Training Activities

Under its mandate, the UNMIK Office of Gender Affairs (OGA) is requested to facilitate learning processes leading to the enhancement of professional awareness and preparedness of UNMIK personnel to deal with gender issues.  Moreover, the office is charged with contributing to the promotion of gender equality at all levels of society in Kosovo.  As such, the UNMIK Office of Gender Affairs (OGA) has been involved in designing, implementing and delivering a number of training sessions covering the broad topic of gender issues, specifically tailored to fit the needs of different groups and participants within UNMIK and in Kosovo.

 

 

UNMIK Orientation Course

At the instigation of the UNMIK Office of Gender Affairs (OGA), a gender-awareness component designed and delivered by the UNMIK Office of Gender Affairs (OGA) has been added to the day-long orientation for all new incoming UNMIK personnel.  The presentation covers international and local gender equality mechanisms, and gives an overview of the role of the UNMIK Office of Gender Affairs (OGA) within UNMIK and in Kosovo, with a highlight of major projects undertaken.  Additionally, statistics on the current gender balance of UNMIK are presented, with percentages of women in the Civilian Police, and in the Professional Categories. 

Special Needs of Women and Children in Conflict

The UNMIK Office of Gender Affairs (OGA) co-organized with UNITAR and the UNMIK Training Unit three training courses on the “Special Needs of Women and Children in Conflict”, designed to enhance the efficacy of staff to deal with gender issues in their spheres of work.  The UNMIK Office of Gender Affairs (OGA), in coordination with the Department of Administration, secured the participation of UNMIK senior staff in the definition of recommendations to strengthen the Mission’s implementation of UNSCR 1325.

Training Programme  

 

Training of Trainers      

The UNMIK Office of Gender Affairs (OGA) provided technical assistance to Pillar II (OSCE) and UNIFEM in the delivery of a training of trainers.  The training was aimed at local civil servants, elected officials and representatives of women’s groups and sought to build capacities for gender mainstreaming in PISG structures and in civil society.  The UNMIK Office of Gender Affairs (OGA) delivered three components during the sessions, on international and local gender equality mechanisms, and on sex-disaggregated data.

Training Programme  

 

Gender Awareness for Court Administrators

At the invitation of the Kosovo Institute of Public Administration (KIPA) and the Department of Judicial Administration (DJA), the UNMIK Office of Gender Affairs (OGA) offered two training sessions for the Kosovo Court Administrators during part of their general orientation course.  Concentrating on international and local mechanisms for gender equality, the sessions also sought to address specific gender-related issues facing court administrators, such as sexual harassment in the work place and gender-sensitive hiring processes, and to provide tools to overcome these obstacles.  

Training Programme  

 
 

Gender Awareness for Probation Officers

A gender awareness module was presented to incoming probation officers during their induction training at the Police School in Vuçitrn/Vushtrri.  Offering an overview of gender equality instruments and mechanisms, the presentation also covered sex-disaggregated statistics and highlighted the recommendations that arose from the Conference on Gender Equality Mechanisms in Kosovo, to generate a debate on the changing role of gender in Kosovan society.

 

Gender Implications of the HIV/AIDS Pandemic

One the occasion of World AIDS Day 2004 (1st December), the UNMIK Office of Gender Affairs (OGA) delivered a training of the gendered dimensions of the HIV/AIDS pandemic held in coordination with the UNMIK Health Clinic.  Designed for UNMIK staff, the session highlighted the differential biological, social, cultural and economic impact of HIV/AIDS on women, and as such sought to create an awareness of an oft-overlooked issue.

Training Programme  

 

“Girls! Girls! Girls! An Intimate Portrait of the World’s Women” Film Festival

To celebrate International Women’s Day, the UNMIK Office of Gender Affairs (OGA) developed an innovative training package to raise awareness of gender issues with UNMIK international and local personnel and to promote respect for diversity Mission-wide.  Using cinema as a tool to look into the gender implications of life’s experiences and using participatory techniques, the initiative was developed through two interlinked components: a film festival and an online gender-training course where films were analyzed and debated.  The films shown ran the gamut from those depicting women in a “traditional” role of mother and wife, to those where women find their individual voice and courage, with some light-hearted selections alongside. See project outline and list of films

Presentations of “Women and Men in Kosovo”

With the aim of launching the statistical survey, “Women and Men in Kosovo”, the UNMIK Office of Gender Affairs (OGA) gave presentations in 14 different municipality on the data collected

 

In Development

 

Gender Awareness for KFOR

In response to the Amnesty International report of May 2004 outlining the central role that peacekeepers have played in contributing to the problem of prostitution, the UNMIK Office of Gender Affairs (OGA) has initiated a dialogue with the Military Liaison Office on sensitizing all military personnel to the issue.  In compliance with the mandate of UNSCR 1325 calling for the eradication of gender-based violence in peace-support operations, the UNMIK Office of Gender Affairs (OGA) has coordinated with KFOR and the Kosovo Women’s Network to conduct gender awareness-raising activities at all KFOR camps in Kosovo, which will also include screenings of the film “Lilya 4-Ever” to particularly highlight the issue of trafficking.

 

Interpersonal Skills Workshop

The UNMIK Training Unit has offered, and will continue to offer, an Interpersonal Skills Workshop for personnel to improve their communication skills in both personal and professional settings.  Accordingly, the UNMIK Office of Gender Affairs (OGA) is developing a specific chapter concentrating on the use of gender sensitive language and other forms of communication. 

 

Gender-based Harassment & Discrimination

In coordination with the Department of Administration (DOA), the UNMIK Office of Gender Affairs (OGA) is designing a comprehensive training package on gender-based discrimination and harassment in the workplace, which will be delivered in 2005 to UNMIK staff working in municipalities across Kosovo.

 

Military Liaison Officers

A general background to the work of the UNMIK Office of Gender Affairs (OGA) and concepts of gender equality is being designed for the Military Liaison Officers, with the aim of increasing their awareness of gender issues in their work.

 

Local Community Officers

Given the large range of activities in which Local Community Officers are involved on a daily basis, the UNMIK Office of Gender Affairs (OGA) has been requested to ensure that these tasks can be carried in gender-sensitive manner, and as such is designing a specific programme that will encompass their areas of work.