Newsroom
OSCE advisory teams help promote human rights in Kosovo's ministries
PRISTINA 21 March 2007
PRISTINA, 21 March 2007 - Ambassador Werner Wnendt , the Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, will today host a ceremony in Prishtine/Pristina to mark the first year of the deployment of OSCE Human Rights Advisory Teams in Kosovo ministries.
Since the signing of an agreement between the Mission and the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government (PISG) one year ago, the Mission has provided technical assistance and built the capacity of Human Rights Units in the Office of the Prime Minister and each PISG ministry.
The OSCE Human Rights Advisory Teams provide expertise, recommendations and advice to their counterparts, with a view to assisting in the development of structures, mechanisms, procedures and policies which protect, promote and advance human rights.
"Thanks to this joint co-operation between the OSCE and the PISG, progress has been made towards improving compliance with human rights standards in Kosovo," said Ambassador Wnendt.
"I would like to emphasize the advances made in the areas of planning, capacity-building and public awareness. With the support of OSCE the ministries have already made advances on the Human Rights Strategy and Action Plan, the training of the Human Rights Units, and a public information campaign on the Anti-Discrimination Law."
Following the recent signing of a new Administrative Instruction by the Prime Minister, the Human Rights Units will be institutionalized. The instruction specifies each ministry's obligations in committing human resources, and in developing the internal organizational structure, information exchange and reporting requirements.
The OSCE Mission in Kosovo will continue to support central and local institutions and the implementation of human rights now and after the status decision.
Since the signing of an agreement between the Mission and the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government (PISG) one year ago, the Mission has provided technical assistance and built the capacity of Human Rights Units in the Office of the Prime Minister and each PISG ministry.
The OSCE Human Rights Advisory Teams provide expertise, recommendations and advice to their counterparts, with a view to assisting in the development of structures, mechanisms, procedures and policies which protect, promote and advance human rights.
"Thanks to this joint co-operation between the OSCE and the PISG, progress has been made towards improving compliance with human rights standards in Kosovo," said Ambassador Wnendt.
"I would like to emphasize the advances made in the areas of planning, capacity-building and public awareness. With the support of OSCE the ministries have already made advances on the Human Rights Strategy and Action Plan, the training of the Human Rights Units, and a public information campaign on the Anti-Discrimination Law."
Following the recent signing of a new Administrative Instruction by the Prime Minister, the Human Rights Units will be institutionalized. The instruction specifies each ministry's obligations in committing human resources, and in developing the internal organizational structure, information exchange and reporting requirements.
The OSCE Mission in Kosovo will continue to support central and local institutions and the implementation of human rights now and after the status decision.