KOSOVO: Human Rights Serious Problem in Kosovo

Date: 
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Source: 
B92
Countries: 
Europe
Europe
Kosovo
PeaceWomen Consolidated Themes: 
Sexual and Gender-Based Violence

Government interference in the judiciary, corruption, intimidation of the media, discrimination and harassment of members of ethnic and sexual minorities, violence against women and child labor exploitation, all remained serious problems in Kosovo in 2010, states the report.

The report also details allegations made by Council of Europe Rapporteur Dick Marty, on the involvement of the former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) in the illegal trade in human organs, and recalls that current Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci was one of the leaders of that organization.

The report, which was prepared separately from the relevant report for Serbia, says that according to the Red Cross, a total of 1,822 people are still missing in Kosovo 1,822, of whom 70 percent are ethnic Albanians and 30 percent are Serbs and other minorities.

The U.S. Department of State also mentions that public officials, politicians and business people intimidate the Kosovo media.

According to the report, Kosovo is still characterized by institutional and societal discrimination against Serbs and other minorities in employment, education, social services, language use, freedom of movement, right of return and other fundamental rights.

There were cases of destruction of property owned by Serbs, some of which were aimed at pressurizing Serbs to sell it, the report says.