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OSCE
Mission publishes human rights booklet to assist Kosovo
Police PRISTINA, The pocket-size booklet, Human Rights and Law Enforcement,
provides a quick reference to the most important human rights standards and
applicable criminal legal provisions. It is tailor-made for police work and aims
to help KPS officers to better apply criminal procedure and perform their job in
a more effective and human rights compliant manner. Police authorities, as part of the
executive branch of the government, have a unique role in society, said Henry McGowen, Director of OSCE
Missions Department of Human Rights and Rule of Law. In having the authority
to enforce the law, with force if necessary, the police have a great
responsibility to use this authority with due care in order that the rights of
all people are protected. The booklet covers a wide range of
topics such as arrest, police investigation, interrogation, treatment of
juveniles, discrimination, the right to defence counsel and effective remedy, as
well as the freedoms of assembly, association and _expression_. The last chapter
includes a number criminal offences listed in the Provisional Criminal Code of
Kosovo which can be committed in the line of official duty including abuse of
position, bribery and misuse of property. The concept for such a reference
booklet as OSCE human rights monitors perceived a gap in the application of
criminal procedure by KPS Officers. It was compiled as part of an effort to help
prevent possible human rights violations and assist with in-service education
for the KPS. The booklet will be distributed to
the KPS in the Gjilan/Gnjilane region this week, and then disseminated
throughout Kosovo. Copies of the booklet are available
in English, Albanian and Serbian on the OSCE Mission website at https://www.osce.org/kosovo. PR OMIK HR 39/05 --------------------------------------------------- |
