Situation of human rights in Kosovo.

1994/76. Situation of human rights in Kosovo

The Commission on Human Rights, Guided by the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenants on Human Rights and other international human rights instruments, Recalling its resolutions 1992/S-1/1 of 14 August 1992 and 1993/7 of 23 February 1993 and its decision 1992/103 of 13 August 1992, Recalling also Security Council resolution 855 (1993) of 9 August 1993, Noting in the report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the former Yugoslavia (E/CN.4/1994/110) the continuing deterioration of the human rights situation in Kosovo including:

(a) Police brutality against ethnic Albanians, arbitrary searches, seizures and arrests, forced evictions, torture and ill-treatment of detainees and discrimination in the administration of justice;

(b) Discriminatory and arbitrary dismissals of ethnic Albanian civil servants, notably from the ranks of the police and the judiciary, mass dismissals of ethnic Albanians, discrimination against Albanian pupils and teachers of primary schools, the closing of the Albanian-language secondary schools and university, as well as the closing of Albanian cultural and scientific institutions;

(c) The intimidation and imprisonment of ethnic Albanian journalists and the systematic harassment and disruption of the news media in the Albanian language;

(d) The dismissals of doctors and members of other categories of the medical profession of Albanian origin from clinics and hospitals;

(e) The elimination in practice of the Albanian language, particularly in public administration and services;

(f) The serious and massive occurrence of discriminatory and repressive practices aimed at Kosovo Albanians as a whole, resulting in widespread involuntary emigration;

1. Strongly condemns the discriminatory measures and practices, as well as the violations of human rights, committed by the authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) against ethnic Albanians in Kosovo;

2. Urgently demands that the authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro):

(a) Cease all human rights violations, discriminatory measures and practices against ethnic Albanians in Kosovo, in particular arbitrary detention and violation of the right to a fair trial and the practice of torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment;

(b) Release all political prisoners and cease all persecution of political leaders and members of local human rights organizations;

(c) Establish democratic institutions in Kosovo and respect the will of its inhabitants as the best means of preventing the escalation of the conflict there;

(d) Cooperate with the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe to enable the long-term mission to resume its activities immediately, inter alia, by permitting its return to Kosovo;

3. Urges the Secretary-General to explore ways and means to establish an adequate international monitoring presence in Kosovo;

4. Calls upon the Special Rapporteur to continue to monitor closely the human rights situation in Kosovo and to pay special attention to this matter in his reporting;

5. Decides to remain seized of this matter.

65th meeting
9 March 1994
[Adopted without a vote. See chap. XII.]