Bind Skeja, representative of the initiative for the Suicide Prevention Bill, said that the petition for suicide prevention came as a result of political unwillingness.
In the show "Tempus" on KTV, Skeja said that they had initially contacted the Kosovo Institute for Justice to get support for drafting the petition.
He said that the initiative was carried out in cooperation with many organizations.
"As for the institutions, the fact that we started this petition is that there was a lack of cooperation. "We had cooperation from the beginning with the institutions, there was no need for the Government or the Assembly to send a petition to draft this law", said Skeja.
According to him, at least they were able to create the Suicide Prevention Strategy and inform them if there was a need for laws. / Oath of Justice
Jakaj: After IKD "threatened" with a lawsuit, the institutions announced the competition for the union representative in the Pension Fund
Naim Jakaj, senior researcher at the Kosovo Institute for Justice (IKD), in the "Tempus" show on KTV, said that after the IKD had announced a lawsuit, the Commission for the selection of members of the Board of the Pension Savings Fund of Kosovo (BFKPK) , has announced the competition for two members on this board, respectively for the member who will represent the workers of Kosovo.
Jakaj said that they expect the Ministry of Finance, Labor and Transfers to announce the competition for the functionalization of the Social Economic Council.
"Only after our reaction as IKD, the Board, the Governor of the Central Bank of Kosovo, the Minister of Finance and the Office of the Auditor of Kosovo, announced the competition for the representation of trade unions in the Kosovo Pension Savings Board, but that competition was announced only after I say in quotation marks the "threat" of the IKD for a lawsuit for inaction of the institutions, should we now issue a communique tomorrow that there is no Functional Economic-Social Council, that trade unions and economic organizations are not represented, there is no social dialogue at all, and tomorrow we will sue you, announce the competition", said Jakaj.
According to him, this is how they are forced to act because there is no action from the institutions. / Oath of Justice
Uka: The principles of democracy in sports are seen as distant, the new law will bring reforms
Bardha Uka, director of the organization Dem Sport, in the show "Tempus" on KTV, said that the principles of democracy in sports were seen as far-fetched, but that the new Law is expected to bring reforms.
"The principles of democracy in the sports sector have been seen as far-fetched, it is not something that we have met, at least that was the impression and practice that existed", she said.
According to her, we talk about international successes and achievements, but not about problems.
"We talk about successes, about international achievements, but we have had very little interest in seeing the developments, what are inside, what are the problems, challenges and how much we can possibly do as citizens, either as members of civil society by contributing and being part of the process within the sports sector. In cooperation with the International Democratic Institute, our organization "Dem Sport" held a panel discussion, where for the first time we tried to connect the principles of democracy with sport, how it helps in the advancement of sport and at the same time how it can sport contributes to the advancement of a country's democracy", said Uka.
The same said that a commitment of all citizens is needed to develop the sports sector.
"We should not be proud only when we manage to receive medals from the sport of judo, but really let's analyze how we can be involved as citizens because the developments that take place within the sports sector at the end of the day affect all citizens. Sport has an impact on economic development, sport has an impact on health development", added Uka.
According to her, through discussions they managed to bring attention to the sports sector.
"Despite the fact that it was a short discussion, at least we discussed sports, democracy within the institution of the Assembly of Kosovo, it is very important to pay attention to what is happening within the sports sector from policy makers. It should not be only the interest of the commission that is related to sports that are involved in the drafting of new laws", said Uka.
Uka added that the new Sports Law will bring long-term change.
"With the new Law, even though it will take some time until it takes shape and is in practice in federations and clubs, it is very important and I believe that it will result in long-term change", she said.
Skeja: No party has taken suicide prevention seriously
Bind Skeja, representative of the initiative for the Suicide Prevention Bill, said that no political party has seriously addressed the issue of suicide prevention.
Invited to the show "Tempus" on KTV, Skeja said that no party on their platform has the prevention of suicides.
He said that since 2016 they have tried to create a dialogue with the Ministry of Health, so that the state can create a strategy for suicide prevention.
Skeja said that the situation has started to worsen after the pandemic.
According to him, through the handbook for legislative initiatives, which was drafted by the Kosovo Institute for Justice (IKD), they were given the opportunity to petition as a way to push forward an initiative, which has been forgotten by politicians.
"No party has suicide prevention on their platform, even during the time we have been dealing with these Ministers, none has been interested in treating this issue seriously. Even seeing this blockade on an ongoing basis, we were shown the possibility of a petition through the handbook that IKD has drawn up, as a very good way to push forward an initiative, which has been forgotten by policy makers", he said. Skea.
He said that there are also family members, who have family members who are victims of suicide, and who have been neglected by the state.
The drafting of the law that regulates services for these people, social assistance, and others, Skeja said, has pushed them to make the petition. / Oath of Justice
Jakaj: Democracy is not at the right level
Naim Jakaj, senior researcher at the Kosovo Institute for Justice (IKD), said that democracy in Kosovo is not at the right level.
"There was a violation of trade union activity as Blendori mentioned, a violation of social dialogue at the levels, especially in the strike that took place in 2022, where there was great pressure, I was told, including the Labor Inspectorate, including issues related to the Police also with the Prosecutor's Office, and on the other hand, three or four other activities that have violated democracy are related to the freedom of the media", declared Jakaj in "Tempus".
In addition, Jakaj also mentioned the tendency of the closure of "Klan Kosova" television by the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
"So, the activity that violated the issue related to Klan Kosova television, with the closure by the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the other case with the violation of the independent constitutional supervisory body such as the Independent Media Commission that was called to report and MPs if noticed even there, according to the judgment of the Constitutional Court for another case, how is it allowed to supervise an independent body, you see where they violate, exceed the authorizations, call in general for the manner and form of how an independent commission made a decision that a member of the Assembly should not have done it," added Jakaj.
Furthermore, the IKD researcher said that the ruling party also put pressure on Public Television.
"On the other hand, then we had problems related to the operation of Public Radio and Television, what pressure was there, we already have a resigned director, then several board members also resigned due to the pressure of the party that is in power and the people of that they direct from the party offices", said Jakaj.
According to him, international reports also show this.
"We have said and we reiterate that the level of democracy that the Republic of Kosovo aspires to is not at the right level, whereas, as has been proven by the judgments of the Constitutional Court, there is a serious violation of the values of Article 7 of the Constitution and other articles covering independent institutions, the separation of powers and issues related to democracy and human rights", said Jakaj./BetimipreDrejtesi
Shatri: We do not see regular functioning of democratic elements in Kosovo, including social dialogue
Blendor Shatri, representative of the initiative for the Draft Law on Pension Schemes, said that they do not see regular functioning of all democratic elements in Kosovo, including social dialogue.
Invited to the show "Tempus" on KTV, Shatri said they encountered great difficulties even through dialogue to achieve the goals they had as representatives of the employees in the United Union of Education, Science and Culture (SBASHK). .
"I think it should be at a better and higher level, but we have encountered constant problems and it should be much easier for us as a union to address all issues. However, we do not see a regular functioning of all democratic elements in this country, including the dialogue", said Shatri./BetimipreDrejtesi
