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OSCE Mission increases human rights support to Kosovo's provisional ministries
PRISTINA 20 March 2006
PRISTINA, 20 March 2006 - Kosovo Prime Minister Agim Çeku and Ambassador Werner Wnendt, Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, today signed an agreement increasing the OSCE support in the field of human rights to the ministries of the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government (PISG).
"The Prime Minister's commitment to ensure a human rights unit in each ministry aims to improve the executive branch's accountability and compliance with human rights standards," said Ambassador Wnendt. "This demonstrates the Government's readiness, with OSCE's support, to make Kosovo a place where human rights are respected for all people."
Under the agreement, a Central Human Rights Advisory Unit, jointly co-ordinated by the Prime Minister's Advisory Office on Good Governance, Human Rights, Equality Opportunity and Gender and the OSCE Mission, will be created. The Unit will be staffed by senior human rights advisors who will work within select ministries to provide daily assistance to staff tasked with developing new structures, policies and practices.
The human rights units will also assist response by PISG ministries to cross-cutting human rights-related elements of the government's 2006 work plan, including the implementation of the Anti-Discrimination Law and in developing a Kosovo-wide human rights strategy. Key vulnerable groups identified in the work plan include minorities, returnees, refugees, internally-displaced persons, women, persons with disability, children, pensioners and persons at risk of being trafficked.
The Prime Minister's approval of this new OSCE-funded programme demonstrates the government's dedication to working hand-in-hand with human rights professionals from the OSCE Mission in order to see that human rights are protected and respected in Kosovo.
Advisors will be working in the Office of the Prime Minister, the ministries of Justice, Internal Affairs, and Communities and Returns, as well as other ministries.
"The decision to improve each ministry's ability to implement international human rights standards will also work toward the goal of European integration," added Ambassador Wnendt.
"An additional long-term benefit of increasing Kosovo's compliance with such human rights provisions is that is supports the creation of a more stable and hospitable environment for investment from abroad."
"The Prime Minister's commitment to ensure a human rights unit in each ministry aims to improve the executive branch's accountability and compliance with human rights standards," said Ambassador Wnendt. "This demonstrates the Government's readiness, with OSCE's support, to make Kosovo a place where human rights are respected for all people."
Under the agreement, a Central Human Rights Advisory Unit, jointly co-ordinated by the Prime Minister's Advisory Office on Good Governance, Human Rights, Equality Opportunity and Gender and the OSCE Mission, will be created. The Unit will be staffed by senior human rights advisors who will work within select ministries to provide daily assistance to staff tasked with developing new structures, policies and practices.
The human rights units will also assist response by PISG ministries to cross-cutting human rights-related elements of the government's 2006 work plan, including the implementation of the Anti-Discrimination Law and in developing a Kosovo-wide human rights strategy. Key vulnerable groups identified in the work plan include minorities, returnees, refugees, internally-displaced persons, women, persons with disability, children, pensioners and persons at risk of being trafficked.
The Prime Minister's approval of this new OSCE-funded programme demonstrates the government's dedication to working hand-in-hand with human rights professionals from the OSCE Mission in order to see that human rights are protected and respected in Kosovo.
Advisors will be working in the Office of the Prime Minister, the ministries of Justice, Internal Affairs, and Communities and Returns, as well as other ministries.
"The decision to improve each ministry's ability to implement international human rights standards will also work toward the goal of European integration," added Ambassador Wnendt.
"An additional long-term benefit of increasing Kosovo's compliance with such human rights provisions is that is supports the creation of a more stable and hospitable environment for investment from abroad."