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Moldovan police database operators are better equipped to collect data on hate crimes
Throughout April and May 2025, in co-operation with the General Police Inspectorate of the Republic of Moldova, five tailor-made training sessions on data collection were organised for 162 police database operators. These activities are part of the initiative launched to support Moldovan...
Young European Ambassadors unite across borders to counter hatred and promote equality
A two-day workshop held in Tirana, Albania, brought together 55 Young European Ambassadors (YEAs) from the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership regions. The participants included 40 YEAs who joined online and 15 who attended in person. This event aimed to improve their abilities to combat...
New social contract in Ukraine: Constitutional discussion on social rights
An expert discussion titled "Ukraine as a Social State in Times of Peace and War: The Constitutional Dimension” was held on 30 May 2025 in Lviv, Ukraine. The event brought together judges from Ukraine’s Supreme Court and Constitutional Court, representatives of Parliament, the Ministry of Social...
Promoting mediation as an alternative method for dispute resolution in the Republic of Moldova
An international conference that provided a platform for dialogue and the exchange of experiences and best practices aimed at advancing mediation as an alternative method of dispute resolution, was held on 28 and 29 May 2025, in Chisinau. Over two days, the conference showcased the experiences of...
Cross-border cooperation to combat illicit financial flows
The regional workshop “Threats, vulnerabilities and emerging financial crime risks linked to cross-border criminal activity and measures for its detection and disruption”, brought together over 30 professionals from financial intelligence units, central banks, tax, and customs authorities from...
EU and Council of Europe support tangible reforms and lasting benefits for Ukraine
The European Union, the Council of Europe, and Ukrainian partners and beneficiaries have emphasised the importance of the Partnership for Good Governance programme in supporting the implementation of the national reform agenda in line with European standards as well as in contributing to the EU...
Strengthening trust between police and the LGBTI community in the Republic of Moldova
The second round-table aimed at fostering dialogue and strengthening co-operation between the police and the LGBTI community in the Republic of Moldova was organised together with the General Police Inspectorate and the GENDERDOC-M Information Centre in Chisinau on 16 May 2025. The event focused...
Equipping trainers from Western Balkans and Eastern Europe with legal and technical tools to counter racial discrimination
An expert session was held to strengthen legal standards and practical tools for protecting individuals from discrimination in the Western Balkans and the Eastern Partnership regions. This event is part of the recently initiated Training of Trainers programme. Bringing together over 30...
Engaging in dialogue to address hate speech in Armenia’s public discourse
At the initiative of, and in collaboration with, the Human Rights Defender’s Office of the Republic of Armenia, representatives of state institutions and journalists took part in a workshop that provided an open platform for dialogue on hate speech in public discourse. The event enabled...
Enhancing public sector integrity and accountability: Practitioners discuss corruption risk assessment approaches
An international workshop, that brought together anti-corruption practitioners from numerous regions, was organised with the aim of enhancing the application of corruption risk mapping and other risk assessment tools in strategy and policy-making. These efforts aim to foster more transparent,...
Constitutional Court of Ukraine strengthen European dialogue on fundamental values
Judges of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine participated in a conference organised by the Latvian Constitutional Court, continuing the strong and ongoing co-operation between the two institutions. The event provided a platform for exchanging experiences on strengthening constitutional...
Legal professionals discuss protection of domestic violence victims in Baku
An interactive discussion on the protection of victims of domestic violence was organised in collaboration with the Bar Association of Azerbaijan. 25 legal professionals engaged in informal exchanges about the challenges faced by victims, listened to personal insights and recognised the crucial...
Strengthening support for discrimination victims in the Republic of Moldova through improved police and Equality Council co-operation
A workshop that focused on the practical aspects of investigating cases of discrimination, hate speech and prejudice-motivated crimes , was organised together with the Equality Council and the General Police Inspectorate of the Republic of Moldova. This is part of the inter-institutional...
EU and Council of Europe continue supporting Armenia to implement reform priorities
The European Union, the Council of Europe and the Armenian partners and beneficiaries have emphasised the importance of the Partnership for Good Governance programme in aligning Armenia‘s reform efforts with European standards in areas of strengthening justice, preventing and countering economic...
Empowering a new generation of anti-racism trainers in Eastern Europe and Western Balkans
As part of its ongoing efforts to advancing anti-discrimination policies in the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership regions, the Council of Europe launched a Training of Trainers (ToT) programme. This initiative brings together over 30 participants, including representatives from public...
