Prishtinë/ Priština, 30 September 2022 – The national inquiry that has been commenced by the Ombudsperson Institution (OI), related to reproductive health, with a focus on maternal health, family planning and abortion in Kosovo, has reached the phase of public hearings.

These public hearings are scheduled as follows:

• Gjakovë/Đakovica,   3 October 2022
• Gjilan/Gnjilane,         5 October 2022
• Prishtinë/Priština,      6 October 2022
• Pejë/Peć,                     7 October 2022
• Prizren/Prizren,         10 October 2022
• Ferizaj/Uroševac,       11 October 2022
• Mitrovicë/Mitrovica, 12 October 2022

The hearings are to be held from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., in the halls of the respective municipal assemblies.

We recall that the public hearings are the fulfillment of the public dimension of this inquiry and follow-up of over 100 interviews and 14 focus groups, carried out in the seven country regions, with women and girls who have provided their testimonies about the treatment related to sexual and reproductive health. Their statements are the basis of the inquiry related to the level of respect or breaching of rights, which, directly or indirectly, are related to the issues that the inquiry deals with.

The given inquiry does not replace the role of the judiciary and other law enforcement bodies, but represents Ombudsperson’s follow-up work, pursuant to the mandate entreated, with regard to protection of human rights and freedoms, closely connected to “The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, especially with some aims of Goal 3: “Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.”; and Goal 5: “Achieve Gender Equality and Empower All Women and Girls.”

OI encourages women and girls, but others as well, who consider that can share their experiences and testimonies in a public hearing from the perspective of the issues that were highlighted above, to become part of these public hearings according to the regions where they live and work.