News on combating discrimination
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)....
Razumijevanjem govora mržnje do izgradnje snažnijih temelja za naše zajednice
Nakon mjeseci online napada, Aleksandra* iz Crne Gore počela je da se povlači. Prestala je da se javno zalaže za prava svoje zajednice, ali i sopstvena prava. Svaka objava, svaki komentar i svaka rasprava postali su prostor za nove napade, a cijena javnog istupanja postala je previsoka. Ovo je...
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...
From Awareness to Action: Reinforcing Anti-Discrimination Policing in Albania
426 students from all three academic years of the Police Academy of Tirana strengthened their capacities to address hate crimes. This is one of the key results of this year’s Anti-Discrimination Week, organised every February by the Commissioner for Protection from Discrimination, with support...
Council of Europe and Albanian public authorities step up co-operation towards more inclusive education in Korça
Senior representatives from the Council of Europe Office in Tirana, public institutions and local authorities met in Korça to discuss progress on the execution of the European Court judgement about the segregation of Roma and Egyptians pupils in “Naim Frashëri” school (‘X and Others v. Albania’...
Anti-Discrimination Week 2026 kicks off in Albania, promoting equality, dignity and inclusion for all
Under the motto “Equality, Dignity and Inclusion for All”, the Anti-Discrimination Week 2026 will take place across Albania from 9 to 16 February 2026, featuring a series of awareness-raising and capacity-building activities. The Anti-Discrimination Week Held annually in February is an initiative...
Social workers, educators and technical staff in kindergartens in Skopje learn more about combating discrimination
The Ministry for Social Policy, Demography and Youth, with the support of the European Union and the Council of Europe, organised a capacity building initiative intended for social workers, as well as educational and technical staff from kindergartens from different municipalities in Skopje. The...
Promoting ethical and gender-sensitive reporting on human trafficking cases in North Macedonia
Hate Speech in Albania: Despite increased awareness, it is perceived to be on the rise
The latest edition of the study “Beyond Definitions: A Call for Action Against Hate Speech in Albania” reveals significant patterns of hate speech in the country, showing both progress in awareness and gaps in action. According to the findings, 97% of respondents are now familiar with the concept...
Mladi upozoravaju: ekološki problemi najviše pogađaju ranjive
“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...
Compensation for victims of trafficking in focus during the commemoration of the week for fight against human trafficking
Victims of human trafficking in North Macedonia often face long processes to rebuild their lives and reintegrate in the society. Compensation, as means to reckon the injustice these victims suffered by the society, is essential for their resocialisation and reintegration. This week, as part of...
Building co-operation towards a comprehensive Action Plan on Advancing the Rights of Persons belonging to Communities
The Council of Europe, in co-operation with the Agency for Community Rights Realisation and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade organised in Skopje a consultation process to discuss the draft Action Plan on Advancing the Rights of Persons belonging to Communities dedicated to the...
Finding the balance between freedom of expression and hate speech: judiciary, public institutions and civil society in dialogue
European standards and relevant case law on combating hate speech, with particular attention to the risks posed by the misuse of criminal law to restrict legitimate freedom of expression were examined during a Judicial Dialogue in Pristina organised with the support of EU and Council of Europe....
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