Acting Ombudsperson Mr. Hilmi Jashari today welcomed assurances from Mr. Habit Hajredini, Head of the Office of Good Governance within the Prime Minister’s Office, that the Kosovo Ministries’ Human Rights Units (HRUs) would step up their co-operation with the Ombudsperson Institution.
“The Human Rights Units are obliged to communicate and exchange information with the Ombudsperson Institution on all human rights issues,” Mr. Jashari said following a meeting with Mr. Hajredini. “While there has been sporadic cooperation between some HRUs and the Institution, it has usually been limited to individual cases rather than a regular exchange of information.”
The HRUs are an important mechanism for monitoring the compliance of each Ministry with human rights principles. The HRUs also advise on human rights issues and report on their Ministries’ implementation of conventions and treaties applicable in Kosovo.
The Ombudsperson Institution will now notify the HRUs within the appropriate Ministries directly about relevant cases. In turn, the Institution expects the HRUs to assist in obtaining necessary information from their respective Ministries, so that the Institution can conduct its investigations more effectively.
“I hope that in this way, the Permanent Secretaries and HRUs in all Ministries will become more involved in cases pending before the Ombudsperson Institution,” the Acting Ombudsperson said. “Such cooperation will ensure a faster and more effective resolution of complaints alleging human rights violations and abuse of authority.”
The Ombudsperson Institution also intends to further involve the HRUs in the Institution’s activities and projects.
Co-operation between the Ombudsperson Institution and the Kosovo Ministries’ HRUs is a requirement under Article 12 of Administrative Instruction 2007/4 on the Institutionalisation of the Human Rights Units in the Ministries, signed by the Prime Minister of Kosovo in March 2007.
In welcoming the Ombudsperson Institution’s initiative, Mr. Hajredini promised to ensure that the Administrative Instruction would in future be implemented by all Kosovo Ministries in the interests of furthering respect for human rights and the rule of law in Kosovo.