Kosovo Human Development Report 2010 - UNDP Kosovo - United ...

were women. 188 In minority communities,
none of the non-Kosovo-Albanian
senior positions are held by a woman.
Perhaps most critically, women
themselves do not feel equipped for
political participation. The skills and capacities
of many have been downgraded
in a society that sees them primarily
as home-makers. Where families exist
in subsistence living – in the poorest
Table
As a female with disabilities you are
doubly discriminated against, especially
when considering rural/urban biases.
For example, in villages, women with disabilities
are totally excluded from society.
Disabled participant of a focus
group
5.1
Total Women Men
Ministers 18 2 16
Permanent
Secretaries
Members of
Parliament
Chairs of
Parliamentary
Committees
18 2 16
120 35 85
16 2 14
Mayors 36 0 36
Members of
Municipal
Assemblies
Gender breakdown of
decision-making positionholders
in Kosovo
1836 459 1377
Source: Centre for Research and Gender Policy,
2010 (CRGP)
rural areas – illiteracy rates for women
are unacceptably high and the burden
of work precludes their focus on political
activism. Most are unaware of their
rights. Far too many live in a climate
of fear which stifles their potential.
Domestic violence, for example, is a
widespread and serious concern. 189 As
a result, participation in civic activities
is lower among women than men. According
to the Kosovo Mosaic Survey
2009 data, 35.5 percent of female versus
40.6 percent of male respondents
participate in politics (voting and political
participation). Only 15.2 percent
of women participated in political parties
or political groups’ actions in contrast
to 19.2 percent of men. Only 11
percent of women contacted a politician
or public official in comparison to
13 percent of male respondents who
have done so. Around 16 percent of
female respondents attended a public
debate in comparison to 18 percent of
male respondents.
(ii) Young people: Kosovo’s large young
population is becoming increasingly
disconnected from the political
process: nearly 30 percent of 18
to 24 year olds have never voted,
compared to 23.4 percent of the
general population. Political disenchantment
figures strongly in
their lack of interest. One third (33
percent) of young non-voters feel
excluded from the political process,
compared to 25 percent of all nonvoters.
A UNICEF poll of youth opin-
FIGURe
5.2
Percentage of respondends who vote and participate
in public and municipal meetings, by gender
Source: Kosovo Mosaic Survey, UNDP 2009
POLITICAL PARTICIPATION AND EXCLUSION | 83