibition, the panel with the diplomat Edita Tahiri, the lawyer Gjyljeta Mushkolaj and the artist Mirjeta Qehaja, moderated by the journalist Aulonë Kadriu, brought a kind of look at the position of women in society. 

Tahiri said that the biggest discrimination against women comes from the government. 

"In parliament, men are generous, they give us 40 percent, but in power, in government, in political parties, all the leaders are men, there are almost no women leaders. Men should have power and when they are party leaders, they become women's bosses", said Tahiri. 

According to her, it is necessary for women to be politically empowered even more. 

"We women must be empowered politically, we must find our way through the political parties, and when I say women, we must first. If we expect from men, the support will not come sincerely", she said further. 

The exhibition was also accompanied by a panel discussion on the position of women in society 
 

Gjyljeta Mushkolaj, professor at the Faculty of Law at the University of Pristina, said that in various events Kosovo was presented only by men, but women did not give up by joining the events where foreign experts came to Kosovo. 

"In the meetings organized by the then Vienna experts when ours went there, it was only a men's club and when they came to Pristina and met with women experts, few were surprised how it is possible that women were still involved even though they had left them aside. But what happened in the end was when the comprehensive proposal was submitted. There were very important segments of the greatest achievements of the United Nations Organization. There, the participation of women in constitutional commissions was defined, there were also the elements that should be incorporated in the Constitution of Kosovo", she said. 

He mentioned the fact that even at that time the mechanisms that regulate the issue of gender equality existed today.

"Through the civil society, since the politicians gritted their teeth for men, then the civil society and its channels were what enabled the obligations to be respected. Obligations that they dare not refuse to have women in the constitutional commission. There were mechanisms that we have today that are very successful, such as the Law on Gender Equality and the mechanisms that come from the Constitution of Kosovo, the initiatives from the many years of preliminary activity of women's organizations", said Mushkolaj. 

As a lawyer, she said that today she sees the difficulties of women's penetration in all fields in the implementation of legislation. 

"We do not have the proper vigilance to understand that each law, even the procedural one, must be applied as a law in the sense of the law as legislation. No law can be implemented without the implementation of the Law on Gender Equality. As for women in politics, I have a very substantial remark. For the benefit of all women, they should ensure that in addition to quotas, we have a law for the registration and operation of political parties", said lawyer Mushkolaj. 

Artist Mirjeta Qehaja has said that differences and prejudices also exist in the field of art. 

"When I started hanging out with different groups of artists, I realized that even among artists there are gender differences, something I didn't believe before. I have heard that it is still said that 'which of the girls or women paints better, because there is no discussion about the boys'. This has impressed me a lot, but I can still say that I am not the one who absorbs this information. I have definitely continued to connect with civil society with my art, specifically my paintings and murals," she said. 

The exhibition "Leading women in focus" is already considered the second edition of the event. It has been announced that it will now be traditional. It proves that leadership is one form of breaking barriers. And this is art in itself.