SUMMARY
Ex officio' Registration No. 11/2001
Regarding Alleged Discrimination in the Provision of Social Assistance by the Center for Social Welfare in Fushe Kosove/Kosovo Polje
3 June 2002
This case investigated allegations presented in a Weekly Report (3 April - 9 April 2001) of the Human Rights/Rule of Law section of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo (OMIK) that the Center for Social Work in Fushe Kosove/Kosovo Polje had conducted itself in a discriminatory manner with regard to the provision of social assistance to Serb families in the municipality. The substance of the complaint was that the Center for Social Welfare had not provided social assistance to any new Serbian families during the period January to March 2001.
The Ombudsperson found that the number of Serbian families receiving social welfare decreased by 2% during the relevant period. However, the Ombudsperson's investigations into this minimal decrease in the number of Serbian families receiving social assistance in Fushe Kosove/Kosovo Polje did not reveal any discriminatory policies or practices leading to this decrease.
The Ombudsperson therefore concluded that there had been no violation of human rights or abuse of authority.
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