News on combating discrimination
Learning from the Dutch experience: Helping victims of violent crimes get justice through compensation
A delegation from the recently established Commission for Monetary Compensation for Victims of Violent Crimes (the Commission), was part of a 3-days study visit to the Hague - Netherlands supported by the EU and Council of Europe. The visit aimed to study the Dutch best practices and discuss...
How to protect your rights and stand up against discrimination? Citizens in Prilep and Kumanovo discuss key mechanisms
Citizens in Prilep and Kumanovo, actively engaged in learning about effective protective mechanisms against discrimination, empowering themselves to foster inclusivity and equality in their local communities. The discussions tackled the legal framework and highlighted key interventions conducted...
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...
Empowering a new generation of anti-racism trainers in Eastern Europe and Western Balkans
As part of its ongoing efforts to advancing anti-discrimination policies in the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership regions, the Council of Europe launched a Training of Trainers (ToT) programme. This initiative brings together over 30 participants, including representatives from public...
Call for Applications: Design and development of the website of the Committee on National Minorities in Albania
The Council of Europe is currently implementing the action on “Advancing the Protection from Discrimination in Albania” which is part of the “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye III”, a joint programme of the Council of Europe and the European Union aiming at supporting...
Call for grants to support activities on combating hate speech in North Macedonia
Within the framework of the joint European Union/Council of Europe Horizontal Facility programme and its action on “Combating Hatred and Intolerance in North Macedonia”, the Council of Europe is launching a call for grants “Support to local self-governments and/or CSO-s for combating hate...
Justice for victims of hate speech and hate crime: Lawyers and legal professionals in North Macedonia learn more on the European standards on combating hatred
Legal protection and support for victims of hate speech and hate crime is crucial in the efforts to successfully combat hate speech and hate crime. In this aspect, lawyers and legal professionals are important actors in the process of ensuring protection for victims of hate-speech and hate crime,...
From darkness to light: A Personal journey
My stay in the safe house during the summer of 2024 truly changed my life. At the beginning of the year, I lost my independence. I was in an environment that did not support me, and now, looking back, I realise that I was searching for a way out. At a panel discussion, I heard an anonymous letter...
Finding safety and hope: One year of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s first LGBTI shelter
"My stay at the shelter during the summer of 2024 truly changed my life. At the beginning of that year, I lost my independence. I was in an environment that did not support me, and looking back now, I realise I was searching for a way out. At a panel discussion, I heard an anonymous letter from a...
Prison practitioners learn from their peers in working with violent extremist prisoners
The sustainable and continuous professionalisation of prison practitioners is one of the key prerequisites for ensuring the long-term success of systemic prevention and response to prison radicalisation. It is also at the core of effective and adequate management and rehabilitation of violent...
Albania and Estonia share best practices on national minority rights
Representatives of Albania’s Committee on National Minorities and Estonia’s Ministry of Culture and Integration Foundation met in Durrës, Albania, to exchange their best practices on effective integration of national minorities and management of diverse societies. Hosted by the Albanian...
Albanian prison directors and chiefs of prison police increase their knowledge on leadership and prison manageme
The European Union and the Council of Europe are continuing the close collaboration with the Training Centre for prison staff in Albania to raise the capacities of Albanian prison management, through trainings tailored to their needs. To this end, two capacity building sessions were organised on...
Serbia advances Action Plan to strengthen minority rights
Over 40 representatives from national and provincial authorities, minority councils, and civil society took part in a working group meeting in Belgrade on 4 March to advance the Action Plan for the Protection of National Minority Rights. Opening the discussion, State Secretary Prof. Dr. Rejhan...
Preventing trafficking of children without parental care - a priority for North Macedonia
In North Macedonia, 2019 – 2023 statistics[1] speak about 60 identified trafficking victims most of them are children. The child trafficking victims generally originate from disadvantaged social groups. Children without parental care are at a higher risk of trafficking due to their life...
Youth in Ilijaš learn how to recognise and combat hate speech
As many as 239 students from four primary schools in the Ilijaš Municipality have learned how to recognize and oppose hate speech and discrimination through interactive workshops and lectures. This educational program, implemented by the Association “Education Builds Bosnia and Herzegovina –...
15 years of progress in strengthening institutional protection from discrimination in Albania
For the sixth consecutive year, the European Union and the Council of Europe joint action on Advancing the Protection from Discrimination in Albania is proud to support the "Week against Discrimination", an important awareness-raising initiative led by the Commissioner for Protection from...
Addressing school segregation in Albania, in line with European Court judgements
Representatives of the Albanian government, local institutions and civil society organisations involved in primary education gathered in Korça to address the ongoing challenge of segregation of Roma and Egyptian pupils at the “Naim Frashëri” school. This roundtable, organised by the European...
Sofija Blagojević: A young hero championing inclusion in Serbian schools
At just 17 years old, Sofija Blagojević has emerged as an unexpected hero in the eyes of teachers and other professionals working with children. Her dedication to fostering inclusion and fighting discrimination has not only earned her recognition but also inspired those around her. "I was deeply...
Theatre performance by high school students of Prilep depicts the drama of forced marriages
Marking 18 October - European Anti-Trafficking Day in North Macedonia
Radio Pela local media, and secondary school students of Prilep joined forces to mark the European Anti-Trafficking day on18 October and raise awareness about the perils of child trafficking for forced marriages, through a theatrical performance. In this context, in close co-operation with the...
New research sheds light on impact of hate speech in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Two publications on the latest research into the nature and impact of hate speech in Bosnia and Herzegovina, developed under the European Union and Council of Europe’s joint programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye,” were presented today in Sarajevo. The comprehensive...
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