Data on gender representation in Kosovo’s municipal mayoral elections show a gradual yet consistent improvement in women’s participation over the past three election cycles. From 2017 to 2025, the number of women candidates increased from 8 to 20 — a significant 150% rise. However, despite the progress in candidacy, women’s actual representation in elected executive positions remains very low.

In the 2017 elections, no woman was elected as mayor. By 2021, two women won municipal leadership positions, and in the 2025 elections, only one woman out of 20 female candidates succeeded. This indicates that while barriers to participation are slowly diminishing, structural and cultural obstacles to achieving equitable representation remain strong.

Men continue to dominate the race numerically and electorally. In 2025, out of 185 total candidates, 37 were elected — only one of whom was a woman. This means that women account for less than 3% of all mayors across Kosovo, underscoring a persistent gender gap in local executive leadership.

These figures highlight the need for stronger policy measures and institutional support to advance women’s political empowerment — including targeted programs to encourage candidacy, financial and mentoring support for female candidates, and awareness campaigns that promote women’s leadership at the local level. Achieving gender balance in municipal governance requires joint commitment from political parties, institutions, and society at large to ensure that women have an equal voice in shaping community priorities and public decision-making.

This infographic was developed within the framework of the project “She Leads: Combating Hate Speech and Promoting Women in Local Leadership”, supported by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Kosovo.

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Rodna zastupljenost na izborima za gradonačelnike opština 2025. godine

Podaci o rodnoj zastupljenosti na izborima za gradonačelnike opština na Kosovu pokazuju postepen, ali stalan napredak u učešću žena tokom poslednja tri izborna ciklusa. Od 2017. do 2025. godine broj kandidatkinja porastao je sa 8 na 20 – što predstavlja značajan rast od 150%. Ipak, uprkos povećanju broja kandidatkinja, njihova stvarna zastupljenost na izvršnim funkcijama ostaje vrlo niska.

Na izborima 2017. godine nijedna žena nije izabrana za gradonačelnicu. Do 2021. godine dve žene su osvojile mandate, dok je na izborima 2025. samo jedna od 20 kandidatkinja uspela da bude izabrana. Ovo ukazuje da, iako prepreke za učešće žena postepeno slabe, strukturne i kulturne barijere za ravnopravno predstavljanje i dalje snažno postoje.

Muškarci i dalje brojčano i izborno dominiraju. Na izborima 2025. godine od ukupno 185 kandidata, izabrano je 37, od čega je samo jedna žena. To znači da žene čine manje od 3% svih gradonačelnika u zemlji, što jasno pokazuje postojanje dubokog rodnog jaza u lokalnom izvršnom rukovodstvu.

Ovi podaci naglašavaju potrebu za snažnijim politikama i institucionalnom podrškom za jačanje političkog osnaživanja žena – uključujući programe koji podstiču kandidovanje, finansijsku i mentorsku podršku kandidatkinjama, kao i kampanje podizanja svesti o važnosti ženskog liderstva na lokalnom nivou. Postizanje rodne ravnopravnosti u lokalnoj samoupravi zahteva zajedničku posvećenost političkih partija, institucija i društva u celini, kako bi žene imale ravnopravan glas u donošenju odluka i oblikovanju javnih politika.

Ova infografika je izrađena u okviru projekta „Ona vodi: Borba protiv govora mržnje i promocija žena u lokalnom liderstvu“, uz podršku Ambasade Kraljevine Holandije na Kosovu.