Human Rights and Freedom in Kosovo

https://www.humantruth.info/kosovo_human_rights_and_freedom.html

By Vexen Crabtree 2019

#freethought #kosovo #kosovo_freethought #religious_tolerance

Kosovo [Country Profile Page]
Status	Disputed status
Social and Moral Index	106th best
Location	Europe, The Balkans
Population

Kosovo does relatively well in ensuring human rights and freedom, compared to many other countries. Kosovo comes in the best 20 in terms of freethought₁. It does better than average for commentary in Human Rights Watch reports₂ (but bad for Europe), LGBT equality₃ (but bad for Europe) and in its average Freedom in the World rating (but bad for Europe). But, things could still be better. Kosovo does worse than average in supporting press freedom₄, combatting modern slavery₅ and in its average Freedom in the World rating. Solid progress is being made in bringing prosecutions against those involved in serious war crimescommitted during the 1998-1999 Kosovo war₆.

1. Kosovo's Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #freedom #gender_equality #human_rights #kosovo #morals #politics #prejudice #tolerance

Compared to Europe (2025)₇
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₇
1	Sweden	5.9
2	Norway	8.0
3	Denmark	8.1
	...
40	Albania	77.0
41	Macedonia	77.3
42	Georgia	78.7
43	Armenia	81.9
44	Moldova	83.3
45=	Turkey	94.3
46	Kosovo	100.6
47	Belarus	104.3
48	Azerbaijan	107.4
	Europe Avg	47.37
q=48.

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)₇
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₇
1	Sweden	5.9
2	Norway	8.0
3	Denmark	8.1
	...
115	Mali	98.6
116	Vanuatu	98.7
117	Kyrgyzstan	99.6
118	Kosovo	100.6
119	Sao Tome & Principe	101.2
120	Tonga	101.3
121	Mozambique	101.6
122	Tanzania	102.4
	World Avg	86.35
q=198.

The best countries in the world at ensuring human rights, fostering equality and promoting tolerance, are Sweden, Norway and Denmark₈. These countries are displaying the best traits that humanity has to offer. The worst countries are N. Korea, Somalia and Eritrea₈.

25 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on supporting press freedom, combatting modern slavery, supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms, its average Freedom in the World rating, commentary in Human Rights Watch reports, its nominal commitment to Human Rights, speed of uptake of HR treaties, opposing gender inequality, the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators), the year from which women could participate in democracy, its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice, LGBT equality and freethought. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe₈, whereas the worst are The Middle East, Africa and Asia₈.

For more, see:

" Which are the Best Countries for Human Rights, Equality and Tolerance?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Amnesty International's 2023-23 summary on human rights in Kosovo stated:

“Proceedings continued at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers established in The Hague in 2016. The Kosovo Assembly failed to pass the Civil Code due to a provision which would have paved the way for legalization of same-sex unions. Thousands of protesters demanded justice for an 11-year-old girl who was raped by five men in Pristina.”
"The State of the World's Human Rights 2022/23" by Amnesty International (2023)₉

In 2017 Kosovo´s Constitutional Court approved procedural revisions to allow the Hague-based court to begin prosecutions for those involved in serious war crimes during the 1998-1999 Kosovo war₆. The European Union has appointed and funded 19 international judges, and will abide by Kosovo's own laws₆. By Feb 2017, it had issued 58 actions, starting with charging an ex-paramilitary Serbian man with war crimes in Kosovo Polje; his crimes included torturing civilian ethnic Albanians₆.

2. Human Rights & Tolerance Datasets

2.1. Press Freedom

#democracy #freedom #Freedom_of_Speech #Good_Governance #mass_media #politics #UK

Press Freedom Higher is better₄
Pos.		2025₄
1	Norway	92.31
2	Estonia	89.46
3	Netherlands	88.64
	...
95	Serbia	53.55
96	Brunei	53.47
97	Swaziland	52.86
98	Kosovo	52.73
99	Angola	52.67
100	Mozambique	52.63
101	Mongolia	52.57
102	Guinea	52.53
	Europe Avg	70.63
	World Avg	54.65
q=179.

When it comes to supporting press freedom, Kosovo is positioned 98th in the world.

