19.05.2025. » 11:13 | ACDC

Open Letter to Mr. Naim Qelaj, Ombudsperson

Request for Clarification Regarding Public Statement on Allegations of Harassment in Northern Kosovo

Dear Mr. Qelaj,

We are writing to respectfully request clarification regarding your recent public statement made in the Kallxo Përnime program, in which you commented on the allegations raised by civil society organizations, among other actors, about the harassment of women and girls in northern Kosovo.

As you are aware, in response to numerous citizen reports and growing media coverage of harassment incidents—particularly affecting women and girls, including minors—in northern Kosovo, a group of civil society organizations publicly raised concerns about the lack of adequate institutional response. The joint statement, issued earlier this month by CASA, NSI, InTER, Aktiv, and ACDC, mentioned disturbing incidents involving people reportedly coming from the direction of South Mitrovica and the failure of the Kosovo Police to respond effectively. The statement further expressed concern over allegations of witness intimidation and institutional inaction.

In your interview, you acknowledged that your office had met with representatives of the Serbian community and relevant institutions, including the Police Inspectorate of Kosovo and the Kosovo Police. You also affirmed that all such allegations merit serious investigation. However, we were deeply concerned by your additional remark that, in the absence of officially reported cases, these allegations “could be part of an attempt by certain groups to discredit the reputation of the Kosovo Police.”

Given the gravity of the issue at hand—and in the spirit of transparency and public trust—we would appreciate clarification on the following points:

1. On what basis was the suggestion made that the raised allegations may be part of a reputational campaign against the Kosovo Police? Were there any findings or evidence that informed this assessment?

2. In light of its constitutional mandate to safeguard human rights, how does the Ombudsperson’s Office ensure that victims who may fear institutional retaliation feel adequately protected and encouraged to come forward?

3. In your public statement, you asserted that the Kosovo Police have not received any officially reported cases of such harassment. However, at least three such cases have, in fact, been reported to the police, and authorities have confirmed that there is evidence supporting these reports. Could you please clarify the basis for your statement, and whether your Office has since taken steps to verify or correct this information?

4. Has your office initiated or considered initiating ex officio investigations into allegations of institutional misconduct or neglect in the reported harassment cases?

5. What measures is the Ombudsperson’s Office undertaking to monitor the work of the Kosovo Police and Police Inspectorate in the north, given the broader findings presented in our recent joint report “Ethnization of Kosovo Police: Erosion of Ahtisaari’s Basis of a Civic and Multiethnic Institution”?

We wish to reaffirm our commitment to open and constructive engagement with your institution and other oversight bodies in Kosovo. As part of this engagement, the five undersigned organizations have, in multiple meetings with your Office, raised a range of human rights and rule of law concerns, consistently providing arguments, facts, and evidence to inform your work and support institutional accountability. We strongly believe that the public narrative surrounding such sensitive issues must be grounded in facts and careful consideration, so as not to discourage victims from speaking out or erode public confidence in accountability mechanisms.

We remain at your disposal for a meeting or further dialogue, and we thank you in advance for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Center for Affirmative Social Actions - CASA

New Social Initiative - Nova društvena inicijativa

Institute for Territorial Economic Development

Ngo Aktiv

Advocacy Center For Democratic Culture