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Kosovo Roundtables Empower Citizens to Shape Constitution

As the world’s newest country is carefully shaping its constitution, the drafters are getting the rare benefit of community-level input. Through a series of IREX-organized roundtable discussions, citizens of Kosovo have been able to address the Constitution Commission directly, debating provisions and raising concerns regarding the draft version of this founding document.

Kosovo released its draft constitution to the public after officially declaring its independence from Serbia on February 17. After nine years under UN administration—following NATO’s intervention to end Serb ethnic cleansing of Kosovo’s Albanian population—the long-term status of Kosovo had finally been affirmed. And with the sensitive nature of this former Serbian province, it is essential for Kosovo to establish a firm foundation.

To aid the process, IREX is conducting a series of 10 roundtables on the Kosovo Constitution through the USAID-funded Kosovo Civil Society Program. With a draft document now available, the Constitution Commission is soliciting public input. Each forum addresses a specific chapter of the Kosovo Constitution—including sections on the Assembly, President and Government, Fundamental Rights and Freedoms, Judicial and Prosecutorial System, the Security Sector, Local governance, Independent Institutions, and others. IREX’s strong links to local civil society forged through years of work in Kosovo have proven invaluable in encouraging broad participation in the roundtables.

During the roundtables, Kosovo citizens ask questions and make comments about the draft constitution directly to members of the 21-person Constitution Commission, appointed by the President of Kosovo. The discussions also include NGOs, judges and prosecutors, Kosovo police service, Kosovo protection corps, ombudspersons, the business community, media,  and representatives of local government.

Many participants expressed their belief that the draft document reflects the highest international standards, provides for the protection of the rights of all citizens of Kosovo, and lays the foundation for a democratic society based on the rule of law. However, citizens raised a variety of issues at the forums, such as whether presidential candidates should have to be born in Kosovo, whether the the Serb minority should be mentioned specifically, whether right to life provisions would protect fetuses, and whether the constitution does enough to ensure a clean and safe environment.

Public comments and suggestions will be incorporated by the commission into the final constitution, which must be approved within three months of independence by both the Kosovo Assembly and the International Civilian Representative (ICR).

IREX involvement with the constitution roundtables builds on its long history in Kosovo. IREX’s first experience in the region came in the late 1960s, when it began administering exchange programs with Yugoslavia, and IREX has maintained an on-the-ground presence since 1999. IREX began implementing media development projects in Kosovo in that year and continues to do so today through the USAID-funded Kosovo Media Assistance Program (KMAP). The Kosovo Civil Society Project (KCSP), also funded by USAID and administered by IREX, was initiated in 2005. KCSP has contributed to the development of a strong, indigenous, sustainable NGO sector, assisted local NGOs in advocating for the interests of their constituents, and enhanced the legitimacy of the NGO community in the eyes of the population.

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