Prishtinë, April 24, 2019 – Memorandum of Understanding is signed between the Swiss National Commission for the Prevention of Torture and the Ombudsperson Institution on common monitoring of Forced Return Operations between Switzerland and Kosovo.

In the ceremony of signing the MoU Mr. Hilmi Jashari, the Ombudsperson, welcomed his Excellency, Swiss Ambassador in Republic of Kosovo, Mr. Jean-Hubert Lebet, as well as Mr. Alberto Acheman, Head of Swiss National Preventive Mechanism and Mrs. Sandra Imhof, Head of Secretariat of the National Commission for the Prevention of Torture.

This agreement is of the specific importance for both institutions, it is the first international agreement of this nature for both institutions, for the Swiss National Commission for the Prevention of Torture but at the same time for the Institution of the Ombudsperson, within the scope of which, National Preventive Mechanism against Torture for Kosovo acts.

During the ceremony of signing, all parties pointed out the importance of cooperation on issues of common interests.

This present Memorandum of Understanding establishes a framework for cooperation between the National Commission for the Prevention of Torture (NCPT) and the Ombudsperson Institution of Kosovo (OIK), both acting as National Preventive Mechanism (NPM), regarding common monitoring of Forced Return Operations between Switzerland and Kosovo.

Through this Memorandum, Parties agree to cooperate closely and consult one another on matters of mutual interest with the aim of reaching joint objectives, to ensure that Returnees have been treated correctly by Swiss police forces during forced removal and to ensure that Returnees, who have been forcibly returned, are treated humanely when handed over to police authorities of Republic of Kosovo at Prishtina International Airport.

The monitoring process will involve the phase of hand-over at Prishtina International Airport, entry modalities at the border point conducted by Kosovo police forces, medical check-ups and any other assessment procedure as well as transfer to detention center if relevant.