NGOs from the north wrote to the Ombudsperson and UNICEF over publication of high school graduate’s photo at KP press conference

Civil society organizations have sent a letter to the Ombudsperson Institution and UNICEF in Kosovo, requesting their expert opinion on the actions of the Director of the Kosovo Police and the Regional Police Directorate North, who displayed photos of a high school graduate from North Mitrovica during a press conference held on May 25.

In their letter to Kosovo’s Ombudsperson Naim Qelaj, the NGOs recall that on May 25, 2025, in North Mitrovica, the Director of the Kosovo Police, Mr. Gazmend Hoxha, held a press conference regarding an interethnic incident that occurred on May 23 in the same city, involving a member of the Kosovo Police. According to public reports, the police officer in question exceeded his authority and used excessive force against a young adult from the Serbian community.

They point out that during the press conference, in an attempt to refute claims that the injured student had blood traces on his neck, which the student himself had already clarified in media statements, Director Hoxha showed the media a photo of the young man partially undressed, which, based on available information, was taken during his police questioning after the disputed incident.

The officer’s behavior received widespread public condemnation, including from EULEX mission chief Giovanni Barbano.

“We, the undersigned civil society organizations, believe that this action by the police is highly problematic, particularly from the perspective of privacy and dignity of children and young adults. In the small community from which the young man comes, merely obscuring the eyes is not sufficient to protect his identity, and publicly displaying such a photo can lead to stigmatization and long-term psychosocial consequences, especially during adolescence. Furthermore, the publication of a partially undressed photo of a young person before the media and public raises serious ethical questions, especially since it is unclear what legitimate public interest could justify such an act. Lastly, such treatment of individuals suspected to have been subjected to police misconduct may discourage others in similar situations from coming forward and sends a message that the institution itself, starting from its highest official, takes a defensive stance toward citizens instead of acting with accountability and transparency,” the letter states.

In that context, the civil society organizations refer to relevant provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, some guarantees of which, according to its interpretation, also apply to young adults:

Article 3: In all actions concerning children, the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration;

Article 16: No child shall be subjected to arbitrary or unlawful interference with their privacy, family, home, or correspondence, nor to unlawful attacks on their honor and reputation. The child has the right to legal protection against such interference or attacks;

Article 17(e): States Parties shall encourage the mass media to have particular regard to the need to protect the child from information and material injurious to his or her well-being;

Article 37(a): No child shall be subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

“We call on you, in accordance with your mandate and responsibilities, to review this case and provide an expert opinion on the conduct of the Kosovo Police in light of the above-mentioned international standards and applicable domestic legislation.”

The letter was signed by: New Social Initiative, Center for Affirmative Social Actions, Center for Advocacy of Democratic Culture, Institute for Territorial Economic Development, and Aktiv.