Horizontal Facility new publications
Get to know the most recent publications developed and published under the Horizontal Facility programme! They were prepared to assist beneficiaries in the Western Balkans and in Türkiye, and to provide knowledge and valuable resources regarding protection of fundamental human rights in line with...
Supporting fight against discrimination and hate
The anti-discrimination actions in the Western Balkans continue to play a pivotal role in collective efforts of the public authorities and related actors to combat discrimination, racism, hate speech, and hate crimes. Through the provision of expertise, capacity building, and awareness raising...
Transparent and efficient justice system, a necessity for a democratic society
Increasing transparency and efficiency of judiciary institutions through improved court management and performance constitutes a priority of the Horizontal Facility actions working in the field of justice. In this context, the Council of Europe is providing its expertise and key methodologies to...
Building accountable and accessible judicial systems in the Western Balkans
A principal contribution of the Horizontal Facility programme is to enhance the accountability and access of the judicial systems in the Western Balkans Beneficiaries and, thus, ensure better protection of human rights, in line with the European values and the Council of Europe recommendations....
Protecting freedom of expression and freedom of the media in the Western Balkans
The programme has been supporting the main actors in the Western Balkans regarding promotion and protection of freedom of expression and freedom of the media. In this context, beneficiaries’ institutions, civil society organisations or media associations have built their capacities and have...
Ensuring quality education for all
The main goal of the Horizontal Facility education actions has remained unchanged since the beginning of the programme – nurturing inclusive, discrimination-free environment in schools, where democratic culture and education for democratic citizenship are equally valued by students, teachers,...
Advancing the fight against human trafficking
Strengthening prevention of trafficking in human beings and ensuring identification, protection, and access to remedies for victims of trafficking are crucial for upholding standard human rights values. The programme continues to work closely with institutional partners and key actors in the...
Horizontal Facility new publications available online
Check out the most important publications and research materials published in the framework of the programme during the last period. They aim to assist professionals in the region with relevant knowledge, updated information, recent tools, adequate methodologies and related resources covering...
Supporting local actors in the Western Balkans to advance equality and diversity
The anti-discrimination actions being implemented in the Western Balkans Beneficiaries have continued to provide support and assistance to local actors in their efforts to ensure that human rights are protected and respected based on the European standards and values. Important interventions have...
Advancing ongoing reforms in the Western Balkans and Türkiye: Horizontal Facility Phase III kicks off!
The joint European Union and Council of Europe Horizontal Facility II programme came to an end, opening a new third phase, which will allow beneficiaries to forward the ongoing reforms in the Western Balkans and Türkiye and further advance compliance with European standards, including where...
Marking International Human Rights Days
10 December is Human Rights Day. It marks the anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 and serves as an opportunity to recall that human rights are universal. In Montenegro on the occasion of the International Human Rights Day 2022 a series of events was...
Advancing freedom of expression and freedom of the media in the Western Balkans
An essential component of the programme is ensuring freedom of expression and freedom of the media in line with European standards by improving the application of those standards in the Western Balkans. Key interventions were implemented in all the Western Balkans Beneficiaries aiming to advance...
Combatting trafficking in the Western Balkans and in Türkiye
Improving the identification, protection of, and assistance to victims of human trafficking in line with the European standards remained one of the core priorities of the Horizontal Facility II programme. Respective actions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Serbia and Türkiye have...
Ensuring quality education for all
Ensuring quality education free from discrimination and providing a secure and non-violent learning environment in which the rights of all are respected is fundamental for children and adults to develop their personalities, talents as well as mental and physical abilities to their fullest...
“Block the hatred” local awareness-raising initiatives promoting diversity and equality in the Western Balkans
“Block the hatred, share the love!”, the European Union and Council of Europe joint awareness-raising initiative against hate speech has been reaching many communities and people all around the Western Balkans with a clear goal over the last two years, to combat different forms of hate speech...
Prisoners’ rights are human rights
The programme continued to provide important contributions in the process of enhancing the protection of human rights of prisoners by raising capacities of the local authorities and assisting them in strengthening the provision of health care in line with European standards. Related actions...
Access to justice for all, fundamental for human rights
Access to justice is an integral part of the rule of law and an important prerequisite for the protection and promotion of all other human rights. The programme is working with beneficiaries and related local actors to facilitate equal access to justice for everyone and contribute to the further...
Venice Commission provides opinions through the Expertise Co-ordination Mechanism
The Expertise Co-ordination Mechanism (ECM) was designed as a unique tool of the Horizontal Facility programme that allows for provision of legislative expertise and policy advice by the Council of Europe, at the request of the authorities of the Western Balkans and Türkiye. The areas covered by...
Towards a more efficient justice system
The efficiency and quality of the justice delivered in accordance with European standards remained an important focus of the second phase of the programme, especially with regards to the standards and tools of the Council of Europe European Commission for the efficiency of justice (CEPEJ). This...
Fighting discrimination and hate speech towards a diverse society
The efforts to support local actors and related beneficiaries in the Western Balkans in the fight against discrimination and hate speech have advanced. Several key interventions were conducted with the aim to improve the fight against discrimination and hate speech as well as ensure the better...
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