Press Release

Human Rights Review Panel - 9th regular session

Press Release
Number              06-2011
Date                  25.11.2011
Contact              John J Ryan

Human Rights Review Panel

The Human Rights Review Panel (HRRP) held its 9th regular session in Prishtinë/Priština from 21 to 23 November 2011.

It was noted that there were seventeen (17) complaints pending at the start of the session and the Panel adopted decisions in eleven (11) of those complaints. In addition, the Panel reviewed the implementation of its recommendations in two cases which it had communicated to the Head of Mission, EULEX, (HOM). The Panel noted that EULEX had undertaken certain measures to address the complainant’s situation within the framework of its executive mandate in the first case. In the second case, the Panel noted that the HOM had implemented the substance of the Panel’s recommendations.  It declared that the HOM had exercised his functions as appropriate in both instances and decided to close the examination of the cases. The decisions adopted by the Panel will be transmitted to the complainants as well as the HoM and they will be published on the Panel’s website upon translation into the Albanian and Serbian languages.

The Panel continued with its outreach campaign through meetings with representatives of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe , the Council of Europe, the European Commission Liason Office and the Danish Refugee Council. In addition, the Panel conducted a round table-discussion on legal aid with representatives of various organisations involved with legal aid in Kosovo. The objective of the discussion was to determine to whom the Panel might best direct people whose complaints fall outside its jurisdiction.

The Panel has received of forty three (43) complaints since it commenced its operations in June 2010. The next Panel session will take place from 6 to 8 February, 2012.

Please see www.hrrp.eu for further information on the Panel.

 Notes to the editor;
The Human Rights Review Panel (Panel) for EULEX Kosovo, as an independent accountability mechanism for alleged violations of human rights,  reviews complaints from any person claiming to be the victim of human rights violations by EULEX Kosovo in the conduct of its executive mandate. The Panel is not a judicial or disciplinary body. The mechanism will solely look into whether a violation of human rights occurred or not and formulate recommendations for remedial action. Such action does no include monetary compensation.  The Psnel is independent in the exercise of its functions which it performs with impartiality and integrity.