Armenian judges and prosecutors discuss strategies to improve access to justice for women
The Armenian Academy of Justice and the Administrative Court held a discussion on ways to further improve access to justice for women, following the implementation of the mentoring programme for legal professionals in the Eastern Partnership region. Judges and prosecutors met to take stock of the...
Cities against hate: Italian and Moldovan cities meet to discuss experiences and best practices in addressing hatred
Representatives from the Moldovan cities of Călărași, Cimișlia, Dubăsari, and Soroca joined their peers from Brescia and Reggio Emilia, Italy, and engaged in discussions centred on the theme "Città contro l’odio" (Cities against hate). This collaborative initiative aimed to foster the exchange of...
Strengthening Armenia's fight against economic crime through capacity development activities
Recognising the crucial role of non-financial institutions and their supervisors in combating money laundering and terrorism financing, the Council of Europe continues to strengthen national stakeholders' capacities in Armenia. Enhancing the ability of Designated Non-Financial Businesses and...
Strengthening co-operation: Ukrainian Constitutional Court delegation visits the Council of Europe and EU institutions
A delegation from the Constitutional Court of Ukraine (CCU) visited the Council of Europe in France and the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) in Luxembourg, to discuss ongoing co-operation and explore further steps in the development of the constitutional justice in Ukraine. During...
142nd plenary session of the Venice Commission: New opinions prepared under the Quick Response Mechanism
At its 142nd plenary session (held on 14-15 March 2025), the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe adopted, among others: Armenia Opinion on the draft amendments and supplements to the Legislation of the Republic of Armenia on Expropriation of Property for Overriding Public Interests....
Building a safer and more inclusive environment for LGBTI people
The Council of Europe joined forces with the National Agency for the Prevention and Combating of Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (ANPCV) in the Republic of Moldova, to provide a common platform for discussion between state authorities and civil society organisations on LGBTI rights. ...
Read about key achievements of the programme in Eastern Partnership countries
The Partnership for Good Governance main highlights factsheets detail key results achieved during the ongoing third phase of the EU and Council of Europe joint programme. These factsheets showcase significant achievements in main thematic areas, including: strengthening justice, countering...
EU and Council of Europe continue co-operation work in Azerbaijan to implement reform priorities
The European Union and the Council of Europe organised the second local steering committee meeting for the Partnership for Good Governance programme. During the meeting, participants reviewed results obtained over the past year, exchanged ideas on challenges and ways to address them, and...
Adoption of constitutional court ethical rules for Ukrainian judges will enhance public trust
A round-table on the adoption of ethical rules for constitutional court judges in Ukraine brought together representatives of Ukrainian authorities, judges, legal professionals, and Council of Europe experts. The aim is to establish a set of ethical rules grounded in four key principles:...
Empowering Azerbaijani Police: New training on domestic violence launched
A Council of Europe Human Rights Educational for Legal Professionals (HELP) course on combating domestic violence was launched for Azerbaijani police officers in an adapted version. This comprehensive course aims to equip law enforcement personnel with the critical knowledge and skills necessary...
Azerbaijani authorities discuss multi-agency co-operation on combating violence against women
A platform for discussion was held in Azerbaijan aimed at fostering multi-agency co-operation to prevent and combat violence against women and domestic violence. The event brought together 25 representatives from state institutions, academia, and civil society, who emphasised the importance of...
New course launched in Azerbaijan to enhance mediation skills for legal professionals
A new course aimed at improving the quality of justice through mediation has been launched in Azerbaijan through the Council of Europe's Human Rights Education for Legal Professionals (HELP) programme. This initiative is a collaborative effort with the Mediation Council and the Academy of Justice...
Fostering collaboration to combat hate speech through a pioneering training for Ukraine’s legal professionals
For the first time, representatives of Ukraine's police, prosecution, and judiciary from various regions participated together in a training programme designed to help them identify, classify, and counteract hate speech in their work. Participants highly valued the opportunity to collaborate...
Armenian civil society and the Council of Europe collaborate on judicial reform progress
A round-table brought together Armenian civil society organisations (CSOs) to evaluate the progress of the country’s 2022-2026 Strategy for Judicial and Legal Reforms. This strategy is vital for ensuring a more transparent, efficient, and accountable justice system. Discussions between CSO...
Police and Equality Council strengthen collaboration during Human Rights week in the Republic of Moldova
In a continued effort to promote equality, dignity and freedom, the Police and the Equality Council of the Republic of Moldova met in Chisinau to reinforce their collaboration. The meeting focused on advancing practices and improving the reporting, analysis, and qualification of cases involving...
