As of the month of September 2022, the Council of Europe Office in Pristina enlarged its cooperation with the Office for Good Governance under the Office of Prime Minister, but also with the Ministry of Local Self Government and a number of municipalities. This is thanks to the support of UNIMIK and the OHCHR.
The new project “Promoting Human Rights and Anti-discrimination principles at the local level” aims at strengthening capacities of municipal human rights units in understanding non-discrimination and reporting on its occurrences, with the aim of better steer central and local level policies. Further, the initiative will foster cooperation between municipalities and civil society organizations working locally with groups in vulnerable situations, to ensure stronger bottom-up approach when responding to discrimination and hate speech as one of its more modern forms.
The project held its official launching in Pristina on 16 September, at the presence of Deputy Prime Minister for Minority Issues and Human Rights Emilija Redžepi, the Head of the Office for Good Governance, the Office of Prime Ministers, Habit Hajredini, the Ombudsperson Naim Qelaj, the Head of the CoE Office in Pristina Frank Power, and the Representative of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Kosovo and Chief of the UNMIK Human Rights Section, Jerome Bouyjou.
The project ‘Promoting Human Rights and Anti-discrimination principles at the local level’ is implemented by the Anti-discrimination Department of the Council of Europe, funded by UNMIK and the OHCHR.
*All references to Kosovo, whether to the territory, institutions or population, in this text shall be understood in full compliance with United Nations’ Security Council Resolution 1244 and without prejudice to the status of Kosovo.