Horizontal Facility - News
Sofija Blagojević: A young hero championing inclusion in Serbian schools
At just 17 years old, Sofija Blagojević has emerged as an unexpected hero in the eyes of teachers and other professionals working with children. Her dedication to fostering inclusion and fighting discrimination has not only earned her recognition but also inspired those around her. "I was deeply...
Over 200 Turkish lawyers enhance knowledge on immigration detention standards
More than 200 lawyers from eight Bar Associations across Türkiye, including İstanbul, İzmir, Adana, Kahramanmaraş, Mardin, Bursa, Mersin, and Ankara, have enhanced their expertise in immigration detention standards. Through a series of cascade training sessions, they gained insights into...
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...
Two new resource centers for democratic school culture opened in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Two more schools in Bosnia and Herzegovina have officially become Resource centers for democratic school culture. The Fourth elementary school in Brčko and the Vocational High School in Čelić have become part of a transformative initiative aimed at fostering democratic values and promoting...
Montenegro’s youth drive change with award-winning inclusive tech solutions
In a bid to make schools more inclusive and understanding, high school students from across Montenegro gathered for the "Equal Hack: Code for Equality" hackathon, developing tech-driven solutions to promote equality and respect. Maša Radulović, whose team from Nikšić clinched first place, aimed...
Landmark European Court of Human Rights’ judgments highlight urgent need for property rights' reform in Albania
The European Court of Human Rights (the Court) issued two landmark judgements on 10 and 17 December 2024 respectively, addressing persistent challenges in Albania’s property registration and restitution systems and underscoring the continued need for further reform. In the case of Ramaj v....
Lawyers in Serbia boost efforts to combat human trafficking through specialised HELP training
Twenty lawyers from Serbia have successfully completed the Council of Europe’s HELP course on Combatting Trafficking in Human Beings. The certification ceremony, held at the premises of the Council of Europe in Belgrade, marked the culmination of over two months of intensive training designed to...
Judicial Academy’s initial training beneficiaries strengthen skills to apply the European Convention on Human Rights
The joint European Union and Council of Europe action Strengthening human rights protection in Serbia and the Judicial Academy of the Republic of Serbia (JA), conducted a series of practical trainings from October until December on various Articles of the European Convention on Human Rights...
New research sheds light on impact of hate speech in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Two publications on the latest research into the nature and impact of hate speech in Bosnia and Herzegovina, developed under the European Union and Council of Europe’s joint programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye,” were presented today in Sarajevo. The comprehensive...
Egmont Group Strategic Analysis Course for Financial Crimes Investigation Board
Twenty five representatives from Türkiye’s Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) have been equipped with advanced skills to strengthen efforts against money laundering and terrorism financing, following a four-day “Egmont Group Strategic Analysis Course” organised by the Council of Europe...
“Evaluation Report on the Guardianship System for Children in the Context of Migration in Türkiye” published
An “Evaluation Report on the Guardianship System for Children in the Context of Migration in Türkiye” offers an in-depth analysis of the country’s public guardianship system and proposes 11 recommendations for improvement to support its effective functioning. Developed with the expert support...
Law students gain hands-on experience in human rights protection through internship
The joint European Union and Council of Europe action Strengthening human rights protection in Serbia gathered law students from Belgrade University, who participated in internships at the Government Agent’s Office, to discuss their experiences in a focus group. The internship programme,...
Towards better treatment of sentenced persons in Serbia
The Heads of Treatment Departments from all 29 Serbian penitentiary institutions convened in Belgrade to enhance the implementation of the existing prisoner treatment programmes and prepare for the rollout of new ones in 2025. The meeting, held as part of the Council of Europe and European...
Coding for change in Montenegro
Six high school teams from across Montenegro gathered in Podgorica for the “Equal Hack: Code for Equality” hackathon, an exciting two-day event where young minds designed solutions to promote inclusion, respect, and safer online and offline spaces for all. The hackathon, which brought together...
Prison governors in North Macedonia enhance management skills and knowledge of the European Prison Rules
Prison governors managing all the 12 penitentiary facilities in North Macedonia strengthened their managerial skills and knowledge of the European Prison Rules, during the 2-days capacity-building session during 10-11 December 2024 in Gevgelija. The two-day session focused on key prison...
Reaffirmed support for LGBTI people in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Today representatives from the Council of Europe and the Embassy of Norway paid a visit to NGO “Krila nade” (Wings of Hope) that operates an LGBTI shelter in Sarajevo, in order to underscore their continued commitment to advancing inclusion and protecting the rights of marginalised communities....
Empowering future legal experts in North Macedonia on the provision of free legal aid
Legal clinics and civil society organisations authorised to provide primary legal aid play a pivotal role in ensuring access to justice and effectively safeguarding human rights in accordance with European standards. In the efforts to advance access to equal justice in North Macedonia, around 20...
Improving the treatment of forensic patients in Albania, in line with European standards
A key focus of the Council of Europe continuous support for Albanian prison institutions is the improvement of the treatment of forensic patients by guiding doctors and psycho-social staff of Lezha special institution on the use of modern diagnostic tools. In this framework a two-day training...
Press release
Facilitating Bosnia and Herzegovina’s reform process through EU and Council of Europe programme
Bosnia and Herzegovina has made important advancements in its reform agenda, which are also important for the EU accession process. These include strengthening human rights protection, improving the justice system, and promoting equality and social inclusion; and the EU and Council of Europe...
Press Release
International Human Rights Day: Visual art exhibition and panel discussion on equal access to justice held in Skopje
To mark International Human Rights Day, the Council of Europe Programme Office, with support from the European Union, organised an event to highlight the importance of equal access to justice and its positive impact on the people of North Macedonia. The event also featured the announcement of the...
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