The first (online) training was conducted with judges, prosecutors and lawyers from North Macedonia, to share and provide important knowledge and tools for enhancing their capacities as trainers in the field of freedom of expression and exchange on how to improve the application of the Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) in the judiciary system.
The training intended to expand the network of local legal professionals who are trained as future trainers on freedom of expression related topics and thus strengthen the capacities of the Academy for Judges and Public Prosecutors in North Macedonia as a training institution that will further continue the education and support in achieving the standards as set by the European Convention on Human Rights and the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights.
An important resource tool in this field is the ‘Handbook for Trainers on Freedom of Expression’ developed under the first phase of the EU and Council of Europe joint action JUFREX, and further updated and enriched during the second phase. The handbook provides best practices and key principles of freedom of expression, its limitations, balancing of the right to private life and the right to freedom of expression, positive obligations of the state and corresponding case studies and practical exercises. The local expert on behalf of the Academy for judges and public prosecutors and the international expert of Council of Europe, facilitated the training and encouraged a fruitful discussion and exchange of opinions and experience among the participants.
This event is organised under the Grant Agreement with the Academy for Judges and Public prosecutors within the action on “Freedom of expression and freedom of the media in North Macedonia (JUFREX 2)” . This action is a part of the joint European Union/Council of Europe programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey II”, that enables the Beneficiaries to meet their reform agendas in the fields of human rights, rule of law and democracy and to comply with the European standards, including where relevant within the framework of the EU enlargement process.