Promoting respect for human rights in pretrial detention and prisons

Contact: Vivianna Nyroos

Partner: Kosovo Rehabilitation Centre for Torture Victims

Project description
RCT and KRCT cooperate on a two-year project that is primarily financed through a grant from the Open Society Institute (OSI) . The purpose of the project is to reduce inhuman and degrading treatment in Kosovo's detention centre and prison system. This purpose can also be fulfilled by increasing transparency and responsibility in the legal system and this way contribute to ensuring more respect for prisoners' human rights. Three aspects of the system will be improved.

First, RCT and KRCT will work towards independent monitoring of prisons and in this connection they will cooperate with other monitoring operators with a view to harmonising and improving the effectiveness of the monitoring visits.

Second, focus will be on ensuring the prisoners' access to effectively filing complaints with the prison management. This purpose will i.a. be fulfilled by informing the prisoners about their possibilities of and right to file a complaint.

Finally, the medical staff of the detention centres must be trained so that they are better able to handle the conflicts that arise between medical ethics and pressure from the authorities. Work will be done to ensure the prison physicians' possibility of correctly documenting the prisoners' health, including signs of abuse.

Partner presentation
KRCT was established in the wake of the conflict in Kosovo with the purpose of helping the region's war-traumatised population, offering specialised medical and psychological treatment. In 2006 the organisation expanded its work under a new strategy for 'prevention of torture'. Among other things this new strategy involved systematic monitoring of detention centres in Kosovo and publication of annual reports with results and recommendations for the authorities. A large part of KRCT's recommendations have been followed and have led to concrete improvements of life in Kosovo's prisons. Over time, KRCT has gained the confidence of the prisoners through regular visits, by listening to the prisoners' concerns and through advocacy on their behalf vis-à-vis the government. Thanks to this and other work, KRCT is regarded as a leading organisation within the rebuilding of a new human rights culture in post-war Kosovo.

Context
The former Serbian province Kosovo declared its independence in February 2008. The declaration was made after Kosovo had been under the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo, which was established as a consequence of the conflict between Serbia and NATO in 1999. Kosovo's history must therefore be seen in the light of the collapse of the former Yugoslavia. The country's future depends on a positive regional integration and lasting peace in the region.