Practical information
Please register to the workshop using the link below. Deadline for registration: 09 June 2023, at 12:00 CET.
About the workshop
The project, lasting between June 2020-July 2023, has aimed at attracting scholarly interest in studying Kosovo’s ongoing efforts to implement international human rights standards and transitional justice reforms related to the 1998-1999 armed conflict and the post-conflict period. While the COVID-19 pandemic created difficulties in the implementation of the project, several seminars and other activities have been organized, besides the mobilities of many students and academic staff.
The workshop takes stock of some of the main issues regarding the trajectory of transitional justice efforts undertaken in Kosovo in the aftermath of the armed conflict of 1998-1999. The armed conflict resulted in the displacement of about a million persons, with hundreds of thousands fleeing to the neighboring countries, the murder of over 12 thousand persons, sexual crimes and abuse against about 20 thousand women, and a lot of material damage to property and to cultural heritage. In the aftermath of the conflict, several institutions have been involved in pursuing transitional justice reforms in various fields, including domestic authorities and international organizations. From the involvement of the international institutions one needs to mention among others UNMIK and the ICTY, OSCE, and EULEX. These efforts aim to establish accountability, provide justice to victims, and build a foundation for sustainable peace and coexistence.
In terms of ensuring individual criminal responsibility, besides the activity of UNMIK, the ICTY, and EULEX, which did not yield the expected results, Kosovo authorities established the Specialist Chambers and the Specialist Prosecutor's Office in 2015. The Specialist Chambers have the authority to prosecute war crimes, crimes against humanity, and other serious crimes. Furthermore, the establishment of the Kosovo Property Agency (KPA) has been instrumental in addressing property rights issues resulting from the conflict. The KPA is responsible for resolving property disputes, facilitating the return of displaced persons, and ensuring fair compensation for victims. By addressing these grievances, the KPA contributes to rebuilding trust, promoting reconciliation, and providing redress for those who suffered loss during the conflict. In addition to these institutional mechanisms, efforts have been made to provide reparations and support to victims of human rights abuses. Programs have been implemented to provide financial assistance, healthcare services, psychosocial support, and vocational training to survivors. These initiatives recognize the rights of victims to reparations and aim to restore their dignity and well-being.
It is important to note that transitional justice in Kosovo is an ongoing and complex process. Challenges remain, including the need for increased cooperation and support from the international community, ensuring the sustainability and effectiveness of transitional justice mechanisms, and addressing the diverse needs of victims and affected communities. Despite these challenges, the transitional justice efforts in Kosovo represent a significant commitment to accountability, justice, and reconciliation. They contribute to healing the wounds of the past, promoting social cohesion, and preventing the recurrence of violence. By addressing human rights abuses, providing reparations, and fostering dialogue, Kosovo takes crucial steps towards building a more inclusive and just society.
The workshop brings together research based on archival, participatory and ethnographic methods to offer an in-depth and nuanced account of some relevant developments and open questions about transitional justice in Kosovo. The presentations in this workshop address ongoing institutional efforts in support of the legal status of survivors of wartime sexual violence, the dynamics between criminal trials and reconciliation, the agency and role of civil society organizations in advocacy, and the intersection of transitional justice with cultural heritage and arts bases initiatives for dealing with the past.
Programme
Please see here for short bios and abstracts of each presentation.
9.15-10.00 Refreshments
Introductory remarks
10.00-10.05 Bård Anders Andreassen, Director, Norwegian Centre for Human Rights
10.05-10.10 Nita Luci, Ambassador of Kosovo in Norway
10.10-10.15 Gentian Zyberi, Project leader, Erasmus + global mobility
Session 1, moderated by Bård Anders Andreassen
10.15-10.30 Ambassador Nita Luci, ‘The Past Is the Past’: The Potential of Critical Art Practices and Cultural Heritage for Transitional Justice
10.30-10.45 Professor Remzije Istrefi, Recognition of the Status of Sexual Violence Victim of War in Kosovo
10.45-11.05 Q&A
Session 2, moderated by Gentian Zyberi
11.05-11.20 Egzona Bexheti, Here for Heroines: The Role of NGOs in Supporting and Empowering Survivors of Sexual Violence During the War in Kosovo
11.20-11.35 Besnik Beqaj, Reconciling through Criminal Justice: The Case of Kosovo
11.35-11.55 Q&A
11.55-12.05 Concluding remarks, Gentian Zyberi