OSCE Mission in Kosovo assesses communities' rights, urges institutions to implement law

PRISHTINE/PRISTINA, 9 December 2009 - The implementation of effective policies for the integration of communities in cultural, social, economic and public life is key to building a multi-ethnic society in Kosovo, concludes an OSCE report published today.

The report, covering the period from January 2008 to June 2009, looks at the legal framework for the promotion and protection of communities' rights and assesses efforts and progress made by Kosovo institutions to implement specific standards of the Council of Europe's Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. It discusses law enforcement, the return and security of displaced persons, culture and media, use of languages, education and participation in social and political life.

"The report shows that a comprehensive legal framework is in place to ensure the promotion and protection of communities' rights. However, this framework is not effectively implemented and does not bring about sufficient positive change in the daily lives of the communities," said Ambassador Werner Almhofer, Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo.

According to the report, integration challenges include difficult relations and prevailing separation between Kosovo Albanian and Kosovo Serb communities, deficiencies in the security and justice system in prosecuting ethnically motivated crimes, and lack of proper conditions for return and repatriation. The report calls for further compliance with existing legal provisions governing cultural and religious rights, use of languages, and education, as well as for improved representation of communities in public broadcasting.

The report advises Kosovo institutions to comply with the legal framework and relevant policies as well as to allocate appropriate funds to promote and protect communities' rights.

"The creation of a stable democratic multi-ethnic society is a two-way process that requires strong institutional commitment and genuine participation of all the communities," Almhofer added.

The report is based on field interviews with central and local level officials, communities and civil society representatives. The interviews were conducted by the OSCE Mission as part of its mandate to monitor human rights.

The report is available at //www.osce.org/documents/mik/2009/12/41986_en.pdf