Training on Human Rights and Transitional Justice in Kosovo for members of Community Forums for Public Interest

Prishtina, May 17, 2023: In the framework of the project Fostering Interethnic Relations and Cooperation (FIERC) implemented by the Kosovar Centre for Security Studies (KCSS) in cooperation with the New Social Initiative (NSI), and supported by the Stability Pact Fund of the German Federal Foreign Office, members of the Community Forum for Public Interest (CFPI) from municipalities of Strpce, Gracanica, Lipjan, Kamenica and Viti attended a one-day training on transitional justice and human rights.  

The purpose of the training was to better understand the institutional, legal and policy framework for human rights and the rights of non-majority communities in Kosovo. The training also aimed to inform the participants how Kosovo has handled the transitional justice process and why it is important for reconciliation and peaceful inter-ethnic relations in Kosovo.  

The training was conducted by Mr. Bekim Balkaj, the executive director of the Humanitarian Law Centre of Kosovo, who has extensive experience in transitional justice and dealing with the past.  

The training highlighted the importance of members of Community Forums for Public Interest to promote interethnic relations and cooperation, as well as counter efforts that threaten the tolerance and multiethnic society in Kosovo.  

The Community Forums for Public Interest have been established in the framework of the FIERC project to facilitate dialogue and cooperation among different ethnic groups in diverse municipalities in Kosovo. FIERC project will provide additional capacity development support for members of the CFPIs in area of advocacy and community organization. FIERC project also plans to fund up to ten community initiatives that promote public interests and resolve a concrete issue of concern for communities.