September 8, 2015 – The Ombudsperson, Mr. Hilmi Jashari visited Peja yesterday, within the scope of his planed visits to be accomplished in regional centers, where Ombudsperson Institution regional offices are placed.

Firstly he visited the organization Syri i Vizionit (SiV) and was welcomed by deputy director of this organization, Mr. Qenan Bardhaj with his associates. In this meeting the Ombudsperson was informed about the work and activities conducted by this organization as well as discussed possibilities of joint engagement of OI and SiV in projects. On this occasion, Mr. Jashari emphasized his interest on empowering the cooperation between the institution that he leads and the civil society, highly evaluating in this regard the professional and human potential actually working with non-governmental organizations, inefficiently consumed by central and local level of the state institutions.

After this meeting, the Ombudsperson met the Mayor of Peja Municipality, Mr. Gazmend Muhaxheri, with whom he discussed most common cases lodged with the OI coming from this municipality. During the meeting special emphases was stressed on strengthening the cooperation and offering the services on the best interest of its citizens.

During his visit to Peja the Ombudsperson visited also the Special school for blind people “Xheladin Deda” and met with the director of this school Mr. Xhavit Kastrati as well as teachers of this school. Mr. Jashari has exposed his interest to be acquainted with conditions and challenges that this school face, finding out under-staffing as their primary concern, as the school has extended programs and services, not solely for the blind children, from preschool age up to accomplishment of high secondary school, but also for cases with multiple damages or concealing services for family members or custodians to whom these children are entrusted. A considerable number of Bulletins in Brail Alphabet has been delivered to this school on this occasion by the Ombudsperson Mr. Hilmi Jashari, containing information about the mandate and OI competencies.

The Ombudsperson’s visit to Peja was accomplishment by an interview conducted from Radio Peja, where he initially gained information regarding some challenges with which this Radio face within the overall circumstances that media and journalist meet generally in this country.