Updated online course “Combating hate speech” launched in Azerbaijani
The Council of Europe HELP online course “Combating hate speech” in Azerbaijani is now available in its updated version for free. The translation and adaptation of the course for Azerbaijan was made with the support of the EU and the Council of Europe, as part of the Partnership for Good...
Fostering dialogue on gender based violence through an innovative approach in Azerbaijan
A café discussion on the European Court of Human Rights' case law concerning domestic violence was held in Baku. This event, the second of its kind, was organised during the “16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence”. The event served as a platform for meaningful dialogue and exchange,...
Promoting gender equality and women’s access to justice across the Eastern Partnership and the Western Balkan regions
Judges, prosecutors and representatives from judicial training institutions across the Eastern Partnership and Western Balkans regions met in Tirana, to assess the results of the mentoring programme for legal professionals on women’s access to justice. A series of thematic exchanges were held on...
Study visit for judges of the Ukrainian Constitutional Court to strengthen European co-operation with Germany and France
A delegation of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine undertook a study visit to Germany and France on 18-21 November. This visit aimed at exchanging expertise, deepen ties with European legal institutions, and advance the alignment of Ukraine’s constitutional justice with European standards. In...
Countering hate speech in the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership regions by enhancing equality bodies’ communication tools
An important mandate of the equality bodies is developing effective communication strategies to combat the pressing issues of hate speech and hate crime. To this end, representatives of equality bodies in the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership regions participated to an online workshop. The...
Strengthening anti-discrimination policies in the Eastern Partnership and Western Balkans regions
As part of the ongoing efforts to strengthen anti-discrimination policies in the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership regions, an online workshop was organised to advance anti racism initiatives across these regions. A key highlight of this workshop was the presentation of findings from a...
Pool of mediators established to make the Armenian justice system more efficient and accessible
A pool of 120 mediators has been established in Armenia aiming at making the justice system more efficient and accessible. This action is meant at supporting national authorities to meet the mandatory mediation requirements for family law disputes introduced to the Armenian Civil Procedure Code...
Empowering legal professionals in the Republic of Moldova to combat discrimination
A tailor-made training for 51 judges, prosecutors, and judicial staff in the Republic of Moldova was organised to support them further in the identification of prejudices and stereotypes, legal practice in handling discrimination cases, as well as working with the victims of hate speech and...
Presentation of the Consultative Council of European Prosecutors collection of opinions in Armenian
The Consultative Council of European Prosecutors collection of opinions is now available in Armenian and it was presented in Yerevan on 15 November 2024 with the Prosecutor General's Office of the Republic of Armenia. During the presentation of the translation, the importance of having this...
Strategies towards safer environment and spaces for the LGBTI community identified for the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership regions
LGBTI persons in the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership regions face significant discrimination and abuse, including violence, due to their sexual orientation, gender identity and sex characteristics. The latest Council of Europe Anti-Racism Commission (ECRI) General Policy Recommendation...
Joint Efforts on the EU accession path: Experience exchange between the Ukrainian and Latvian Constitutional Courts
Judges and legal staff from the Constitutional Courts of Ukraine and Latvia met in Riga with the aim to exchange experiences on Ukraine’s European integration through the example of the steps taken by the Latvian legal system to join the EU and NATO. The meetings in Riga reinforced the dialogue...
140th Plenary session of the Venice Commission: New opinions prepared under the Quick Response Mechanism
At its 140th plenary session (held on 11-12 October 2024), the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe adopted, among others: Armenia: Joint Opinion of the Venice Commission and the Directorate General Human Rights and Rule of Law (DGI) of the Council of Europe on the draft amendments to the...
Over 400 professionals from four sectors learned how to identify and report money laundering or terrorist financing
Employees from the legal sector, representatives of non-banking financial organizations, those from the real estate sector, accountants and auditors attended four consecutive days of training sessions that will help them to more easily identify and report money laundering or terrorist financing....
Enhancing ethical journalism by training Armenian journalists on combating hate speech
Journalists play a vital role in shaping public opinion and supporting democratic processes. By providing reliable information, they can contribute to promote mutual understanding and a tolerant society. To foster ethical journalism and combat hate speech, a two-day training for 20 Armenian...
