4.3 Mission in Kosovo
education, women and religious leaders. Speakers included
representatives from international and regional institutions
and organizations, including the US Department of
Homeland Security, US Department of State, INTERPOL,
Turkish National Police and representatives from academia
and civil society that deal directly with this phenomenon in
Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Finland, France,
Germany, Israel, Spain and the United Kingdom.
On 5 and 6 November, a two-day workshop was organized
for all relevant institutions to conduct the first annual review
and amendment of the action plan for the 2015-2020 Strategy
on Prevention of VERLT. The goal of the workshop was to
assess the implementation of objectives and activities in
the action plan for the first year (2015-2016), as well as to
prepare a report with recommendations for further actions.
Participants addressed some challenging issues that have
arisen during the implementation period, such as the lack
of professional trainings in the areas of the de-radicalization
and re-integration process of radicalized people, training for
journalists on reporting about violent extremism, and better
co-ordination between government institutions and agencies
dealing with violent extremism.
Illicit Drugs and Chemical Precursors
Key findings and recommendations derived from seminars
hosted by the Mission in 2016 played an important role in
the planning of future anti-drug activities conducted by the
KP and other relevant institutions. Some of these covered
the low awareness of both agencies and the general public
regarding new psychoactive substances (NPS) trafficked via
the Internet, and the fact that the legal basis to fight these new
phenomena needs to be updated. Improvements can also be
made in the promotion and co-ordination of inter-sectorial
activities on drug prevention to improve information sharing
between different stakeholders.
Following up on an event in 2015, on 23 May, the Mission
organized a seminar on drug demand and harm reduction in
Prishtinë/Priština, which hosted 30 representatives from the
ministries of health, internal affairs, education, labour and
social welfare, along with the KP, civil society and students
from universities and secondary schools. In line with its aim
to present recent trends related to NPS, increase awareness
among the participating institutions/organizations, and
enhance co-operation between relevant stakeholders,
the seminar concluded with the adoption of findings and
recommendations to better address the drug demand
and harm reduction. Recommendations mainly covered
prevention and education, treatment and rehabilitation, resocialization and re-integration, as well as inter-sectorial cooperation and co-ordination.
68
On 26 June, the Mission, in co-operation with the MoIA and
the KP, organized a conference to mark the International Day
against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. The conference
provided an opportunity to discuss and address issues related
to drug abuse and the role that each institution can play in
preventing and reducing demand which benefits the Kosovo
society, especially youth who remain the most vulnerable
group. The conference brought together 30 representatives
from the MoIA, KP, parents association, MCSCs and students.
In conclusion, participants drafted recommendations to be
considered by the national co-ordinator and other decision
making institutions.
In close co-operation with the KP, the Mission organized a
two-day seminar on drug demand and supply reduction held
on 2 and 3 November in Prishtinë/Priština. The seminar
gathered 35 participants from central government ministries,
education and health institutions, the KP, social services,
the Pharmaceutical Inspectorate, Kosovo Customs, Kosovo
Correctional Service, Labyrinth and Anti-drug - Antitrafficking (ADAT) NGOs, and students from the ISPE
College to discuss the current situation of drug demand and
supply reduction, and to identify activities and measures
that each of them can take in order to minimize this threat.
It focused on topics including the current drug situation in
Kosovo, the licensing and supervision of pharmacies and
health institutions which operate with drugs and precursors,
penetration of drugs into schools and correctional facilities,
NPS and cyber trafficking. In conclusion, participants
adopted several recommendations which will be forwarded to
the National Coordinator on Drugs and to the KP authorities
for further actions.
Trafficking in Human Beings &
Migration-related Crime
Based on the latest developments and emerging needs of
both the Mission and KP to tackle trafficking in human
beings (THB), the Mission reengaged in supporting the
activities of the KP in late 2016. It facilitated workshops
to update officers in Mitrovica/Mitrovicë North with the
latest developments in this area, as well as strategies to
engage women in preventing and fighting THB. Moreover,
the Mission commenced its preparation for a review of
the current THB Strategy and Action Plan with the MoIA
and the KP unit against THB, as well as for activities to be
implemented within this framework in 2017.
Following a request from the KP Regional Directorate in
Mitrovica/Mitrovicë North, on 16 December, the Mission
delivered a workshop on investigative trends related to
THB for 23 police investigators from the North. The goal
of the workshop was to provide participants with the
knowledge and skills necessary to identify potential cases of
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