Kosovo
What are the challenges in Kosovo?
In the late 1990s, Kosovo was the scene of violent ethnic conflict between Serbian military and Kosovo Albanian resistance forces, which ended with NATO military intervention. Since then, Kosovo has been governed by an interim UN administration.
The challenges include:
- a lack of clarity about the future status of Kosovo
- weak security institutions
- large numbers of illegal weapons that remain in circulation
- inter-ethnic tensions
- massive unemployment
What we do in Kosovo
With our partner, the Forum for Civic Initiatives, we work to improve community safety, foster public debate on key security issues and make recommendations on security sector reform and development issues.
We have launched a joint programme of activities under the name Safeplace which works to:
- provide research and recommendations on small arms control and security sector development
- carry out periodic surveys of public perceptions on security
- encourage the participation of and consultation with local communities
- undertake a conflict analysis to inform the work of security sector organisations
- carry out community safety plans in five communities around Kosovo
- develop a physical and online resource centre on security and conflict issues
- build the capacity of civil society and the Kosovo Provisional Institutions of Self-Government on these issues
Hear a UK MP discuss development and security in Kosovo
Read a case study about community safety in Kosovo
Read our report which investigates perceptions of security, community safety and the prevalence of small arms in Kosovo.
Download 'Human security in Kosovo: a survey of perceptions'
Reports and briefings
Policing in Kosovo, February 2008
Kosovo at the crossroads: perceptions of conflict, access to justice and opportunities for peace, December 2007
Practical considerations for the potential future ESDP mission to Kosovo, October 2007
Intelligence in Kosovo: Looking Ahead, March 2007
Ahtisaari's Proposal and the Future of Kosovo's Security Sector, March 2007
Small arms and human security in Kosovo: an agenda for action, February 2007
The Internal Security Sector Review: the future of Kosovo's security sector?, January 2007
News and activities
In May, Saferworld attended a conference hosted jointly by the European Peace and Liaison Office and European Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo. The meeting highlighted EULEX’s enthusiasm for engaging more closely with both international and Kosovo civil society and getting non-governmental organisations involved in developing accountability mechanisms.
Download Saferworld's full activity report for May - June 2008
Find out more
Read more about our work on:
Conflict-sensitive development
Security and justice sector development