Ukrainian Constitutional Identity and European Integration: Finding a Balance
The constitutional identity of Ukraine and its alignment with the European integration process, especially amidst the ongoing war, were at the focus of the Third Mariupol Forum, held in Kyiv on 4 October. Over 100 national and international participants joined the discussion on Ukrainian...
Regional co-operation key to tackling discrimination and racism
Law enforcement institutions and civil society organisations (CSOs) from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and the Republic of Moldova met in Podgorica on 26-28 September with the aim to address racism, discrimination, and the protection of minority groups, especially the LGBTI community. This...
Equality and non-discrimination training session for Armenian Police Officers
After the first training held in June 2024, Armenian police officers participated to a follow-up training on European standards on equality and non-discrimination. Arpine Sargsyan, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, opened the training, highlighting the importance of...
Building stronger partnerships to combat discrimination, hate speech and hate crimes in the Republic of Moldova
A workshop was held in the country’s northern region aiming to enhance the protection of victims of discrimination, hate speech and hate crimes. Participants (57 in total) included legal professionals, police officers and representatives of national authorities working in the field of equality....
Judge-notaries workshops organised by the Council of Europe and Ministry of Justice
In a groundbreaking effort to reduce Armenia’s court backlog/caseload—where small monetary claims previously clogged 80% of judicial schedules—newly introduced legislative amendments transferred those small claims from courts to notaries. Seven months into this new system, the series of...
Improving the functioning of the electronic document management system of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine
On 30 August 2024 the Working Group on the functioning of the electronic document management system of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine brought together over 50 staff members of the Court to discuss ways of improving the electronic document management system. Discussions focused on the issues...
Monitoring the implementation of acts of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine
On 28-29 August 2024 the Working Group for monitoring the implementation of acts of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine gathered in Kyiv some 40 staff members of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine to address the issues relating to the implementation of the acts of the Constitutional Court of...
Monitoring the implementation of acts of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine
On 28-29 August 2024 the Working Group for monitoring the implementation of acts of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine gathered in Kyiv some 40 staff members of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine to address the issues relating to the implementation of the acts of the Constitutional Court of...
More transparency in the fight against money laundering through a series of tailor-made trainings
Beneficial ownership transparency has become a priority. The misuse of legal entities facilitates tax evasion, corruption, and money laundering. Professionals working in the field need to stay updated, to ensure fiscal transparency, financial stability, and effective law enforcement. A series of...
Non-profit organizations in Armenia discuss protection measures from abuse for terrorism financing purposes
The risks and vulnerabilities associated with terrorism financing through non-profit organizations (NPOs) present significant challenges, as these entities can be exploited to divert funds for illicit purposes. To address this aspect, the Council of Europe, in cooperation with the Financial...
Enhancing compliance with targeted financial sanctions in Armenia as an effective tool to prevent and suppress terrorism financing
International standards require countries to implement targeted financial sanctions regimes relating to the prevention and suppression of terrorism and terrorist financing. The freezing of the assets of those suspected of terrorism financing and those listed in domestic and international...
Armenian Police Officers trained on equality and non-discrimination
A two-day event for police officers in Armenia improved their knowledge and understanding of equality and non-discrimination concepts in accordance with the European standards. The opening part of the training session was attended by the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Arpine Sargsyan, by the...
Eastern Partnership law schools agree to advance on gender mainstreaming university education
Representatives of law schools from major universities in Armenia, Georgia, Republic of Moldova and Ukraine met in Tbilisi to discuss gender mainstreaming efforts including across the curricula. Over the course of two days, professors of law benefitted from several presentations, including on the...
Addressing racism and racial discrimination in the context of the EU accession process in the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership region
The Council of Europe in Strasbourg welcomed during 3-4 July a two-day conference, focusing on tackling racism and racial discrimination in the context of the EU accession process. The conference, supported by EU and Council of Europe titled "Addressing racism and racial discrimination in the...
Presenting European standards on national minorities in Armenia
A joint working discussion on the draft law on national minorities, brought together representatives from respective institutions, as well as representatives from various national minorities. This meeting was organised at the initiative of the Ministry of Justice of Armenia and the National...
Methodology for preparation of draft acts of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine improved
On 11-12 July 2024, a working group brought together the staff of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine to discuss the methodology for the preparation of draft acts of the Constitutional Court based on the European standards and best practices. Held in the framework of the EU/Council of Europe...
Further steps taken by the Regional Network of Eastern Partnership judicial training institutions for advancing women’s access to justice and gender mainstreaming in the justice chain
The second meeting of the Eastern Partnership Regional Network of judicial training institutions was held on 5 July 2024 in Strasbourg, as part of the HELP Network Annual Conference. The meeting gathered rectors, vice-rectors and heads of international co-operation departments from Eastern...
Addressing hate speech and hate crime: regional gathering of the network of equality bodies from the Western Balkans and the Eastern Partnership Region
Representatives of equality bodies part of a network covering the Eastern Partnership and Western Balkans regions met in Strasbourg, France, to discuss best practices, measures and common challenges when addressing hate speech and hate crime. Through monitoring and reporting, policy advocacy,...
Strengthening Ukrainian Constitutional Justice for EU Integration
The challenges of Ukraine’s European integration process through the prism of the country’s Constitution were the focus of an international conference organised by the Constitutional Court of Ukraine. Over 180 participants from Ukraine and abroad participated to the conference and explored...
Empowering Roma community mediators in the Republic of Moldova to combat discrimination
23 Roma community mediators attended a training that equipped them with the skills and knowledge to tackle discrimination and effectively advocate for Roma rights at both national and local community level. This event was organised in co-operation with the Agency for Interethnic and covered...
Combating hate speech in Armenia by empowering educational institutions
The Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Armenia launched an important initiative to combat hate speech in educational institutions. An expected series of actions will empower educators and students by providing necessary tools and knowledge to stand against hate speech. This comes as...
139th Plenary session of the Venice Commission: New opinions prepared under the Quick Response Mechanism
At its 139th plenary session (held on 21-22 June 2024), the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe adopted, among others: Armenia Joint Opinion of the Venice Commission and the Directorate General of Democracy and Human Dignity on the draft law on national minorities. Republic of Moldova...
Strengthening police and civil society collaboration to combat racism in the Eastern Partnership and Western Balkan countries
In continuation of the joint efforts put in place by the European Union and the Council of Europe to enhance cross-regional collaboration to combat racism in the Western Balkans and the Eastern Partnership countries, a peer-to-peer exchange was organised in Skopje. This training brought together...
European standards on minorities’ protection at the centre of a training for legal professionals in the Republic of Moldova
A two-day tailor-made training was organised in co-operation with the National Institute of Justice for 63 legal professionals from judicial institutions in the Republic of Moldova. The aim of the training was to enhance their knowledge and understanding of European standards on the protection of...
The European Union and the Council of Europe support the Ukrainian authorities in the implementation of the priority reforms towards the alignment with European standards and practice
The European Union and the Council of Europe, together with representatives of national authorities, partner institutions and civil society organisations gathered for the Local Steering Committee meeting of the Partnership for Good Governance Programme. It was an opportunity to take stock of the...
Council of Europe supports the Anti-Corruption Committee of Armenia to enhance investigation of corruption and Money Laundering offences
Financial investigations are essential in combating money laundering and associated predicate offenses, as they enable the detection and disruption of complex financial schemes used to disguise the origins of illicit funds. These investigations help identify and prosecute those involved in money...
Armenian officials and law enforcement successfully completed advanced course on combating hate Speech
From 5 April to 30 May 2024, twelve representatives from Armenia's Ministry of Justice, the Human Rights Defender’s Office, and law enforcement agencies successfully completed an online course on combating hate speech. This course, focused on the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance...
Ensuring legal redress to hate speech and hate crime in line with European standards
80 legal professionals from the Republic of Moldova participated in a two-day seminar, organisaed in co-operation with the National Institute of Justice. The seminar aimed at promoting the experience of the involved actors on addressing hate speech and discrimination and discuss possible...
Improving dialogue between Police and the LGBTI community in the Republic of Moldova
A platform for dialogue was created between Police and civil society organisations that promote the rights of LGBTI community in the Republic of Moldova. The meeting brought together 21 officers of the General Police Inspectorate and 19 representatives of civil society organisations, and...
Promoting European values with the Young European Ambassadors and Equality Ambassadors in Georgia
Representatives from the Council of Europe Office in Georgia and the Delegation of the European Union to Georgia co-hosted a meeting with Georgian Young European Ambassadors (YEAs). These YEAs had recently completed a series of online and in-person regional training sessions on promoting equality...
Supporting the reduction of backlog in Georgian courts through workshops on dedicated CEPEJ tool
The court coaching programme of European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ) continued from 16 to 17 May 2024, representatives from the Batumi City court attended a two-day workshop on the CEPEJ Backlog reduction tool. The workshop aimed to introduce the court representatives to the...
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