News on freedom of expression
Constitutional and Supreme Courts in Albania participate in the annual meeting of the Council of Europe Superior Courts Network
Representatives of the Constitutional and Supreme Courts of Albania participated in the 10th session of the Superior Courts Network (SCN), held in Strasbourg on 5–6 June 2025. Ama Kraja, from the Constitutional Court, and Emirjam Ahmetaga, representative of the Supreme Court, attended the session...
Joint Efforts under the “Journalists Matter” Campaign to Advance Media Freedom in North Macedonia
Ensuring the safety of journalists and upholding freedom of expression remain vital pillars of a thriving democracy and important priorities in the framework of the Council of Europe and European Union support to local beneficiaries. In North Macedonia, public actors are intensifying their...
Strengthening regulation of hate speech and harmful content in Serbia: Council of Europe hosts training for Serbia’s media regulator
In light of ongoing challenges related to online discourse and increasing societal tensions across Europe, the Council of Europe in Belgrade hosted a three-day training for staff of Serbia’s Regulatory Authority for Electronic Media (REM), focusing on effective responses to hate speech and...
Advancing anti-SLAPP standards: Bilateral institutional and judicial exchange held in Podgorica
In a bid to align with European standards on freedom of expression and protection of public participation, representatives from judicial and justice institutions met in Podgorica to discuss effective responses to Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs). The two-day event convened...
Council of Europe expert highlights gaps and solutions to counter SLAPPs at Belgrade conference
Dr. Dragan Sekulovski, Council of Europe expert and Executive Director of the Association of Journalists of Macedonia, presented key findings from the Council of Europe Regional Baseline Assessment of Legislative and Policy Needs for Implementing Council of Europe and EU Standards on Countering...
Strengthening legal expertise on freedom of expression in North Macedonia
The Council of Europe HELP course (Human Rights Education for Legal Professionals) on freedom of expression continues to serve as a key tool for strengthening legal professionals’ understanding of European standards on media freedom and human rights in North Macedonia. On 18 March 2025, the HELP...
Standing up, speaking out: Journalists from Bosnia and Herzegovina empowered for combating gender-based violence
Journalists from across Bosnia and Herzegovina gathered in Neum to strengthen their role in combating gender-based violence against female journalists, particularly online abuse that threatens both individual safety and media freedom. The two-day training brought together 24 media professionals...
Guardians of free speech: Judges and prosecutors step up efforts to defend media rights in North Macedonia
The fight for freedom of expression is no longer confined to newsrooms — it is being waged in courtrooms, where judges and prosecutors are pivotal in defending democratic space. In this context, judges and public prosecutors from across North Macedonia gathered in Skopje for a capacity-building...
Silencing truth: Confronting SLAPPs and defending press freedom in North Macedonia
Marking World Press Freedom Day on 3 May, free voices from North Macedonia are sounding the alarm about a growing threat to democracy: Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs). These lawsuits, often disguised as defamation or civil claims, are increasingly used to intimidate...
Prosecutors and police officers in Bosnia and Herzegovina empowered for combating gender-based violence against women journalists
Designated prosecutors and police officers in Bosnia and Herzegovina took part in a two-day training to strengthen their capacities to tackle gender-based violence against women journalists, including digital forms of such violence. The fourth capacity building session for contact points...
Judges and Prosecutors in North Macedonia empowered with tools and knowledge to address hate-speech
A key component of the European Union and Council of Europe efforts to fight discrimination is supporting public institutions in enhancing their capacities to address hate speech, including anti-gypsyism as specific form of hatred against Roma and Travellers. To achieve this, 33 judges and public...
Countering SLAPPs at the University of Montenegro
Over 60 law and journalism students at the University of Montenegro took a stand against legal intimidation and threats to media freedom by participating in the country’s first-ever university lecture on Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs). Organised under the joint EU and...
Montenegrin journalists trained to stand strong against legal intimidation
Journalists in Montenegro strengthened their ability to recognise and respond to Strategic Lawsuits against Public Participation (SLAPPs) during a two-day training supported by the joint EU and Council of Europe action „Protecting freedom of expression and of the media in Montenegro”. SLAPPs are...
Regional assessment on countering SLAPPs in the Western Balkans provides key results and recommendations
The Council of Europe published the "Regional Baseline Assessment of Legislative and Policy Needs for Implementing European Anti-SLAPP Standards," providing an in-depth evaluation of legal frameworks across six Western Balkan jurisdictions: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro,...
Prosecutors strengthen capacities to uphold media freedom and protect journalists
Safeguarding media freedom and ensuring the safety of journalists are essential components of a democratic society and the rule of law. Prosecutors play a key role in preventing and responding to threats, violence, and legal harassment targeting media professionals. To strengthen prosecutorial...
Shaping a gender-sensitive future in journalism
Recognising the media’s powerful role in either reinforcing or challenging gender stereotypes, the Council of Europe, in cooperation with the Journalists’ Association of Serbia (UNS), held a workshop in Belgrade to equip young journalists and journalism students with the tools to report through a...
New Animation Explains SLAPPs and Legal Safeguards
Check out our latest video animation produced as part of the EU and Council of Europe joint action “Protecting freedom of expression and of the media”, in close co-operation with the ‘Association of Journalists of Kosovo’. The video contain very important information about combatting SLAPPs...
Journalists, lawyers and activists join forces to fight SLAPP in Bosnia and Herzegovina
With growing solidarity and support from the Council of Europe, journalists, lawyers, and activists in Bosnia and Herzegovina are stepping up efforts to counter Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs), lawsuits aimed at silencing critical voices and discouraging public interest...
Strengthening freedom of expression: Public institutions and media actors define common priorities
Public institutions and media actors reaffirmed their commitment to advancing freedom of expression and aligning media and legal practices with European standards. The second meeting of the Steering Committee of the Action “Protecting Freedom of Expression and of the Media” took place in...
Strengthening media regulation in North Macedonia: addressing SLAPPs and key challenges
Ensuring strong legal safeguards and effective media regulation is essential for protecting freedom of expression and countering threats to independent journalism. The Workshop on ‘Advancing Media Regulation in North Macedonia – Alignment with EU Norms’, brought together for 3 days media...
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