Pristina, 19th of September 2023 – Ombudsperson, Mr. Naim Qelaj hosted a Norwegian delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, headed by Mrs. Ingerd Schou.

Mr. Qelaj informed them about the state of human rights and freedoms in country, the rule of law and democracy, and also spoke about his mandate and powers, as well as about the work and activities in the protection and promotion of human rights.

He added that Kosovo’s membership in the Council of Europe would be an extraordinary step with a very big impact for the citizens of Kosovo, as a guarantee of respect for human rights and freedoms.

Ms. Schou emphasized that they are in Kosovo as part of a study trip and that the delegation is interested in learning more about democratic developments in the country. She added that Norway supports Kosovo in its application for membership in the Council of Europe, in European integration as well as in the development of democracy and human rights.

The Ombudsperson responded to the interest of the members of the delegation where, among other things, he emphasized that the Institution he leads works hard to promote human rights through awareness campaigns, the organization of conferences and roundtables, lectures, the publication of the opinions and stances of the Ombudsperson, media presence and all other forms of promotion.

Mr. Qelaj said that every year the Institution receives more than 1,500 complaints from citizens, while this year so far it has received over 1,200 complaints. Complaints mainly concern the right to an effective legal remedy, the lack of answers from the authorities, delays in court proceedings, violations of labor relations, social and health rights, etc.

He also emphasized that there is a growing trend in the implementation of the Ombudsperson’s recommendations by public institutions, thanks to the long-term commitment of the Ombudsperson and the institutional will, as a result of raising institutional awareness of the weight and importance of the implementation of the recommendations. He added that the authorities should do more to implement the recommendations so that citizens’ rights are respected and restored.