Quarterly Report No. 18: Property Rights Program (PRP) FY 2018

The program assists the Government of Kosovo (GoK) in implementing its National Strategy on Property Rights (NSPR), developed with PRP support, and strengthens property rights legislation. PRP has been working closely with the Kosovo Judicial Council (KJC) and three Courts of Merit (CoMs) to develop and pilot improved court procedures related to property claims. The piloting initiative has produced significant and demonstrable improvements in the CoMs' efficiency and effectiveness in adjudicating property rights cases. PRP has applied findings from its close collaboration with CoMs to develop an initiative with the Supreme Court to produce guidelines for lower courts to accurately and consistently resolve complex property rights disputes. The program's most recent National Survey on Property Rights demonstrates that PRP's media campaign has sparked debate and discussion in Kosovo concerning women's property rights, which was reportedly a taboo subject previously. PRP is continuing its national media campaign and grassroots public outreach activities on women's property rights to reinforce these trends. PRP also provides technical assistance to USAID's E4E partner and E4E sub-grantees (Civil Society Organizations (CSOs)) to develop and implement activities aimed at supporting women's property rights. PRP has published summaries of 144 key decisions of the European Court of Human Rights concerning property rights in both Albanian and Serbian versions. This publication aims to increase awareness and understanding of property rights among citizens in Kosovo, where ECHR decisions are directly applicable but poorly known due to being issued primarily in French and English. The program's objectives include better coordination and policy priorities, improved court process related to property claims, enhanced women's rights to use property in practice, and improved communication, access to information, and understanding of property rights. PRP has made significant progress in achieving these objectives, including the development of guidelines for lower courts to accurately and consistently resolve complex property rights disputes and the implementation of activities to support women's property rights. PRP has also worked closely with civil society organizations to support related activities and has provided technical assistance to USAID's E4E partner and E4E sub-grantees to develop and implement activities aimed at supporting women's property rights. The program's efforts have contributed to achieving USAID/Kosovo's Country Development Cooperation Strategy Development (CDCS) Objective 1 "Improved Rule of Law and Governance that Meets Citizens' Needs" and CDCS Development Objective 2 "Increased Investment and Private Sector Employment."