Minority Rights Anti-Discrimination Capacitation in Kosovo

26 June 2007

Minority Rights Anti-Discrimination Capacitation in Kosovo

From the beginning of May 2007, the ERRC will implement a 1-year project in Kosovo with its partner, Roma and Ashkaeli Documentation Centre (RADC), to further the implementation of Kosovo's anti-discrimination law. The ERRC and RADC are grateful to the British government's Foreign and Commonwealth Office for supporting this project.

The aims of the project are to:

• Raise awareness of racial discrimination against RAE and other minorities in Kosovo;
• Undertake activities aiming to further implementation of Kosovo's anti-discrimination law for the benefit of all minority groups in Kosovo;
• Strengthen the capacity of stakeholders including judges and prosecutors, independent lawyers, RAE and other minority activists and NGOs, and human rights advocates to work in the field of anti-discrimination law in Kosovo; and
• Make a significant contribution towards ending race-based human rights abuse of RAE and other minorities in Kosovo.

Within the project, the ERRC and RADC will undertake the following activities:

1. Conduct a training seminar for 30 judges and prosecutors on anti-discrimination and human rights law and implementation;
2. Conduct a training seminar for 30 lawyers on anti-discrimination and human rights law and implementation;
3. Conduct a series of 4 training workshops for 80 minority representatives/activists on anti-discrimination law and advocacy;
4. Document cases of discrimination and human rights abuse of Roma, Ashkaeli and Egyptians in Kosovo;
5. Publish a full length report on the human rights situation of Roma, Ashkaeli and Egyptians in Kosovo; and
6. File 6 strategic test cases before Kosovo courts under the anti-discrimination law, with a view to testing implementation of the law and securing redress for victims of discrimination. 

For further information on this project, please contact Tara Bedard at: tara.bedard@errc.org.