BIRN Kosovo and Internews Kosova, in collaboration with the North Mitrovica based NGO the Advocacy Center for Democratic Culture, ACDC, launched a new initiative aimed at monitoring the work of the Kosovo Police in the Mitrovica region to strengthen transparency and trust between law enforcement and citizens.
On Tuesday, the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network in Kosovo, BIRN Kosovo, and Internews Kosova, in cooperation with the North Mitrovica based NGO the Advocacy Center for Democratic Culture, ACDC, launched the police monitoring programme titled “Accountability in Action,” an initiative aimed at increasing transparency and strengthening trust between the Kosovo Police and citizens.
“Accountability in Action” will monitor security institutions in seven municipalities in the Mitrovica region. Civil society organisations involved in the initiative will observe aspects of police work, provide recommendations to police management, and inform the public through regular reports.
Aleksandar Rapajic, project manager at ACDC. Photo: BIRN
Representatives of civil society, institutions and diplomatic missions attending the launch noted that oversight of police work and direct dialogue with communities are essential for strengthening democratic governance and the rule of law.
Aleksandar Rapajic, project manager at ACDC, said the initiative “responds to a clear need” following the withdrawal of Serb representatives from the police and judiciary in 2020, which, according to him, “led to a period of deterioration followed by gradual improvement in the security situation.”
Jeta Xharra, executive director of BIRN Kosovo. Photo: BIRN
Jeta Xharra, executive director of BIRN Kosovo, highlighted the uniqueness of the initiative in the region, where police allow multiethnic civil society teams to monitor their operations.
“Kosovo has this opportunity because the Kosovo Police apply Western-style community policing rather than the model inherited from the former Yugoslavia, where police were seen primarily as an arm of the state rather than a service for the community.”
“One component of the project is monitoring police actions, while another is addressing interethnic barriers that still exist. Journalists often report from within their own communities. Albanian journalists speak mainly with Albanian sources and Serbian journalists with Serbian sources,” she said.
Jurg Sprecher, Ambassador of Switzerland to Kosovo. Photo: BIRN
Through the initiative, journalists from Albanian and Serbian media outlets will exchange experiences by spending time working in each other’s newsrooms in northern Kosovo and in Prishtina.
Jurg Sprecher, Ambassador of Switzerland to Kosovo, said public trust is crucial for building lasting peace and strong institutions.
“Peacebuilding in a post-conflict environment depends not only on institutional stability but also on public trust,” Sprecher said. “When communities feel heard, respected and represented, institutions become stronger and societies more resilient.”
Ronald Goldberg, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of the Netherlands in Kosovo. Photo: BIRN
Ronald Goldberg, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of the Netherlands in Kosovo, also emphasised the importance of transparency.
“When institutions open their work to dialogue and public observation, they demonstrate confidence in their professionalism and commitment to democratic values,” Goldberg said.
Veton Elshani, Deputy Director of the North Mitrovica Directorate of the Kosovo Police, said cooperation with the media has been important for the police and welcomed the involvement of civil society organisations.
Veton Elshani, Deputy Director of the North Mitrovica Directorate of the Kosovo Police. Photo: BIRN
“The media have been our window to citizens. We have faced many challenges, and the inclusion of NGOs and the media as partners is an added value for our work,” Elshani said.
He added that through such cooperation citizens can better understand the challenges faced by police officers in their daily work.
“You are our partners, and we are your partners. Through you, citizens will also understand that the work of the police is not easy,” he added.
Kreshnik Gashi. Photo: BIRN
Kreshnik Gashi, editor in chief at Kallxo.com, a co-publication of BIRN Kosovo and Internews Kosova, noted that for this initiative the monitors have been trained by Kosovo Police officers and “the doors of this office will be open to any complaints from citizens.”
“We would like our project to cover all of Kosovo. Due to a lack of funds, the project is currently focused on the Mitrovica region. The teams will be multi-ethnic and connected with educational campaigns. We will also have real-time fact-checking, ” Gashi added.