The Council of Europe Programme on Human Rights Education for Legal Professionals (HELP) constitutes an important resource tool in the process of enhancing the capacities of legal professionals to apply the European human rights standards in their daily work. Through the support provided by the Horizontal Facility II actions the HELP online courses, covering various human rights topics, were translated, adapted, and launched in the region to assist key beneficiaries and interested actors.
In this context, the HELP course on Asylum and Human Rights was presented to justice professionals from the Western Balkans in January. Through an interactive approach the course covers key concepts as well as the international and European framework related to asylum. During the launching event the participants discussed important aspects concerning the case law of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) and of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU).
In Kosovo*, following the launch of HELP online course on Property Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights, more than 60 lawyers will have the opportunity to increase their knowledge and skills in the field of property rights. In addition, the course is also available for self-study in English, Albanian, Bosnian and Macedonian for independent legal professionals in the region.
In Montenegro, the online launching event of the HELP course on International Co-operation in Criminal Matters, marks a further step in the efforts to increase the knowledge and skills of judges, prosecutors and lawyers on European human rights standards. During the course participants and tutors explored and discussed fundamental principles of international judicial co-operation, as well as a range of legal frameworks and instruments for such co-operation.
In North Macedonia, the online course on “Protection and Safety of Journalists” for judges, public prosecutors and lawyers was launched through the HELP online platform. It provides an overview of the key standards and legal frameworks on the protection of journalists. It will help identify and understand different forms of pressure faced by journalists, as well as the mechanisms to fight or prevent impunity.
In Turkey with the support of the programme the online Training-of-Trainers (ToT) for Turkish universities, bar associations and NGOs was launched, with the aim of enabling participants to become tutors for HELP courses in the future. During the opening event, the participants were introduced to the scope of the Council of Europe HELP programme, its methodology, its e-learning platform, as well as the two HELP courses on “Access to justice for women” and “Violence against women and domestic violence” which were made available for Turkish legal professionals with the support of the programme.
*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence.