OSCE calls on Kosovo institutions to take further action in support of repatriated persons
PRISHTINË/PRIŠTINA, 13 September 2011 – Despite tangible progress achieved by Kosovo institutions in policy development and the establishment of institutional mechanisms, the implementation of the Revised Strategy for the Reintegration of Repatriated Persons continues to lag behind, concludes an OSCE report published today.
The report, which follows up on a previous assessment of November 2009, looks at the efforts made by local and central level institutions in assisting repatriated persons from January 2010 to July 2011 and provides a set of recommendations to central and local level institutions and the international community. The document is based on regular monitoring activities of the OSCE Mission in the field of human and communities’ rights.
“While we are encouraged by the adoption of a revised strategy and the creation of an inter-ministerial board charged with overseeing its implementation, we remain concerned by difficulties repatriated persons continue to face in accessing civil registration, housing, health care, employment and education,” said the Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Ambassador Werner Almhofer.
Key problems in implementing the reintegration strategy stem from insufficient information flow and co-operation between central and local level institutions, as well as from the lack of outreach activities and understanding of the needs of repatriated persons, and deficiencies in the allocation of funds within the municipal budgets to address those needs.
Among positive developments noted are the recently intensified efforts of the central institutions to provide advice to local officials on how to implement the strategy and apply for assistance from the 3.4 million euro reintegration fund, as well as the establishment of the municipal offices for communities and return that are to serve as a stronger local level co-ordination body.
“All the institutions should maintain this momentum and take concrete action to improve the living conditions of repatriated persons from all communities and provide conditions for their sustainable reintegration,” added Almhofer.
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), over 20,000 people have been repatriated to Kosovo since 2005.