Source description last updated: 2 June 2020

In brief: The OSCE Mission in Kosovo is a field operation of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) that runs activities in the field of human rights, democratisation and public safety.

Coverage on ecoi.net:

Selected reports.

Covered quarterly on ecoi.net, for Kosovo

Mission/Mandate/Objectives:

“[Headquartered in Prishtinë/Priština”, the Mission “maintains five regional offices located in Gjilan/Gnjilane, Mitrovicë/Mitrovica, Pejë/Peć, and Prizren, as well as in Prishtinë/Priština itself. […] The Mission has a total of 504 staff; its 2019 budget amounts to EUR 17,462,600.” (OSCE Mission in Kosovo website: Who we are, undated)

One of the OSCE’s largest field operations, the Mission in Kosovo […] is particularly engaged in the protection of community rights; protection of cultural and religious heritage; monitoring the judiciary; gender mainstreaming; media freedom and development; promotion of anti-discrimination mechanisms; improving young people’s participation in political and public life; countering terrorism and cyber threats; providing advanced police training and support to key policing and security strategies; and support to the implementation of agreements stemming from the European Union-facilitated dialogue between Prishtinë/Priština and Belgrade. The Mission monitors the work of governmental, municipal and independent institutions and helps strengthen legislation and policies covering the protection of human and community rights; anti-discrimination; freedom of expression; gender equality; and the fight against corruption and organized crime.“ (OSCE Mission in Kosovo website: OSCE Mission in Kosovo, undated)

Amongst other publications, the OSCE Mission in Kosovo publishes the annual Justice Monitor, the bi-annual Property Rights Monitor, factsheets and specialised reports (OSCE website: Publications (OSCE Mission in Kosovo, undated).

Funding:

OSCE funds (for details, please see source description on the OSCE: https://www.ecoi.net/en/source/11387.html)

Scope of reporting:

Geographic scope: Kosovo

Thematic scope: human rights, democracy and rule of law

Methodology:

The annual Justice Monitor summarises observations from the OSCE Mission in Kosovo’s regular monitoring of court proceedings, focusing on data relating to court efficiency (the ratio of completed cases / received cases), access to justice, evidentiary documentation of proceedings and the extent to which decisions are well-reasoned (see, for example, OSCE Mission in Kosovo: Justice Monitor; 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2018, 21 February 2020).

The bi-annual Property Rights Monitor provides an overview of observations made by field monitors on “property and housing rights of non-majority community members and DPs”. It presents data on issues such as expropriation, illegal occupation, social housing and legalization. (see, for example, OSCE Mission in Kosovo: Property Rights Monitor, January–June 2019, 18 December 2019)

Specialised reports published by the Mission may be based on expert interviews, surveys, focus group discussion and in-depth interviews (OSCE Mission in Kosovo: Survey on well-being and safety of women in Kosovo, 21 November 2019, p. 8) as well as regular monitoring data collected by means of tracking tools and research in various sources. (OSCE Mission in Kosovo: Assessment of Voluntary Returns to Kosovo, 2 December 2019, p. 8)

Languages of publication:

English, Albanian and Serbian

Further reading:

Source description for the OSCE: https://www.ecoi.net/en/source/11387.html

 

All links accessed 2 June 2020.