Legal aid

The Human Rights and Advocacy Sector assists KRCT’s clients in legal matters and is engaged in advocacy activities in order to improve the defense of torture victims’ rights. Therefore, this Sector has a dual function as an integral part of the advocacy and human rights strategy of the Centre, and as part of the integrated package of assistance to the our clients. In terms of direct assistance to victims, clients benefit from services provided by the legal representative within the Legal Aid Unit. Our clients are counseled and advised on a number of matters where they face special difficulties as torture victims, including employment, housing and medical benefits. Typical issues in this area are for example pensions for families of torture survivors and compensation for work performed in prison camps. KRCT’s legal representative is also entitled to represent their rights in court.

Capacity building and Advocacy

The Human Rights and Advocacy Sector is conducting thorough research on the gaps in Kosova’s legal framework concerning the prohibition and prevention of torture, as well as the protection of victims’ rights. As the current legal status of Kosova is still uncertain and does not yet permit its becoming a State Party to the United Nations Convention Against Torture (CAT) and its Optional Protocol (OPCAT), nor to the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (ECPT), our efforts are directed at assuring an adequate domestic legal framework. Therefore, the results of our research are used to raise the awareness of the competent authorities for the need to take the necessary legislative steps in order to assure rights, protection and reparation to torture victims. In this process, we are sharing our expertise on the matter with the local authorities, are providing technical assistance and are contributing to increase institutional capacity building. In this respect, our research and legal services are inextricably linked to KRCT’s lobbying activities in an effort to assure the highest possible protection of victims of torture to enhance their social status within Kosova’s society. Currently, KRCT is lobbying the Constitution Committee for the inclusion of the CAT, the OPCAT and the ECPT.

Prevention

Prevention of torture or any other form of ill-treatment has become a crucial element in KRCT’s strategy. Therefore, under the lead of the Human Rights and Advocacy Sector, our monitoring team, consisting of lawyers and medical doctors, is visiting places of detention all over Kosova.
The monitoring team observes whether international human rights standards regarding detention as well as national legislation are implemented in Kosova’s places of detention.
The detention monitoring aims to contribute to the consolidation of the Rule of Law and the implementation of Human Rights standards, which are the foundations of a democratic society.

Trainings and Events

KRCT offers trainings to NGOs, GOs, such as the Kosovo Police Service and the Kosovo Protection Corps and to journalists. In 2007, KRCT offered a training for Civil Servants, to raise their awareness of International Standards on Human Rights and the importance of the issues related to torture and ill-treatment.Another training was dedicated to Human Rights issues in journalism, aiming to raise journalists sensitivity towards these topics.

Every year, KRCT is organizing campaigns and conferences in order to promote the prevention of torture as well as the implementation of the Convention against Torture and its Optional Protocol. One of the most important events, in this respect, is the commemoration of the 26th of June, UN Day in Support of Victims of Torture.