Today, on Human Rights Day, the European Centre for Minority Issues (ECMI) Kosovo would like to reiterate its unwavering support for the advancement of human rights and minority rights in Kosovo.

On December 4th 2014, a roundtable discussion was held in Prishtinë/Priština to mark the finalisation of the project, “How to breathe life into Kosovo anti-discrimination legislation”. The roundtable was organized and coordinated by the European Centre for Minority Issues Kosovo (ECMI Kosovo) and saw the participation of some thirty (30) individuals, including the Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Kosovo, his Excellency Mr. Ivo Šilhavý, from a host of organisations across Kosovo with the common goal of decreasing ethnic, gender and other forms of discrimination in Kosovo. His Excellency Ambassador Šilhavý, greeted the participants and expressed his support and that of the Czech Republic for the project.

Over the course of the implementation of the project Empowering Civil Society to Participate Effectively in Policy and Decision-Making Processes through Dialogue with Government Institutions, funded by the European Union Office in Kosovo, ECMI Kosovo, and with its partners Communication with Social Development (CSD) and Network of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian Womens’ Organisation of Kosovo(NRAEWOK), supported the establishment of the GORA Community Network. The establishment of the GORA Community Network aims to foster a link between various CSOs from the region, and better advocate for their respective local government structures.

There are alarming reports from all over Kosovo of a steep increase of illegal emigrations out of Kosovo towards western countries during recent months. A large number of individuals and even entire families are reported to have migrated to western countries through illegal routes. Although Kosovo Albanians are also said to have been leaving Kosovo for Western Europe, Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian minority communities are particularly affected by this trend. These three communities are some of Kosovo’s most vulnerable, and the growing number of individuals and families leaving Kosovo represents a worrying trend that needs to be tackled immediately by Kosovo’s relevant institutions. This report brings together some statistical findings on the recent emigration wave, as well as the reported reasons for emigration and the emigration routes, in order to make short and long-term recommendations to the Kosovo government.

ECMI Kosovo has become aware of several incidents involving minority communities, most of which are clearly ethnically motivated. The incidents include damage to private property and stone-throwing at homes owned by Kosovo Serbs. ECMI Kosovo would like to take the opportunity to condemn them and call on the police authorities to investigate these incidents and, where appropriate, apprehend their perpetrators.

As a result of the stalemate over the election of the parliament Speaker, Kosovo remains with an acting government and many issues and challenges are left open. There are a number of pressing issues pertaining to minority communities that await full treatment by a new government. Minority communities political representatives in the Parliament recently attempted to involve the President of Kosovo to have the Constitutional Court re-interpret some parts of its decision. For these and more please read in the full document: