Kosova Action Network                      

Throughout our time in Kosovo we worked with numerous NGOs. They represented a range of ethnicities and a range of views. Amongst one of the most influential, impressive and successful is KAN (Kosova Action Network). Below is a short description of their work. Please take time to visit their website and read about their campaigns. They helped us considerably and are now working on a multi-ethnic, multi-effective future Kosovo.

(Please Note: Any views expressed below political or otherwise are those of KAN and should be treated as such)

"Since 1997, the Kosova Action Network (KAN) has been active in promoting human rights efforts initiated by the people of Kosovo themselves. It operates as a loosely organized association, which allows us to respond to issues within Kosovo quickly. We seek to directly empower the citizens of Kosovo, regardless of gender, political affiliation, or ethnic origin. KAN emphasizes the word ACTIVISTS, believing that an active citizenry is the solution to creating an open, civil society, an effective democratic system and country, and individual freedom and dignity. We are independent of any political affiliations.

KAN began by supporting the actions of the Students Independent Union of the University of Prishtina (SIU UP) in their nonviolent struggle for the release of university buildings and premises in order to obtain an open and free education. With the outbreak of war, KAN helped disseminate the truth about Kosovo to outsiders, by distributing and publicizing facts about massacres and crimes committed against civil population by Serbian forces of Milosevic’s regime. The purpose was to raise international awareness. KAN advocated for outside intervention to stop the atrocities, war, and repression as a first step towards establishing a new life for Kosovars in which justice, democracy and human rights as universal values would prevail. After the war, from 1999 to 2002, KAN ran the A-PAL international campaign (the Albanian Prisoners Advocacy League) to achieve the release of the 2.500 hostages illegally detained and transferred throughout the prisons in Serbia.

In July, 2003 KAN turns its focus to promoting a vibrant civil society in Kosovo. Therefore KAN is engaged to recreate an advocacy group of interested citizens both in and outside Kosovo. Since citizens’ current  indifference and passivity is the main cause of the degradation, empowering citizens is KAN-s test for truth."

 For more information please visit their website at:

www.kan-ks.org

 Or contact them at:

office@kan-ks.org