Prishtina, March 9, 2021 – The Ombudsperson’s Institution presented on Tuesday two reports with recommendations related to the non-implementation of laws regarding domestic violence and the rights of single mothers (parents) regarding the recognition of annual leave.

At the roundtable organized in Prishtina, the details of the two ex officio reports with recommendations for the responsible institutions with the findings of the OIK were disclosed.

The first report concerns the operative preventive measures for the protection of victims of domestic violence, according to Law no.05 / L-003 on electronic surveillance of persons whose movement is restricted by a court decision.

The report concludes that the failure of the responsible institutions to implement this law has not fully fulfilled the obligation to protect victims, nor of victims of domestic violence.

The Ombudsperson, Mr. Naim Qelaj said that domestic violence should be combated in such a way that the state uses all measures, including those arising from the Law on Electronic Surveillance of persons whose movement is restricted by a court decision.

Mr. Samedin Mehmeti, General Director of the Kosovo Police, stressed that the police has managed to train a number of officers for electronic surveillance but has not managed to establish an operating room. He added that the Kosovo Police is looking at financial opportunities or donations to create this room where people can be monitored electronically.

Mr. Habit Hajredini, director of the office for good governance, within the office of the Prime Minister, said that his office has a legal obligation to monitor institutions regarding the implementation of the Ombudsman’s recommendations. He added that his office is making efforts to increase the dynamics of work with central and local institutions to implement the recommendations in a timely manner.

Mr. Skender Çoçaj, Chairman of the Kosovo Judicial Council, said that the findings of the report are important and that all relevant institutions need to be committed to preventing domestic violence. He added that the courts have not yet made any decision on electronic surveillance due to the lack of such equipment and other infrastructure.

Recommendations for the implementation of this law have been made to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Kosovo Police, the Prosecution and the Courts.

Mr. Qelaj added that the implementation of this law that is in force would be a guarantee that the state would provide effective protection to victims of domestic violence.

The other report published in this roundtable was related to the rights of single mothers (parents) in Kosovo regarding the recognition of annual leave for two days for a single parent, which belongs to them according to the Law no. 03 / LO-212 of the Republic of Kosovo.

Ex-officio investigation has revealed that mothers with children up to three years old, single parents and persons with disabilities are entitled to two additional working days off.

The Ombudsperson recommends to the Labor Inspectorate to monitor the implementation of this law, and also to the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare to provide a precise definition of a single parent in the legislation. In the end, Mr. Qelaj stressed that this year will be the year of promoting the Law on Protection from Discrimination.

Links to reports: https://bit.ly/3quWQ7Q and https://bit.ly/3t3Lbyp