A woman with her head held high, with flowers in her hand and red shoes scattered around her, is the mural created by some young people through which the message of fighting femicide and guaranteeing gender equality is conveyed.

This mural, which commemorates the victims of gender-based violence, was revealed today in the premises of the “Xhevdet Doda” high school, on the occasion of the International Day of Peace.

The mural was created by young artists from different Albanian, Serbian, Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities.

To mark the International Day of Peace, this year’s theme is “Cultivating a Culture of Peace”.

The head of UNMIK in Kosovo, Caroline Ziadeh said that peace can only be built by working together.

Ziadeh stressed that every small act of compassion, understanding, empathy and cooperation contributes to a peaceful world.

“Peace is built peace by peace. Today, is a celebration, for you, for all of you, being at peace, and the peace structure in Kosovo. Peace is not a dream, a distant one, it is a tangible reality we can create together. Each small act of compassion, understanding, empathy, and cooperation contributes to the larger goal of a peaceful world. It is about the cumulative effect of many small and positive actions. This year’s International Day for Peace, observed on September 21st. carries the seam cultivating a culture of peace… Let us commit to be the ambassadors of peace in our own lives and Inspire others to do the same. Together, we can build a world where peace is not just a word, but a way of life. Together, we can embark on a journey to create a world we need and deserve, a world where everyone can reach and realize their full potential”, said Ziadeh.

The deputy mayor of the municipality of Prishtina, Alban Zogaj, while describing femicide as one of the most serious violations of human rights, said that this phenomenon is a manifestation of gender inequality that continues in Kosovo.

Zogaj emphasized that the message of marking this day is that femicide has no place in Kosovo and that as a society we must push forward legislative aspects that seriously treat this inequality.

” We need comprehensive changes that start with education, teaching our boys and men to respect our women, and this is not negotiable. Empowering our girls and women to know the worth to feel safe and to speak out. I also call on our community leaders, politicians and every citizen to play their part in this very important topic. We cannot allow a culture of silence or indifference to thrive when women are being killed in our homes, our neighborhoods, and our streets. We must stand in solidarity and we must push for legislative reforms that reflect the seriousness of this crisis. And our message is clear, there’s no place for femicide in Kosovo, every woman has the right to live free from fear, free from violence, and free to be who she is. We owe it to the women we’ve lost to the families shattered by this violence and to future generations to make Kosovo safer, fairer and more just place for everyone”, he said.

The main artist of this mural, Argjenda Azemi, said that this mural reflects the victims of femicide.

Azemi emphasized that this mural gives the message that we should work for a better and safer future for women.

“This mural, like the topic is very important, it’s presented a woman holding her head high, holding some flowers which represent hope, remembrance, and healing. And around her are scattered like red shoes, which each pair represent a woman that was a victim of gender-based violence. So I wanted this mural to be like a remembrance from them, and to work for a better future where women can live without fear”, she said.

The director of the Regional Safe House, Zubin Potok municipality, Adrijana Hoxhiq, has considered femicide as an urgent issue to deal with.

At this ceremony marking the International Day of Peace, she stated that this phenomenon is the most extreme form of gender-based violence, for which she demanded stronger laws and policies to combat gender inequality.

Hoxhiq also stated that until women are not safe, there can be no lasting peace.

” Still femicide effects more than just individual families and communities, it underlines social stability and progress, economy suffers as women potential is stifled, and the collective progress of nation stagnates. Peace cannot be sustainable if women and girls are not safe. Peace is not just absence of war, it is presence of justice, equality, and security for all. And we cannot speak about peace if women voices are silenced by violence, we cannot speak about peace if women’s potential is destroyed by fear, we cannot speak of peace if perpetrators or femicide walk free and their victims are forgotten. Please, let’s raise our voices, let’s advocate for stronger laws and policies, and ensure its implementation, let’s empower women and girls”, she said.

The mural which was revealed today and which aims to combat femicide has been made possible by the UNMIK mission and Mural Fest Kosova.