Yatay Destek - Haberler
Albania strengthens prison staff preparedness to manage and rehabilitate violent extremist prisoners
A new training framework developed with the support of the European Union and the Council of Europe will help Albanian prison practitioners strengthen their skills in detecting signs of radicalisation, managing violent extremist prisoners (VEPs) and supporting their rehabilitation and...
Strengthening professional media coverage of elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Strengthening professional, accurate and balanced media elections reporting was the focus of a training for journalists and media professionals in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Participants had the opportunity to learn about European standards for professional election reporting and how these standards...
Strengthening access to environmental information and public participation in Serbia
Professional staff of the Commissioner for Information of Public Importance and Personal Data Protection in Serbia strengthened their knowledge and practical understanding of European standards on access to information and environmental protection during a specialised capacity-building activity...
Albanian probation professionals pave the way for stronger professional development
Probation professionals from across Albania have identified key steps to strengthen the capacity-building system of the Albanian Probation Service, including induction, continuous professional development and the development of internal expertise to support more effective rehabilitation and...
When a school gives every voice a chance to be heard
“Let’s give a child a chance.” For Mirza Forić, an IT teacher at the Mixed Secondary School in Čelić, this simple sentence became much more than a teaching approach. Over the years, it has shaped the way he approaches teaching and sees his role in the classroom. “The moment it clicked for me...
New approach strengthens the evaluation of work of judges in Serbia
Members of the Commission for the Evaluation of the Work of Judges and court presidents increased their knowledge and skills on various aspects of implementation of new rules on performance assessment of judges during a two-day training organised in co-operation with the High Judicial Council....
Colors Beyond Bars: Transformative Power of Art Therapy in Serbian Prisons
Over the years, the Directorate for Execution of Criminal Sanctions in Serbia has recognised the profound role that creative workshops and art therapy play in rehabilitation of prisoners. By fostering creativity and self-expression, these programmes offer inmates a chance to process their...
Montenegro adopts two important laws strengthening victims’ rights
On 31 July 2026, Montenegro adopted two important pieces of legislation aimed at strengthening the protection and rights of victims of violence: the Law on Protection from Violence against Women and Domestic Violence and amendments to the Law on Compensation for Victims of Criminal Offences of...
Breaking the cycle: Transforming violent extremist prisoners in the Western Balkans
Violent Extremist Prisoners and Offenders (VEP/O-s) are individuals whose crimes were shaped not only by personal circumstance but also by radical and dangerous ideologies. Managing and rehabilitating these prisoners presents an extraordinary challenge for authorities in the Western Balkans. In...
North Macedonia strengthens efforts to protect children from trafficking for sexual exploitation
To mark the World Day against Trafficking in persons, key anti-trafficking actors in North Macedonia joined forces to strengthen identification, referral and protection of child trafficking victims for sexual exploitation. Organised by the joint European Union and the Council of Europe action...
Albania institutions strengthen corruption risks assessment in education
Albanian institutions have improved their ability to identify and address corruption risks in the pre-university education sector through an updated methodology tailored to Albania’s education system. Developed with the support of the joint European Union and Council of Europe Action against...
Monitoring of Audiovisual Media for better protection of Freedom of Expression in Albania
Albania authorities are taking steps to ensure a more effective monitoring of audiovisual media content, for a better protection of freedom of expression in line with European standards. Professionals from the Audiovisual Media Authority (AMA) participated in a capacity building session,...
Pristina: EU and Council of Europe award five grants to Combat Discrimination and Hate Speech
The Council of Europe Office in Pristina announced the winners of five grants awarded to local civil society organisations working to combat discrimination and hate speech and to reduce the stigmatisation of vulnerable groups. The five selected organisations represent communities and groups from...
Initial Screening for prisoners with mental health disorders successfully piloted in Albanian prisons and remand facilities
With support from the European Union and the Council of Europe, the Albanian Prison Service has rolled out an Initial Screening for prisoners with mental health disorders as a health care priority from day one of their admission. The new approach, launched in March 2026, with a capacity-building...
New Guide helps journalists in North Macedonia recognise and respond to SLAPP-s
Journalists and media professionals in North Macedonia now have a practical guide to help them recognise, prevent and respond to Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs), strengthening their ability to protect freedom of expression and continue reporting on matters of public...
Future lawyers in the Western Balkans take on digital violence against women
“Violence knows no borders, but neither does our empathy.” The words of one participant capture the spirit of this year's Regional Summer School in Trebinje better than any programme agenda ever could. Inside a simulated courtroom, 30 law students from across the Western Balkans sit before a...
Making victims’ right to compensation work in practice in Montenegro
An event dedicated to enhancing the procedural rights of victims in criminal proceedings, with a particular focus on the right to compensation, was held in Podgorica. The training brought together representatives of judicial institutions and the Bar Association aiming to provide floor for...
Senior prison police officers strengthen capacity to prevent ill-treatment in North Macedonia
Twenty-two senior prison police officers from all 12 penitentiary facilities have strengthened their capacity to prevent ill-treatment, and ensure proper reporting of incidents, contributing to greater accountability and protection of human rights in prisons. The two-day capacity building...
From listening to change inside prison treatment work
In Novi Pazar District Prison, rehabilitation work is grounded in understanding the people behind behaviour. For treatment officer Ilda Imamović, this means looking beyond actions to the stories behind them. “My job is not only to implement treatment programmes, but also to try to understand...
Authorities in North Macedonia extend their skills in supporting violent extremist prisoners during the preparation for and after release
A cornerstone of the effective reintegration of violent extremist prisoners (VEPs) and other prisoners prone to radicalisation is the efficient inter-institutional co-operation. In the efforts to prevent and counter violent extremism in line with European standards, the EU and Council of Europe...

