Voices from the field
This session of the website features inspiring narratives, human stories and success examples, that demonstrate positive change and improvement in the lives of individuals, local communities, and society as a whole.
Young voices reveal the unequal impact of environmental challenges
“For me, the most important insight was realising that environmental problems are not ‘neutral’, but that they affect certain groups of people much more strongly.” This reflection, shared by Vasilije Keranović from the Panel of Young Advisors to the Protector of Citizens, after working with...
Learning to speak up and stand up against injustice
The first time Emilija Marinković stood up for her rights, she was a preschooler. Equipped with nothing more than a kindergarten lesson about the child’s right to play, she faced her parents with unwavering seriousness: homework could wait- her rights could not. Many years later, she laughs at...
Inside the struggle for gender-sensitive reporting
“We cannot say that we are close to a point where the media promote gender equality, avoid stereotypes, and empower women and marginalised groups.” With that blunt assessment, journalist Aleksandra Ničić sets the tone for a conversation that goes far beyond individual newsroom habits and speaks...
Constitutional and Supreme Court advisers bring Strasbourg experience into Serbia’s judiciary
As a part of its efforts to enhance national implementation of the European Convention on Human Rights, the action “Strengthening human rights protection in Serbia” has been supporting placements of Serbian legal professionals in the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). For Milan Bajić and...
On the frontlines of journalists safety in the Western Balkans
Dragan Sekulovski, Executive Director of the Association of Journalists of North Macedonia, has long been one of the leading voices on journalists’ safety in the Western Balkans. Through his role with the Council of Europe Division for Cooperation on Freedom of Expression, in particular under the...
Bosnian students’ glimmers through 'Living books'
The most powerful lessons don’t always come from textbooks, sometimes they come from stepping into someone else’s life. Across Bosnia and Herzegovina, 437 students from 17 primary and secondary schools discovered a different kind of library- one where books breathe, speak, and share their...
Turning pages of empathy: stories of living books open hearts of young people to diversity in Bosnia and Herzegovina
The “Living Library” is no ordinary bookshelf. Instead of printed pages, students meet real people- “Books” who share their life experiences, challenge stereotypes, and invite dialogue. In classrooms across Bosnia and Herzegovina, five activists representing different minority groups became these...
A school where children learn to lead
In the quiet village of Turija in Serbia, “Veljko Dugošević” Primary School hums with more than the sound of lessons. Here, democracy is not just a subject in the textbook- it’s part of daily life. Pupils debate, compromise, take initiative, and share responsibility for their community. Over...
Police cadets from Bosnia and Herzegovina are redefining the badge
In the training yards and classrooms of the Police Academy of the Federal Ministry of Interior in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a quiet revolution has been unfolding. Here, future officers are learning that the badge they will soon wear is more than a symbol of authority - it is a pledge to protect the...
A small school with a big heart: how children in Kraljevo are learning inclusion by living it
When twelve-year-old Maša opened the door of her family home in Adrani, near Kraljevo, she wasn’t sure what to expect. A girl her age from Slovenia was about to stay with her as part of a school exchange. At first, the two were shy, carefully observing one another. But soon they found common...
A strong voice from Albania breaking disability barriers
Suela Lala, a prominent advocate for persons with disabilities in Albania, has spent over 15 years combating discrimination and promoting equality, focusing on accessibility, inclusion, and the protection of fundamental rights. She holds the position of the Executive Director of the “Së Bashku”...
Спречување и борба против трговијата со деца во Северна Македонија: приказни за издржливост и соработка
Кога Јана пристигнала во домот за згрижување на СОС Детското село, таа носела само мала торба и невидлива тежина на страв, трауми и недоверба. На само 15 години, таа издржала повеќемесечна експлоатација од страна на трговците со луѓе кои ѝ ветиле "подобра иднина". Наместо тоа, таа се нашла...
A wall of words, a voice for tolerance
When graphic designers Kruna Jevtić and Luka Prstojević first sat down to brainstorm their latest project, before presenting it to the Council of Europe since commissioning it, they knew it needed to be more than just art. It had to speak- clearly, boldly, and without borders. And to speak words...
Turning theory into practice during an unforgettable week in Trebinje
For many law students, understanding human rights begins in a classroom. But for a young participant from Montenegro, Ana Novović, the Regional School of Human Rights in Trebinje in July offered something much deeper: a chance to connect with others who, despite different backgrounds, share the...
From Losing Hope to Finding Legal Certainty: A Journey to Claim Your Property Rights in Albania
The small apartment on the second floor of a former communist-era building, located in a main road not far from the centre of the capital Tirana is always busy. Under the watchful eyes of concerned citizens, the officials of Tirana Legal Aid Society (TLAS) explain procedures in a simplified...
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...
Advancing anti-corruption reforms in Albania: from education to concrete transformations
“...Since my studies, I have had a particular interest in engaging in the field of the fight against corruption. I see it as a major challenge for our country and, above all, as an urgent issue, especially in the context of Albania’s integration path into the European Union. Personally, I aim to...
Finding safety and hope: One year of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s first LGBTI shelter
"My stay at the shelter during the summer of 2024 truly changed my life. At the beginning of that year, I lost my independence. I was in an environment that did not support me, and looking back now, I realise I was searching for a way out. At a panel discussion, I heard an anonymous letter from a...
From darkness to light: A Personal journey
My stay in the safe house during the summer of 2024 truly changed my life. At the beginning of the year, I lost my independence. I was in an environment that did not support me, and now, looking back, I realise that I was searching for a way out. At a panel discussion, I heard an anonymous letter...
Fighting human trafficking: A lawyer's journey through specialised training
Ana Gemović Matić, a lawyer from Serbia, is one of the twenty legal professionals who have successfully completed the Council of Europe’s HELP course on Combatting Trafficking in Human Beings. Over two months of intensive training, she gained in-depth knowledge and practical skills to enhance...
A rare internship opportunity: Sofija Lekić’s journey into human rights law
For many young law students, the path to understanding the complexities of human rights law is often a theoretical one. But for Sofija Lekić, a 22-year-old law student from Belgrade, the opportunity to dive into real-world cases at the European Court of Human Rights has provided a rare and...
Teachers in Bosnia and Herzegovina leading change for inclusive and democratic classrooms
Teachers from across Bosnia and Herzegovina are shaping more inclusive and democratic future through innovative training on the Reference Framework of the Competences for Democratic Culture (RFCDC). From 11-13 February, teachers from primary and secondary schools in Brčko, Goražde, Orašje,...
Sofija Blagojević: A young hero championing inclusion in Serbian schools
At just 17 years old, Sofija Blagojević has emerged as an unexpected hero in the eyes of teachers and other professionals working with children. Her dedication to fostering inclusion and fighting discrimination has not only earned her recognition but also inspired those around her. "I was deeply...
*Оваа ознака не ги прејудицира ставовите за статусот и истата е во согласност со Резолуцијата на ОНСБ 1244 и Мислењето на МСП за Декларацијата за независност на Косово.
Co-operation with
Young European Ambassadors
ДОБИВАЈТЕ ГИ НАЈНОВИТЕ ИНФОРМАЦИИ