Horizontal Facility - News
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...
Enhancing public sector integrity and accountability: Practitioners discuss corruption risk assessment approaches
An international workshop, that brought together anti-corruption practitioners from numerous regions, was organised with the aim of enhancing the application of corruption risk mapping and other risk assessment tools in strategy and policy-making. These efforts aim to foster more transparent,...
Budget planning for Free Legal Aid among the key topics discussed at the 16th meeting of the National Co-ordination Body for FLA
The 16th meeting of the National Co-ordination Body for the implementation of the Law on Free Legal Aid (NCB), gathered in Skopje to discuss the most important challenges regarding the functioning of the free legal aid system in North Macedonia. Supported by the European Union and the Council of...
Labour inspectors join forces to tackle human trafficking in Serbia
Nineteen newly appointed labour inspectors teamed up with police, civil society, and anti-trafficking experts in Vrnjačka Banja to boost their role in the fight against labour exploitation. The two-day training, organised under the Council of Europe action “Strengthening anti-trafficking action...
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...
Montenegro steps up justice reform and victims’ protection
The 5th meeting of the Steering Committee of the joint European Union and Council of Europe action “Strengthening accountability of the judicial system and enhancing protection of victims' rights in Montenegro”, held online, brought together institutional stakeholders and partners to review the...
Ensuring sustainability in the process of preventing radicalisation and countering violent extremism in prisons in the Western Balkans
At the 5th Steering Committee (SC) of the regional action on “Enhancing co-operation in the Western Balkans in managing violent extremism in prisons and preventing further radicalisation after release”, partners and beneficiaries confirmed their joint commitment to bring forward sustainability in...
Empowering migrant and refugee children: Gamified awareness of their rights
Curiosity, connection, and discovery filled the air in Ankara as migrant and refugee children and their mothers marked the National Sovereignty and Children’s Day in Türkiye by learning something truly empowering— their rights. Through interactive, age-appropriate and playful activities, 19...
Strengthening justice: New training launched to support trafficking victims in Serbia
To support judges and prosecutors in effectively protecting victims of trafficking, a new HELP (Human Rights Education for Legal Professionals) course on combating trafficking in human beings and protecting victims was launched in Belgrade on 22 April within the Council of Europe's action...
Increasing the efficiency of North Macedonia’s penitentiary network – stakeholders discuss key recommendations
Prison governors, judges, representatives of Ombudsman’s Office, the academia and civil society representatives gathered in Skopje to discuss key recommendations to increase the penitentiary network efficiency, following the assessment mission that took place in January 2025, supported through...
Empowering a new generation of anti-racism trainers in Eastern Europe and Western Balkans
As part of its ongoing efforts to advancing anti-discrimination policies in the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership regions, the Council of Europe launched a Training of Trainers (ToT) programme. This initiative brings together over 30 participants, including representatives from public...
Call for Applications: Design and development of the website of the Committee on National Minorities in Albania
The Council of Europe is currently implementing the action on “Advancing the Protection from Discrimination in Albania” which is part of the “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye III”, a joint programme of the Council of Europe and the European Union aiming at supporting...
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...
Call for grants to support activities on combating hate speech in North Macedonia
Within the framework of the joint European Union/Council of Europe Horizontal Facility programme and its action on “Combating Hatred and Intolerance in North Macedonia”, the Council of Europe is launching a call for grants “Support to local self-governments and/or CSO-s for combating hate...
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