KOSOVO | Ombudsperson Institution organizes roundtable discussion on “The Impact of the Ombudsperson in Advancing the Protection of Community Rights in Kosovo”

On 20 February 2026, the Ombudsperson Institution organized a roundtable discussion in Prishtina entitled “The Impact of the Ombudsperson in Advancing the Protection of Community Rights in Kosovo”, in cooperation with the Advocacy Center for Democratic Culture. The event gathered representatives of public institutions, civil society organizations, international partners and community representatives to discuss progress, challenges and the way forward in ensuring the effective protection of the rights of non-majority communities.

During the discussion, the Ombudsperson, Naim Qelaj, highlighted the strong constitutional guarantees for community rights and the role of the Institution in addressing complaints, promoting equality and improving institutional practices. In the past year alone, the Institution received 331 complaints from members of non-majority communities. This increase also reflects the growing trust that communities place in the Ombudsperson Institution as an independent and effective mechanism for the protection of their rights.

The roundtable further addressed issues such as language rights, access to employment, access to civil documentation, and challenges faced by Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities, while emphasizing the importance of continued cooperation between institutions, civil society and international partners.

More information about this activity is available in the press release.

Source: The Ombudsperson Institution of Kosovo