News on combating discrimination
From Syria to Reintegration: Supporting Violent Extremist Offenders in the Probation System in Albania
In her dark clothing, Fatime* sits quietly, seemingly uninterested in any conversation, waits impatiently to meet her Probation Officer in Tirana. Every three months, she is required to report and discuss her progress with the probation authorities. She is one of the nine women who returned in...
„Od traume do svedočenja“ : Regionalni dijalog o psihološkoj podršci žrtvama trgovine ljudima
„Od traume do svedočenja: uloga psihološke podrške u slučajevima trgovine ljudima“ bila je glavna tema regionalnog dijaloga održanog uz podršku EU i Saveta Evrope. Onlajn događaj okupio je više od 60 stručnjaka i praktičara u oblasti borbe protiv trgovine ljudima iz Bosne i Hercegovine, Severne...
New e-learning tool to strengthen police response to racism and discrimination in the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnerships regions
A new E-learning Course on Equality and Non-discrimination in Policing, has been launched, bringing together representatives of law enforcement agencies, equality bodies and civil society organisations from the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership regions. The course is based on the European...
Commission for Prevention and Protection against Discrimination in North Macedonia explores new strategic approach in combating hatred and discrimination
The Commission for Prevention and Protection against Discrimination has taken an important step forward to advance Strategic Planning for Combating Hate Speech and Discrimination in North Macedonia, during the public meeting with the participation of around 20 members and technical staff of the...
Interview with Prof. Dr. Ilirjan Mandro - Rector of the Security Academy in Tirana
Equality, Non-Discrimination and Diversity in Police Training in Albania
Can you briefly introduce the Security Academy, including its mandate, structure, and the number of cadets and officers trained annually? As Rector, what major reforms and priorities are you focusing on? The Security Academy is the sole higher education institution in the field of public security...
Bihać residents and people on the move join forces for community clean-up ahead of Earth Day
In the run-up to International Earth Day, local residents and people on the move came together in Bihać to clean shared public spaces, turning a simple environmental action into a message of solidarity and inclusion. Organised on 19 April across several locations in the city, the clean-up brought...
How “Pinocchio” is helping children in North Macedonia to prevent trafficking
Fairy tales have always been considered powerful tools for teaching young children about life: how to recognise emotions, learn right from wrong and understand the consequences of their actions. With the support of the EU and Council of Europe action “Strengthening anti-trafficking action in...
PRESS RELEASE
Parliamentary dialogue sets priorities for tackling racism and hate speech in Albania
Albania is advancing efforts to strengthen its response to racism and hate speech, as members of parliament, independent institutions, civil society organisations and international partners met today at the National Assembly to discuss concrete legislative and policy priorities aligned with...
Јачање праксе у поступању против трговине људима у Србији
Тужиоци и тужитељке из целе Србије који служе као контакт тачке за кривична дела трговине људима окупили су се у Београду на округлом столу 2. априла посвећеном унапређењу праксе у поступању у предметима трговине људима. Догађај је организован у оквиру заједничког програма Европске уније и Савета...
Profit or people? The battle against modern-day slavery in North Macedonia
Human trafficking for labour exploitation is a serious and ever-growing global concern that affects people of all ages. At its core, it means that people are forced or deceived into working under abusive conditions, which infringe upon their human dignity. The victims are severely overworked,...
North Macedonia continues its path towards advancing the rights of persons belonging to communities
Representatives of institutions, ethnic communities and international partners gathered in Skopje to help shape the revised Action Plan on Advancing the Rights of Persons Belonging to Communities, an important policy document supporting social cohesion and North Macedonia’s EU accession process....
Promoting a safer public space in Bosnia and Herzegovina by recognising and preventing hate speech
Civil servants in Bosnia and Herzegovina are strengthening their ability to recognise, respond to and prevent hate speech, following a tailored training organised by the Council of Europe in co-operation with the BiH Civil Service Agency. The training, held in Mostar on 24-25 March, brought...
Young European Ambassadors build bridges against discrimination in Venice
The Council of Europe works closely with Young European Ambassadors (YEA) to strengthen youth engagement in promoting equality, diversity and human rights across Europe and its neighbouring regions. In this context, 25 Young European Ambassadors from the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership...
Inclusion takes centre stage across BiH cinemas
From 22 to 28 January, thousands of cinema-goers across Bosnia and Herzegovina were greeted with a simple yet powerful message before their films at CineStar cinemas: “Our diversity makes us stronger.” This awareness-raising initiative by the Euroepan Union and Council of Europe offered viewers a...
Turning dialogue into everyday action in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Across Bosnia and Herzegovina, people working in religious communities, education, and civil society often come from different backgrounds, traditions, and life paths. Yet when they speak about the societies they want to build, their words reflect shared values: responsibility, dignity, and the...
Advancing Self-Identification of National Minorities through Dialogue and Community Engagement
After the successful roundtable in Kukës, the European Union and Council of Europe anti-discrimination action and the OSCE Presence in Albania supported the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Committee for National Minorities in organising another roundtable, this time in Dervican (Dropull)....
Understanding hate, building stronger foundations for our communities
After months of online attacks, Aleksandra* from Montenegro started self-censorship. She withdrew from advocating for her community and even her own rights. Every post, every comment, every debate had become a battlefield, and the cost of speaking out had grown unbearable. This is one of the...
Identity matters: promoting self-identification of national minorities in Kukës
The Ministry of Internal Affairs in co-operation with the Committee on National Minorities organised today in Kukës a roundtable to raise awareness and inform local communities about the procedure of the self-identification as a national minority according to the respective by-laws. Supported by...
Empowering Social Workers to Combat Discrimination and Antigypsyism
Combating discrimination and antigypsyism are important priorities in the efforts of the Council of Europe to build equal and inclusive societies. Social workers in North Macedonia are often at the forefront in working with vulnerable communities, helping and supporting them. In this framework,...
Strengthening institutional responses to counter hate speech in Brčko District
Civil servants, representatives of civil society and media in Brčko District strengthened their understanding of how to recognise and address hate speech during a two-day capacity building held on 19–20 February 2026 in Teslić. Organised by the Government of Brčko District with the support of the...
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