Cooperation in human rights: Experience from the peace operation in Kosovo

Abstract

Human Rights Field Operations have increased significantly since the end of the Cold War and constitute today an indispensable component within complex peace operations. This article deals with the way the human rights field operation of OSCE cooperates with the peacekeepers of KFOR and the civilian police of UNMIK Police in the Kosovo peace operation. Based on information collected in Kosovo in the spring of 2000, it is found that the human rights field operation is fully dependent upon information from KFOR and UNMIK Police in order to carry out its monitoring and protection work. However, numerous obstacles, such as different conceptions of human rights, dependence on personal contacts and political pressure, impede the establishment of this pivotal triangular cooperation. The article gives some recommendations for overcoming such obstacles in order for human rights to become a crucial and determining element of peacekeeping operations.