4.3
Mission in Kosovo
Background
The OSCE Mission in Kosovo (OMiK), the largest OSCE field operation, forms a distinct
component of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo13. It is mandated
with institution and democracy-building and promoting human rights and the rule of law. In
1999, the OSCE was mandated with training the new police service that was to uphold
human rights and democratic policing principles. To do so, the Mission’s Department of
Police Education and Development (DPED) created an institution – the Kosovo Police
Service School – that in 2006 evolved into the Kosovo Centre for Public Safety Education
and Development (KCPSED) and in 2011 into the Kosovo Academy for Public Safety
(KAPS). In order to better reflect the broader context of its programmes with justice, safety
and security sector development, the DPED itself became the Department for Security and
Public Safety (DSPS) in 2006.
In 2013 the DSPS comprised of 14 international and 28 national staff members. It utilized its
internal resources to continue conducting many training courses, and to advise and mentor
its counterparts from the Kosovo Police (KP) and other public safety institutions. In 2013
DSPS implemented over 80 activities financed by the unified budget and an additional 30
through an extra budgetary project. Most of these activities were training courses, mainly
focusing on building the capacities of the KP and other public safety institutions to combat
organized crime, as well as to provide advanced and specialized training, and courses on
community policing. The DSPS continued to focus on training-of-trainers (ToT) activities and
planned to do so in the future. The DSPS also contributed to the drafting and reviewing of
several regulations, as well as strategies and action plans that aim to enhance the security
sector.
The Department of Human Rights and Communities’ Security Monitoring Section (DHRC
SMS) is mandated to monitor law enforcement agencies' compliance with human rights. It
focuses on the development of an independent and effective police service that applies
human rights standards. The strategy to fulfil this mandate includes: pro-active monitoring of
the Kosovo Police (KP); addressing the institutional and legal gaps through confidential
reporting; advising police authorities on remedial and/or corrective actions; and human rights
capacity building within the KP.
In 2013, DHRC SMS had a total of 17 staff members, six international and 11 local. Five staff
members were based in the headquarters, while the others were deployed to all OMiK
Regional Centres. DHRC SMS field teams covered all seven police regions
(Ferizaj/Uroševac, Gjilan/Gnjilane, Mitrovicë/Mitrovica North, Mitrovicë/Mitrovica South,
Pejë/Peć, Prishtinë/Priština, and Prizren) and provided the information that was analysed
and channelled to the KP Management.
Organized Crime in General
The DSPS participated in the meetings of the working group for reviewing the
implementation progress of the two approved strategies and respective action plans; the one
against Organized Crime (2013-2017) which was held on 16 May, and the other against
Narcotics (2013-2017), held on 21 May. Both strategies were considered of paramount
importance for the safety of all Kosovo residents.
13
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All references to Kosovo, whether to the territory, institutions or population, in this text should be understood in full
compliance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244.
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