Horizontal Facility - News
New training series launched to strengthen harmonisation of judicial practice in Serbia
Judges, judicial assistants and court staff of the Higher Court in Novi Sad strengthened their skills in using Serbia’s electronic case-law database during a specialised training organised on 29 May 2026, aimed at supporting more consistent judicial practice and improving legal certainty....
Fostering resocialisation and rehabilitation of prisoners in North Macedonia: EU and Council of Europe assist prison authorities
Resocialisation officers are professionals engaged in the criminal justice systems, prisons, or rehabilitation centres to help offenders reintegrate into society. Their primary role is to assist individuals in adapting to social norms, building new skills, and overcoming habits or behaviours that...
Pinocchio helps children in North Macedonia learn how to recognise and prevent trafficking risks
What can Pinocchio teach children about safety, trust and manipulation? In a primary school, in the village of Bardovci, the famous story became a powerful tool for helping children recognise the risks of trafficking and abuse through interactive learning and role play. Third-grade children and...
Judicial Academy Open Day organised for law students in Belgrade
Law students from Belgrade explored career opportunities in the judiciary and prosecution service during an Open Day organised on 28 May by the Judicial Academy within the action “Strengthening legal culture in Serbia and the capacities of the judicial and prosecutorial councils”. The event...
Advancing digital property administration and legal certainty in the Western Balkans through regional co-operation
Strengthening co-operation on the right to property, digital transformation and good governance in property administration was the focus of the Regional Roundtable “From Property to Progress: Digital Transformation and EU Integration of the Western Balkans”, which brought together senior...
Council of Europe and Judicial Academy launch first training-of-trainers programme on countering SLAPPs for Serbian judges
Senior judges from Serbia strengthened their capacity to recognise and respond to Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs), following the first training-of-trainers programme for judges in Serbia organised by the Council of Europe in co-operation with the Judicial Academy. The...
Modernising Kosovo's Prosecution System: Digital Tools for a Stronger Justice
Every day, prosecutors across Kosovo* walk into their offices with one goal: to deliver equal justice. But for many years, something as basic as drafting a court procedural document —an indictment, a court submission, or a formal act — was slowing them down. Outdated templates, inconsistent...
Zavidovići youth stands against hate
Young people from Zavidovići took to the streets on 21 May to send a clear message against hate speech and discrimination, engaging fellow citizens through interactive activities promoting inclusion, solidarity and social cohesion. Organised under the slogan “Zavidovići youth stands against...
Mentor schools map future steps for democratic culture in education
Over 60 school mentors, principals, and education experts from 31 mentor schools across Serbia met in Sisevac for their fourth annual meeting to advance democratic culture in classrooms and mark the final evaluation of the “Quality Education for All” action’s impact at the school level. The...
Mblidhet në Tiranë Tryeza Strategjike për Avancimin e Mbrojtjes së të Drejtave LGBTI
Tirana mirëpriti një Tryezë Strategjike Kombëtare për Mbrojtjen dhe Avancimin e të Drejtave LGBTI, duke mbledhur përfaqësues të nivelit të lartë të qeverisë, shoqërisë civile, ekspertë dhe partnerë ndërkombëtarë. Aktiviteti, pjesë e Kalendarit të Aktiviteteve IDAHOT 2026, u organizua nga...
When equality becomes real for everyone
For many people in Montenegro, discrimination is not always loud or visible. It can happen quietly, in a job interview that never leads anywhere, in access to services, or in everyday interactions that leave someone feeling excluded or stigmatized. Often, those affected are unsure whether what...
The Strength of Choice: Adrani hosts "Living Library" to promote empathy and human rights
The primary school "Dragan Marinković" in Adrani, Kraljevo, recently hosted its fifth annual "Living Library" event, a powerful educational manifestation organised under the joint European Union and Council of Europe action "Quality Education for All." Under the evocative title "The Strength of...
Transparency of Court Communication Strengthens Albanian Judiciary
Albania’s justice system is evolving to deliver not just equal justice, but also greater trust and transparency through open, effective communication. Recognising the judiciary’s key role in building public confidence, a dedicated workshop was recently held in Tirana with support from the EU and...
“Together with Family:” – The 17th Festival of Diversity Kicks off in Albania to mark IDAHOT
It is May and as every year, we unite to celebrate diversity and human dignity in Albania, reaffirming the commitment to challenge discrimination and promote inclusion for all. The 17th Festival of Diversity in the framework of the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia is...
Kučevo celebrates democratic values: A vibrant Day of Education for Democratic Culture
In a colourful display of unity and civic engagement, the plateau in front of the Cultural Centre in Kučevo became a hub for democratic values during the recently held "Day of Education for Democratic Culture." Organised as part of the joint European Union and Council of Europe action "Quality...
Montenegrin judiciary strengthens response to domestic violence and violence against women
Representatives of the Montenegrin judiciary gathered in Podgorica for a two-day training aimed at strengthening the institutional response to domestic violence and violence against women, with a particular focus on improving cooperation and coordinated action in cases involving violence against...
Equality at the heart of democracy: IDAHOT+ 2026 marked in Serbia
The Commissioner for the Protection of Equality and the Council of Europe Office in Belgrade marked the International Day Against Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Biphobia, Transphobia and Interphobia (IDAHOT+) with a ceremonial event held at the “Svetozar Marković” University Library on 14 May. Under...
Fighting human trafficking facilitated by online technology in North Macedonia
New technologies, including artificial intelligence, are fuelling a global surge in victims of human trafficking. Children are often targeted by on-line predators, who use these technologies to earn money and obtain benefits by on-line sexual exploitation of children. North Macedonia is no...
Advancing ethical and disciplinary practices in Montenegro's judiciary
The Council of Europe and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), in cooperation with the Judicial Council, Prosecutorial Council, Supreme Court of Montenegro and Supreme State Prosecution Office, organised a joint training course on Strengthening Ethical and Disciplinary Frameworks...
Serbian legal professionals improve their knowledge on the European Court of Human Rights’ admissibility requirements
An online course on the “Admissibility criteria in applications submitted to the European Court of Human Rights” has brought together 36 lawyers and Constitutional Court advisors from Serbia to strengthen their understanding of the requirements applications must meet before reaching the Court....
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