Istanbul, September 3, 2026 – The Ombudsperson of the Republic of Kosovo, Mr. Naim Qelaj, participated as a speaker at the Forum for the Exchange of Experiences of Ombudsmen from the Balkan Region and Neighboring Countries, which is being held on September 3 – 4, 2026 in Istanbul, organized by the Ombudsperson Institution of the Republic of Turkey.

The Forum, which brings together Ombudsmen and representatives of human rights institutions from the Balkans and neighboring countries, is dedicated to the role of Ombudsperson institutions in the protection of human rights and strengthening good governance, as well as the exchange of experiences and practices between participating institutions.

In the first session of the Forum, on the topic “The Ombudsperson and Human Rights Institutions as a Bridge of Trust between Citizens and the State”, Mr. Qelaj presented Kosovo’s experience in strengthening citizens’ trust in the Ombudsperson institution and in exercising its mandate to protect human rights.

In his speech, he said that public trust is not built only through independence guaranteed by law, but above all through concrete actions, institutional integrity and results in protecting citizens’ rights.

He emphasized that the Ombudsperson Institution cannot be limited to receiving complaints, but must listen, investigate, react, communicate and seek change, being close to citizens in moments when their rights are at risk.

“Trust is not created by demanding that citizens trust the institution, trust is created when the institution, every day, gives citizens reason to trust, by listening to them, by being there for them and by doing everything within our mandate to turn the protection of human rights into real change in people’s lives”, emphasized Mr. Qelaj.

The Ombudsperson reiterated that his mandate is exercised equally for all citizens, regardless of their community affiliation, emphasizing that any complaint or concern raised by citizens must receive the attention and response of the Institution.

In conclusion, the Ombudsperson Naim Qelaj emphasized that the experience of Kosovo proves that trust between citizens and the state can only be built on strong principles of independence, impartiality, professionalism, clarity, transparency, timely response, courage and results.

The Forum program includes a total of six thematic sessions, which address important issues for the work of the Ombudsperson institutions, including the protection of the rights of residents of remote and rural areas, the contribution of institutions in promoting the principles of good governance, common regional problems and challenges, as well as strengthening regional cooperation in the field of human rights.

The Forum is attended by Ombudspersons and representatives of human rights institutions from Kosovo, Turkey, Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Romania, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Bulgaria, creating an important space for dialogue and exchange of experiences between institutions in the region and neighboring countries.