President Vjosa Osmani opened the International Forum for Women, Peace and Security in Prishtina today, with a powerful tribute to the enduring role of women in post-war recovery and peacebuilding.
The global-scale forum, held under Osmani’s patronage, features over 150 speakers from more than 45 countries and includes more than 30 discussion panels. The event is focused on amplifying the role of women in global peace and security efforts.
“We Speak of Peace from the Weight of Memory”
In her opening remarks, President Osmani emphasized the unique perspective Kosovo brings to global peace dialogues, one rooted not in theory but in lived trauma and resistance.
“Here in Kosovo, we don’t speak of peace from a distance—we speak of peace from the weight of memory. Not just as a burden to bear, but as a message to pass on,” Osmani said.
She reinforced the belief that peace cannot survive without the leadership of women, a truth Kosovo has long recognized.
A Tribute to Kosovo’s Women
Osmani’s speech highlighted the resilience of women during the Kosovo war and its aftermath, crediting them for holding families and the nation together.
“In the darkest and most painful hours, it was the women of this country who kept us alive. They refused to be seen as victims—they stood as builders of peace.”
She recalled the traumatic memories experienced by Kosovo’s children during the war, stating that their stories are not ordinary childhood tales, but living fragments of wartime wounds.
“The most painful sound is not always the cry—it’s the silence. This year’s forum theme is more than a slogan; it’s a call to break the cycle of violence.”
