UNMIK/PR/1205
PRISTINA – A Special Panel acting under section 9.1.41 of the Constitutional Framework reached a unanimous Decision on 15 July 2004 on the Anti-Discrimination Law. This is the first time that a Special Panel has been operational since the March events.
Pursuant to section 9.1.39 of the Constitutional Framework, members of the Coalition Return submitted a motion challenging the Anti-Discrimination Law adopted by the Assembly on 19 February 2004 on the grounds that its provisions violate the vital interests of the Kosovo-Serb Community. The Government as sponsors of the Law submitted a response. The special three-member Panel then took up the matter. It consisted of representatives of Coalition Return and the Government as sponsors of the Law and a presiding member designated by the SRSG. The Presiding Member of the Special Panel was Mr. Paul Miller, Head of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Pristina.
The Special Panel was convened on 14 and 15 July 2003. After full consideration of the arguments presented by Coalition Return and the Government, it unanimously reached a Decision which consisted of seven recommendations on the Law. The recommendations provide the basis for the adoption of the Law in a way that takes due account of the concerns expressed by Coalition Return.