Tag: Kosovo

The training was held as part of the “Solidifying the Resilience of Kosovo’s Current and Future Journalists” project, and was aimed at students of Kosovo’s state-run high schools that are interested in undergoing training in media production, media literacy and tackling fake news.

The program aims to nurture young talent by mentoring students in the production of videos, photos and articles in order to achieve the main goal of the activity: to create a path for increased independence, transparency, accountability and civic engagement.

A total of 16 students from the social sciences department of the Zenel Hajdini high school participated, 11 of whom were women.

At the end of the training session, youngsters pitched their journalistic ideas, which the BIRN team will collect and thoroughly analyse before selecting the articles and other materials that will be published on the online platform KallxoRinia (Kallxo Youth). The production of all of these articles will be overseen by a team of BIRN Kosovo editors.

In the upcoming months, BIRN will hold another eight sessions at the Social Studies department of high schools from across Kosovo.

The “Europeanization of Kosovo’s Environmental Agenda” project supports the proactive participation of Civil Society in Kosovo, the media and environmental activists in policy reform and decision making relating to energy, the environment, and public health. Our goal is to help Kosovo to bring environmental policies closer to the EU acquis and strengthen the dialogue between our CSO’s, media, activists, and the public sector.

Our Team will utilize their expertise in implementing impactful initiatives on energy efficiency, renewable sources and environment, knowledge and compliance for the environment, to organize the “Green Energy Days 2021”, to positively influence awareness raising among citizens, decision makers, and energy and environmental policy makers.

The 10-day event includes a series of activities that will bring together local, regional and international stakeholders to talk about the environment, energy efficiency, Kosovo’s progress in approximating its legislation to the EU acquis and other pressing and related issues facing the Western Balkans.

The Green Energy Days will also bring together youth from high school and universities in two dialogue meetings with key stakeholders to raise awareness of pressing environmental issues in their communities, learn about relevant advocacy and journalistic tools and mechanisms to address their environmental concerns in a meaningful way, and the current best energy efficiency and environmental practices.

Through a local conference on June 28, local stakeholders, CSOs and activists will talk about the energy efficiency, renewable energy sources and alternatives, targets that Kosovo should meet and recommendations to take into account towards energy efficiency.

Over 30 CSOs, environmental activists and media representatives from Western Balkan countries will be brought together in an online regional conference to discuss best practices, share experiences and identify areas of cooperation on energy issues. Practices, challenges and problems faced in each of the region’s countries will be discussed in order to find common solutions and ways of addressing them, which will be detailed in recommendation papers created by participants.

On July 5, the Green Energy Days 2021 will discuss the European Green Deal targets that Kosovo aspires to, bringing local, regional and international representatives from CSOs and institutions, environmental journalists and media representatives together via a high-level, international conference. They will discuss how to achieve energy efficiency, sustainable development, and sustainable public health, as well as global best practices and challenges related to energy and the environment.

In Peja, partners will mobilize youngsters in a street action, namely a bike tour through the city, to raise awareness about environmental pollution, air pollution and the degradation that cars cause to the environment as a whole.

An awards ceremony will end the event, awarding the best journalistic stories on the topics of energy efficiency, environmental protection, climate change and the effects of the environment on human health. This is the second and last competition of the action, which marks the end of the Green Energy Days for 2021.

Throughout the Green Energy Days 2021 event we will broadcast important public service announcements, youth promotion and awareness raising campaigns from BIRN’s youth platform, and partners televised debates and Interviews with significant stakeholders in the field of energy efficiency and clean environment in Kosovo, through the KOSID, BIRN Kosovo and TV Mreza channels and all partners’ social media pages.

Tim za „Evropeizaciju kosovske agende za zaštitu životne sredine“ vas poziva da se pridružite „Danima zelene energije 2021“.

„Dani zelene energije 2021“ je inicijativa organizovana u okviru projekta „Evropeizacija kosovske agende za zaštitu životne sredine“, koju finansiraju Kancelarija Evropske unije na Kosovu, BIRN Kosovo, CEE Bankwatch, ERA Group i TV Mreža i trajaće od 28. juna do 7. jula 2021.

