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Reviewing Governmental Acts of the United Nations in Kosovo

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 March 2019

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The governmental role played by the United Nations in Kosovo since 1999 raises a host of questions for international lawyers. Chief among these is whether governmental acts of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) should be subject to review within Kosovo for compliance with applicable legal standards. In principle, such review would be helpful in ensuring UNMIK accountability and in sending the message that the governors—as well as the governed—in Kosovo are subject to the rule of law. However, for many, the prospect of actors in Kosovo second-guessing decisions taken by UNMIK is problematic, partly due to a fear that review could be used to derail the UNMIK-led peacebuilding process in the territory.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © 2007 by German Law Journal GbR 

References

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The law applicable in Kosovo shall be:Google Scholar

(a) The regulations promulgated by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and subsidiary instruments issued thereunder; andGoogle Scholar

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48 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.Google Scholar

49 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); 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).Google Scholar

50 UNMIK/REG/2006/12, supra note 47, at § 2.Google Scholar

51 Id. at §§ 14, 17.1.Google Scholar

52 Id. at § 17.3.Google Scholar

53 Author Correspondence with International Official in Kosovo (July 2006).Google Scholar

54 Human Rights Committee, supra 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.Google Scholar