“The right to language is one of the fundamental human rights, intrinsically connected to identity, dignity, and equality. For non-majority communities, the ability to use their own language in communication with institutions is not a privilege, but a prerequisite for access to public services, education, healthcare, justice, and other key segments of social life.” This is one of the key conclusions from a study conducted in collaboration between NGO Aktiv, Kim Radio, New Social Initiative (NSI), Radio Goraždevac, Centre for Advocacy for Democratic Culture (ACDC), and Media Centre Čaglavica. The study aimed to comprehensively map and analyse institutional practices in the implementation of the Law on the Use of Languages in Kosovo*.

As further emphasised, linguistic exclusion leads to informational and administrative barriers, as well as a sense of invisibility and insecurity, undermining principles of inclusion and social cohesion in the long term.  

Therefore, linguistic equality is a prerequisite for building an inclusive, transparent, and democratic society in which all citizens, regardless of their ethnic or linguistic background, have equal access to information and institutions. Moreover, the study identified that in a post-conflict society such as the one in Kosovo, respect for language rights plays a key role in building trust between communities and strengthening their mutual understanding.

The development and publication of this research were supported by the Council of Europe Office in Pristina through its project “Fostering Societal Cohesion by Reinforcing Minority Rights and Minority Languages.”

The monitoring of compliance with the Law on the Use of Languages was carried out between March and June 2025. This phase included an analysis of ten official websites and social media accounts belonging to key institutions at both central and local levels, including the Central Election Commission, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Police Inspectorate of Kosovo, Kosovo Police, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development, Agricultural Development Agency, Constitutional Court, several non-governmental organisations, Ministry of Economy, Assembly of Kosovo, and Ministry of Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure.

The report identified key gaps in the implementation of legal obligations, highlighted numerous loopholes, and showcased examples of good practice demonstrating that consistent implementation of the law is achievable when there is political will, institutional accountability, and an awareness of the importance of respecting language rights.

The full study “Monitoring the Implementation of the Law in Institutions” can be downloaded here.