Press Release: Preliminary Session - Human Rights Review Panel

The Human Rights Review Panel (HRRP) members, including the substitute member, held their first planning session in Pristina from 4 May to 6 May, 2010.

The EULEX Kosovo Acting Head of Mission, Mr. Roy Reeve, appointed the three selected members for the HRRP for EULEX Kosovo on 4 May. The HRRP members, Ms. Magdalena Mierzewska, Mr. Antonio Balsamo and Mr. Francesco Florit have been appointed for a one year period which is renewable. Ms. Gabriele Gaube was appointed as the substitute Panel member and she will replace Mr. Francesco Florit , who is an EULEX judge, in cases where a conflict of interest arises.

The Panel, which will review complaints from any person claiming to be the victim of human rights violations by EULEX Kosovo in the conduct of its executive mandate, was established after a decision by the European Union on 20 November 2009. The members of the Panel will serve to the effect that the Panel performs its functions with impartiality and integrity.

In this preliminary session, the panel members discussed wide ranging issues related to their work, adopted the Rules of Procedure on 5 May and the Panel members designated Mr. Antonio Balsamo as Chairperson of the HRRP.

The first regular session of the HRRP will take place in Pristina from 9 June to 11 June, 2010. The HRRP will convene regularly thereafter and exercise its functions within its own premises. The Secretariat of the Panel will be led by the Senior Legal Officer, Mr John J Ryan.

Notes to the editor:

The Human Rights Review Panel (HRRP) for EULEX Kosovo, as an independent accountability mechanism for alleged violations of human rights, will review complaints from any person claiming to be the victim of human rights violations by EULEX Kosovo in the conduct of its executive mandate. The HRRP 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. The HRRP is independent in the exercise of its functions which it will perform with impartiality and integrity.