Hillary Clinton: The inclusion of women strengthens communities and makes peace more sustainable

The conference “Partnership for Change: Women Transforming Systems – Advancing the Principles of Pristina 2026–2035” was held in Pristina, focusing on the role of women in decision-making processes, peacebuilding and social change.

During the event, former President of Kosovo Atifete Jahjaga presented the work of the Jahjaga Foundation to empower women and promote social justice.

According to Jahjaga, assessing women’s representation cannot be limited solely to their numbers in institutions. She emphasized that what matters is the concrete influence women have on the decisions that are made.

“It is not enough simply to count how many women are represented; we must ask how many women have real influence. It is not enough to have better statistics and to count how many women are sitting at the decision-making table; we must see how many decisions are shaped and signed by women themselves,” Jahjaga said.

She also praised Acting President Albulena Haxhiu for her commitment to leading policies and decision-making processes.

Haxhiu spoke about the need for women to have a greater role at the levels where decisions are made, highlighting their presence and contribution in the security sector and state institutions.

“We should no longer ask whether women are capable of serving or leading. We have had the answer for years, because women are part of the police, part of the army, part of the correctional service and other security institutions. They are there, they face difficulties and carry enormous responsibilities on their shoulders,” she said.

Haxhiu also linked the issue to the “Women, Peace and Security” agenda and United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325, adopted in 2000, which recognizes the role of women in conflict prevention, peacebuilding and ensuring security.

The conference also featured a video message from former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. She stressed that women’s inclusion in decision-making leads to stronger communities, more sustainable peace and more inclusive societies.

Clinton congratulated the Foundation’s team and expressed hope that the conference would produce new ideas, stronger partnerships and renewed commitment to turning ideas into action. She said that, although she could not attend in person, she was “with you in spirit” and supported the participants “with all my heart.”

The event was organized as part of the “Support for Civil Society in Kosovo” project, funded by Luxembourg and implemented by LuxDev, the Luxembourg Development Cooperation Agency.