Pristina, July 8, 2024 – The European Network of National Human Rights Institutions (ENNHRI), in which the Ombudsman Institution is a member, has published the report on the rule of law in Europe for the year 2023, in which 51 have contributed countries of the European region, including Kosovo.

Every year, the National Institutions for Human Rights (IKDNJ), members of ENNHRI report on the state of the rule of law in their jurisdiction, and this year it focused on checks and balances and the impact of securitization on human rights. , which are collected to identify regional trends and recommendations for strengthening the rule of law in Europe.

The findings of this year’s report speak to ongoing challenges affecting the rule of law, including inadequate implementation of HRD recommendations by national authorities, insufficient consultation of them in law and policy-making processes, and difficulties in accessing information. and inadequate financial and human resources, challenges that affect their ability to act for checks and balances, in compliance with their constitutional and legal mandates.

In addition, the report highlights the negative impact that restrictive national security measures have on the rule of law and human rights, including those related to migration, terrorist threats and armed conflicts.

In relation to these issues, the report has produced a number of key recommendations for regional and European and national actors. They include:

to take steps to advance the implementation of the regional actors’ recommendations by the state authorities, in time and in cooperation with the IKDNJ;
strongly support the creation of space for independent and effective KPIs, which in themselves are a key element of checks and balances, particularly by ensuring adequate financial and human resources to properly carry out the mandate, as well as ensuring the timely implementation of their recommendations.
to support, protect and empower defenders of human rights and civil society space that is essential for the rule of law;
to define priorities and take decisive steps to support the implementation of the judgments of the European Courts, in consultation with HRDs and civil society;
ensure a human rights-based approach to securitization, particularly by conducting human rights impact assessments of laws and policies related to national security and law enforcement activities. These assessments should also include timely and meaningful consultation with KNIDUs and other stakeholders.
Addressing other ongoing challenges to the rule of law, including structural human rights issues, while recognizing that the rule of law and human rights must be mutually reinforcing.

Read the full regional summary here: https://rule-of-law.ennhri.org/export?country%5B0%5D=2&year%5B0%5D=2024

Read the report on Kosovo: https://rule-of-law.ennhri.org/export?country%5B0%5D=27&year%5B0%5D=2024