News on freedom of expression
Strengthening police role to ensure journalists' safety in Albania
Police play a vital role in protecting journalists and ensuring a safe environment for free and independent media. Strengthening their capacity to understand, prevent, and respond to threats against journalists is essential to uphold freedom of expression and democratic values. The two-day...
Strengthening protection of journalists in Albania through dialogue and co-operation
As threats and attacks against journalists in Albania remain a concern, efforts to improve their safety through institutional co-operation and dialogue are gaining momentum. Journalists, prosecutors, police officials, civil society, and international partners gathered in Shkodër for a...
Venice Commission provides legal opinions for the authorities in Montenegro and North Macedonia
The Expertise Co-ordination Mechanism (ECM), a system established under the joint European Union and Council of Europe Horizontal Facility III programme, continues to provide important legislative expertise and policy advice for the beneficiaries in the Western Balkans. At its 143rd Plenary...
Judges and civil society in Serbia join forces to counter abusive lawsuits against public interest voices
In a joint effort to tackle Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs), as a growing threat to freedom of expression and public debate, judges from Serbia’s High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court came together with members of the Serbian Anti-SLAPP coalition for a Council of...
Полициските сили во Северна Македонија со зголемен капацитет за заштита на новинар(к)ите
Препознавајќи ја клучната улога на новинар(к)ите како чувар(к)и на демократијата, полицијата во Северна Македонија доби алатки и знаења за подобра заштита на медиумските професионалци/ки од закани, вознемирување и насилство – и во физичкиот и во онлајн просторот. Во таа насока, со поддршка на...
Constitutional and Supreme Courts in Albania participate in the annual meeting of the Council of Europe Superior Courts Network
Representatives of the Constitutional and Supreme Courts of Albania participated in the 10th session of the Superior Courts Network (SCN), held in Strasbourg on 5–6 June 2025. Ama Kraja, from the Constitutional Court, and Emirjam Ahmetaga, representative of the Supreme Court, attended the session...
Заеднички напори во рамките на кампањата „Новинар(к)ите се важни“ за унапредување на медиумската слобода во Северна Македонија
Обезбедувањето на безбедноста на новинар(к)ите и унапредувањето на слободата на изразување остануваат клучни столбови на просперитетна демократија и важни приоритети во рамките на поддршката што Советот на Европа и Европската Унија ја даваат на локалните корисници/чки. Во Северна Македонија,...
Strengthening regulation of hate speech and harmful content in Serbia: Council of Europe hosts training for Serbia’s media regulator
In light of ongoing challenges related to online discourse and increasing societal tensions across Europe, the Council of Europe in Belgrade hosted a three-day training for staff of Serbia’s Regulatory Authority for Electronic Media (REM), focusing on effective responses to hate speech and...
Advancing anti-SLAPP standards: Bilateral institutional and judicial exchange held in Podgorica
In a bid to align with European standards on freedom of expression and protection of public participation, representatives from judicial and justice institutions met in Podgorica to discuss effective responses to Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs). The two-day event convened...
Council of Europe expert highlights gaps and solutions to counter SLAPPs at Belgrade conference
Dr. Dragan Sekulovski, Council of Europe expert and Executive Director of the Association of Journalists of Macedonia, presented key findings from the Council of Europe Regional Baseline Assessment of Legislative and Policy Needs for Implementing Council of Europe and EU Standards on Countering...
Јакнење на правната експертиза за слободата на изразување во Северна Македонија
The Council of Europe HELP course (Human Rights Education for Legal Professionals) on freedom of expression continues to serve as a key tool for strengthening legal professionals’ understanding of European standards on media freedom and human rights in North Macedonia. On 18 March 2025, the HELP...
Standing up, speaking out: Journalists from Bosnia and Herzegovina empowered for combating gender-based violence
Journalists from across Bosnia and Herzegovina gathered in Neum to strengthen their role in combating gender-based violence against female journalists, particularly online abuse that threatens both individual safety and media freedom. The two-day training brought together 24 media professionals...
Guardians of free speech: Judges and prosecutors step up efforts to defend media rights in North Macedonia
The fight for freedom of expression is no longer confined to newsrooms — it is being waged in courtrooms, where judges and prosecutors are pivotal in defending democratic space. In this context, judges and public prosecutors from across North Macedonia gathered in Skopje for a capacity-building...
Замолчување на вистината: Спротивставување на СЛАП тужбите и одбрана на слободата на медиумите во Северна Македонија
Во знак на одбележување на Светскиот ден на слободата на медиумите – 3 Мај, слободните гласови од Северна Македонија алармираат за сè поголемата закана за демократијата: Стратешките тужби против јавното учество (СЛАП – SLAPP). Овие тужби, често маскирани како навреда, клевета или граѓански...
Prosecutors and police officers in Bosnia and Herzegovina empowered for combating gender-based violence against women journalists
Designated prosecutors and police officers in Bosnia and Herzegovina took part in a two-day training to strengthen their capacities to tackle gender-based violence against women journalists, including digital forms of such violence. The fourth capacity building session for contact points...
Борба против говорот на омраза: Обука за суди(јк)и и јавни обвинител(к)и во Северна Македонија
Клучен елемент на напорите на ЕУ и Советот на Европа за борба против дискриминацијата е поддршката на јавните институции во процесот на зајакнување на нивните капацитети за подобро справување со основните прашања поврзани со борбата против говорот на омраза, вклучително и антициганизмот како...
Countering SLAPPs at the University of Montenegro
Over 60 law and journalism students at the University of Montenegro took a stand against legal intimidation and threats to media freedom by participating in the country’s first-ever university lecture on Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs). Organised under the joint EU and...
Montenegrin journalists trained to stand strong against legal intimidation
Journalists in Montenegro strengthened their ability to recognise and respond to Strategic Lawsuits against Public Participation (SLAPPs) during a two-day training supported by the joint EU and Council of Europe action „Protecting freedom of expression and of the media in Montenegro”. SLAPPs are...
Regional assessment on countering SLAPPs in the Western Balkans provides key results and recommendations
The Council of Europe published the "Regional Baseline Assessment of Legislative and Policy Needs for Implementing European Anti-SLAPP Standards," providing an in-depth evaluation of legal frameworks across six Western Balkan jurisdictions: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro,...
Prosecutors strengthen capacities to uphold media freedom and protect journalists
Safeguarding media freedom and ensuring the safety of journalists are essential components of a democratic society and the rule of law. Prosecutors play a key role in preventing and responding to threats, violence, and legal harassment targeting media professionals. To strengthen prosecutorial...
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