Reviewing Governmental Acts of the United Nations in Kosovo

German Law Journal

Volumn 8, Issue 1, 2007, Pages 21-37

  Everly, Rebecca ^a  

^a TRINITY COLLEGE   (United Kingdom)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

EID: 85061136217     PISSN: None     EISSN: 20718322     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1017/S2071832200005393     Document Type: Article

References (59)

1. S.C. Res. 1244, para. 10, U.N. Doc. S/RES/1244 (10 June 1999).
2. S.C. Res. at para. 6.
3. On the Authority of the Interim Administration in Kosovo, § 1.1, U.N. Doc. UNMIK/REG/1999/1 (25 July 1999).
4. On the Law Applicable in Kosovo, § 1.3, U.N. Doc. UNMIK/REG/1999/24 (12 Dec. 1999). The applicable human rights standards include: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, G.A. Res. 217A, 3d Sess., 1st plen. mtg., U.N. Doc. A/810 (12 Dec. 1948); The European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, 213 U.N.T.S. 221 (4 Nov. 1950); The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 999 U.N.T.S. 171 (16 Dec. 1966); The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, 993 U.N.T.S. 3 (16 Dec. 1976); The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, 660 U.N.T.S. 195 (7 Mar. 1966); The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, 1249 U.N.T.S. 13 (18 Dec. 1979); The Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, 1465 U.N.T.S. 85 (10 Dec. 1984); The Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1577 U.N.T.S. 3 (20 Nov. 1989).
5. Author interviews (Nov. 2004).
6. On the Status, Privileges and Immunities of KFOR and UNMIK and their Personnel in Kosovo, § 3.1, U.N. Doc. UNMIK/REG/2000/47 (18 Aug. 2000).
7. On the Status, Privileges and Immunities of KFOR and UNMIK and their Personnel in Kosovo at § 3.2.
8. On the Status, Privileges and Immunities of KFOR and UNMIK and their Personnel in Kosovo at § 3.3.
9. U.N. Charter art. 105.
10. See, e.g., Ombudsperson Institution in Kosovo Special Report No. 1 on the Compatibility with Recognized International Standards of UNMIK Regulation No. 2000/47 on the Status, Privileges and Immunities of KFOR and UNMIK and their Personnel in Kosovo (18 August 2000) and on the Implementation of the Above Regulation (26 April 2001), http://www.ombudsperson kosovo.org/doc/spec%20reps/pdf/sr1.pdf; Carsten Stahn, The United Nations Transitional Administrations in Kosovo and East Timor: A First Analysis, 5 MAX PLANCK YEARBOOK OF U.N. LAW 105, 161 (2001).
11. European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, supra note 4.
12. In 2001, the SRSG created a short-lived “detention review commission” for reviewing a specific category of SRSG-issued legal instruments: executive decisions detaining individuals outside the regular judicial system in Kosovo. The detention review commission is no longer in operation, and was only used in one case. While in operation, it was criticized for not meeting international human rights standards as regards the right of individuals to challenge the lawfulness of their detention. See, e.g., Ombudsperson Institution in Kosovo Special Report No. 4: Certain Aspects of UNMIK Regulation No. 2001/18 on the Establishment of a Detention Review Commission for Extra-Judicial Detentions Based on Executive Orders (12 September 2001), http://www.ombudspersonkosovo.org/doc/spec%20reps/pdf/sr4.pdf.
13. Author interview (Oct. 2005).
14. District Court of Pristina, E No. 1/2004 (16 July 2004)
15. Administrative Direction No. 2003/8 Implementing UNMIK Regulation No. 2000/36 on the Licensing and Regulation of the Broadcast Media in Kosovo and UNMIK Regulation No. 2000/37 on the Conduct of the Print Media in Kosovo, §§ 1.3, 1.10, U.N. Doc. UNMIK/DIR/2003/8 (8 April 2003).
16. Administrative Direction No. 2003/8 Implementing UNMIK Regulation No. 2000/36 on the Licensing and Regulation of the Broadcast Media in Kosovo and UNMIK Regulation No. 2000/37 on the Conduct of the Print Media in Kosovo at § 1.5.
17. Author interview with UNMIK Department of Justice official (May 2006).
18. Supreme Court of Kosovo, AC 37/2004 (20 Aug. 2004).
19. District Court of Pristina, E No. 2/04 (14 Jan. 2005).
20. Special Chamber of the Supreme Court of Kosovo on Kosovo Trust Agency Matters, SCEL 04-0001 (9 June 2004).
21. On the Transformation of the Right of Use to Socially Owned Immovable Property, § 10, U.N. Doc. UNMIK/REG/2003/13 (9 May 2003).
22. On the Promulgation of the Anti-Discrimination Law Adopted by the Assembly of Kosovo, U.N. Doc. UNMIK/REG/2004/32 (20 Aug. 2004). After the promulgation of the law, the presiding judge in the Termosistem case requested clarification from the SRSG as to whether Regulation 2004/32 promulgating the anti-discrimination law supersedes inconsistent provisions of Regulation 2003/13. The SRSG confirmed that this is the case. Memorandum from the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (11 Jan. 2006) (on file with author).
23. Author interview (May 2006).
24. Municipal Court of Pristina, P. br. 3044/04 (16 Mar. 2005).
25. UNMIK press briefing (23 Mar. 2005).
26. Author interview with UNMIK official (May 2006).
