Kosovo Human Development Report 2010 - UNDP Kosovo - United ...

entated basis for examination of social
inequities. It extends beyond the issues
of employment or income and addresses
other factors and reasons why
people are excluded socially. Kosovo
has complex multi-dimensional mechanisms
and cycles that exclude individuals
and groups from taking part in
the critical process of socio-economic
and political exchange. Moreover, the
approach shifts the focus from “vulnerability”
as an individual or group
characteristic to societal barriers preventing
full participation, thus leaving
excluded people at the margins.
For example, a young woman or
man without sufficient education and
skills may easily end up in a cycle of
poverty and dependency on social assistance.
Since most unemployment
in Kosovo is long-term, they are easily
convinced that finding a job will be
impossible. Their children may then accept
the idea that being unemployed
is socially acceptable. Without recourse
to opportunity, feelings of inadequacy
and lack of social influence come to
dominate the family’s interaction with
the community. Marginalization swiftly
follows. Social contacts are reduced
with all except immediate family or
other long-term unemployed. Lifting
families out of this cycle, once it is well
established, becomes extremely challenging.
It is even harder to address exclusion
when it comes packaged as social
rejection. This is the unfortunate reality
for many of Kosovo’s ethnic minorities
– in particular Kosovo-RAE communities.
Their lack of integration into Kosovo’s
society manifests itself as higher
than average unemployment, much
lower levels of education and extremely
low housing standards compared to
the rest of the population. This in turn
20 | KOSOVO HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2010
prevents them from seeking greater
integration, and reinforces the strong
internal bonds that keep them separate
from their mainly Kosovo-Albanian
neighbours. Fear of the unknown
and unwillingness to accommodate
differences also underlies exclusion of
other minority groups (not necessarily
ethnic minorities), such as people
with disabilities or young people from
poorer backgrounds. They may be dissuaded
from continuing beyond compulsory
education by inaccessibility of
university buildings, high charges and
an absence of institutional and family
support.
Not only minorities are excluded in
Kosovo. Women – nearly 50 percent of
the population – are denied their full
right to contribute socio-economically
and politically – for a range of cultural
reasons which this KHDR seeks to examine.
Young people, particularly the
poor, have also demonstrated an increased
disaffection with a political
process they feel does not represent
them – threatening to de-link Kosovo’s
democracy with the generation it was
developed to serve.
Governments are responsible and
accountable for setting adequate legislative,
administrative and budgetary
measures to put in place a system
which prevents social exclusion. Kosovo’s
authorities have taken some important
steps in this direction. The constitution
incorporates The Convention
on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination
against Women (CEDAW);
addresses the rights of minorities by
incorporating the Framework Convention
on the Protection of National Minorities
of the Council of Europe and
includes the Convention on the Rights
of the Child. 11 The Kosovo Action Plan
for People with Disabilities 2009-2011
was developed and adopted through