Kosovo/Kosova As Seen, As Told KOSOVO / KOSOVA As Seen, As Told PART I : The OSCE-KVM human rights operation (Chapter 2) Contents Previous Next THE OSCE-KVM HUMAN RIGHTS OPERATION The OSCE-KVM mandate and human rights verification standards The OSCE-KVM mandate was established in the "Agreement on the OSCE Kosovo Verification Mission" between the OSCE and the FRY on 16 October 1998. Under the terms of the Agreement the OSCE-KVM was responsible for verifying that all parties in Kosovo complied with UN Security Council Resolution 1199 and with the cease-fire. The Agreement also referred to respect for the UN 1 2 Charter, the principles of the Helsinki Final Act and the Paris Charter. These references, together with a broad international recognition that the Kosovo crisis was in large part a human rights crisis, served to legitimize the OSCE-KVM's mandate to monitor, document, investigate and report allegations of human rights violations. The OSCE-KVM's focus on human rights was a logical consequence of the situation on the ground in Kosovo, and the OSCE's comprehensive concept of security. In addition, UN Security Council Resolution 1199 also required the OSCE-KVM to co-operate with other UN bodies, including the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY). The OSCE-KVM Human Rights Division utilized international human rights and humanitarian law standards when verifying allegation of violations. FRY is a party to the following international instruments: ● Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment ● Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women ● Convention on the Rights of the Child ● International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination ● International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights ● International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights http://www.osce.org/kosovo/documents/reports/hr/part1/ch2.htm (1 of 16)12/5/2003 11:48:40 AM