The freedom to investigate, publish information, and have access to others' opinion is a fundamental part of today's information-driven world, and is linked with Freedom of Speech and Good Governance. Scores on the Press Freedom Index are calculated according to indicators including pluralism - the degree to which opinions are represented in the media, media independence of authorities, self-censorship, legislation, transparency and the infrastructure that supports news and information, and, the level of violence against journalists which includes lengths of imprisonments. The index "does not take direct account of the kind of political system but it is clear that democracies provide better protection for the freedom to produce and circulate accurate news and information than countries where human rights are flouted". The rankings are used as one of the datasets of the Social and Moral Development Index₁₀

It must be noted that press freedom is not an indicator of press quality and the press itself can be abusive; the UK suffers in particular from a popular brand of nasty reporting that infuses several of its newspapers who are particularly prone to running destructive and often untrue campaigns against victims. The Press Freedom Index notes that "the index should in no way be taken as an indicator of the quality of the media in the countries concerned".

For more, see:

"Human Rights" by Vexen Crabtree (2019).

Journalists face some threats and harassment but prosecutions against malefactors are slow and unreliable₆.

Averages by decade for Kosovo (for the ranks, lower is better):

Press Freedom	2000s Average	2010s Average
Kosovo:	18.02	70.20
World Rank:	74th	⇣ 81st
World Avg:	27.44	65.91

2.2. Slavery in the 2020s

#burundi #eritrea #human_rights #indonesia #slavery

Slavery in the 2020s Lower is better₅
Pos.		Total Per 1000₅
1=	Switzerland	0.50
1=	Norway	0.50
3=	Germany	0.60
	...
124=	Georgia	7.80
124=	Guatemala	7.80
126=	Congo, (Brazzaville)	8.00
126=	Kosovo	8.00
126=	India	8.00
126=	Cyprus	8.00
130	El Salvador	8.10
131	Haiti	8.20
	Europe Avg	5.64
	World Avg	7.15
q=160.

With regard to combatting modern slavery, Kosovo comes 126th in the world.

Modern slavery includes forced labour (often of the under-age), debt bondage (especially generational), sexual slavery, chattel slavery and other forms of abuse, some of which can be surprisingly difficult to detect, but often target those fleeing from warzones, and poverty-stricken vulnerable.₁₁. Some industries (diamond, clothing, coal) from some countries (Burundi₁₂, Eritrea₁₂, Indonesia₁₃) are a particular concern. The Walk Free Foundation, say in their 2023 report that 50 million people are living in modern slavery₁₂.

For more, see:

"The Historical Slave Trade and Modern Slavery" by Vexen Crabtree (2018).

Averages by decade for Kosovo (for the ranks, lower is better):

Slavery	2010s Average	2020s Average
Kosovo:	4.00	8.00
World Rank:	80th	⇣ 126th
World Avg:	6.54	7.15

2.3. Freedom in the World

#freedom #human_rights #hungary #politics #USA

Freedom in the World Lower is better
Pos.		2024 Score
1=	Norway	1.0
1=	Canada	1.0
1=	Cape Verde	1.0
	...
103=	Indonesia	3.5
103=	Philippines	3.5
103=	Serbia	3.5
103=	Kosovo	5.5
103=	Benin	3.5
103=	Sri Lanka	3.5
103=	Sierra Leone	3.5
110=	Gambia	4.0
	Europe Avg	2.2
	World Avg	3.7
q=205.

Kosovo ranks 137th in the world regarding its average Freedom in the World rating.

Freedom House's long-standing annual report has been running since the 1970s, collecting data on political rights (PR) and civil liberties (CL). Their reports rate countries as "Free", "Partially Free" or "Not Free", however the results here are based on their numerical values. Many countries score the best combination of scores (1 and 1), which is why the table of results show many places equally placed in 1st place. In the past two decades, some well-established democracies like the USA and Hungary have been falling. Whilst most of the world in general is improving rights and freedoms over time, the 2020s has seen some regression.

For more, see:

" Which are the Best Countries for Human Rights, Equality and Tolerance?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Averages by decade for Kosovo (for the ranks, lower is better):

Freedom in the World	1990s Average	2000s Average	2010s Average
Kosovo:	6.9	5.5	4.0
World Rank:	185th	⇡ 162nd	⇡ 124th
World Avg:	3.6	3.4	3.4

2.4. Human Rights Watch Comments

#human_rights

Human Rights Watch Comments Higher is better₂
Pos.		2017 Score₂
1=	UK	9
1=	France	9
1=	Germany	9
	...
43=	Guatemala	-1
43=	Armenia	-1
43=	Ivory Coast	-1
43=	Kosovo	-1
43=	Honduras	-1
43=	Peru	-1
49=	Mozambique	-2
49=	Brazil	-2
	Europe Avg	3.5
	World Avg	-1.9
q=123.

Kosovo is 43rd in the world when it comes to commentary in Human Rights Watch reports.

