07.09.2007

The ABA Rule of Law Initiative, together with the Committee for Gender and Minorities of the Kosovo Chamber of Advocates, recently hosted the “Women in Law in Kosovo” conference, a one day event that offered a unique forum to discuss obstacles and challenges for women in the legal sector.   Martha Barnett, former president of the ABA, presided over the conference which brought women law students and leading women in the legal profession together in Pristina. 

Tina Kaidanow, Chief of Mission of the U.S. Office in Kosovo opened the conference, stressing the important role women play in creating a diverse, strong legal system.  Barnett shared her experiences as a lawyer in the US and pointed to progress in the past three decades.

”In the last decades, considerable progress has been shown in the United States with regard to the role of women in the legal profession,” Barnett explained in her address to the students.  “But it is not too long a time ago when the US had the same situation as Kosovo has now.”

Barnett urged her fellow panelists and the law school students to establish a network of women lawyers and create channels for better and broader communication.

Many media outlets covered the conference including several daily newspapers, the evening news, a national TV morning show, and two national TV feature programs that produced shows on the topic of women’s representation in the legal profession and included interviews with Barnett.

Students who attended the event found the conference to be a rare opportunity for law students and recent graduates to learn about the challenges facing women in Kosovo’s legal sector.  The conference also offered them a chance to experience the support network they can access as they endeavor to enter the legal profession.

For more information, please contact office@ceelikosovo.org.