Kosovo/Kosova As Seen, As Told from the field to headquarters, all names were eliminated and a reference numbering system was used. The security of photos, negatives, videotapes, and so on was ensured through log books, and all materials were kept in safes at headquarters. Human rights officers were instructed to attach their original notes to the files and they were not allowed to keep extra copies or to distribute them outside the OSCE-KVM. Information regarding ongoing human rights investigations was restricted, and relations with the media were centralized through the OSCE-KVM spokesperson. In the days prior to the OSCE-KVM's withdrawal on 20 March, the Human Rights Division initiated strict procedures for the handling, evacuation and destruction of human rights information. All victim/ witness statements, complaints, documents relating to investigations, computer disks, hard drives and physical evidence were collected by the five senior human rights officers for their areas of responsibility and were evacuated. Any related documentation that was not evacuated was either shredded or burned before the OSCE-KVM left Kosovo. All of the human rights data was then collected from the senior human rights officers and centralized by the director of human rights immediately after the evacuation. The OSCE-KVM Human Rights Division's files and archives were subsequently transported to the OSCE/ODIHR in Warsaw for safekeeping and analysis. Tasking priorities Although it was extremely difficult to plan a long-term human rights strategy in a state of armed conflict, the Human Rights Division identified core human rights tasks and priorities. The immediate core tasks included monitoring/documenting the conduct of armed forces, police, investigative judges, allegations of humanitarian law violations (this took on a higher priority after the ICTY was prevented from entering Kosovo) and intervening with the FRY and Serbian security forces and the UCK on individual cases. In terms of giving priority as to which allegations of human rights violations would be investigated, the human rights division focused on the right to life, right to liberty, rights related to detention and fair trials and issues relating to missing persons. Throughout the OSCE-KVM's tenure in Kosovo, the general situation was volatile, and flexibility regarding priorities was necessary. An event such as the killing of civilians in Racak on 15 January 1999 resulted in a shift of resources and the creation of regional "rapid response teams". The latter teams were formed to deploy immediately to critical human rights incidents. These teams were equipped with video and other equipment and included members trained in interviewing and investigative techniques. The teams were later used to investigate the killings in Rogovo/Rogove and Rakovina/ Rakovine (both in Djakovica/Gjakova). Training http://www.osce.org/kosovo/documents/reports/hr/part1/ch2.htm (5 of 16)12/5/2003 11:48:40 AM