Projekat „Evropeizacija kosovske agende za zaštitu životne sredine“ podržava proaktivno učešće građanskog društva na Kosovu, medija i ekoloških aktivista u reformi praktične politike i odlučivanja u vezi sa energijom, životnom sredinom i javnim zdravljem. Naš cilj je da pomognemo Kosovu da približi praktične politike o zaštiti životne sredine pravnim tekovinama EU i ojača dijalog između naših organizacija građanskog društva, medija, aktivista i javnog sektora.

Naš tim iskoristiće svoju stručnost u sprovođenju uticajnih inicijativa o energetskoj efikasnosti, obnovljivim izvorima energije i životnoj sredini, znanje i usklađenost po pitanju zaštite životne sredine da organizuje „Dane zelene energije 2021“, kako bi se pozitivno uticalo na podizanje svesti kod građana, donosilaca odluka i stvaralaca ekoloških praktičnih politika.

Desetodnevni događaj uključuje niz aktivnosti koje će okupiti lokalne, regionalne i međunarodne zainteresovane strane kako bi razgovarali o životnoj sredini, energetskoj efikasnosti, napretku Kosova u približavanju svojih propisa sa pravnim tekovinama EU i drugim hitnim i povezanim pitanjima sa kojima se suočava Zapadni Balkan.

Dani zelene energije takođe će okupiti mlade iz srednjih škola i sa univerziteta na dva sastanka za dijalog sa ključnim zainteresovanim stranama kako bi podigli svest o gorućim ekološkim pitanjima u svojim zajednicama, naučili o relevantnim zagovaračkim i novinarskim alatima i mehanizmima za smisleno rešavanje njihovih ekoloških problema  i aktuelnim najboljim praksama energetske efikasnosti i zaštite životne sredine.

Kroz lokalnu konferenciju 28. juna, lokalni akteri, organizacije građanskog društva i aktivisti govoriće o energetskoj efikasnosti, obnovljivim izvorima energije i alternativama, ciljevima koje bi Kosovo trebalo da ispuni i preporukama koje treba da se uzmu u obzir u pogledu energetske efikasnosti.

Preko 30  organizacija građanskog društva, aktivista za zaštitu životne sredine i predstavnika medija iz zemalja Zapadnog Balkana biće okupljeno na onlajn regionalnoj konferenciji  kako bi razgovarali o najboljim praksama, razmenili iskustva i identifikovali oblasti saradnje u energetskim pitanjima. Razgovaraće se o praksama, izazovima i problemima sa kojima se suočava svaka zemlja u regionu kako bi se pronašla zajednička rešenja i načini  za njihovo rešavanje što će detaljno biti objašnjeno u preporukama učesnika.

Dana 5. jula, na Danima zelene energije 2021, razgovaraće se o ciljevima koji proističu iz Evropskog zelenog sporazuma kome Kosovo teži, okupljajući lokalne, regionalne i međunarodne predstavnike organizacija građanskog društva, ekološke novinare i predstavnike medija putem međunarodne konferencije na visokom nivou. Oni će razgovarati o tome kako postići energetsku efikasnost, održivi razvoj i održivo javno zdravlje, kao i o najboljim svetskim praksama i izazovima vezanim za energiju i životnu sredinu.

Partneri u Peći mobilisaće mlade u uličnoj akciji, odnosno biciklističkoj turi kroz grad, kako bi podigli svest o zagađenju životne sredine, zagađenju vazduha i degradaciji koju automobili nanose životnoj sredini u celini.

Događaj će se završiti svečanom dodelom nagrada najboljim novinarskim pričama nagrađenim na teme energetske efikasnosti, zaštite životne sredine, klimatskih promena i efekata životne sredine na zdravlje ljudi. Ovo je drugo i poslednje takmičenje u sklopu ove akcije, kojim se obeležava završetak Dana zelene energije za 2021. godinu.

