REPUBLIC OF KOSOVO THE OMBUDSPERSON INSTITUTION ELEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT 2011 addressing THE ASSEMBLY OF KOSOVO Telephone: ++381 38 545 303 Fax: ++381 38 545 302 Email address: [email protected] Web page: www.ombudspersonkosovo.org 1 Published by: The Ombudsperson Institution Prishtina, 2012 2 Mr. Jakup Krasniqi The Speaker of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo Prishtina Dear Mr. Speaker, Based on the Article 135 of the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo and the Article 27 paragraphs 1 and 2 of the Law on the Ombudsperson, I am pleased to submit to you the eleventh annual report of the Ombudsperson of the Republic of Kosovo. At the same time, please accept our request for presentation of this report in a plenary session of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo, as well as opening of discussions regarding this report. Sincerely, Sami Kurteshi The Ombudsperson of the Republic of Kosovo Prishtina, 13 July 2012 3 4 CONTENT OMBUDSPERSON`S REMARKS ...................................................................................................... 7 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................... 11 1.1. General Aspects ....................................................................................................................... 12 HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS IN THE REPUBLIC OF KOSOVO ................................ 15 Direct application of international agreements and instruments ................................................... 15 Human dignity ..................................................................................................................................... 16 Equality before the law ....................................................................................................................... 17 1.1.1. Laws applicable in Kosovo containing discriminatory provisions .................................... 18 2.3.2. Discrimination in pensions ................................................................................................ 19 2.3.3. Discrimination in the health care ....................................................................................... 19 2.3.4. Discrimination by the judiciary and of the judiciary ......................................................... 19 2.3.5. Inequality in the field of employment ............................................................................... 20 2.3.6. Discrimination against persons with disabilities ............................................................... 21 2.3.7. Discriminatory treatment by the Kosovo Property Agency (KPA) ................................... 22 2.3.8. Discriminatory treatment by the Kosovo Energy Corporation (KEK) .............................. 23 2.3.9. Gender equality ................................................................................................................. 23 The right to life .................................................................................................................................... 27 2.4.1. A phenomenon that worries the Kosovan society ............................................................. 28 The right to personal integrity ........................................................................................................... 29 Prohibition of torture, inhuman or degrading treatment ................................................................ 30 2.6.1. National Mechanism for the Prevention of Torture ........................................................... 33 2.7. The right to liberty and security ............................................................................................ 35 2.8. The rights of the accused ........................................................................................................ 37 2.9. The right to a fair and impartial trial .................................................................................... 40 2.10. The right to legal remedies ..................................................................................................... 43 2.11. The principle of legality and proportionality in criminal cases .......................................... 45 2.12. Freedom of movement ............................................................................................................. 47 2.13. Right to privacy ....................................................................................................................... 49 2.13.1. Removal of noise and occupancy rights ............................................................................ 49 2.13.2. The right to healthy environment and right of residence ................................................... 50 2.13.3. House searches .................................................................................................................. 51 2.13.4. Control and surveillance of communications .................................................................... 51 Right to marriage and family ............................................................................................................. 52 2.14. Freedom of faith, conscience and religion ............................................................................. 54 2.15.1. Religious confessions ........................................................................................................ 55 2.15.2. Islamic religious community ............................................................................................. 56 2.15.3. Serbian Orthodox Church .................................................................................................. 56 2.15.4. Catholic Church of Kosovo ............................................................................................... 57 2.15.5. Evangelical Protestant Church of Kosovo ......................................................................... 58 2.16. Freedom of expression ............................................................................................................ 59 2.17. Right of access to public documents ...................................................................................... 60 2.18. Freedom of the media .............................................................................................................. 63 2.19. The freedom of assembly ........................................................................................................ 66 2.20. Freedom of association ............................................................................................................ 69 2.21. Freedom of election and participation ................................................................................... 71 2.22. Right to property ..................................................................................................................... 73 2.23. The right to education ............................................................................................................. 75 2.23.1. The education system for the communities ....................................................................... 76 5 2.23.2. Preschool and pre-primary education ................................................................................ 77 2.23.3. Pre-University Education .................................................................................................. 77 2.23.4. Higher education ............................................................................................................... 79 Freedom of art and science ................................................................................................................. 81 Right to work and exercise profession ............................................................................................... 82 Children’s rights .................................................................................................................................. 85 2.23.5. The implementation of the National Action Plan and Strategy on children‟s rights ......... 85 2.23.6. Children‟s right to education ............................................................................................. 86 2.23.7. Child labour ....................................................................................................................... 87 Health and social protection ............................................................................................................... 88 2.23.8. The social problems and lack of legislation ...................................................................... 88 2.23.9. The social and economic situation in Kosovo ................................................................... 89 2.23.10. Dropping out of school ...................................................................................................... 90 2.23.11. Housing issues ................................................................................................................... 90 2.23.12. Health care services ........................................................................................................... 90 Responsibility for the environment .................................................................................................... 92 Judicial protection of human rights ................................................................................................... 97 2.23.13. The EULEX judges