10 December 2020 - On the occasion of International Human Rights Day, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of UNMIK, Zahir Tanin, renews the UN’s commitment to support Kosovo institutions and other stakeholders in their efforts to promote and protect human rights for all communities in Kosovo, including in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this regard, SRSG Tanin underscores the central role of human rights in the COVID-19 response and recovery to “build back better” from the pandemic, which has impacted the realization of human rights in Kosovo and disproportionately affected communities and persons in vulnerable situations. Reiterating the calls by the UN Secretary-General and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, he encourages Kosovo institutions and all relevant stakeholders to place human rights at the heart of all response and recovery efforts, as well as take into consideration the different needs of men, women, boys and girls. The pandemic has exacerbated existing inequalities and displayed the critical need to pay more attention to communities and persons in vulnerable situations. He calls for additional inclusive and targeted recovery measures to address the pandemic’s impact in Kosovo, including on the realization of economic and social rights. “As the world celebrates International Human Rights Day during the pandemic, Kosovo has a unique opportunity to use human rights as a roadmap to manage and recover from the pandemic and to ensure that communities and persons in vulnerable situations are not left behind,” SRSG Tanin said. Read the UN Secretary-General’s remarks and policy briefs on different topics and COVID-19 here. Read the United Nations Comprehensive Response to COVID-19 Saving Lives, Protecting Societies, Recovering Better here. Read guidance from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on COVID-19 and human rights here.