Valdete Idrizi
External Expert for Gender Equality and Cultural Cooperation
WAVES Project Steering Committee (PSC)
Valdete Idrizi is a feminist, peace activist, artivist, and civil society leader from Mitrovica with over two decades of intensive work in peacebuilding, community development and women’s empowerment. She founded Community Building Mitrovica (CBM) and co-founded initiatives such as Mitrovica Rock School and Mitrovica Forum, fostering dialogue in the ethnically divided city. Idrizi led the CiviKos Platform, Kosovo’s largest CSO network, for over six years before entering politics with the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), serving as MP (2019–2021) and advisor to the Speaker of Parliament (2018-2019. She served as a Director of Culture, youth and Sports in the Municipality of Mitrovica (2022-2024).
Her dedication has earned her multiple international honors, including the International Women of Courage Award (2008) from State Department (US), Soroptimist Peace Prize (2009), (NL) and WIFTS Peace Award (2016) Women International for Film and Television Showcase (GB).
Beyond politics, she remains active in mentoring young women, supporting marginalized groups, and engaging in regional peace networks.
She is member of the Waves Project Steering Committee (PSC) engaged as external expert for Gender Equality and Cultural Cooperation.