At the conclusion of the “She Rises 2026” conference, the panel “Women’s Employment in Kosovo: Barriers, Discrimination and the Gap in the Labour Market” brought important discussions on the challenges and opportunities for women’s economic empowerment.
The discussions of Arta Berisha, advisor at the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI), Jehona Namani Rexha, director at the Department of Public Administration (DPA), Elmira Pajaziti, director at the Centre for Opportunity and Education (COE), and Brikena Berisha, director at the Kosovar Stability Initiative (IKS), touched upon the importance of vocational training, career guidance and the creation of new opportunities for women and girls in the labour market. The need for greater information on training and employment programs was emphasized, especially for women from communities, who often face a lack of information and more limited access to development opportunities.
The discussion also addressed systemic barriers, discrimination during the hiring process and in the workplace, challenges in advancing to decision-making positions, and the importance of occupational safety and health.
The common message of the panel was that investing in professional training, creating equal opportunities, and supporting women in employment and entrepreneurship are not only issues of gender equality, but also prerequisites for sustainable economic and social development.
The conference was closed by Saxhide Mustafa, who expressed her happiness for the massive participation of women in this conference and emphasized the importance of inter-institutional cooperation for the well-being and empowerment of women.
The conference also included a panel on “Success Stories and Empowerment of Women in Entrepreneurship”, with the participation of:
• Gentiana Alija – Founder and Executive Director, Alfa Solar Energy L.L.C.
• Flandra Marmullaku – Co-Founder and Executive Director, Data4X | Source2X
• Leonora Fejzullahu – Founder and Manager, Eco Exclusive
• Liridona Osmani – Founder and CEO, Hajde Folim LLC
