Within the scope of activities on behalf of 10 of December, Human Rights International Day, and with the intention that children become acquainted with human rights and fundamental freedoms as well as the mandate and competencies of the Ombudsperson, representatives of the Department on Protection from Discrimination, jointly with the Department on Child Rights Protection within this Institution, as well as in cooperation with NGO “Voice of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptians” (VoRAE), on 11 December 2017, visited children of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities, in the primary school “Ismail Luma” in Lipjan. Children of these communities attend additional classes in this school, within Learning Centre which is under the management of NGO VoRAE. This opportunity is used also for receiving possible complaints directly from children.

Further, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MEST) in September of this year has issued the Administrative Instruction no.12/2017, on the Establishment and Functioning of Learning Centers in Kosovo, thus the Ombudsperson requests that this Administrative Instruction starts to be applied by respecting criteria and procedures of establishment and functioning of learning centers in Kosovo, which provide additional learning support as well as other educational activities. Additionally, in order that these educational centers are functional, OI requests from the MEST that procedures concerning work permit obtaining is accomplished within reasonable time frame while the municipalities and donors should support functioning of these learning centers.

OI continuously has supported requirements of some NGOs which provide services of additional learning, specifically for children of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptians communities, but also based on the mandate and competencies entrusted to it, it will oversee implementation of the Administrative Instruction No, 12.2017 on the Establishment and Functioning of Learning Centers in Kosovo and based on findings, will undertake concrete actions, that children of all ethnic groups, with the main emphases on children of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptians communities are provided with better conditions for learning.