27. Supreme Court of Kosovo, Pn-Kr 333/05 (30 January 2006); Supreme Court of Kosovo, Pn-Kr 335/2005 (30 Jan. 2006).
28. On the Provisional Criminal Procedure Code of Kosovo, U.N. Doc. UNMIK/REG/2003/26 (6 July 2003).
29. Author interview with UNMIK Department of Justice official (May 2006).
30. The regulation specifies: The law applicable in Kosovo shall be: (a) The regulations promulgated by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and subsidiary instruments issued thereunder; and (b) The law in force in Kosovo on 22 March 1989. In case of a conflict, the regulations and subsidiary instruments issued thereunder shall take precedence. UNMIK/REG/1999/24, supra note 4, at § 1.1 (emphasis added).
31. Report Submitted by the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo to the Human Rights Committee on the Human Rights Situation in Kosovo since June 1999, at 29, U.N. Doc. CCPR/C/UNK/1 (13 Mar. 2006).
32. For an overview of the state of Kosovo’s judiciary, see the reports of the Legal Systems Monitoring Section of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) mission in Kosovo, available on the mission’s website at http://www.osce.org/kosovo. The OSCE mission forms a distinct component of UNMIK.
33. On the Establishment of the Ombudsperson Institution in Kosovo, U.N. Doc. UNMIK/REG/2000/38 (30 June 2000).
34. On the Establishment of the Ombudsperson Institution in Kosovo at § 2.1.
35. On the Establishment of the Ombudsperson Institution in Kosovo at § 3.1.
36. On the Establishment of the Ombudsperson Institution in Kosovo at § 4.1.
37. Special Report No. 1, supra note 10.
38. Ombudsperson Institution in Kosovo Special Report No. 3 on the Conformity of Deprivations of Liberty under ‘Executive Orders’ with Recognised International Standards (29 June 2001), http://www.ombudspersonkosovo.org/doc/spec%20reps/ pdf/sr3.pdf.
39. Ombudsperson Institution in Kosovo Special Report No. 5 On Certain Aspects of UNMIK Regulation No. 2001/17 on the Registration of Contracts for the Sale of Real Property in Specific Geographical Areas of Kosovo (29 Oct. 2001), http://www.ombuds personkosovo.org/doc/spec%20reps/pdf/sr5.pdf.
40. Author interview with Marek Antoni Nowicki (Nov. 2004).
41. HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE, CONCLUDING OBSERVATIONS OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE KOSOVO (REPUBLIC OF SERBIA), at 3, U.N. Doc. CCPR/C/UNK/CO/1, (14 August 2006), available at http://www.unhchr.ch/TBS/doc.nsf/7cec89369c43a6dfc1256a2a0027ba2a/58c3c45e32382c0fc1257220003e967b/$FILE/G0643691.doc.
42. Marek Antoni Nowicki, The Human Rights Situation in Kosovo, Address at the Meeting of the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (16 Mar. 2004).
43. On the Ombudsperson Institution in Kosovo, U.N. Doc. UNMIK/REG/2006/6 (16 Feb. 2006).
44. On the Ombudsperson Institution in Kosovo at § 3.4.
45. On the Establishment of the Human Rights Advisory Panel, U.N. Doc. UNMIK/REG/2006/12 (23 Mar. 2006).
46. Author interview (July 2006). As this article is being prepared, three jurists proposed by the President of the European Court of Human Rights for membership on the Panel are awaiting appointment. One of the individuals proposed is Marek Nowicki, the former international Ombudsperson in Kosovo.
47. UNMIK/REG/2006/12, supra note 47, at § 1.2. The full list of international instruments is: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, G.A. Res. 217A, 3d Sess., 1st plen. mtg., U.N. Doc. A/810 (12 Dec. 1948);
48. The European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, 213 U.N.T.S. 221 (4 Nov. 1950);
49. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 999 U.N.T.S. 171 (16 Dec. 1966);
50. The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, 993 U.N.T.S. 3 (16 Dec. 1976);
51. The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, 660 U.N.T.S. 195 (7 Mar. 1966);
52. The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, 1249 U.N.T.S. 13 (18 Dec. 1979);
53. The Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, 1465 U.N.T.S. 85 (10 Dec. 1984);
54. The Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1577 U.N.T.S. 3 (20 Nov. 1989).
55. UNMIK/REG/2006/12, On the Establishment of the Human Rights Advisory Panel note 47, at § 2.
56. On the Establishment of the Human Rights Advisory Panel at §§ 14, 17.1.
57. On the Establishment of the Human Rights Advisory Panel at § 17.3.
58. Author Correspondence with International Official in Kosovo (July 2006).
59. Human Rights Committee, On the Establishment of the Human Rights Advisory Panel note 42, at 3. While this section is focused on non-judicial mechanisms within Kosovo for reviewing SRSG/UNMIK conduct, one should be aware that UNMIK recently submitted a report on the overall human rights situation in Kosovo to the Human Rights Committee and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, as well as a report on implementation of the principles contained in the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. The submission of these reports allows for some broad non-judicial oversight of UNMIK conduct by international bodies.