The event, organized by the KFOR command on the initiative of the division general Francesco Paolo Figliuolo, opened with a video message of the President of the Republic of Kosovo, Atifete Jahjaga, who expressed to COMKFOR his "gratitude for the attention to the issue of gender equality, a clear example of which is the composition of the multi-ethnic force that you are in charge of ".
In his opening address, General Figliuolo recalled how NATO is constantly committed to "integrating the gender perspective within our doctrines, plans and orders".
"The application of the gender perspective - added COMKFOR - allows peacekeepers to better understand society.Our mission in Kosovo can be more effective with greater female participation at all levels".
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During the event eight high-level speakers alternated: Adriana Hodzic, head of the administrative office of Mitrovica Nord, Major Claire Wohlshack, gender advisor of the commander of KFOR, Colonel Elmina Mahmuti, president of the association of women in the Kosovo police, Jöelle Vachter deputy head of EULEX, Njomza Emini member of the Kosovo parliament and head of the Committee on Health, Labor and Social Security, Colonel Irfete Spahiu deputy commander of the center for training and doctrine of the Forces of Security Kosovare, Mimoza Hasani Pllana responsible for children's rights in the Ministry of Education and Isabelle Servoz-Gallucci, head of the Pristina office of the Council of Europe.
The guests analyzed the way in which gender inequality influences their own fields of origin, including politics, administration, law, security and education but, above all, they shared their personal experiences, focusing on examples of success and good practices . At the end of each intervention, the guests responded clearly and sharply to the numerous questions from the audience, providing, in this way, a further added value to their presentation.
Closing the conference, COMKFOR thanked the guests for their "dedication, honesty and competence, for the ability to speak but also to listen" and, underlining the most relevant issues that emerged during the day, recalled that "in Kosovo they were approved many new laws but sometimes the will to fully enforce them is lacking. To do this a change of mentality is necessary that is possible only through a cultural change ".
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Source: KFOR PAO Chief - ten.col. Andrea Martellotti
