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

Table
5.2
ion in 2010 indicates that youth feel
largely ignored by decision-makers,
with only 5.5 percent certain that
their voices are heard by those in
authority.
Youth activism is stifled in part
through lack of institutional organization.
In 2010, there were 13 active youth
centres in Kosovo. Half of them lacked
basic facilities and resources that would
Voting patterns by age group
Source: Kosovo Mosaic Survey, UNDP 2009
allow them to function. Since the Ministry
of Youth, Culture and Sports was
established only about five thousand
young people have benefited directly,
out of a population of approximately
1 million under the age of 25. 190 And
yet, the desire to believe in the political
process is still evident. The proportion
of young people who feel there is
little point in voting is still outweighed
by those who believe that voting serves
some purpose (19.7 percent versus 46.5
percent). A UNICEF survey of youth
opinion in 2010 noted a distinct correlation
between belief in the political
process and ethnic identity, i.e., Kosovo-
Albanians has the greatest faith in the
process and Kosovo-Serbs the least.
Similarly, boys were given much more
opportunity than girls to participate in
after-school activities that might allow
political engagement and youth activism
to flourish. A girl’s safety, reputation
and housework were prioritized by families
over her political engagement.
(iii) Ethnic minorities, particularly those
without civil status: Kosovo has a
poor record of including its minori-
84 | KOSOVO HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2010
% Voting
Age Group
18-24 25-45 >45 Total
I didn’t vote 29.8 17.9 27.1 23.4
Didn’t attend municipal public meeting 95.4 90.5 88.7 91.3
FIGURe
35%
30%
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
Very
effective
ty groups in the political process, or
making efforts to overcome self-exclusion.
Exclusion is particularly rife
among two ethnic groups: Kosovo-
5.3
Yes, rather
effective
Neither
effective nor
effective
Youth belief in effectiveness
of voting to improve the
country (15-24 years old)
13.20% 33.30% 18.80% 10.90% 8.80% 15.10%
No, rather
effective
No, very
effective
Don’t know
Source: Unleashing Change: Kosovo Voices of Youth,
UNICEF 2010
Serbs and Kosovo-RAE communities.
Both groups are institutionally
excluded and self-excluded. The
overwhelming majority (86 percent)
of Kosovo-Serbs did not vote
in the 2007 elections. 191 In the local
elections of 2009, the number
of voters among the Kosovo-Serb
population increased. For these
elections, 22 Kosovo-Serb political
entities were certified and participated
in 17 Kosovo municipalities,
including the three municipalities
in northern Kosovo – Zvecan/Zvecane,
Leposaviq/Leposavic and Zubin
Potok. However, there was no
Kosovo-Serb turnout of voters in
northern Kosovo. This boycott was
partially ascribed to intimidation
and threats by Serb parallel security
forces and the mobilization of
Kosovo-Serb radical political forces
against the elections - and also lack
of a credible Kosovo-Serb political
entity participating in the elections.
192
The degree of Kosovo-Serbs’ exclusion
from political processes is reflected
in their assessment of how mayors
perform. Asked about their satisfaction