A women's rights activist from Kosovo will visit the University of Oklahoma today through Friday to share her experiences with OU students, faculty and community members.
Igballe Rogova, executive director of Kosova Women's Network, has worked to integrate women's voices into the post-conflict reconciliation and democracy formation of her former-Yugoslavian Republic, said Dr. Jill Irvine, director of the OU Women's Studies Program.
Rogova is in Norman as the inaugural guest of the Women's Studies' Activist-in-Residence program, Irvine said. She was brought to OU with the financial help of the International Programs Center and the School of International and Area Studies.
Irvine met Rogova in Kosovo last summer.
"I got a chance to see the kind of the work that she's doing, which is really incredible," Irvine said.
Rogova is a prime example of the type of activist the Women's Studies Program hopes to bring to OU each year, Irvine said.
During the Balkan war that broke up Yugoslavia along ethnic lines, women's groups were some of the only ones that kept communication open across ethnicities, Irvine said. Since Kosovo achieved independence from Serbia Feb. 17, 2008, Rogova has overseen a network of women's groups with the intent of incorporating women into the formation of democracy, Irvine said.
"She has been trying to get women's voices included in the political process in Kosovo," Irvine said of Rogova.
Rogova's experience is relevant to the United States because the U.S. still has a military presence in the Balkans with a United Nations Peacekeeping force, Irvine said. Also, the issues that Rogova has worked for are important to any citizen of the world, Irvine said.
Rogova will bring practical experience to her discussions and lectures this week at OU.
"What's nice about this is she has a great deal of knowledge, but she's an activist," Irvine said.
Today, Rogova will be at a special film screening 7-9 p.m. in the Women's Studies Lounge at OU, Physical Science Center room 530. "Calling the Ghosts" is a film about rape, war and women in the Balkans.
Thursday, Rogova will give a lecture as part of the School of International and Area Studies' European Symposium "Voices of the New Europe." She will speak about "Europe's Newest State: Women's Organizations, Democratization and the Politics of Peace in Kosovo" 10:30 a.m. to noon in the Oklahoma Memorial Union Scholars Room.
Later Thursday, Rogova will host a workshop titled "From One Activist to Another: Learning Lessons from Activism Around the World" 2-3:30 p.m. in the Oklahoma Memorial Union Weitzenhoffer Room.
Thursday evening, there will be a reception honoring Rogova 5-7 p.m. in the Oklahoma Memorial Union David L. Boren Lounge.
Friday, there will be a breakfast with Rogova 9-11 a.m. in the Women's Studies Lounge, Physical Science Center room 530.
Julianna Parker 366-3541 jparker@normantranscript.com
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Activist from Kosovo visits OU
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