31.03.2026

At a time when silence is often normalized and women’s experiences are minimized, creating spaces to speak, reflect, and take action becomes essential.

Within the framework of the project “From Advocacy to Action: Women and Young People Building Peace”, supported by the Swedish organization Kvinna till Kvinna, Artpolis, in collaboration with the Kosovo Academy for Public Safety, organized on March 31 the workshop “Building a Safe Environment: Preventing Sexual Harassment”.

This workshop marked the conclusion of International Women’s Month — not just as a commemoration, but as a continuation of resistance and engagement.

In this shared space, 22 participants — women and young women, cadets of the Kosovo Correctional Service, and Academy staff — shared experiences, questions, and reflections on a reality that persists: sexual harassment.

Guided by two powerful voices for justice and gender equality, Dr. Ariana Qosaj Mustafa and Adelina Berisha, discussions addressed not only legal definitions but also daily experiences: What is sexual harassment? Where does it happen? Why do we stay silent? How does it make us feel?

The workshop highlighted the invisible mechanisms that sustain this phenomenon — social norms, gender stereotypes, and victim-blaming — challenging the structures that often normalize these experiences.

Through analysis of the Istanbul Convention and institutional mechanisms, participants were empowered not only with knowledge but also with voice.

Particularly powerful were the reflections of the young cadets, who shared the prejudices they face from the very start of their professional journeys — from stereotypes about women working in security institutions to the “overprotection” that often excludes them from critical work experiences.

This workshop was not just an activity — it was a step toward breaking the silence, a call for institutional accountability, and a reminder that a safe environment is built only when voices are heard and experiences taken seriously.

This activity was organized by Artpolis with the support of Kvinna till Kvinna.