Speeches Shim
Despite the many successes in rule of law and human rights, property rights remain out of reach for many in Kosovo. One of the many USAID grantees, Communication for Social Development, is pushing for behavior change in small communities across Kosovo to recognize women’s right to claim property. What better place for them to start than at school where students are forming their opinions about equal rights and the world around them.
The Free Legal Aid Agency (FLAA), Kosovo civil society organizations, the Kosovo Bar Association, and young people came together to mark “Free Legal Aid Week.” USAID’s Justice Matters Activity supported the free legal aid week campaign, which ran from September 7 to11, and promoted information and engagement on legal aid services. The campaign’s objective was to inform and empower Kosovo’s citizens, especially vulnerable groups, to seek protection of their rights.
USAID’s Commercial Justice Activity is fostering private sector engagement by working with the Government of Kosovo (GOK) to draft legislation that establishes a standalone commercial court in Kosovo through a highly consultative process. Currently, businesses need to file their cases in several court departments, delaying the resolution of cases. However, the establishment of the commercial court will now provide businesses with a one stop shop for resolving commercial and administrative disputes.
Since the pandemic hit Kosovo in March, USAID and its partners have been working closely with the Kosovo Judicial Council to develop, adopt, and implement a complete policy framework that enables courts to conduct online hearings. It was only two months ago that Kosovo courts began holding their first hearings online. By now, almost all courts in Kosovo have piloted online hearings and are ready to begin administering justice in this new way.
Municipal leadership across Kosovo have expressed their eagerness to improve the daily lives of their citizens through their interactions with the private sector. During a virtual gathering on September 14, USAID’s partner Riinvest presented the 2020 Municipal Competitive Index to Kosovo’s mayors and local government officials. This index responds to the demand from mayors and local officials to learn whether their policies are effective and serve the citizens and businesses in their communities.
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