Welcome to ATRC

Kosovo civil society representatives held a meeting on February 28 at ATRC with Dr. Ken Yamashita, Mission Director for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), to discuss civil society’s contribution towards important society developments in Kosovo.

Yamashita focused his presentation on key areas where civil society could play an active role such as minorities’ integration in society, fighting corruption, civil society cooperation with governing institutions, etc.

“In every democratic society, the government hears the voice of people through civil society”, USAID Director noted.

Yamashita also emphasized the importance of a positive approach of civil society towards these issues.

Representatives of a diverse group of NGOs present at this meeting stressed their engagement on certain key developments in Kosovo, focusing on the current orientation of civil society.

According to them, civil society needs to be more active in the negotiation process for final status of Kosovo and on the fight against corruption.

The meeting was also attended by Rreze Duli, ATRC Director and Barbara Hall, Chief of Party IREX/Kosovo Civil Society Program, who emphasized that the voice of civil society is being heard every day more and more.

Civil Society Cooperation with the Office of President and Office of Prime Minister

Civil society representatives discussed manners of cooperation with President’s and Prime Minister’s Offices at a meeting held on March 28 with Samet Dalipi, president’s political advisor for civil society and Jahja Lluka, prime minister’s adviser for social issues and civil society.

The meeting, organized by ATRC aimed the creation of new mechanisms of cooperation based on civil society needs.

Participants came up with specific recommendations, intending to create stronger ties between public and civil society sectors:

Recommendations from the Office of President and the Office of Prime Minister:

Prime Minister is interested in founding a civil society panel, which would directly be informed and reported by Prime Minister, who is ready to meet with civil society once a month.
In the near future, the office of Prime Minister will present a project regarding civil society engagement in the implementation of Kosovo standards.
It is possible that the office for gender issues be converted into an agency;
Forming a national council for the people with disabilities, which will create strategies for these people;
Ethical code will be created in the central level, however its implementation is very crucial;
Civil Society should take active part in drafting the Kosovo budget, give suggestions;

Recommendations from the participants:

All draft laws should be on the web-site before being approved in the parliament;
The process of approving laws should speed up.
A part of Kosovo’s budget should be divided for the NGO’s;
Where will these financial means be allocated and how they are going to be spent;
The law for the families of the disabled people should be approved, for assisting them.
Civil society and the institutions should have frequent meetings.