From February to May 2023, the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) and its partner, the Youth Initiative for Human Rights – Kosovo (YIHR), delivered 15 justice lectures in ten schools across Kosovo and organized five study visits to different Basic Courts in Kosovo through the project “Youth Empowerment – Enhancing Human Rights and Rule of Law Education in Schools.” The aim of these activities was to raise awareness of the basic principles of human rights and rule-of-law among the more than 520 elementary school students, who participated in the lectures and the study visits.

The project started with a three-day training course for the law students engaged in giving the YIHR-organized lectures, in order to help them get familiar with public speaking techniques and lecturing methodologies.           

The second step of the project envisaged the organization of an intensive five-day training for 15 elementary school teachers of civic education from five municipalities meant to equip civic education teachers with the skills necessary to teach the principle of human rights, justice, and rule-of-law to children of different ages.

From March to May, representatives of EULEX and YIHR joined the previously trained law students in addressing the pupils at elementary schools in the municipalities of Viti/Vitina, Vushtrri/Vučitrn, Shtime/Štimlje, Fushë Kosovë/Kosovo Polje and Prizren by presenting the work of EULEX in Kosovo and discussing the fundamental principles of justice and human rights. In this way, the students became familiar with the rule-of-law as the backbone of any democratic society, the protection of individuals from abuse and injustice and the creation of a system that holds people and institutions accountable, ensuring that everyone is treated equally.

Finally, five groups of students also had the opportunity to learn more about the functioning of the courts in Kosovo and the basic principles of criminal justice through study visits to the Basic Courts of of Gjilan/Gnjilane, Mitrovica - Branch in Vushtrri/Vučitrn, Ferizaj/Uroševac, Pristina, and Prizren.