News on ensuring justice
Improved capacities of public prosecutors to implement European Court of Human Rights standards in their decisions
The first of four planned meetings for public prosecutors on how to refer to standards and case-law of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) in prosecutorial acts and on proper ways to quote ECtHR decisions, took place in Belgrade on 24 April. The meetings are organised by the joint European...
The CEPEJ co-organises a regional workshop aimed at development of a “Hub” dedicated to new technologies in justice systems
The European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ), in close cooperation with the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina (HJPC BiH), co-organised a regional workshop entitled “Advancing the HJPC BiH regional ICT (information and communication technologies)...
Advisors of the Constitutional Court discussed the application of the quality of law and proportionality tests in the case-law of the European Court of Human Rights and domestic courts
The joint European Union and Council of Europe action „Strengthening human rights protection in Serbia“ organised on 12 April in Belgrade, in co-operation with the Constitutional Court, a training for around 50 advisors of the Constitutional Court on the application of the quality of law and...
Empowering Legal Clinics and Civil Society Organizations to enhance Free Legal Aid system in North Macedonia
The legal clinics and civil society organisations (CSOs) authorised for the provision of primary legal aid, are instrumental in ensuring access to justice and to effectively apply protection of human rights in line with European standards. Around 25 participants attended a five-days training of...
Regional conference in Belgrade looks at the use of encrypted communication in criminal proceedings
A regional two-day conference on legal aspects of the use of data from encrypted messaging services as evidence in criminal proceedings started in Belgrade today. Its objective is to allow legal professionals from the Western Balkans region to learn from experience of their peers form other...
Improving detection of child trafficking instances in schools in Serbia
Child trafficking is a widespread and underreported phenomenon. According to official data from the Serbian Centre for Human Trafficking Victims’ Protection, the percentage of children among the identified victims of trafficking in Serbia has significantly increased in 2023 and amounts to 62%...
Council of Europe HELP Course on Access to Justice for Women launched to empower Judges and Prosecutors from the Western Balkans
In a significant step towards enhancing gender-sensitive legal practices and strengthening the capacity of judges and prosecutors in addressing gender bias in the judiciary in the Western Balkans, the regional HELP course on Access to Justice for Women was launched with the support of the EU...
Strengthening the role and accountability of court interpreters and translators in Montenegro
Due to their role in judicial proceedings, court interpreters play an essential role in ensuring the equality of citizens in justice-related communications. In Montenegro, around 400 licensed court interpreters provide services for 25 languages in the proceedings before the police, the...
Police officers’ human rights training skills verified in Bosnia and Herzegovina
A group of 10 law enforcement officers was certified to deliver human rights- based training in Bosnia and Herzegovina on 16-17 April 2024, in Sarajevo. This activity is a part of an internal accreditation scheme developed in close co-operation with the cantonal and entity Ministries of Interior...
MEDIA ADVISORY: Regional conference on the use of encrypted communication in criminal proceedings to be held on Thursday
A regional two-day conference on the use of encrypted communication as evidence in criminal proceedings, organised by the joint action of the European Union and the Council of Europe “Strengthening human rights protection in Serbia”, the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement...
New Communication Strategy for Judicial Council and Courts presented in Montenegro
The Communication strategy of the Judicial Council and Courts for 2024 - 2026 and the 2024 Action Plan were presented to court presidents, press judges and the Judicial Council's members. The Strategy defines ways of communicating with public and media, contributing to greater accountability of...
Lawyers from İstanbul enhance their knowledge on “Detention in the context of migration”
20 lawyers from the İstanbul Bar Association completed a two-day training on “Detention in the context of migration”, organised by the joint European Union/Council of Europe action on “Strengthening the human rights protection in the context of migration in Türkiye”, in co-operation with the...
Regional conference takes place in Tirana to discuss co-operation and key solutions with public stakeholders, civil society and key experts from the region and the European Union
Tackling environmental crime through addressing related illicit financial flows and corruption in the Western Balkans
A regional conference focusing on the intricate relationship between money laundering, corruption and environmental crimes in the Western Balkans took place in Tirana, Albania. Organised with the support of the European Union and the Council of Europe, the two-day event brought together key...
Venice Commission adopts the Opinion on “Certain questions relating to the functioning of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina”
The President of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina requested an opinion of the Venice Commission on eight questions relating to the functioning of the Constitutional Court, namely on the measures that could be taken in a situation in which the authorities deliberately block the...
Supporting the role of local government on the treatment of property registration processes
A series of three outreach monitoring activities were held, in the Municipalities of Librazhd (28 March) , Berat (3 April) and Malësi e Madhe (9 April), to collect data on the involvement of local government institutions in handling remaining key issues in property registration. Representatives...
Steps taken towards enhanced application of the human rights standards in the work of the Constitutional courts
Advisers and judges of constitutional courts from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, and Serbia participated at the regional working meeting to exchange experience and knowledge on the application of relevant human rights standards in their daily work. As the ultimate protector of human...
Law students in North Macedonia increase their knowledge on legal aid in criminal proceedings
In an effort to deepen students' understanding of legal aid in criminal proceedings, a lecture was held at the Legal Clinic for criminal law, located within the Faculty of Law "Iustinianus Primus" in Skopje, North Macedonia. 19 law students discussed and explored the crucial aspects of legal aid...
Albanian prison directors enhance their leadership and prison management skills
On 18-20 March, 20 prison Directors representing all the Albanian penitentiary institutions, attended a leadership and prison management training delivered by two Council of Europe international consultants and the Head of the Albanian Training Centre for prison staff. The training combined...
The role of legal clinics for providing primary legal aid for victims of crimes and gender-based violence discussed at the National Co-ordination Body meeting
The 14th meeting of the National Co-ordination Body for the implementation of the Law on Free Legal Aid in North Macedonia, gathered in Skopje on 20 March to discuss the progress and important challenges regarding the implementation of free legal aid system in North Macedonia. Organised in the...
Roundtable on prevention of ill-treatment by police officers and effective investigations in this respect
A roundtable focusing on execution of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) in relation to Serbia concerning ill-treatment in police custody and ineffective investigations into such allegations (Stanimirović v. Serbia group) took place on 19 March in Belgrade. Consultations...