News
Republic of Moldova: Venice Commission issues an amicus curiae brief on the constitutional review of the law-making procedures in Parliament
During its 126th plenary session, held on 19 and 20 March, the European Commission for Democracy through Law of the Council of Europe (Venice Commission) adopted an amicus curiae opinion for the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Moldova on three legal questions concerning the law-making...
Georgia: Reform for elections, political associations and parliament rules should be “reconsidered”, according to Venice Commission
In a joint opinion, requested in December 2020 by the Chairperson of the Parliament of Georgia and adopted at the latest plenary of the Venice Commission (19-20 March 2021), the OSCE/ODIHR and the Venice Commission call on Georgia to reconsider several amendments to the Election Code, the Law on...
Empowering transgender community in Armenia to facilitate their access to justice
The transgender community faces marginalization in Armenia and is often exposed to discrimination, hate speech and hate crime, according to the data available and personal reporting in the country. The Right Side Human Rights Defender NGO, organised the training course "Human Rights in Touch with...
Online training on Council of Europe standards to combat hate speech in Georgia
Participants from institutions and organisations in Georgia will be trained through online courses on Council of Europe standards to combat hate speech. The aim of these courses is to increate understanding of hate speech, its forms, its causes and consequences. Participants will also learn about...
Evening talks: the series of discussions to enhance the quality of justice in Georgia
A series of online discussions under the name “Evening talks”, aiming at contributing to the quality improvement of the justice system in Georgia, continues during the month of March. The online programme creates a platform promoting different policy papers, guidelines, and documents developed by...
National Proliferation Financing Indicators for Ukraine
On 19 March 2021 the technical paper on “Proliferation Financing Threats in Ukraine” was presented to Ukrainian stakeholders in an online event. The document is the result of several months of joint work with a wide range of concerned national authorities including policymakers, law enforcement,...
Raising awareness on the Istanbul Convention in Azerbaijan
The first of a series of webinars dedicated on explaining specific articles of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (Istanbul Convention) in Azerbaijan was launched this week. The aim of these webinars is to contribute to the...
Improving the enforcement system in Azerbaijan
The European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ) has developed two important documents in the framework of its project to support the improvement of the enforcement system in Azerbaijan. The documents were drafted by the experts Mathieu Chardon and Jos Uitdehaag, based on the results...
Speak peace, be the change!
A new publication on hate speech, produced within co-operation programmes of the European Union and the Council of Europe, is now available online. "Speak peace! Hate speech is not an option" explores the concepts of hate speech, its manifestations, its risks for human rights and democracies....
One in four people felt discriminated in the Republic of Moldova during the last year
The general population and professionals in the Republic of Moldova consider discrimination a widespread problem, according to a national study conducted in the period September-November 2020. One in four people from the general population interviewed stated that they have felt discriminated in...
Improving Armenian capacities to use international cooperation in criminal matters
The Council of Europe continues supporting Armenian authorities in developing procedures and capacities related to the investigation of corruption crimes by using international cooperation means. On 11-12 March 2021, the Project on “Strengthening institutional capacities to fight and prevent...
Moldovan judicial staff trained on discrimination on ground of disability
On 2 March , 30 representatives from Moldovan courts and prosecutor offices were trained on the subject of discrimination on ground of disability, The training was organized in cooperation with the National Institute of Justice in the framework of the European Union and Council of Europe joint...
Police officers, prosecutors and judges from the Republic of Moldova will improve their professional skills to combat hate crime
Combating hate crimes is a key issue for law enforcement and the judicial system and a key step in this process is the development of capacities of those involved, according to international standards and a coordinated approach. On 1 March 2021, our project launched a training of trainers for 28...
Integrity checking: Armenian experience, achievements, and prospects for improvement
The project on “Strengthening institutional capacities to fight and prevent corruption in Armenia” continues supporting the Corruption Prevention Commission in developing and improving its methodology for integrity checking of judicial nominees. The workshop on “Integrity checking: Armenian...
Online discussion of the post-adoption review of the Judicial Code of Armenia
On 26 February 2021 an online discussion of the ''Post-adoption review of the Judicial Code of Armenia'' took place in the framework of the project '“Support to the judicial reform – enhancing the independence and professionalism of the judiciary in Armenia” (the Project). One of the Project...
