OSCE Mission report assesses progress in legal and policy framework for reintegrating repatriated persons in Kosovo

PRISHTINË/PRIŠTINA, 23 December 2016 - Substantial progress has been made in the development and implementation of the legal and policy framework for the reintegration of repatriated persons in Kosovo, concludes a report published by the OSCE Mission in Kosovo today.

The report, titled: “An Assessment of the Implementation of the Legal and Policy Framework for the Reintegration of Repatriated Persons in Kosovo,” covers the period 2014-2015 and notes improvements in the reintegration process following the reform of the legal and policy framework in 2013. This is due to new regulations on the reintegration of repatriated persons, which have reshaped the institutional structure and made the assistance process more comprehensive. The guidelines issued by the Ministry of Internal Affairs informing institutions on how to assist repatriated persons have also helped the process.

“Persons being repatriated to Kosovo face specific challenges in accessing housing, education, social assistance and finding sustainable employment, and in order for those challenges to be addressed, relevant institutions need to be efficient in their work,” said Barbara Rohmann, Director of the OSCE Mission’s Department of Human Rights and Communities. “For this reason, we are happy to see progress in the work of the institutions and in the overall reintegration process.”

The report commends the improved performance of municipal institutions following the process of decentralization which culminated with the adoption of Local Action Plans. It also praises the improved data collection following the introduction of the electronic Case Management System, and the strengthened communication between central and local level institutions.

The specific needs of repatriated vulnerable persons, including persons belonging to communities in a numerical minority, are taken into consideration in the revamped legal and policy framework, and the report assesses the institutional performance in this regard as satisfactory.

Some minor challenges remain to be addressed. The report recommends that institutions follow the provision to inform in all official languages and pay greater attention to the specific needs of repatriated women. The report also recommends further improvements in data collection and analysis of information, and a greater focus on the specific needs of repatriated members of communities in a numerical minority.

The full report in English is available here: //www.osce.org/kosovo/290871