Tokom manifestacije Dani zelene energije 2021, emitovaćemo važna obaveštenja u službi javnosti, kampanje za promovisanje mladih i kampanje za  podizanje svesti sa BIRN-ove platforme za mlade i  televizijske debate i intervjue naših partnera sa značajnim akterima u oblasti energetske efikasnosti i čiste životne sredine na Kosovu preko kanala KOSID-a, BIRN Kosovo i TV Mreže i na svim stranicama na društvenim mrežama naših partnera.

Nga 28 qershori deri më 7 korrik organizohen “Ditët e energjisë së gjelbër 2021”

Nga data 28 qershor deri më 7 korrik do të organizohen “Ditët e energjisë së gjelbër 2021”, një iniciativë që është pjesë e projektit “Evropianizimi i agjendës mjedisore të Kosovës”, i financuar nga Zyra e Bashkimit Evropian në Kosovë, BIRN Kosova, CEE Bankwatch, ERA Group dhe TV Mreza.

Projekti “Europianizimi i agjendës mjedisore të Kosovës” mbështet pjesëmarrjen proaktive të shoqërisë civile në Kosovë, mediave dhe aktivistëve mjedisorë në reformën e politikave dhe vendimmarrjen në lidhje me energjinë, mjedisin dhe shëndetin publik.

Qëllimi i projektit është të ndihmojë Kosovën për t’i sjellë politikat mjedisore më afër legjislacionit të BE-së dhe për të forcuar dialogun midis organizatave të shoqërisë civile, mediave, aktivistëve dhe sektorit publik.

BIRN Kosova, CEE Bankwatch, ERA Group dhe TV Mreza do të përdorin ekspertizën e tyre në zbatimin e iniciativave me ndikim në efiçencën e energjisë, burimet e ripërtërishme dhe mjedisin, njohuritë dhe pajtueshmërinë me mjedisin, për të ndikuar pozitivisht në rritjen e ndërgjegjësimit në mesin e qytetarëve, vendimmarrësve dhe krijuesve të politikave të energjisë dhe atyre mjedisore.

Ngjarja 10-ditore përfshin një sërë aktivitetesh që do të bashkojnë akterët lokalë, rajonalë dhe ndërkombëtarë për të folur rreth mjedisit, efiçencës së energjisë, progresit të Kosovës në përafrimin e legjislacionit të saj me legjislacionin e BE-së dhe çështje të tjera të ngutshme dhe të ndërlidhura me të cilat përballet Ballkani Perëndimor.

“Ditët e energjisë së gjelbër” gjithashtu do të bashkojnë të rinjtë nga shkollat e mesme dhe universitetet në dy takime dialogu me palët kryesore të interesit për të rritur ndërgjegjësimin lidhur me çështjet mjedisore të ngutshme në komunitetet e tyre, për të mësuar rreth avokimit përkatës dhe mjeteve dhe mekanizmave gazetareskë për të adresuar shqetësimet e tyre mjedisore në një mënyrë kuptimplote dhe praktikat më të mira aktuale të efiçencës së energjisë dhe mjedisit.

Përmes një konference lokale më 28 qershor akterët lokalë të interesit, organizatat e shoqërisë civile dhe aktivistët do të flasin për efiçencën e energjisë, burimet e ripërtërishme të energjisë dhe alternativat, synimet që Kosova duhet t’i përmbushë dhe rekomandimet për të marrë parasysh drejt efiçiencës së energjisë.

Mbi 30 organizata të shoqërisë civile, aktivistë mjedisorë dhe përfaqësues të mediave nga vendet e Ballkanit Perëndimor do të bashkohen në një konferencë rajonale online për të diskutuar praktikat më të mira, për të ndarë përvojat dhe për të identifikuar fushat e bashkëpunimit për çështjet e energjisë. Do të diskutohen praktikat, sfidat dhe problemet me të cilat përballen secili prej vendeve të rajonit  për të gjetur zgjidhje të përbashkëta dhe mënyra për t’i adresuar ato, të cilat do të detajohen në dokumentet e rekomandimeve të krijuara nga pjesëmarrësit.

