Pristina, October 16, 2023 – The Ombudsperson discussed with representatives of the local government and civil society organizations of the Mitrovica region about inter-institutional cooperation for the improvement of human rights and good governance.

The Ombudsperson said that such debates enable the exchange of ideas and opinions that aim to increase cooperation with the sole purpose of improving the state of human rights in the municipalities.

The Ombudsperson spoke about his mandate and powers, stressing that he exercises this role by issuing reports with recommendations where he finds violations of human rights, and asks the authorities to take measures to restore violated rights.

He emphasized that the implementation of the Ombudsperson’s recommendations by the responsible authorities help first and foremost the citizens but also the work of public institutions. He added that the implementation of the recommendations at the local level is satisfactory, while there is room for improvement, since not every time the implementation of these recommendations is done according to the legal deadlines.

The participants raised various concerns and issues, and in particular the problems faced by people with disabilities were highlighted, such as difficulties in accessing public spaces, the lack of assistants in schools for children with disabilities, and the lack of conditions in schools for these children.

The Ombudsperson’s institution intends to hold a series of round tables across the regions of Kosovo, with the aim of promoting respect for human rights, fostering a culture of transparency and accountability in public administration, with a focus on local governance.

The round table was realized in cooperation with the OSCE mission in Kosovo.