Publications

The OSCE Mission in Kosovo published in December 2017 a report assessing the performance and impact of the Consultative Council for Communities, a key community protection body in Kosovo functioning under the Office of the President. The report notes that the Council, established in 2008, has consolidated well in the institutional system, holding regular meetings and engaging in communication with a wide spectrum of institutions in follow up to different community issues in policy and legislation. However, its overall impact on communities’ rights and well-being remains limited, as the Council faces uneven and insufficient response from the wider institutional spectrum and its outreach capacities to non-majority communities are still inadequate. The report assesses the composition, performance and impact of the Council during the period 1 January 2015 until 31 December 2016.

This follow-up report provides an overview of the level of representation of communities in a numerical minority in the civil service at the central and local level. It provides an assessment of progress made by selected Kosovo institutions in implementing the relevant legislative obligations that guarantee fair and proportional representation of communities in the civil service since the OSCE’s previous assessment report in 2013. Additionally, the report identifies gaps in implementation and provides specific recommendations to key institutions in order to facilitate improvements regarding the employment of communities in the civil service.

The infosheet includes information about the establishment and functioning of the Deputy Mayors for Communities (DMCs) and Deputy Chairpersons of the Municipal Assembly for Communities (DCMACs) in 2016.

The infosheet includes information about the membership and functioning of the Communities Committees (CCs) in 2016.

The infosheet includes information about the membership and functioning of the Municipal Offices for Communities and Return (MOCRs) in 2016.

The OSCE Mission in Kosovo provides capacity-building for the Kosovo Police and community safety forums, along with monitoring and advocacy for the implementation of the Community Safety Strategy 2017-2021. Municipal Community Safety Councils (MCSCs) are essential consultative community policing mechanisms at the municipal level. Chaired by the mayor, with active participation of the police station commander, the MCSCs engage bi-monthly in their proactive advisory role, discussing security concerns and initiatives, while instilling pluralism in community safety provisioning and wide representation of communities' interest groups, women and civil society. The public awareness poster launched in December 2016 promotes the roles and mandates of common members of each MCSC throughout Kosovo, including the North where their establishment is expected in the nearest future.

This safety guide provides handy information for journalists and other media professionals on know-hows to protect themselves in volatile situations, riots, protests and demonstrations to help them avoid injuries and damage to their equipment. The guide advises media professionals to use protective gear and visible insignia so that they distinguish from protesters and avoid getting hurt by the police or protesters. Advice includes improvisations that help media professionals neutralize effects of teargas when reporting during violent situations. It also provides the media professionals with available telephone numbers to seek legal advice.

The Justice Monitor is a publication of the observations of OSCE monitors in the first instance courts in Kosovo. The Justice Monitor aims to provide policymakers and justice sector actors with indicators not otherwise available to assist in the identification of compliance gaps in the administration of justice and the tracking of progress achieved in closing those gaps.

The report assesses the progress in the implementation of the legal and policy framework for the reintegration of persons repatriated to Kosovo. It covers the period 2014 – 2015 and notes the improved performance of municipal institutions following the process of decentralization culminating in the adoption of Local Action Plans, the improved data collection following the introduction of the electronic Case Management System, and strengthened communication between central and local level institutions. The report concludes that while some room for improvement remains, the institutions have made commendable progress with regards to implementation of the legal and policy framework.

From 17 to 20 November 2016, the OSCE Mission is supporting the Kosovo Police mark the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims through a small-scale information campaign to raise awareness about traffic safety and invite the public to respect traffic rules. The campaign includes an information leaflet with main causers of traffic accidents and personal stories of people affected by them, as well as participation in various TV and radio debates on the topic.