Më 5 korrik, në “Ditët e energjisë së gjelbër 2021” do të diskutohen synimet e Marrëveshjes së Gjelbër Evropiane për të cilat aspiron Kosova, duke sjellë së bashku përfaqësuesit lokalë, rajonalë dhe ndërkombëtarë nga organizatat e shoqërisë civile dhe institucionet, gazetarët mjedisorë dhe përfaqësuesit e mediave përmes një konference ndërkombëtare të nivelit të lartë. Ata do të diskutojnë se si të arrihet efiçienca e energjisë, zhvillimi i qëndrueshëm dhe shëndeti i qëndrueshëm publik, si dhe praktikat më të mira dhe sfidat globale që lidhen me energjinë dhe mjedisin.

Në Pejë, partnerët do të mobilizojnë të rinjtë në një aksion rrugor, përkatësisht një turne me biçikleta nëpër qytet, për të rritur ndërgjegjësimin në lidhje me ndotjen e mjedisit, ndotjen e ajrit dhe degradimin që automjetet i shkaktojnë mjedisit në tërësi.

Një ceremoni çmimesh do të përfundojë ngjarjen, duke shpërblyer storjet më të mira gazetareske mbi temat e efiçiencës së energjisë, mbrojtjen e mjedisit, ndryshimin e klimës dhe efektet e mjedisit në shëndetin e njeriut.

Kjo është gara e dytë dhe e fundit e aksionit, e cila shënon fundin e “Ditëve të energjisë së gjelbër” për vitin 2021.

Gjatë ngjarjes “Ditët e energjisë së gjelbër 2021” do të transmetohen njoftime të rëndësishme të shërbimit publik, do të bëhet promovimi i të rinjve dhe fushatat e ndërgjegjësimit nga platforma rinore e BIRN-it dhe partnerët, do të ketë debate dhe intervista televizive me akterë të rëndësishëm në fushën e efiçiencës së energjisë dhe mjedisit të pastër në Kosovë, përmes KOSID, kanalet e BIRN Kosova dhe TV Mreza dhe faqet e mediave sociale të të gjithë partnerëve.

The awards, held for the first time in Kosovo this year, seek to acknowledge the contribution of journalists in keeping public procurement transparent.

BIRN’s investigative journalist Dorentina Kastrati was awarded first prize for her article: “The scheme that guaranteed a tender of around 400,000 euros for the Minister of Trade and Industry’s brother.”

The investigation revealed that a company that was designated 400,000 euros to construct a school by the Municipality of Malisheva, Themeli, was owned by the brother of Vesel Krasniqi, who was then serving as the Minister of Trade and Industry at the time. The municipality is run by NISMA, the same political party that Krasniqi represented in the ministry.

Third prize went to two more BIRN journalists, Valon Fana and Vyrtyte Gervalla with their investigation: “Municipality led by Gazmend Muhaxheri provides a tender for the family of Ramiz Kelmendi.”

The story revealed how a tender awarded by the Municipality of Peja to supply food and other products to families in need led to a 1,000 euro profit for a business ran by the family of Ramiz Kelmendi, a former MP.

Second prize meanwhile was awarded to Besnik Krasniqi from KOHA for his investigation “Open deceptions.”

The award-winning journalists encouraged their colleagues to continue to monitor public procurement in order to ensure transparency in public spending and help prevent corruption.

This year’s report focuses on the sentencing practices employed by Kosovo’s courts in corruption cases in 2020, as well as the performance of the judiciary in handling these cases.

BIRN and I/KS requested and received judgements from every corruption case in Kosovo’s courts in 2020, focusing on the 40 convictions achieved outside of plea bargain agreements.

Analysis of these 40 judgements reveals that sentencing practices in corruption cases did not comply with the requirements of the Criminal Code, the Criminal Procedure Code, or the Sentencing Guidelines adopted by the Supreme Court in 2018.

Throughout 2020, Kosovo’s courts issued sentences, suspended sentences, and permitted conversions of prison sentences into fines based on circumstances that were not justified. In the majority of cases, Kosovo’s courts applied mitigating circumstances to issue more lenient sentences without justification, and did not apply circumstances that would aggravate sentences as foreseen by the rules in even a single case.