Human Rights Watch comments concentrate mostly on negative issues, however, they also make positive comments for those countries that engage in human rights defence around the world, or who make improvements at home. By adding up positive and negative comments (including double-points for negatives that involve large scales and crimes against humanity), the Social and Moral Index turns HRW commentary into quantified values. Some countries may be unfairly penalized because HRW have not examined them, and, some countries "get away" with abuses if they manage to hide it, or if it goes unnoticed - a negative point has been given for those countries in which HRW specifically state that access to investigators has been barred. The points were limited to a minimum of -10 because there are some points at which things are so bad, with abuses affecting so many, it is difficult to be more specific about the depths of the issues.

For more, see:

"Human Rights" by Vexen Crabtree (2019).

3. Prejudice Datasets

3.1. LGBT Equality

#equality #homosexuality #human_rights #ICCPR #intolerance #kosovo #sexuality #tolerance

Kosovo law strictly defines marriage in a way that specifically excludes same-sex marriage₆, needlessly entrenching prejudice into law and encourage social intolerance.

LGBT Equality Higher is better₃
Pos.		2017 Score₃
1	Netherlands	103
2	Belgium	90
3	Sweden	86
	...
53=	Georgia	35
53=	Nicaragua	35
53=	El Salvador	35
53=	Kosovo	35
57	Thailand	34
58	Bulgaria	33
59	Fiji	32
60=	S. Korea	30
	Europe Avg	46.9
	World Avg	12.6
q=196.

Kosovo ranks 48th in the world when it comes to LGBT equality.

Discrimination against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) folk is rife across the world. Legal restrictions co-exist alongside social stigmatisation and physical violence₁₄. LGBT tolerance and equal rights have been fought for country-by-country across the world, often against tightly entrenched cultural and religious opposition. Adult consensual sexual activity is a Human Right, protected by privacy laws₁₅. Despite this, homosexual activity is outlawed in around 80 countries₁₄. The Social & Moral LGBT Equality Index was created to compare countries and regions, granting points to each country for a variety of factors including how long gay sex has been criminalized and the extent of LGBT legal rights. Graded negative points are given for criminality of homosexuality, unequal ages of consent, legal punishments and for not signing international accords on LGBT tolerance. The signs in many developed countries are positive, and things are gradually improving. Europe is by far the least prejudiced region (Scandinavia in particular being exemplary). The Middle East and then Africa are the least morally developed, where cultural bias goes hand-in-hand with state intolerance, all too often including physical violence.

For more, see:

"LGBT Rights Across the World: Which are the Best and Worst Countries?" by Vexen Crabtree (2017).

3.2. Freedom of Thought

#europe #freedom_of_belief #freethought #human_rights #netherlands #religion #religious_tolerance #secularism #the_enlightenment

Freedom of Thought Lower is better₁
Pos.		2021₁
1=	Belgium	1.0
1=	Taiwan	1.0
1=	Netherlands	1.0
	...
22=	Palau	1.8
22=	Burkina Faso	1.8
22=	Albania	1.8
22=	Kosovo	1.8
22=	S. Korea	1.8
27=	Barbados	2.0
27=	Gabon	2.0
27=	New Zealand	2.0
	Europe Avg	2.6
	World Avg	3.0
q=196.

Kosovo comes 16th-best in the world in terms of freethought.

Freedom of Religion and Freedom of Belief are upheld in Article 18 the United Nation's Universal Declaration of Human Rights₁₆. It affirms that it is a basic human right that all people are free to change their beliefs and religion as they wish₁₇. No countries voted against this (although eight abstained). This right was first recognized clearly in the policies of religious toleration of the Netherlands and elsewhere in Europe in the post-enlightenment era₁₈ of the 19th century. In democratic countries, freedom of belief and religion is now taken for granted₁₉. In 2016 a study found that over 180 countries in the world had come to guarantee freedom of religion and belief₂₀. The best countries at doing so are Belgium, The Netherlands and Taiwan₁_,₂₁ and the worst: Afghanistan, N. Korea, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia₁_,₂₂.

Long-term studies have shown that religious violence and persecution both decrease in cultures where religious freedom is guaranteed₂₃. Despite this, there still are many who are strongly against freedom of belief₁₇, including entire cultures and many individual communities of religious believers. Their alternative is that you are not free to believe what you want and they often state that you cannot change religion without being punished (often including the death penalty): this is bemoaned as one of the most dangerous elements of religion₂₄ and "the denial of religious freedoms is inevitably intertwined with the denial of other freedoms"₂₅ and the solution is, everywhere, to allow religious freedom and the freedom of belief.

For more, see:

"Freethought - Freedom of Belief and Freedom of Religion" by Vexen Crabtree (2022).