Raising awareness of young people in relation to discrimination and hate speech in the Republic of Moldova
The "MilleniuM" Training and Development Institute is implementing until July 2021 a national project in the Republic of Moldova raising awareness of young people in relation to discrimination and hate speech, with the support of the European Union/Council of Europe joint programme Partnership...
Steering Group meeting of the European Union / Council of Europe joint Project in the Republic of Moldova
On 25 February 2021 the third meeting of the Steering Group for the project “Support to further strengthening the efficiency and quality of the judicial system in the Republic of Moldova” was held. The event was attended by partners of the project and by a representative of the Delegation of the...
Seminar on optimal resource distribution in courts
A seminar on the use of CEPEJ tools to optimise the distribution of resources in courts has been organised in a videoconference format. European experts familiarised the participants with methods on applying Key Performance Indicators and statistical data to strengthen court management in...
Protecting LGBT people against hate crimes in Ukraine
The LGBT Human Rights NGO Nash Mir in Ukraine is implementing until July 2021 a national project aiming at protecting LGBT people against hate crimes in Ukraine, with the support of the European Union/Council of Europe joint programme Partnership for Good Governance, and its regional project...
Supporting Roma communities to fight human rights violations in Ukraine
The Lacho Drome Roma Center in Ukraine is implementing until July 2021 a local project aiming at supporting Roma communities to fight human rights violations in Ukraine, with the support of the European Union/Council of Europe joint programme Partnership for Good Governance, and its regional...
Training Programme for Judges and Assistants of Judges on Legal drafting of the Judicial Decisions
Legal drafting of judicial decisions was the key topic of a two-day training organised on 23-24 February 2021, in the framework of the project “Support to the judicial reform – enhancing the independence and professionalism of the judiciary in Armenia”. Seventeen national judges and assistants of...
Empowering the transgender community to facilitate their access to justice in Armenia
The RighT Side Human Rights Defender NGO in Armenia is implementing until July 2021 a national project aims at empowering the transgender community to facilitate their access to justice in Armenia, with the support of the European Union/Council of Europe joint programme Partnership for Good...
Verena Taylor, Director of the Office of the Directorate General of Programmes (ODGP), speaks about PGG II
Verena Taylor, Director of the Office of the Directorate General of Programmes (ODGP), speaks about the Partnership for Good Governance II 2019-2022 (the PGG).
Combating discrimination on the grounds of disability in Armenia
UNISON NGO Armenia is implementing a national project on combating discrimination affecting disabled persons in Armenia, under all its forms, with the support of the European Union/Council of Europe joint programme Partnership for Good Governance, and its regional project “Strengthening access to...
A strategic approach for the monitoring function of the Moldovan Equality Council
In an online meeting, independent equality and human rights expert Niall Crowley presented the results of a remote assessment of the Monitoring Strategy of the Moldovan Equality Council for 2021-2023. "This (monitoring strategy, n.r.) represents a significant step in strengthening the planned and...
Building capacities on judicial communication in the Republic of Moldova
The European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ) organised an online training session on court communication for more than 40 justice professionals, including judges, court presidents, as well as representatives of the Superior Council of Magistrates and the Ministry of Justice. The...
Networking and knowledge depository platform for lawyers from Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine now available
A new platform for networking, exchanging information and best practices, accessing key documents, including pieces of legislation and research is now accessible to lawyers, bar associations and legal professional in the Eastern Partnership countries. The platform was presented at the second...
Police officers from the Republic of Moldova will improve their professional abilities in enforcing the legislation and tackling hate crimes and hate speech
The regional project funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe “Strengthening access to justice for victims of discrimination, hate crime and hate speech in the Eastern Partnership”, started the first cycle of training for trainers from the General Police Inspectorate on the themes...
The Council of Europe and the European Union Delegation present the state of implementation of the joint projects in Armenia in 2020 and the PGG activities planned for 2021
The European Union and Council of Europe joint programme on Partnership for Good Governance (PGG) 2019-2021 held its second Steering Committee meeting for Armenia on Monday 8 February 2021 in an online format. The aim of the meeting was to present the state of implementation and the results of...
Towards the adoption of a Code of Conduct for deputies of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia
The Project on “Strengthening institutional capacities to fight and prevent corruption in Armenia” continues to support the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia in developing a Code of Conduct for Members of Parliament. This assistance addresses both national priorities in the Republic of...