History

Civil Rights Program - Kosovo (CRP/K) is a local Non-governmental organization which operates independently in Kosovo since 2004. CRP started as a project in Kosovo within the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) in 1999, supported by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and is currently UNHCR’s legal aid Implementing Partner.

CRP/K as a local Human Rights based NGO provides Information, Counseling and free Legal Aid to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), refugees, returnees and minorities at risk through a multi-ethnic team of lawyers.

CRP/K closely cooperates with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees as its implementing partner, Kosovo Property Agency (KPA), United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), Ombudsperson Institution in Kosovo, Praxis in Serbia proper, Pravni Centar in Montenegro , “CRPs” Sisak and Vukovar in Croatia , Vaša Prava in Bosnia and Herzegovina , NGO ARKA in fYR of Macedonia . CRP/K also cooperates closely with Kosovo Municipalities: Civil Registration and Civil Status Offices, Cadastral Offices, Centers for Social Welfare, Municipal Courts and numerous other authorities and institutions in Kosovo.

Since January 2004, CRP/K has provided free legal assistance, information and counseling to 4,820 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), 229 refugees, 1,072 returnees, 2,168 minorities at risk and to 1,097 extremely vulnerable individuals, and other people of concern with specific needs. The above comprises the total of 9,386 persons of concern directly supported through a multi-ethnic team of lawyers. In addition, during the period, CRP/K has received 9,752 requests for legal advice – which were either assisted by our lawyers or  referred for assistance to other institutions.

CRP/K continues to carry out its activities through five field offices located in Prishtina/Priština (with satellite office in Gračanica), Mitrovicë/a South (with satellite office in Zvečan/Zveçan), Peja/Pec, Gjilan/Gnjilane and Prizren. Due to limited freedom of movement and access to relevant institutions, CRP/K conducts activities through mobile team visits. The ethnically mixed staff renders a variety of services to beneficiaries, from providing information and legal counselling, retrieving of documents, to the undertaking of further legal actions. In exceptional cases, CRP/K will represent clients in court.

CRP/K continues to reach the target groups through a close cross border/boundary cooperation with Praxis Serbia and other relevant partners.