Human Rights Review Panel - 32^nd Session

Press Release
Number              01-2017
Date                   13 January 2017
Contact              John J Ryan

Press Release - Human Rights Review Panel

The Human Rights Review Panel, (Panel) held its 32nd session from 9 to 11 January, 2017. The Panel issued one (1) decision on merits, one (1) second decision on the implementation of its earlier recommendations by the Head of Mission, (HOM), two (2) decisions on the implementation of its recommendations by the HOM and two (2) decisions on admissibility..

The Panel found that there had been a violation of Article 13 of the European Convention on Human Rights in Case no. 2013-21 Thomas Rüsche Against EULEX. The Panel recommended that the HOM acknowledge that the circumstances of the case amounted to a breach of the complainant’s rights that were attributable to the acts and/or omissions of EULEX Kosovo in the performance of its executive mandate as well as to distribute a copy of the Decision to the EULEX Prosecutors.

The Panel declared that the HOM had not complied with its recommendations issued in Case No. 2011-20 X and 115 other complainants against EULEX and invited the HOM to update the Panel of further progress on the matter by 28 February, 2017.

The Panel declared in Case no. 2014-18 Fitim Maksutaj Against EULEX and in Case No. 2014-37 Y.B. Against EULEXthat the HOM had implemented its recommendations in part only and decided to close the examination of those cases. The Panel held in Case no. 2014-10 J.Q. Against EULEX and also in Case no. 2015-04 Nazmi Maloku Against EULEX that both complaints were inadmissible.

There are currently forty six (46) complaints pending before the Panel. Fifteen (15) cases have been communicated to the HoM for her observations and fourteen (14) cases are under review.

All decisions of the Panel are published on the website of the Panel in the English language and in the Albanian and Serbian languages when translated: www.hrrp.eu.

The next session of the Panel is scheduled to take place from 06 March to 08 March 2017. 

 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 Panel is independent in the exercise of its functions which it performs with impartiality and integrity.