OMBUDSPERSON INSTITUTION in KOSOVO SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT 2006 – 2007 addressed to the Assembly of Kosovo Telephone: ++381 38 545 303 Telefax: ++381 38 545 302 e-mail: [email protected] web site: www.ombudspersonkosovo.org 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS FOREWORD .................................................................................................................................................. 4 ....................................................................................................................................................................... 5 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................................... 6 I NTRODUCTION TO THE OMBUDSPERSON INSTITUTION ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 6 T HE MANDATE OF THE OMBUDSPERSON INSTITUTION ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 7 T HE ACTING OMBUDSPERSON --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8 T HE DEPUTY OMBUDSPERSON --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9 P UBLIC ACCESS TO THE OMBUDSPERSON INSTITUTION ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 9 SE LECTED HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES IN KOSOVO ........................................................................... 11 G ENERAL ISSUES --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11 D EVELOPMENTS IN THE LEGAL SECTOR ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 12 T HE JUDICIARY IN KOSOVO ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 20 T HE INADEQUACY OF HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTION MECHANISMS IN KOSOVO AND THE ROLE OF THE OMBUDSPERSON -------- 26 M INORITY COMMUNITIES IN KOSOVO -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 32 T HE SITUATION OF DISPLACED PERSONS AND CONDITIONS FOR THEIR RETURN ---------------------------------------------- 41 P ROPERTY AND HOUSING ISSUES ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 49 C HILDREN’S RIGHTS IN KOSOVO ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 56 D ISCRIMINATION IN KOSOVO --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 63 GENDER EQUALITY IN KOSOVO ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 67 ACTIVITIE S OF THE OMBUDSPERSON INSTITUTION .................................................................. 72 I NVESTIGATIONS, ADVOCACY & MEDIATION -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 72 E XAMINING LEGISLATION ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 73 A CTIVITIES OF THE OMBUDSPERSON INSTITUTION’S SPECIAL TEAMS -------------------------------------------------------- 74 Activities of the Children Rights Team ................................................................................................. 74 Activities of the Non-Discrimination Team .......................................................................................... 76 Activities of the Gender Equality Unit .................................................................................................. 78 C OOPERATION WITH THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY --------------------------------------------------------------------- 80 C OOPERATION WITH LOCAL INSTITUTIONS --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 82 C OOPERATION WITH LOCAL NGOS --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 83 I NTERNSHIPS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 83 M EDIA RELATIONS AND AWARENESS-RAISING ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 84 C OLLABORATION AND CAPACITY-BUILDING -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 85 Col laboration: Conferences, seminars and workshops ........................................................................ 86 Capacity- building: Study visits and training ........................................................................................ 89 R EGIONAL OMBUDSMAN CONFERENCE ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 91 T HE FINANCIAL FUTURE OF THE OMBUDSPERSON INSTITUTION ------------------------------------------------------------ 92 F INANCIAL AND MATERIAL SUPPORT -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 93 OVERVIEW OF CASES AND STATISTICS ........................................................................................... 96 2 O VERVIEW OF CASES ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 96 I NTERIM MEASURES AND REPORTS ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 96 S TATISTICAL OVERVIEW OF CASES ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 97 ANNEX I: SUMMARIES OF REPORTS .................................................................................................. 99 ANNEX II: SUMMARIES OF INTERIM MEASURES ....................................................................... 114 ANNEX III: SUMMARIES OF SELECTED INTERVENTION LETTERS ...................................... 115 ANNEX IV: JOINT RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE PARTICIPANTS OF THE REGIONAL OMBUDSMAN CONFERENCE (8-9 JUNE 2007) ................................................................................. 141 ANNEX V: ORGANISATION CHARTS OF THE OMBUDSPERSON INSTITUTION .................. 146 ANNEX VI: LIST OF STAFF ................................................................................................................... 148 ANNEX VII: LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ............................................................................................. 150 3 FOREWORD It is a special privilege to be working on the protection of the rights of all Kosovans during this historic time in Kosovo’s destiny. That privilege becomes even more significant when one considers that the Ombudsperson Institution is not only Kosovo’s leading mechanism for the protection of human rights, but is also a key instrument in consolidating the rule of law within our developing democracy. This has certainly been another challenging year for the Ombudsperson Institution. The international administration continues to operate beyond the reach of the Ombudsperson’s mandate. The Kosovo Assembly has not yet appointed a local Ombudsperson, and its legislation designed to strengthen the role of the Ombudsperson Institution has not yet been adopted. This is the seventh Annual Report to be issued since the Ombudsperson Institution in Kosovo was established back in 2000, and the second to be issued directly to the Assembly following the departure of the international Ombudsperson. You will find in this report a description and assessment of the human rights situation in Kosovo. It is my hope that the Assembly will pay due attention to the findings contained in this report. It is also my hope that the Assembly uses the report as a basis to develop more effective policies aimed at strengthening human rights protection and the rule of law. Whilst there have been some achievements during this reporting period in establishing a proper legal framework for the protection of human rights, the problem of ineffective implementation of the rule of law continues. The situation is unlikely to improve until the authorities strengthen their commitment to building a fully democratic society, a commitment which I consider to be crucial for the future of all Kosovans. The judiciary should be the pillar of any free and powerful democracy, and yet Kosovo’s judicial system is still regarded with distrust by the people it is meant to serve. Similarly, the executive branch of the PISG is still characterised by irresponsibility and a lack of dedication to open and accountable decision-making. If Kosovo’s unresolved status can be likened to a frameless picture, the (dis)functioning of the three pillars described above has created the sense of an incomplete mosaic. To complete the picture, the authorities and courts must steer away from political rhetoric and dedicate themselves to confronting the challenges faced by all Kosovans. These challenges include the rebuilding of trust amongst communities and combating poverty, unemployment, organised crime, discrimination and violence. 4 Overcoming these challenges requires fresh, bold and sustainable policies on the part of the authorities. To complete the mosaic and secure this land’s respect for the rule of law, however, requires their dedication. Hilmi Jashari Acting Ombudsperson July 2007 5 INTRODUCTION This Annual Report is issued in accordance with Section 16.1 of United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) Regulation No. 2006/06 on the Ombudsperson Institution in Kosovo and Rule 16 of the Rules of Procedure of the Ombudsperson Institution. The Seventh Annual Report covers the sixth full year of operations of the Institution, from 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2007. The report is comprised