Women in Kosovo often fail to receive their inheritance. Albanian cultural traditions dating back to the Middle Ages, known as “Kanun”, state that only men can own property. Kanun has long been officially obsolete. Yet many women find they have to go to court to fight for their inheritance.
Local authorities and women’s rights organizations are turning to advertizing campaigns to seek to enforce women’s legal inheritance rights. But it’s a difficult process. Lawyers for the plaintiffs say the courts are overwhelmed but add that they’re also often unwilling to cooperate. In the meantime, some women are left destitute.
See the video story: http://www.dw.de/kosovo-disinherited-women/av-18370848
