Enforcing Human Rights: The Role of the UN Civilian Police in Kosovo

Abstract

When UNMIK took control of Kosovo, the mission was hampered by the slow deployment of UN Civilian Police (CIVPOL). While its main task was to establish law and order, CIVPOL also played an important role in enforcing human rights. This article analyses the performance of CIVPOL in the four stages of its work to enforce and promote human rights: executive policing; capacity building of the domestic law enforcement body, Kosovo Police Service (KPS); the transition of executive policing from CIVPOL to KPS; and monitoring of the KPS. In addition to its slow deployment, CIVPOL faced several problems in accomplishing its mission such as a lack of understanding of the local law and the participation of officers from countries with poor human rights records. Nevertheless, CIVPOL has made an invaluable contribution to promote and protect human rights in Kosovo.