On 16 and 17 May, the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) organized two workshops titled “Women in the Kosovo Correctional Service: Achievements and Contribution”, which brought together 47 women working in the Kosovo Correctional Service (KCS).

The workshops aimed at discussing the essential contribution of female staff to the daily work of KCS, and to help them visualize and define their career paths.

Opening the interactive discussions, the Chief of EULEX’s Correctional Unit, Ritva Vahakoski, highlighted the importance of defining career goals and understanding personal and professional strengths while planning a career, particularly in the correctional service world. “Recognize the beliefs and understanding that might be standing in your way and identify what new knowledge or skills will help you reach your goal,” said Vahakoski adding: “When you make an inventory of your supporters, don’t forget to include yourself. You are your strongest ally. And the other way around, remember to support your colleagues, as behind every strong woman there is a ‘tribe’ of other successful women who have her back.”

The Head of EULEX’s Human Resources Division, Anita Janassary, pointed out the need to create a more gender-balanced workforce and an equal work culture. Janassary presented one of the objectives of the workshops: to acknowledge the essential role played by the women of the KCS in ensuring its proper and effective functioning. “Your individual contribution to the KCS is not only extremely valuable, but also necessary. Without a gender-equal representation of staff in the KCS, it would be simply impossible for it to achieve its mission,” Janassary emphasized.

The workshops have been organized under the project “Further strengthening of female staff in Kosovo Correctional Unit” as part of the Mission’s longstanding support to the female correctional staff and the KCS Women Association.