Stajic: The Serbian Community in Kosovo faces systemic problems

Vesna Stajic, President of the Women’s Inclusive Center, stated that by sending a letter to the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, non-governmental organizations sought to draw the attention of international institutions to the systemic problems of the Serbian community in Kosovo.

“Letters of this kind do not change the situation overnight, but they are an important instrument because they bring international institutions’ attention to systemic problems. They create pressure for these problems to be documented and placed on the agenda, which is the first step toward any change,” Stajic told Kosovo Online.

She emphasized that the Council of Europe has both mechanisms and an obligation to monitor the state of human and minority rights.

“The letter was sent to an address that is obliged to respond, so it is realistic to expect at least some form of reply—whether through a public statement or a visit. The very fact that several organizations signed the document increases the likelihood of a reaction,” she noted.

She explained that a visit by the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights would make sense only if it were comprehensive and if the Commissioner met with representatives of Kosovo institutions, international missions, and political representatives of minority communities.

“But also with civil society organizations and citizens who directly feel the consequences of rights violations. Only then could he gain a realistic picture,” she specified.

Asked how much such a visit could change the approach of the Kosovo authorities toward respecting the rights of minority communities, Stajic said that no “dramatic shifts” should be expected after a single visit.

“However, the Commissioner’s arrival sends a strong signal that the situation is being monitored and that rights violations do not go unnoticed. This can encourage institutions to be more cautious, to correct their practices, and to open space for greater international pressure in favor of respecting minority rights. In the long term, such visits contribute to strengthening governmental accountability,” Stajic concluded.