1. Regional Civil Society Action for raising awareness and tolerance for minorities in Kosovo, Serbia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Closing conference 11 – 12 April 2011 Project implemented by: Project funded by: European Commission DG Enlargement

2. Project Objective The project is advocacy campaign with specific objectives of the project was to support wider and more effective participation of Civil Society (organisations and private persons engaged in minority rights) in the decision making process as well as the capacity-building of local authorities to cooperate with the Civil Society in an effective way. Focusing on the grassroots approach, active members of each local community were encouraged to participate in the project’s activities.

3. Project Locations Country(ies), region(s), town(s) Kosovo Region: Peja/Pec (Municipalities Istok/g, Klina/e) Region: Gjilan/Gnjilane (Municipalities Viti/Vitina, Ferizaj/Urosevac) Region: Pris(h)tine/Pristina (Municipalities Obiliq/c, Fushe Kosove/Kosovo Polje) Region: Prizren (Municipality of Prizren) Region: Mitrovice/Mitrovica (Municipality of Mitrovica) Serbia: South Serbia: Bujanovac/Bujanoc Voivodina: Subotica/Szabadka Sandzak: Prijepolje FYROM: Dolneni/Dollneni Čair/Çairi Gazi Baba

4. Process Training of Trainers (20 trainees from targeted regions) 27 Community Hall Meetings 27 Focus groups 27 Self – advocacy and lobbing workshops 18 Self Advocacy lobby meetings with national and international authorities

5. Project Achievements General Transparent channels of communication among civil society and local authorities have been created Improvement of cooperation between civil society and local authorities related to the awareness of the existing legal frameworks on minority issues Openly discussed issues of concern which has lead to an active dialogue on the local level Capacity-building of the target groups to advocate and become aware of the relevant mechanisms and institutions that can assist them Better communication between municipalities and possible cooperation in different fields Exchange of views and practices for the protection of minorities and the participation in public life though the inclusion of the Civil Society Increased interaction among Civil Society organizations, authorities and members of the communities in the region (e.g exchange between participants from Kosovo, Serbia and Macedonia).

6. Project Achievements Problems have been identified and prioritized The lobbying cell has been established Public opinion has been sensibilized The role of civil society has been strengthened Electronic and written media have been involved in the process Regional cooperation has been promoted Identified problems have been addressed to the relevant local and central tiers of government: (1) the use of language (i.e., programme broadcasting in minority languages (Serbian, Roma, Ashkali, Egyptian, Bosniak, Turkish, Gorani) – Kosovo Public TV (RTK) will have a special channel for minorities); (2) freedom of movement; (3) discrimination on ethnic grounds (i.e., the case of Mr. Daut Hamullar, vice principal in an elementary school in Prishtina; official documents issued only in Serbian (Cyrillic alphabet) in municipality of Graçanica when it is known that in Kosova Albanian and Serbian are official languages).

7. Identified Problems (extent depends on location) economic underdevelopment with structural disadvantages and exclusion of minority groups; weak representation of minorities in the decision-making processes; no/limited knowledge on respective legislations; weak civil society- state relations; limited capacities/skills in self-advocacy and cooperation; intolerance and discrimination of minorities in society. Critical conditions for improvement: proper implementation of the national anti-discrimination laws on the local level; effective representation of minority groups; raise awareness for tolerance in society; local authorities need to be receptive for civil society input; better communication/cooperation between local stakeholders.

8. Project‘s results 1.Transparent channels of communication 2.Skill creation 3.Advocacy campaigns 4.Knowledge transfer

9. 1. Transparent channels of communication Activities: – Community hall meetings, focus groups, self advocacy workshops, self-advocacy meetings with local authorities – Participating actors: members of Ethnic Minority Groups ( men, women, youth, community leaders); members of Ethnic Majority Groups; local Civil Society Organisations and networks of civil society in Western Balkans; local Authorities Results: – local authorities opened up for expertise of NGOs – increased involvement of Civil Society organizations in the decision-making process – better representation of minorities in local and national politics Follow-up: – Possible local cooperation on joint projects that will address minority issues – Establishing cooperation between municipalities: Joint project applications of municipalities and civil society organizations – Form a platform for future cooperation between Civil Society organizations and local authorities

10. 2. Skill creation Activities: – self-advocacy training sessions – Participants: members of Ethnic Minority Groups ( men, women, youth, community leaders), local Civil Society Organisations Results: – Minority representatives are now capable of formulating and advocating interests (needs and problems) of their community on a local and national level – More effective representation of minorities in the decision-making process Follow-up: – Apply skills in advocacy campaigns and other possible activities

11. 3. Advocacy campaigns Activities: – Self-advocacy meetings (draft of recommendations in community hall meetings & focus groups) – Participants: local, national and international authorities; members of Ethnic Minority Groups ( men, women, youth, community leaders), local Civil Society Organisations Results: – Policy recommendations were developed and advocated to relevant stakeholders – Raised awareness in society about minority issues – Empowerment of minorities – First improvements of the minority situation through the gained influence in local decision- making process and the implementation of relevant legislation Follow-up: – Empowered groups are expected to pursue to advocate for their interests (needs and problems) and thereby improve the overall situation

12. 4. Knowledge transfer Activities: – Community hall meetings, focus groups – Participants: members of Ethnic Minority Groups ( men, women, youth, community leaders); members of Ethnic Majority Groups; local Civil Society Organisations and networks of civil society in Western Balkans; local Authorities Results: – Target groups acquired knowledge about respective legislation, possibilities to impact the decision-making process and identified important institutions/actors as lobby targets – stakeholders discussed minority rights in local forums and identified needs, problems and concerns of minorities on local and national level – Sharing of experiences (best practices) and sharing knowledge about dealing with minority issues – Informing local authorities about the capacities and activities of civil society organizations – Raising of awareness and promotion of synergies Follow-up: – Apply knowledge in advocacy campaigns on different issues

13. Locations & lessons-learned Experiences: Willingness to cooperate of the target groups varies depending on locations Government institutions at the national level were still reluctant to talk to civil society representatives on minority issues Lessons-learned: Previous cooperation between civil society and local authorities in other sectors increase the receptiveness of stakeholders to the still highly-sensitive issue of minority rights  Empowerment of civil society and cooperation to effectively advocate for minority rights on a national level still remains high on the agenda for future projects

14. CONCLUSION AND DETECTED NEEDS All participants on the Project Activities welcomed the project and project objectives. Major percent of participants has limited knowledge and awareness of the existing legislative and enacted lows and understanding of level of institution where those issues should be addressed. Unawareness of existing mechanisms, state agencies and legal frame for protection of minority rights cause criticism and unsatisfied citizens in the local and national institutions Various difficulties and issues were stressed related to the basic living conditions of minorities on the local level, as well as concerns of the general politics on the central level and misuse of part of the Media in creation of public opinion. Low level of communication among CSO’s, local and national institutions decrease possibilities of transferring of relevant useful information in both directions Insufficient relevant information cause inaction of decisions and laws faced with difficulties in implementation Associations of minorities and CSO’s in general have limited capacities for rising the issues and promoting and protection of rights of minorities National institutions policy, actions plans and programs need to be disseminated to the all interested parties