28 June 2019 – Group for Legal and Political Studies (GLPS), Kosovar Institute for Policy Research and Development (KIPRED) and Artpolis, organized a closing event of the project “Protecting and Promoting Human Rights in Kosovo through active civil society”, financed under the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights of the European Union. At the beginning of the discussion, a snapshot analysis of human rights in Kosovo from a CSO perspective was presented. This Analysis provides an overview of the human rights developments in Kosovo, by analysing the entire legislation protecting human rights in Kosovo, including recent legislative and implementation developments, with special emphasis on victims of gender-based violence (Domestic Violence and Sexual Harassment), LGBTI persons, and community minorities in particular Serbian and Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities. It also assesses the impact that different research reports have had on raising institutional awareness and reporting violations of human rights, as well as it scrutinized the implementation of recommendations on Human Rights issues provided by key CSOs and Ombudsperson. This closing event served as a platform to discuss many important issues pertaining to the field of human rights developments in Kosovo, including the amendment of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kosovo, the failure of amending of the Constitution and include the Istanbul Convention, as an important instrument improving the sector. In addition, panellists had the chance to discuss the progress in reporting cases of human rights violations in Kosovo, and how are these cases being handled by the respective state institutions.

The project “Protecting and Promoting Human Rights in Kosovo through active civil society” under the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights, implemented by Kosovar Institute for Policy Research and Development (KIPRED), Group for Legal and Political Studies (GLPS) and Artpolis, aimed to enhance human rights and fundamental freedoms in Kosovo by engaging actively civil society in monitoring and increasing public pressure on human rights judicial and non-judicial structures. This final event aims to gather the main stakeholders on human rights in Kosovo to jointly discuss and reflect on all the progress and objectives achieved during the course of this project.

Panelists:

Mr. Hilmi Jashari – Ombudsperson Institution;

Ms. Reyes CHARLECUELLAR – European Union Office in Kosovo/EUSR;

Ms. Rreze Hoxha – Author of the report and Researcher, GLPS;

Ms. Ariana Qosaj-Mustafa, Programme Director, KIPRED.

Venue: Ombudsperson Institution Premises, Prishtina, Kosovo