Life in Kosovo Debates the Issue of Headscarves in Public Schools
This Thursday, Life in Kosovo discusses the issue of wearing headscarves in public institutions.
Read more
Every Thursday starting from 20:30, Radio Television Kosovo, RTK, broadcasts the TV debate show "Life in Kosovo", a joint production of BIRN and RTK.
Read more
BIRN launches annual report on monitoring of courts
02 June 2009 BIRN revealed the findings yesterday in a conference in Prishtina of
its year-long project monitoring municipal and district courts in seven
municipalities of Kosovo.
Major problems noted by the monitors
in the report include unreasonably long delays in opening, and then
concluding, cases; failures to meet the standards expected in handling
trials, and some instances of suspected corruption by judges and prosecutors.
Following the introduction of the report and its main findings by the
project manager, Fatmire Tërdevci, BIRN organized a panel discussion
on the weaknesses of the judicial system, which was moderated by BIRN
Kosovo Director Jeta Xharra. The discussion panel consisted of:
Rexhep Haxhimusa, head of the Supreme Court of Kosova;
Vahid Limani, head of the Administration and Personnel Department at
KJC Secretariat;
Ismet Kabashi, head of the Kosovo Prosecutors’ Association;
Hamdi Ibrahimi, Pristina District Court judge;
Nekibe Kelmendi, Minister of Justice;
Kujtim Kërveshi, legal expert from Kosovo Judicial Institute;
Fatmire Tërdevci, project manager;
Isa Gacaferi, court monitor in Peja region;
Valdrin Beka, court monitor in Ferizaj region,
Fatmire Haliti, court monitor in Gjilan region,
Faton Ademi court monitor in regions of Mitrovica, Vushtrri and Skenderaj,
Betim Musliu, journalist covering justice,
Musa Dragusha, head of the Kosovo Chamber of Lawyers.
Çlirim Hajdeni, head of the Planning and Development Unit, Investigations
Pillar of Kosovo Police.
The discussion revealed and commented
the key findings of the report. According to these findings, the limited
number of prosecutors poses a great difficulty for the justice system
in Kosovo, which was also illustrated by a TV report prepared by the
monitors that showed how one prosecutor had to be in two or three trials
at the same time.
The discussion also focused on the
implications of the delays in attending a trial case and the negative
phenomena of trials being held in judges’ offices instead of in the
courtrooms.
Another key problem identified by the report was the absence of translators
in most of the trials monitored.
The TV report demonstrated how people
were affected by hearing their trial in a language they did not understand,
whereas the debate extended into giving figures and other examples of
people affected by the lack of a translator.
Regarding judicial infrastructure, the report also stressed both the
lack of basic necessities such as pens and paper, and the lack of effective
training on the use of electronic devices.
According to panelists, most
of the court staff did not know how to use the audio devices in the
court rooms, although they had previously received or been offered training.
The bar exam, which has not been organised
for more than a year now, was another major problem addressed during
the conference.
To conclude, the speech was yielded
to the public to raise questions or express their comments on the findings
of the report.
The full report on Courts Monitoring
can be found at: http://www.balkaninsight.com/
“The
monitoring of public services project” is implemented by BIRN with the
financial support of Rockefeller Brothers Fund, Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, Balkan Trust for Democracy
and the European Commission.
Climate Change
This December, representatives of around 192 countries gathered in Copenhagen, Denmark for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC) to forge agreement on a Protocol determining how to collectively combat climate change. This will replace the Kyoto Protocol which expires in 2012, and hopefully correct its shortcomings.
Report on Kosovo`s Healthcare System
Monitoring report on all primary, secondary and tertiary (University Clinical Center of Kosovo, UCCK) healthcare institutions in Pristina, Prizren, Peja, Mitrovica, Gjilan, Ferizaj, Gjakova, Klina, Decan, Istog and Vushtrri.
BIRN Report on Monitoring the Education System
Report on monitoring the elementary and high schools in Prishtina: Mitrovica, Ferizaj, Peja and Gjilan
Analytical report of the situation and the problems in the University of Prishtina
REPORT: Monitoring the Courts
Monitoring the work and administration of courts in Prishtina, Peja, Mitrovica, Gjilan, Ferizaj, Vushtrri and Skenderaj
Read more
Download PDF
Buy DVD
Click here to buy a copy of 'Does Anyone Have a Plan?,' BIRN's feature-length documentary on Kosovo's final status.
"Life in Kosovo" debates also available on DVDs now!
Read more
Post Your Comments
Write your comment on BIRN debates and other activities.With the new web-site BIRN looks forward to receive direct opinions from our readers via comment section.
Read more
Balkan Investigative Reporting Network
The opinions expressed in Balkan Insight are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network.
Comments:
No comments have been posted.