A report from Internews Kosova highlights ongoing challenges in the fight against discrimination in Kosovo’s public institutions. While some steps have been taken to improve physical access to facilities, systemic discrimination in employment and lack of gender diversity in leadership positions remain significant issues.
On Tuesday Internews Kosova released its second report on Systematic Discrimination in Facilities and Employment, as part of the project “Combating Discrimination, Hate Speech, and Gender-Based Violence.” This six-month research project sheds light on the persistent issues of discrimination in Kosovo’s public institutions, particularly regarding employment of marginalised groups, including people with disabilities and women.
The report, produced with the support of the European Union under the project “Countering Discrimination, Hate Speech, and Gender-Based Violence,” was implemented by ATRC, Internews Kosova, and D4D.
It concludes that despite a legal framework to ensure equality, many institutions are falling short of their goals, raising concerns about the pace of progress.
Valon Fana, Researcher at Internews Kosova at the Conference on report about Systematic Discrimination in Facilities and Employment. Photo: BIRN
The report emphasises that institutions have failed to comply with legal requirements for hiring persons with disabilities and ensuring gender equality in leadership positions.
Valon Fana, a researcher at Internews Kosova, said that the majority of institutions are led by men, with women and members of marginalised communities severely underrepresented in leadership roles.
“Most of the monitored institutions are led by men. So gender representation in leadership positions is missing. In most of the places where we have been, we have seen that there are few employees from [marginalised] communities,” Fana said.
Additionally, there are minimal efforts to accommodate children with disabilities in educational settings.
‘Slow progress’
Internews Kosova Conference on report ‘Systematic Discrimination in Facilities and Employment’ on October 15 in Prishtina. Photo: BIRN
During the report’s launch, Johannes Madsen, a representative of the European Union in Kosovo, stressed the role of civil society in holding institutions accountable.
He expressed concern over the “slow progress” that Kosovo has made in addressing the barriers faced by marginalised individuals in the labour market.
“We envision a society where barriers will be destroyed, where employers will embrace diversity, and where institutions will take concrete steps to ensure access and accessibility for everyone,” Madsen declared.
Kreshnik Gashi, Editor-in-Chief at Internews Kosova, echoed Madsen’s comments and pointed out that the rights of marginalised groups are minimally respected by Kosovo’s public institutions.
Kreshnik Gashi, editor in Chief at Internews Kosova at the Conference on report ‘Systematic Discrimination in Facilities and Employment’ on October 15 in Prishtina, Photo: BIRN
He described the findings of the report as indicative of a serious problem in the treatment of these groups, particularly regarding employment of people with disabilities.
“Today we have a drastic violation at the basic level of the standard of employment of persons with disabilities. The sample from 27 institutions shows us that none of the institutions implements the standard,” Gashi added.
Odeta Naks, a representative from the Advocacy Training and Resource Center, ATRC, stressed that “fighting discrimination is not a short-term project but a continuous effort.”
Naks called for greater societal and institutional attention to the issues faced by persons with disabilities and women, particularly in the workplace.
Employment discrimination persists
Internews Kosova Conference on report ‘Systematic Discrimination in Facilities and Employment’ on October 15 in Prishtina. Photo: BIRN
The 2023 Internews Kosova report, Public Discrimination in Facilities and Employment, brought attention to similar issues, and several institutions began taking initial steps to address them.
For example, the Faculty of Philology at the University of Prishtina ‘Hasan Prishtina’ had no access for persons with disabilities to the upper floors of the building in 2023.
Since then, the Dean’s Office has initiated a project to install an elevator, but delays in obtaining the necessary equipment have pushed the completion date indefinitely. Dean Linditë Sejdiu-Rugova explained that while the elevator framework is in place, they are “waiting for the elevator to arrive from abroad.”
Similarly, the Main Family Medicine Center in Gjilan/Gnjilane did not provide full access for people with disabilities in 2023, as the elevator was not functional. By 2024, steps had been taken to improve access, with the elevator framework installed and the elevator itself expected to be operational soon. Vjollca Kadolli-Halili, Director of the MFMC in Gjilan, confirmed these efforts.
Internews Kosova Conference on report ‘Systematic Discrimination in Facilities and Employment’ on October 15 in Prishtina. Photo: BIRN
While physical access to facilities has seen some improvements, discrimination in employment remains a major issue. According to the report, none of the monitored institutions fully comply with the employment standards for persons with disabilities.
This lack of compliance is a serious violation of Kosovo’s legal framework, which mandates the inclusion of marginalised groups in the workforce.
Valon Fana noted that most “public institutions do not recognize international conventions on human rights.”
Very few formal complaints regarding discrimination have been filed within these institutions, which is particularly alarming as it could demonstrate a lack of available reporting and support resources.
The report’s data, which was gathered from 27 public institutions, five municipalities, and the University Clinical Center of Kosovo, QKUK, highlights the seriousness of these issues and the need for urgent reforms.
The way forward
Internews Kosova Conference on report ‘Systematic Discrimination in Facilities and Employment’ on October 15 in Prishtina. Photo: BIRN
The report outlines several key recommendations aimed at addressing the issues of discrimination in public institutions. First, it calls on the Government of Kosovo to issue clear instructions requiring all public investments to comply with accessibility standards for persons with disabilities.
In addition, the report highlights the need for the government to impose sanctions on institutions that fail to meet employment quotas for people with disabilities.
The report also emphasises the need for the Ministry of Health to develop a plan for adapting healthcare facilities to ensure accessibility for all individuals.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Education and municipal directorates must draft policies to include teachers from marginalised communities, such as Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptians, in the education system.
Other recommendations include the establishment of a national investment program to adapt schools to meet the needs of people with disabilities, the implementation of policies that promote the inclusion of women in leadership positions, and the creation of measures to promote equality and tolerance toward marginalised groups in institutions.