In her blog, Rezarta Krasniqi, Executive Director of Democracy for Development (D4D), discusses the organization’s efforts to enhance the integrity of Kosovo’s electoral process through monitoring and accountability. D4D uses social and online media monitoring to identify trends of abuse, disinformation, and bias, drawing attention to critical issues such as gender disparities in candidate representation, hate speech, and the spread of misinformation.
D4D, in partnership with the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD Centre), has launched a monitoring initiative for the 2025 Local Elections, emphasizing the need for fair and transparent political processes in the digital era. This initiative includes a Code of Conduct for Responsible Use of Social Media, supported by political parties, media outlets, and civil society organizations, aimed at preventing hate speech and misinformation during the elections.
D4D’s monitoring covers 14 municipalities and includes 95 mayoral candidates, where only 15 are women, pointing to ongoing gender imbalances. They are also observing 125 online portals to analyze media visibility and identifying hate speech against candidates. Their findings show that women candidates face disproportionate gender-based disinformation and hate speech, undermining their credibility and discouraging political participation.
As the campaign progresses, D4D will provide weekly updates and in-depth analyses on their website, aiming to foster more inclusive political discourse and keep all stakeholders accountable. The ultimate goal is to ensure fair, transparent, and representative elections in Kosovo, while empowering voters with accurate information amidst the challenges of disinformation and propaganda.