By rendering sentences that did not adequately reflect the weight and importance of the criminal offences for which the accused were found guilty, the courts have failed to convince society that Kosovo’s judiciary is functioning fairly and impartially.

The quality of a judgement depends on the quality of its reasoning – including the reasons given for determining the severity of the sentence issued. In 2020, Kosovo’s courts did not fulfill the criteria for issuing quality judgements in the majority of corruption cases analysed, particularly in regard to the quality of judgements and the lengths of punishments.

The report also reveals that there were 19% fewer indictments related to corruption filed to the courts in 2020, and there were 25% fewer completions of corruption cases by Kosovo’s courts. In fact, there was a 5% increase in unresolved corruption cases.

Panellists at the launch of the report included Minister of Justice Albulena Haxhiu, Chairperson of the Kosovo Judicial Council Skender Çoçaj, Chairperson of the Kosovo Prosecutorial Council Jetish Maloku, President of the Supreme Court Enver Peci, Chief State Prosecutor Aleksandër Lumezi, President of the Court of Appeals Hasan Shala, Chief Prosecutor at the Special Prosecution Blerim Isufaj, Managing Editor of KALLXO.com Kreshnik Gashi, and Legal Advisor and Coordinator of BIRN Kosovo Labinot Leposhtica.

Leposhtica, the author of the report, presented and summarised its main findings, revealing concrete examples of procedural violations in the judicial system in 2020. He stated that out of the 40 cases analysed, in only three of them had judges taken into account more aggravating than mitigating circumstances. He added that special guidelines for corruption cases are needed to improve sentencing.

Justice minister Haxhiu said that “the judicial system faces many problems and these findings show that the judicial and prosecutorial system needs deep reforms, a direction in which we have started working.” Chairpersons of Kosovo’s Judicial and Prosecutorial Councils, Skender Çoçaj and Jetish Maloku, stated that they will address all the findings and recommendations in the report.

However, Chief Prosecutor Aleksander Lumezi stated that he was aware of the situation in the justice system adding that in order to improve the system overall, it must work more holistically.

Lumezi also stated his opposition to a vetting system imposed by the government, as according to him it should be implemented by the judicial system itself through greater control of judges and prosecutors through disciplinary commissions.

The President of the Supreme Court, Enver Peci also spoke out against the government’s proposed vetting system. In regard to the findings of the report, Peci criticised judges issuing minimal and suspended sentences.

The report is available to download here.

Justice Minister Albulena Haxhiu has praised the annual court monitoring report by BIRN in collaboration with Internews Kosova, entitled ‘Humouring Corruption’, which was published on Monday.

“This report reflects that in 40 judgments issued by the courts of Kosovo in 2020, the punishment policy in cases of corruption does not meet the requirements of the Criminal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure, much less the Penal Policy Guide approved by the Supreme Court of Kosovo in 2018,” Haxhiu wrote on Facebook.

The report analyses rulings in 40 corruption cases in 2020 and examines the performance of the judiciary in handling corruption cases.

It highlights the light sentences handed down in corruption cases and the courts’ reasons for these sentences, in particular the large number of mitigating circumstances that are taken into account.

“The report states that sentences have been imposed based on completely unreasonable [mitigating] circumstances, conditional sentences have been imposed unreasonably, and the conversion of prison sentences to fines and so on has been allowed,” Haxhiu said.

“In the face of this situation, the reforms we have launched are necessary and will be implemented,” she added.

She also stressed the importance of monitoring the justice system.

BIRN and Internews Kosova’s report was based on continuous monitoring of corruption cases in Kosovo’s courts in 2020.

Haxhiu attended the presentation of the report at a conference on Monday by the coordinator of BIRN and Internews Kosova’s legal office, Labinot Leposhtica.

Also present at the conference were Chief State Prosecutor Aleksander Lumezi, the chairman of the Prosecution Council of Kosovo, Jetish Maloku, the chairman of the Kosovo Judicial Council, Skender Cocaj, the president of the Supreme Court, Enver Peci, the president of the Court of Appeals, Hasan Shala, and Chief Special Prosecutor Blerim Isufaj.

