Pristina, November 16, 2022 – The Ombudsperson, Mr. Naim Qelaj welcomed the representatives of civil society organizations (CSOs) at the second regular working meeting of the Forum for Dialogue between the Ombudsman Institution (IAP) and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs).

This was the second regular working meeting of the Forum for Dialogue, for the year 2022. During this meeting, the developments and initiatives undertaken after the first regular meeting of the Forum, which was held in May of this year, were presented and discussed, in which case many challenges and concerns were raised from the sphere of protection of basic human rights and freedoms in the country, with the need to address them to the competent public institutions.

Also, the conclusions of the Ombudspeson were presented and discussed in relation to the findings of the report of the civil society on human rights in Kosovo for the year 2021.

Among the many important topics discussed, Forum members raised as an issue the low number of students with disabilities who enjoy support from personal assistants. Another issue mentioned was the discrimination of persons with disabilities in cultural activities, as well as the hateful language used in public discourse. Another topic that was discussed was the rights of non-majority communities in the country and current concerns.

Representatives of non-governmental organizations also raised concerns about the transfer of social fields under the competence of the Ministry of Justice; the protection of the rights and dignity of the elderly and the need to supervise public and private institutions for the care of the elderly, as well as the recent legislative initiatives and their compatibility with the constitution and the need to take actions within the powers and responsibilities of the Ombudsperson.