OSCE Mission distributes human rights booklet to aid Kosovo Police Service

PRISTINA, 9 February 2006 - At a ceremony today at the Kosovo Police Service (KPS) Headquarters, the OSCE Mission handed out a human rights booklet that will help KPS officers to enforce the law while also protecting the rights and freedoms of the people they serve.

The pocket-size booklet, Human Rights and Law Enforcement, contains the most important international human rights standards and applicable criminal legal provisions in Kosovo. It is tailored to daily police work and covers topics such as arrest, police investigation, interrogation, treatment of juveniles, discrimination, the right to defence counsel and effective remedy, as well as the freedoms of assembly, association and expression.

"Human rights protection is an integral part of police work and we have seen this demonstrated in the KPS," Henry McGowen, Director of OSCE Mission's Human Rights and Rule of Law Department said at the ceremony. "We want to continue our support of integrating human rights as an even stronger part of your daily work, because without a properly functioning police force there is no rule of law."

Colonel Sheremet Ahmeti of the KPS referred to this booklet as a further step in assisting the police to follow democratic principles towards becoming a more professional force. "The OSCE has worked hard to build a professional police service that would serve Kosovo's people and give special importance to the protection of human rightsThis booklet will become a part of the police officers who will be able to carry it as a reminder of their task to protect all people and be at their service."

The reference guide was created after OSCE human rights monitors saw a need for it among KPS officers. It was compiled as part of an effort to help prevent possible human rights violations and assist with continuing education for the KPS.

Copies of the booklet are available in English, Albanian and Serbian on the OSCE Mission website at www.osce.org/kosovo