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...
Sudije i organizacije civilnog društva u Srbiji udružuju snage u suzbijanju strateskih tužbi protiv učešća javnosti
U zajedničkom naporu da se odgovori na rastuće pretnje slobodi izražavanja i javnoj debati, sudije i sutkinje Višeg suda, Apelacionog suda i Vrhovnog suda u Srbiji okupile su se zajedno sa članicama Anti-SLAPP koalicije u Srbiji, na obuci Saveta Evrope, usmerenoj na jačanje pravnih i...
Police in North Macedonia equipped to better protect journalists
Recognising the vital role of journalists as watchdogs of democracy, police forces in North Macedonia were empowered with tools and knowledge to better protect media professionals from threats, harassment, and violence—both offline and online. In this framework, with the support of the EU and...
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...
Joint Efforts under the “Journalists Matter” Campaign to Advance Media Freedom in North Macedonia
Ensuring the safety of journalists and upholding freedom of expression remain vital pillars of a thriving democracy and important priorities in the framework of the Council of Europe and European Union support to local beneficiaries. In North Macedonia, public actors are intensifying their...
Jačanje regulisanja govora mržnje i štetnih sadržaja u Srbiji: Savet Evrope organizovao obuku za regulatorno telo
U svetlu aktuelnih izazova u vezi sa onlajn komunikacijom i rastućih društvenih tenzija širom Evrope, Kancelarija Saveta Evrope u Beogradu je organizovala trodnevnu obuku u Vrdniku za stručno osoblje Regulatornog tela za elektronske medije (REM) u cilju efikasnijeg odgovora na govor mržnje u...
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...
Ekspert Saveta Evrope na beogradskoj konferenciji ukazao na nedostatke i rešenja za borbu protiv SLAPP tuzbi
Dr Dragan Sekulovski, ekspert Saveta Evrope i izvršni direktor Udruženja novinara Makedonije, predstavio je ključne nalaze izveštaja o zakonodavnim i političkim potrebama za implementaciju standarda Saveta Evrope i EU o suzbijanju strateških tužbi protiv javnog učešća (SLAPP) tokom Anti-SLAPP...
Strengthening legal expertise on freedom of expression in North Macedonia
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...
Silencing truth: Confronting SLAPPs and defending press freedom in North Macedonia
Marking World Press Freedom Day on 3 May, free voices from North Macedonia are sounding the alarm about a growing threat to democracy: Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs). These lawsuits, often disguised as defamation or civil claims, are increasingly used to intimidate...
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...
Judges and Prosecutors in North Macedonia empowered with tools and knowledge to address hate-speech
A key component of the European Union and Council of Europe efforts to fight discrimination is supporting public institutions in enhancing their capacities to address hate speech, including anti-gypsyism as specific form of hatred against Roma and Travellers. To achieve this, 33 judges and public...
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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