Protection and safety of journalists remains a key concern for the European Union and Council of Europe which are aiming to address threats against media professionals and foster early warning mechanisms and response capacity within the Council of Europe. In this context the joint European Union and Council of Europe Horizontal Facility action on "Freedom of expression in Albania" is collaborating with the Bar Association to raise the capacities and further prepare local trainers in the standards of Article 10 of ECHR and ECtHR jurisprudence on protection of journalists.

Some of the topics discussed in the training were threats to journalists that impact freedom of expression in the context of the situation in Albania, Recommendation (2016)4 of Committee of Ministers of CoE on protection of journalism and safety of journalists and other media actors, as well as States’ positive obligations to protect journalists and media actors to investigate and prosecute crimes against them.

Participating trainers discussed Euroepan Court of Human Rights cases and their implications for Albanian cases. One select case was discussed in groups and participants presented their legal reasoning on the case. The trained trainers will have the opportunity to share in the future with fellow legal professionals the acquired knowledge and expertise in regards to protection and safety of journalists.

This activity was organised with the support of the action "Freedom of expression and freedom of the media in Albania" part of the joint programme of the European Union and the Council of Europe "Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey 2019-2022".