December 15, 2018

28. Jun Again Raises Kosovo Injustice at UN

28. Jun again raised the issue of discriminatory policies against Kosovo Serbs at the UN, this time at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. At a townhall planning session for the 68th United Nations Civil Society Conference, 28. Jun’s Masha Calic stated that the “pending humanitarian catastrophe in Kosovo should be a focal point at next year’s conference”. This is the third time in as many weeks that 28. Jun has addressed the UN about the situation in Kosovo. The organization’s Special Consultative Status with the ECOSOC allows it to provide expert analysis and help monitor and implement international agreements.
Last week, 28. Jun’s delegation saw part of their speech about the escalating humanitarian situation in Kosovo cut short at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in Vienna. Tamara Pavlovic and Mia Milanovic were scheduled to address the UN’s Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice on behalf of the humanitarian organization. After much delays, Ms. Milanovic managed to deliver her speech despite interruptions by the chair. However, Ms. Pavlovic had her microphone abruptly cut off one minute into her speech as she elaborated on the injustices endured by Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija.
On November 30th, 28. Jun members delivered a speech decrying the gross violation of human rights endured by Serbs in Kosovo to the Human Rights Council’s Forum on Minority Issues at the UN in Geneva. The Human Rights Council’s 11th Session of Forum on Minority Issues panel stood silent as 28. Jun’s Director for Central Europe, Saveta Tomovic, unleashed a blistering speech condemning the treatment of Serbian minorities throughout the Balkans. At the conclusion of the speech a petition signed by 150,000 people calling for the protection of Serbian cultural heritage in KiM was submitted to chairwoman Rita Izsak-Ndiaye.