Horizontal Facility - News
Judges and Lawyers from across North Macedonia strengthen capacities on freedom of expression and SLAPPs
Freedom of expression remains a cornerstone of democratic societies, yet legal challenges such as defamation, insult, and Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) continue to pose significant risks to the public debate and accountability. To strengthen domestic responses to these...
Finding the balance between freedom of expression and hate speech: judiciary, public institutions and civil society in dialogue
European standards and relevant case law on combating hate speech, with particular attention to the risks posed by the misuse of criminal law to restrict legitimate freedom of expression were examined during a Judicial Dialogue in Pristina organised with the support of EU and Council of Europe....
Understanding rights, finding support: An awareness-raising activity for children on the move
Twenty five migrant children participated in a child-focused awareness-raising activity in Ankara aimed at helping them become more familiar with their rights and freedoms. The event was organised in cooperation with the Ombudsman Institution and the Minus 25 Association, combining expertise in...
LGBTI Human Rights Defenders from the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership Regions Work Together to Strengthen Solidarity and Sustainability
LGBTI human rights defenders and activists from the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership regions, including the Belarusian community in exile, met in Pristina to join their efforts in support of gender equality, fight against targeted violence and hate crime, and explore new opportunities for...
Promoting responsible media coverage of children and violence in Montenegro
Journalists from across Montenegro strengthened their skills in responsible and child-sensitive reporting during a three-day training organised by the Council of Europe Programme Office in Podgorica. The event focused on improving media practices in stories involving children, violence and peer...
Press Release
Strengthened partnership with Albanian institutions on the road to EU accession
The Beneficiary Steering Committee meeting of the “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye” programme (Horizontal Facility III) highlighted the strategic importance of the European Union – Council of Europe partnership in supporting Albania’s ongoing reform efforts, particularly...
Aligning practices and advancing co-operation to strengthen post-release support for violent extremist offenders in Western Balkans
Around 40 representatives of relevant institutions and civil society organisations from the Western Balkans gathered in Sarajevo on 3 – 4 December 2025, together with Council of Europe experts, to share knowledge, strengthen co-operation, and harmonise approaches when it comes to providing...
Sexism. See it. Name it. Stop it!
On the occasion of the global 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign, the Delegation of the European Union to Serbia, the Council of Europe, and WeBalkans, together with the Young European Ambassadors (YEA) network, officially opened an interactive installation titled “Sexism....
Strengthening prison and probation systems in the Western Balkans
The Western Balkans will continue to enhance prison and probation structures to manage violent extremist offenders (VEOs) and prevent radicalisation after release. This conclusion was reached at the 6th Steering Committee meeting of the regional action “Enhancing co-operation in the Western...
Serbian teachers honoured for innovative lessons on democracy and human rights
Five teachers have been recognised for their outstanding lessons plans promoting democratic culture and innovative teaching methods, following the National Competition “Competences for Democratic Culture and the Cross-Curricular Approach – Application in Practice”. The winners were selected by an...
Kosovo Correctional Service to integrate Council of Europe methodology for managing violent extremist offenders
Kosovo Correction Service (KCS) has taken further steps toward integrating the Council of Europe’s methodology for working with violent extremist offenders (VEOs), bringing together prison practitioners, management representatives and experts to prepare for full scale implementation across the...
Care ethics and solidarity: Rethinking how women access to justice in Türkiye
Imagine a justice system where women are met not only with legal protection, but with genuine care, shared responsibility and meaningful solidarity. This vision brought together public institutions, academics and civil society in Ankara for the roundtable meeting “From Care Ethics to Solidarity:...
University lecture highlights legal protections for women in migration during 16 Days of Activism
How well are women in migration protected under constitutional and human rights law? This was the central question explored during a university lecture in Ankara held as part of the global 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign. The event brought together 28 participants...
Serbian youth call out inequality in environmental impacts
More than half of young people in Serbia believe that environmental degradation affects vulnerable groups the most and further brings them to the margin of the society. These groups have fewer resources and weaker representation compared to the majority of the popularion to protect themselves...
Building co-operation towards a comprehensive Action Plan on Advancing the Rights of Persons belonging to Communities
The Council of Europe, in co-operation with the Agency for Community Rights Realisation and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade organised in Skopje a consultation process to discuss the draft Action Plan on Advancing the Rights of Persons belonging to Communities dedicated to the...
Montenegro sets out to improve coordination in responding to violence against women and domestic violence
With the aim of strengthening the institutional response to domestic violence through improved coordination among relevant stakeholders, Montenegro has officially initiated work on revising the Protocol on Actions, Prevention of and Protection against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence...
EU and Council of Europe back Serbia in promoting inclusive reforms and rights protection
Representatives of Serbian institutions, the EU and the Council of Europe gathered in Belgrade to assess ongoing results from the joint programme Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye, highlighting collaborative efforts to support reforms and plan future priorities. The meeting...
Marking 16 Days of Activism in Albania by highlighting women’s property rights
Women and girls from the Shkoza community marked the global 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence by learning how property rights protect dignity, security and independence. Organised by the Tirana Legal Aid Society (TLAS) with the support of the action Improving the protection of the...
Pilot courts in Bosnia and Herzegovina advance court management practices based on internal survey findings
On 28 November, the European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ) organised a one-day workshop bringing together representatives of its eight pilot courts to discuss the implementation, analysis, and long-term sustainability of internal satisfaction surveys in Bosnia and Herzegovina....
Side by side: A mother and daughter’s digital journey
In a lower secondary school in Kuşadası, a quiet classroom filled with coloured papers and soft conversation marked a meaningful moment for a mother and her young daughter. They were taking part in an activity under the ‘Pilot Project on Digital Citizenship Education in Türkiye’, which supports...
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