Friday, 27th January 2021

Pristina – Today, IOM launched tailored VocUp language courses for court translators and interpreters supported by the British Embassy, the Office of the Language Commissioner, and the Kosovo Judicial System representatives.

They are specific language courses that have been developed using the VocUp learning methodology, in close cooperation with relevant stakeholders, academic departments, language experts, and IOM's implementing partners.

In her introductory speech, the IOM Chief of Mission Ana Rostocka stated mission's contribution to supporting community stabilization and social development in Kosovo for over 20 years.

“Language is pivotal in the areas of human rights protection, government, peace building and reconciliation. Language issues have been flagged as one of the major obstacles to effectively addressing common concerns and building joint solutions. They are the principal obstacle that not only hinder communication and reconciliation, but also negatively affect the enjoyment of fundamental rights by all residents and are one of the principal barriers for full access to services and information including access to justice,” said Rostocka.

“Respect for linguistic rights not only upholds principles of equality and non-discrimination, but also provides an obligation for public institutions to create the conditions necessary for enjoyment of these rights,” she explained at the event.

The IOM language courses aim to increase compliance with the Law on Use of Official Languages to enable equal access to services and information for all communities.

Developed in 2018, the VocUp online language learning platform has over 50,000 unique users, ranking as the most visited educational website in Kosovo.

The British Embassy in Pristina began funding the VocUp online platform for language in 2017 and are very pleased that the platform has reached a large amount of people who have applied to take part in improving their language skills and improving access to key services that make a big difference for all communities in Kosovo.

“It has been very well received so far with over 50,000 unique users, and 1600 participants have been taking courses across Kosovo. The impressive growth of VocUp shows how interested but also how big a need there is for this kind of language learning of official languages in Kosovo,” said Edward Lister, Head of External Politics and Reconciliation, from the British Embassy in Pristina.

“As an Embassy and as a diplomatic network, the British government prioritizes language learning. In Kosovo we have people who speak both official languages. I think that shows, like you, that we recognize the importance of speaking both languages in a multiethnic society, but not only to fulfill of comply with language laws but also to strengthen society and human rights for all people in all communities,” Lister explained.

Representatives from the Judicial System in Kosovo have also welcomed this initiative considering that it is a measurable improvement ensuring quality translation inside the courtrooms.

72 courts translators/interpreters will be part of intensive courses organized between the January – March 2021 period.

IOM’s Rostocka also stated that with donor support, IOM will continue its engagement with relevant stakeholders, implementing partners and language experts to promote the importance of learning languages and developing tools and resources for curricular and extracurricular learning of official languages.

Whilst Lister from the British Embassy informed that in the coming months and years the British Government will continue to support further initiatives on the institutionalization of learning official languages in Kosovo.

“Kosovo as a very young country has come incredibly far in such a short period of time. And this commitment for languages shows a real drive to improve access to services, and it also shows a drive to improve professional capacities and support Kosovo in becoming a more multi-ethnic and inclusive society,” concluded Lister.

This can not only be addressed through information and awareness-raising campaigns but also through targeted training of relevant law enforcement officials and local authorities.

1All references to Kosovo should be understood to be in the context of UN Security Council resolution 1244 (1999).