June 8, 2004 - (UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo) The Office of Gender Affairs in UNMIK's Civil Administration, has published the first complete survey of all available gender statistics, "Women and Men in Kosovo", which will contribute to redressing the lack of gender disaggregated data at the disposal of Kosovar institutions. The published data will serve as a policy and planning tool for both policy-makers and civil society in helping to close the gender gaps in the education, health, economy and employment, social welfare and agricultural sectors.

Gender gaps can be clearly seen in employment figures, where women make up only 30% of the total labour force overall, while in rural areas this figure drops to 21%. Figures from the education sector also show a marked disparity with 91% of girls attending primary school, but this figure drops dramatically to 54% by the time girls reach secondary school.

The research also highlights the inadequacy of the production of gender-disaggregated data and calls for the need for more work in this area. At present, for example, there are no statistics regarding average income and access to financial resources by women. It is expected that this publication will stimulate more such statistics being produced in the future, to fill the existing gaps and update the present data.

"Women and Men in Kosovo," is the conclusion of a concerted effort that has involved a wide array of local and international partners coordinated by the Office of Gender Affairs. This publication represents the start of what will be a long-term partnership with the Statistical Office of Kosovo, and this commitment has already been formalized with the establishment of the Working Group on Gender Statistics.

On June 9 in Prizren, the Office of Gender Affairs, in coordination with the Statistical Office of Kosovo, will conduct the first in a series of public presentations to launch the publication of the statistical research, "Women and Men in Kosovo". In all, six official presentations are to be given including in Ferizaj/Urosevac on June 11, Prishtinë/Pristina on June 15, Mitrovicë/Mitrovica on June 16, and in both Gjakovë/Djakovica and Pejë/Peæ on June 22.

Copies of the publication are being distributed to all ministries and municipalities, as well as being available at the presentations. For further information, or to obtain a copy of the publication, please contact the Office of Gender Affairs:
Office of Gender Affairs, UNMIK,
Government Building, South Wing, Room S215, 2nd Floor
Mother Teresa St., Prishtinë/Pristina
+381 (0)38 504-604 ext. 5741

From: http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/9ca65951ee22658ec125663300408599/9478d44ce6cbd52e85256ead005ac92e?OpenDocument