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Intercultural cities in Serbia: working together for inclusion
Arandjelovac, Prijepolje and Sjenica are the first municipalities in Serbia to use the intercultural cities (ICC) index to evaluate and improve how they promote inclusion, diversity and intercultural dialogue at the local level. The results of the ICC Index for the three towns were presented and...
Celebrating Pride and Standing Up for Equality – IDAHOT kicks off in Albania
The International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOT) will be marked in Albania during a vibrant month-long series of events, celebrating diversity, equality, and the rights of LGBTI people. Under the theme “Side by Side!”, the European Union and the Council of Europe's...
Learning from the Dutch experience: Helping victims of violent crimes get justice through compensation
A delegation from the recently established Commission for Monetary Compensation for Victims of Violent Crimes (the Commission), was part of a 3-days study visit to the Hague - Netherlands supported by the EU and Council of Europe. The visit aimed to study the Dutch best practices and discuss...
New Standard Operating Procedures in North Macedonia to ensure enhanced human rights safeguards and operational effectiveness
Prison Police officers and senior representatives of the Directorate for the Execution of Sanctions in North Macedonia have drafted the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for the Prison Police Intervention Teams. Introduced as a novelty in the 2024 amendments to the Law on Execution of...
Litigating for change: Training on legal strategies to promote women’s rights protection in Türkiye
As many as 41 lawyers from bar associations and civil society organisations (29 women, 12 men), joined forces in a specialised training to enhance their skills in strategic litigation. Their joint efforts aim to drive progress on women's rights and contribute to gender equality in Türkiye. Held...
Towards more comprehensive judicial response to domestic violence and violence against women in Montenegro
Judges and prosecutors from across Montenegro came together on 15-16 May for a specialised training aimed at improving the justice system’s response to domestic violence and violence against women. Organised in cooperation with the Judicial Training Centre, the workshop focused on strengthening...
New Albanian Supreme Court case law compendium published
A new case law compendium of the Supreme Court of Albania, covering the period from 2021 to 2024, has been published with the support of the European Union and the Council of Europe. This new edition forms part of ongoing efforts to consolidate national jurisprudence and further contribute to...
Equipping trainers from Western Balkans and Eastern Europe with legal and technical tools to counter racial discrimination
An expert session was held to strengthen legal standards and practical tools for protecting individuals from discrimination in the Western Balkans and the Eastern Partnership regions. This event is part of the recently initiated Training of Trainers programme. Bringing together over 30...
Partners join their efforts to fight discrimination and hatred and support youth in North Macedonia
Joint and co-ordinated efforts to improve efficiency and advance the fight against hatred and intolerance, especially among youth in North Macedonia were agreed during the 5th Steering Committee meeting of the action “Combating hatred and intolerance in North Macedonia” which traditionally...
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...
From Losing Hope to Finding Legal Certainty: A Journey to Claim Your Property Rights in Albania
Apartamenti i vogël në katin e dytë të një ish-ndërtese të epokës komuniste, i vendosur në një rrugë kryesore jo shumë larg qendrës së kryeqytetit, Tiranë, është gjithmonë i mbushur me njerëz. Nën sytë vigjilentë të qytetarëve të shqetësuar, zyrtarët e Shoqatës së Ndihmës Ligjore të Tiranës...
Religious communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina unite to promote interreligious dialogue and tolerance
In a powerful show of unity, representatives of religious communities, academia, civil society, media, and international organisations from across Bosnia and Herzegovina gathered on 10 May at the Orthodox Christian Žitomislić Monastery to champion interreligious dialogue and cooperation. This...
Education authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina back stronger reforms for inclusive, high-quality learning
At their fifth meeting, members of the Advisory Board of the joint European Union (EU) and Council of Europe action "Quality education for all" in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) reaffirmed their commitment to transforming the country’s education system through inclusive practice, critical thinking...
Access to Justice and Free Legal Aid for All: Empowering Legal Professionals in North Macedonia to provide quality legal aid for Victims of Violence and Trafficking
Twenty - five lawyers from North Macedonia engaged in two-day training focused on delivering free legal aid and providing victim-centred, high-quality legal support to victims of human trafficking. The EU and Council of Europe joint actions "Towards a consolidated and more efficient free legal...
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...
International conference spotlights protection and empowerment of women and girls in migration
An international conference in Ankara has brought the rights, protection needs, and empowerment of the women and girls making up nearly half of the world’s displaced population, to the forefront of discussions on migration policy. The conference “Protecting the Human Rights of Women and Girls in...
Developing Online Video Game's Scenarios to Enhance Digital Citizenship
Teachers, education experts and game developers joined forces in Kızılcahamam to design a web-based video game that teaches young people the principles of Digital Citizenship (DCE). Organised in cooperation with the Ministry of National Education, the workshop brought together 25 participants –...
How to protect your rights and stand up against discrimination? Citizens in Prilep and Kumanovo discuss key mechanisms
Citizens in Prilep and Kumanovo, actively engaged in learning about effective protective mechanisms against discrimination, empowering themselves to foster inclusivity and equality in their local communities. The discussions tackled the legal framework and highlighted key interventions conducted...
New guidelines empower Serbian schools to build democratic competences
The publication “Democratic Competences through a Cross-Curricular Approach”, a second volume of the “Guidelines for integration of RFCDC in selected subjects of national curricula”, is now available for teachers working in the formal education system as well as to all other education...
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