Back Project "Strengthening the National Preventive Mechanism in Kosovo*" officially launched

© Council of Europe

© Council of Europe

On 4 July 2017, the Human Rights National Implementation Division in the Directorate General of Human Rights and Rule of Law, with support of the Council of Europe Office in Pristina and in cooperation with the main project beneficiary, the Ombudsperson Institution, organised an official launching workshop of the project “Strengthening the National Preventive Mechanism in Kosovo*”.

The project aims to contribute to better protection of rights of persons deprived of liberty in Kosovo* through capacity building of the National Preventive Mechanism against Torture established under the auspices of Ombudsperson Institution to conduct preventive monitoring visits to places of deprivation of liberty in Kosovo* including detention facilities, police custodies, psychiatric wards, mental health and social care institutions and facilities for accommodation of asylum seekers. Additionally, it aims at raising awareness and increasing the understanding among relevant institutions on the preventive role and mandate of the mechanism. The project is supported by the Council of Europe and the Swiss government and is foreseen to be completed by 30 April 2019.     

Representatives of relevant local institutions including correctional service, police, courts, prosecution, health care, social welfare and judicial council, international organizations including EULEX, OSCE and UN entities and sectorial civil society organizations participated and effectively contributed to the workshop.

The opening remarks were delivered by Ms Isabelle Servoz Gallucci, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Pristina, the Swiss Ambassador to Kosovo* Mr Jean Hubert Lebet, the Ombudsman of Kosovo* Mr Hilmi Jashari and Mr Daniel Schmidt, Head of the Unit for South-East Europe and Turkey of the Human Rights National Implementation Division. They welcomed the initiative emphasizing continuous support that Council of Europe provides to relevant actors in the area of human rights in Kosovo* and in particular the added value it brings in the field of prevention of torture and ill-treatment, as a guardian of key European human rights treaties, the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and the European Convention for Prevention of Torture, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.   

Thematic panels provided a platform for presentations and exchange of views in relation to European and international standards in prevention of torture and ill-treatment as well as for identifying and discussing the challenges and opportunities in this field in the context of Kosovo*. Both sessions enabled productive interaction between duty bearers, advocates of right holders and international human rights experts resulting with several valuable recommendations and proposals which will be further integrated into the capacity building and awareness raising activities foreseen by the project. It is important to establish and maintain partnership and cooperation between relevant institutions, while the National Preventive Mechanism and civil society organizations have to act as corrective factors towards the accountability of relevant stakeholders and overall improvement of the conditions in the places of deprivation of liberty in Kosovo*.

Pristina 4 July 2017
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"All reference to Kosovo, whether the territory, institutions or population, in this text shall be understood in full compliance with United Nation’s Security Council Resolution 1244 and without prejudice to the status of Kosovo."