Prishtina, 11 June 2026 — The Regional Forum of Human Rights Defenders is taking place today in Prishtina, bringing together civil society representatives, human rights defenders, public institutions, international organizations, legal experts, journalists and regional actors from across the Western Balkans.
The forum is organized by Youth Initiative for Human Rights – Kosovo (YIHR KS), within the programmatic activity “Advancing Human Rights: Empowering CSOs for Positive Change in Kosovo,” supported by UNMIK/OHCHR.
The event comes at a time when human rights defenders across the region continue to face threats, intimidation, attacks, smear campaigns, insufficient institutional protection and limited public recognition of their role. According to the organizers, the conference aims to strengthen regional cooperation among civil society actors and contribute to more effective protection of human rights defenders through dialogue, exchange of best practices and promotion of international human rights standards.
“The aim of this conference is to create a meaningful regional space for dialogue, cooperation and joint action in support of human rights defenders,” said Marigona Shabiu, Executive Director of YIHR Kosovo. “By bringing together civil society organizations, institutions, international actors and defenders from across the Western Balkans, we want to exchange experiences, identify common challenges and contribute to stronger protection mechanisms, greater recognition and more effective implementation of human rights standards in practice.”
Marigona Shabiu, YIHR Kosovo, opening remarks, Regional Forum of Human Rights Defenders, Prishtina, 11 June 2026 (photo: CIVIL)
A central reference point of the forum is the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, adopted in 1998, which affirms the rights and responsibilities of individuals and groups working to protect and promote human rights, as well as the obligations of institutions to protect them.
The conference is also linked to Kosovo’s ongoing human rights policy framework. With the current Program for the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights 2021–2025 nearing completion, and preparations underway for the next program for 2026–2031, the forum is seen as an opportunity to ensure that the protection of human rights defenders is meaningfully integrated into future policy and institutional frameworks.
The program began on Wednesday evening, 10 June, with a welcome reception hosted by the Ombudsperson Institution of the Republic of Kosovo at Hotel Sirius in Prishtina. Welcome remarks were delivered by Majlindë Sinani Lulaj, Deputy Ombudsperson of Kosovo, and Shabiu.
The official conference program on 11 June opened with remarks by Marigona Shabiu, Executive Director of YIHR KS, and Niman Hajdari, Deputy Ombudsperson of Kosovo. The opening session also includes keynote addresses by Peter N. Due, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of UNMIK, Andrea Bolaños Vargas, UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, and other institutional representatives.
The first panel, titled “Human Rights Defenders in the Western Balkans – Current Trends and Challenges,” is moderated by journalist and BIRN Kosovo Executive Director Jeta Xharra. Panelists include Sofija Todorović, Executive Director of YIHR Serbia, Iris Knežević, Executive Director of YIHR Croatia, Ajna Mešić, Project Coordinator at YIHR Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Trina Binaku, Program Manager at KCSF.
A separate panel is dedicated to the implementation of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, moderated by Jerome Bouyjou, Head of the Human Rights Office at UNMIK and representative of OHCHR in Kosovo. The panel brings together institutional actors from Kosovo and Albania, including Mirela Rrumbullaku, Commissioner for Protection from Discrimination of Albania, and Habit Hajredini, Director of the Office for Good Governance within the Office of the Prime Minister of Kosovo.
The forum also addresses the role of national human rights institutions in protecting human rights defenders, with the participation of representatives of Kosovo’s Ombudsperson Institution, Constitutional Court, Information and Privacy Agency, civil society and media regulatory bodies.
One of the practical components of the conference is a presentation on risk assessment for human rights defenders, delivered by Heghine Babayan, Capacity Development Coordinator at Front Line Defenders.
The final panel of the forum, “The Way Forward – Regional Cooperation and Advocacy on the Protection of Human Rights Defenders,” focuses on future regional cooperation, advocacy and practical support mechanisms. The panel is moderated by Rajmonda Sylbije, Programme Director at CSGD. Panelists include Zhaklin Lekatari, journalist, Xhabir Deralla, President of CIVIL – Center for Freedom, Katica Maksan, Project Coordinator at CEDEM, and Leonida Molliqaj, Executive Director of QIKA.
CIVIL’s participation in the forum comes in the context of its long-standing work on human rights, democracy, election monitoring, media freedoms, counter-disinformation and the protection of civic space in North Macedonia and the wider region.
The forum is expected to contribute to stronger regional links among human rights defenders and civil society organizations, while encouraging institutions to recognize, protect and support those who work to defend fundamental rights, democratic values, rule of law and accountability across the Western Balkans.
The conference will close with remarks summarizing the key messages and possible next steps for regional cooperation and advocacy.
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