As part of an initiative supported by UNMIK’s Human Rights Section and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) titled “Engaging with civil society on human rights monitoring and reporting”, more than 20 key human rights civil society organisations (CSOs) in Kosovo officially published their first joint report on the human rights situation in Kosovo on June 30. The report was delivered at the end of a grassroots and participatory process facilitated by UNMIK and OHCHR that brought together representatives of CSOs from different ethnic backgrounds, in line with the Mission’s ongoing trust building efforts.

The report itself, which looks at the human rights situation in Kosovo in 2019, assesses the main challenges to realising civil and political rights as well as economic, social and cultural rights; human rights issues relating to specific groups and persons in vulnerable situations; and several cross-cutting human rights topics, such as transitional justice and the right to truth. It provides a solid analysis of these issues backed up by data from the contributing organisations and extensive desk research.

The publication of this report is a welcome development that fills a gap in human rights monitoring and reporting in Kosovo and will increase focus on the protection and promotion of human rights. In particular, it is expected that CSOs will use the report to further their human rights advocacy with Kosovo authorities and to raise awareness of the human rights situation in Kosovo at the international level, including with UN human rights mechanisms.

UNMIK congratulates the contributing CSOs on this important achievement and stands ready to continue supporting the human rights monitoring and reporting capacities of civil society in Kosovo in the years to come.

You can access the full report here:                    

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