Since 2018, with the generous support of Switzerland, the Outreach team of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers has conducted Outreach events with audiences across Kosovo on an almost monthly basis.
The purpose of these information-sharing events is to be present in Kosovo, to provide basic information about the court’s mandate and activities, to give people in Kosovo the opportunity to share their views, and most importantly to answer the questions that people have. Events have been held with students, lawyers, civil society, citizens in local communities and many others.
Because the trials are relocated in The Hague, it was recognised from the start that the court needs to reach out to people affected by the proceedings with transparent, neutral, and accessible information, as other tribunals have done.
The information provided at these events is the same information that can be found on the Specialist Chambers website. This includes information about the mandate of the court under the law, the rights of the accused, the participation of victims, and legal developments in the cases.
The court is a separate institution from the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office, and the Outreach Programme administered under the neutral court Registry does not represent the Prosecution or the Defence. The presumption of innocence of the accused is clearly communicated. The information shared does not include political or ideological content.
For years, the KSC has transparently communicated about its regular Outreach activities and their purpose. Events have been attended by journalists and reported on by journalists. The court reports regularly on its Kosovo Outreach activities in weekly press briefings with the media, on its website and social media channels, and in its annual reports.
The KSC appreciates listening to people in Kosovo and answering their questions through the Outreach programme.