Kosovo’s Minister for Labour and Family, Andin Hoti, has received the final report on the handling of the case involving the family of a five-year-old boy from Janjeva in Lipjan by the Centre for Social Work (QPS). The report was received late on Wednesday afternoon by the Division for Inspection of Social and Family Services.
Minister Hoti confirmed exclusively to KosovaPress that the findings of the report conclude that the Centre for Social Work (QPS) is responsible in this case, along with other institutions, and he announced punitive measures for all those identified for improper handling of the case.
“I received the report, surprisingly, today. One of the findings states that the 2023 court decision obliged the Centre for Social Work to monitor the family in relation to the children. So, it obliged the Centre for Social Work also in relation to the parents’ mental health, while QPS does not deal with mental health issues; mental health centres within the Ministry of Health do that. Nevertheless, the case is under investigation by the Prosecution. What we can do now is propose to the Mayor of the Municipality of Lipjan to take disciplinary measures against all staff of the Centre for Social Work in Lipjan, and we will do this tomorrow, because today it is outside working hours, and the findings should be reviewed to determine whether they truly followed the measures,” he said.
The minister also addressed other violations identified in the report but was cautious in providing further details.
“I cannot disclose all the violations identified because the case is under investigation by the prosecution. But I have told you what the report finds: it is an inter-ministerial issue, the problem is not only with QPS but also with other institutions. Whether there is negligence or violations by municipal QPS officials, I can confirm that there is, but I cannot say more. These two actions will be taken by us: a request to convene the inter-ministerial coordinating group led by Donika Gërvalla, and a proposal to the mayor of the municipality to take disciplinary measures against the staff there. We have also prepared the revocation of the license of the head of QPS and the case manager, but for that we need inter-institutional coordination and possibly also the prosecution,” Hoti told KosovaPress.
He announced that an inter-ministerial group will be convened and that the Municipality of Lipjan will be requested to take disciplinary measures against the staff of the centre.
“Yes, I have received the report. You know this case is also under investigation by the Kosovo Prosecution, so I will be very cautious regarding the findings. Two things I can confirm we will do are: propose to the national coordinator, in this case Donika Gërvalla, to convene the inter-ministerial coordination group for protection against domestic violence. I mentioned earlier that the Department for Social Services (QPS) falls under our policies, but Mental Health Centres are under the Ministry of Health, while the Kosovo Police is under the Ministry of Internal Affairs, so inter-ministerial coordination is needed to determine what actions should be taken and where exactly the problem lies,” he said.
He added that they are awaiting further steps from other institutions.
A month ago, the case of the five-year-old shocked the country. Due to abuse by his parents, the child received medical treatment in pediatric intensive care.
The parents were placed in pre-trial detention by decision of the Basic Court in Prishtina, while the six children of the family were taken under care by the Centre for Social Work in Lipjan.
The full interview with the minister, covering other issues as well, will be broadcast during the day on all platforms of the KosovaPress News Agency.
