Women’s Property Inheritance Rights in Kosovo

Citation:

Vuniqi, Luljeta, and Sibel Halimi. 2011. Women’s Property Inheritance Rights in Kosovo. Kosovo: Kosovar for Gender Studies Center.

Authors: Luljeta Vuniqi, Sibel Halimi

Abstract:

This paper addresses the challenges of establishing clearly defined and enforced property rights for women in Kosovo. It proceeds in three parts. The first section of the paper addresses women’s property rights in Kosovo from a comparative perspective, examining the situation of Kosovar women vis-à-vis women in other former Yugoslav republics. The second part of the paper examines why there is a gap between the egalitarian property law and unequal enforcement practices in Kosovo. The third part of the paper discusses the unique opportunity the Kosovar government has in this moment to shift from de jure articulation of egalitarian property rights to the de facto enforcement of them.

Annotation:

Quotes:

“There are three important laws protecting women's property rights in Kosovo: the Law on Gender Equality; the Inheritance Law; and the Family Law. These three laws were passed by the Assembly in 2004 while Kosovo was under the supervision of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK).” (11)

Topics: Gender, Women, Gendered Power Relations, Gender Equality/Inequality, Governance, Rights, Property Rights, Women's Rights Regions: Europe, Balkans, Eastern Europe Countries: Kosovo

Year: 2011