Horizontal Facility - News
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....
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...
Key stakeholders in Bosnia and Herzegovina unite to strengthen journalist safety
According to Council of Europe standards, states have a duty to create a supportive environment that enables everyone to freely express opinions and ideas without fear. Yet, journalists in Bosnia and Herzegovina face persistent challenges, including intimidation, verbal and physical attacks,...
Advancing environmental protection and human rights through combating SLAPPs
In an era where environmental challenges are intensifying, the intersection of human rights and environmental protection has became a pressing regional and global concern. In this context, the Council of Europe Office in Pristina hosted a public discussion with the participation of...
Singing for diversity and inclusion on Human Rights Day
The iconic lyrics of Ederlezi, a beloved folk song of the Romani people in the Balkans, echoed through Belgrade's Dorćol Platz as over 150 women, men, boys, and girls gathered to sing it a cappella in a one-of-a-kind event. Organised by Art Aparat with the support of the Council of Europe on the...
Empowering Roma women to claim their rights in Türkiye
As many as 130 Roma women across Türkiye have gained the tools and confidence to claim their rights and access essential support services thanks to a series of training sessions held from 6-29 November. These sessions, designed to remove barriers to justice and build trust in the legal system,...
Towards better child protection in the context of migration
Thirty-six personnel from Türkiye’s Ministry of Family and Social Services enhanced their skills to protect and support migrant and refugee children during a three-day training held in Ankara from 27 to 29 November 2024. The training, “Child Protection in the Context of Migration”, was organised...
Young voices rising: Sjenica Youth Forum inspires action for equality and diversity
A vibrant gathering of over 75 young people from minority communities has turned Sjenica into a hub of inspiration, action, and change. The Youth Forum, titled “75+ steps toward equal opportunities,” brought together youth from across Serbia to celebrate diversity, dismantle stereotypes, and...
New handbook empowers lawyers to better support human trafficking victims in Serbia
Within grant awarded by EU/CoE action "Strengthening Anti-Trafficking Action in Serbia" to NGO ASTRA, an updated Handbook for Lawyers has been launched, providing essential tools and expertise to strengthen legal support for human trafficking victims in Serbia. Based on ASTRA's 25 years of...
Aligning domestic practices with European case law: New publication to support Albanian legal professionals in upholding human rights standards
Today at Europe House Tirana, the latest Handbook featuring selected 2023-2024 European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) case law was presented for lawyers and legal professionals . This resource produced with the support of EU and Council of Europe, highlights key rulings that shape the...
Strengthening justice delivery in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Over 50 judges, court presidents, and clerks across Bosnia and Herzegovina are gaining new tools to enhance court efficiency and improve the quality of justice, thanks to a two-day training session “Using CEPEJ Methodologies and Tools to Improve Court Efficiency and Managerial Capacities”,...
Beneficiaries and partners of the anti-trafficking action in North Macedonia discuss key milestones
At its fourth meeting, the Steering Committee of the action “Strengthening anti - trafficking action in North Macedonia” gathered in Skopje key partners and beneficiaries to take stock of the achieved progress during implementation of the action and discussed the new priorities for 2025. The...
Strengthening access to justice: Free legal aid for human trafficking victims
Legal experts and key stakeholders came together at a roundtable in Belgrade to tackle one of the most critical challenges in combating human trafficking: ensuring victims have access to free legal aid. Organised by the Council of Europe under the Horizontal Facility programme in Serbia and the...
Towards a more accountable justice system in Montenegro
Under the action "Strengthening accountability of the judicial system and enhancing protection of victims' rights in Montenegro", the European Union and the Council of Europe are teaming up to enhance Montenegro’s judicial system, ensuring fair trials and stronger protections for victims. As part...
Empowering judges and prosecutors to combat SLAPPs
In the face of growing challenges posed by defamation cases and strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs), 20 judges and prosecutors from Bosnia and Herzegovina sharpened their skills to address these issues effectively. The two-day training, organised by the Council of Europe in...
Public actors in North Macedonia to advance the fight against discrimination in co-operation with EU and Council of Europe
Achievements and future activities on anti-discrimination and combating hate speech were in the focus of the Fourth Steering Committee meeting of the action “Combating hatred and intolerance in North Macedonia“ . The meeting gathered beneficiaries, partners and stakeholders to discuss and...
Awareness raising in Kamza highlights the ongoing commitment to promote property rights for local communities in Albania
The Tirana Legal Aid Society (TLAS), with support from the European Union and the Council of Europe, organised an impactful awareness-raising event in Kamza, focusing on property rights and compensation mechanisms. The event was particularly targeted at vulnerable local communities, with the aim...
PRESS RELEASE
The European Union and the Council of Europe back Montenegro’s work on human rights, rule of law, and democracy through a joint programme
Montenegro is paving the way for stronger human rights protection, rule of law, and democracy with the support of the European Union and the Council of Europe joint programme, “The Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye”, according to the participants at the programme’s annual...
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