Kosovo/Kosova As Seen, As Told In the period of the OSCE-KVM deployment in Kosovo the Human Rights Division received complaints of violations of certain economic and social rights as a result of discrimination based on ethnicity. Kosovo Albanians complained about discrimination in work (access to work and at work), and in property title rights. However, the need to respond to daily events relating to the conflict had the consequence that such cases received a low priority. There was no possibility for extensive follow-up before the mission evacuated on 20 March 1999. Another issue provoking complaints of discrimination was access to healthcare and quality of healthcare. This was followed up by the OSCE-KVM while in Kosovo. The issue of deprivation of access to health care became an acute concern in the period after 20 March, as reported to the OSCEKVM by refugees. The situation before 20 March 1999 The problems of restriction of access to healthcare and medical assistance in Kosovo were manifold. The first problem a Kosovo Albanian would encounter was travelling the physical distance to a medical facility. The Serbian drivers of the ambulances and the international medical non-governmental organizations often were too afraid of going outside the major cities due to the uncertain security situation. As alluded to above, the lengthy ID checks, risk of arrest, detention and other harassment at checkpoints, and the general level of fear resulted in very little movement especially after dark. Another aspect of the problem was evident when Kosovo Albanians reached the hospital. They had to get past heavily armed police officers who patrolled both outside and inside hospital premises. If the patient succeeded in getting into the hospital, some medical staff discriminated against Kosovo Albanians either by refusing medical assistance or by giving Kosovo Serbs preferential treatment. The result was increased fear and intimidation in an already stressful situation. OSCE-KVM human rights officers visited many patients at hospital in Pristina/Prishtina. Apart from the poor conditions in this hospital, the OSCE-KVM had reason to believe that Kosovo Albanians were systematically discriminated against in the exercise of their right to access to health care. Kosovo 2 Albanians were arbitrarily charged for their treatment, while Serbs did not have to pay. Furthermore, the conditions in the wards used for Kosovo Albanians were significantly worse than in the wards where Serb soldiers stayed for treatment. In early January 1999, after protracted consultations, the OSCE-KVM 3 was allowed general access, but not to those patients who were under police investigation. However, this limitation was waived when the OSCE-KVM interviewed the survivors of the Racak mass killing who were being treated in Pristina hospital (for details on the Racak mass killing in January see Part V, under the entry for Stimlje municipality). Generally, OSCE-KVM human rights officers were given access to the intensive care unit but only after the staff had time to "clean up patients" before they entered. The OSCE-KVM suspected that ill-treatment occurred but never found evidence. The intensive care unit had armed police officers outside at all times. They restricted entry into the unit. http://www.osce.org/kosovo/documents/reports/hr/part1/ch11.htm (2 of 4)12/5/2003 11:52:31 AM 4