Ombudsperson Institution of Kosovo became today the 50^th member of the European Network of Equality Bodies (EQUINET). The mission of this network is to promote the equality in Europe by supporting and enabling the work of equality bodies, to be independent and effective in their engagement for protection against discrimination and unequal treatment.

 Brussels, 23 October 2019 – The Ombudsperson, Mr. Hilmi Jashari, presented today to the members of the General Assembly of EQUINET the request of the Ombudsperson Institution to become full member of European Network of Equality Bodies (EQUINET).

On this occasion, Mr. Jashari stated that Ombudsperson Institution of Kosovo operates in compliance with the EQUINET Statute and pre-defined criteria and meets the conditions required for membership along other equality bodies that are members of this network.

Despite the formal objection of Serbia, namely the Note of Protest of the Commissioner for the Protection of Equality in Serbia, and their prior lobbying, members of EQUINET, with majority of votes, voted in favour of membership of the Ombudsperson Institution of the Republic of Kosovo to this network.

Membership of the Ombudsperson Institution of Kosovo to the European Network of Equality Bodies (EQUINET) is another success achieved by this institution and is added to the list of memberships to international structures concerning human rights.