Leposhtica said that taking mitigating circumstances into account without proper reasons means that sentences are imposed that are much lighter than they should be. He said that a special guide for handling corruption cases is needed to improve sentencing policy.

jCoders Academy, in partnership with BIRN Kosovo, held the last event of its film-making course on March 27, when high school students presented their video productions.

The film-making course, which makes up part of an EU-funded project entitled ‘Solidifying the Resilience of Kosovo’s Current and Future Journalists’, offered eight months of hands-on training that focused on enabling students to tell stories through video and other media content.

At practical workshops, students learned a number of skills including video editing, scriptwriting, pitching and the basics of journalism, with each part of the training course playing a role in preparing students for their final video project.

A total of 75 high school students, 41 of them female, from municipalities across Kosovo including Pristina, Mitrovica, Gjilan, Peja and Prizren, took part in the training programme.

Over a period of eight months, students participated in various phases of the programme including the technical training phase, in which they learned how to use the video editing tool Adobe Premier Pro, the Design Thinking Marathon, through which students selected topics for their final project, and the training and implementation phase, in which students learned new techniques for creating video content and started working on their video presentations.

Students also learned about the basics of journalism through three sessions with guest speaker Jeta Xharra, BIRN Kosovo’s executive director. Xharra spoke about the importance of news, ethics and tackling false information, and shared her experienced with students, helping them create their video work.

At the final event, students presented their video projects in front of an audience of trainers, project representatives and their peers. The event was held at Kino Armata, a local cinema, with fewer than 50 attendees due to measures to combat the spread of the coronavirus.

A total of 13 videos were presented by various groups covering topics including patriarchy, Down’s Syndrome, the traditions of the Roma community, mental health, deforestation, the education system in Kosovo, the pandemic and its consequences in schools, child labour, cinematography, and functional illiteracy.

The videos were published on BIRN Kosovo’s KALLXO Rinia (KALLXO Youth) platform, as well as on its social media pages. Participants were provided with certificates for successfully finishing the programme.

BIRN Kosovo and its partner jCoders Academy’s aim for the project was to help students learn about technology and develop skills that will be necessary for their future.

On March 24 and 25, BIRN Kosovo, in partnership with the International Press Institute, IPI, held its second two-day training course on tackling disinformation and establishing fact-checking methods.

During the online course, which was part of the “Solidifying the Resilience of Kosovo’s Current and Future Journalists” project, and funded by the EU in Kosovo, participants interacted via video call with specialists from around the world.

On the first day, Carina Van Wyk, head of education and training at Africa Check, Africa’s first independent fact-checking organisation, introduced the topic “Dealing with the (mis)infodemic.” Van Wyk explained how false information spreads, and outlined tips and tools for identifying fake news websites, images and videos used to spread false information.

Allwell Okpi, a researcher and community manager at Africa Check’s Nigeria office, then spoke about how fact-checkers work to adhere to the International Fact-Checking Network’s code of principles, the fact-checking process, and on ways in which journalists can apply it to their work.

In the last session of the first day, Keegan Leech, a researcher at Africa Check based in Johannesburg, spoke more about health and science reporting in the “infodemic” age, sharing tips on finding credible data and preparing for an onslaught of false information related to the COVID-19 vaccines.

The second day was covered by Eoghan Sweeney, an open-source investigation specialist and trainer who over the past decade has helped to establish and develop digital verification and fact-checking operations at media organisations across the globe.

The session covered various topics, including geolocating content and techniques that help figure out the precise location shown in a piece of content. Sweeney also elaborated on issues like source analysis (knowing more about a source’s identity, authenticity and motivations), dealing with the public (how to approach the owners of user-generated content), as well as maintaining integrity and the ethics of investigating as information becomes more easily available.

A total of 34 participants took part in the training, 27 of whom were women.

BIRN and IPI believe that the training will help young journalists tackle fake news and unverified reporting by helping them spot fake news and provide verified information that adheres to journalistic standards.

The delivered knowledge was practical, and will help journalists develop these skills further, while the trainers also expressed a readiness to remain at the participants’ disposal regarding any questions that arise after the two training days come to an end.