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Fostering effective rehabilitation and reintegration support for violent extremist prisoners and prisoners at risk of radicalisation in the Western Balkans region
Equipping violent extremist prisoners and prisoners at risk of radicalisation with practical skills and qualifications that enhance their employment prospects after release and providing them with multi-agency support upon release is crucial for their effective rehabilitation and reintegration....
First group of pilot schools in Bosnia and Herzegovina prepared to become resource centers for democratic culture
The third and final activity for teachers from seven pilot schools in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), organised within the joint European Union/Council of Europe action “Quality education for all”, took place in Bijeljina from 23 to 25 April. Forty primary and secondary teachers participated in the...
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...
Lawyers from İzmir enhance their knowledge on human rights standards on immigration detention
The joint European Union/Council of Europe action “Strengthening the human rights protection in the context of migration in Türkiye”, in co-operation with the Union of Turkish Bar Associations, continue to support lawyers from local Bar Associations across Türkiye. Sixteen lawyers from the İzmir...
Equal rights for all: European Union and Council of Europe support opening of first LGBTI shelter in Bosnia and Herzegovina
The European Union and the Council of Europe have provided a grant to the Wings of Hope Foundation from Sarajevo, for the opening of the first LGBTI shelter in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This shelter is open to LGBTI victims of domestic violence from all parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina, who need a...
Manual for police education on equality & non-discrimination: a new resource for police trainers in the Western Balkans
The Manual for police education on equality & non-discrimination translated into local languages of the Western Balkans is finally out and available for download. Law enforcement plays a key role in combating racism and racial discrimination, and in promoting human rights, democracy, and the rule...
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)...
Assisting the Government of Montenegro in preparing new national 2024-2029 LGBTI Strategy
The first session of the working group in charge of drafting a new National LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex) Strategy for the period 2024-2029, took place on 26 March in municipality of Bar, Montenegro. This activity, aimed at devising a new national strategy tailored to the...
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...
Enabling proactive transparency and access to information in North Macedonia
Everyone has the right to freedom of expression. This right shall include freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authority and regardless of frontiers. – paragraph 1, Article 10 of the European Convention for Human Rights. Towards...
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...
Empowering Bosnia and Herzegovina's judiciary: enhancing freedom of expression through training of trainers
Strengthening the capacities of local legal professionals to serve as educators in the realm of freedom of expression, in accordance with the standards outlined in Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights and the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), is a...
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...
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%...
Press Release
“Upholding journalistic integrity and advancing freedom of expression in North Macedonia”: Journalists and media actors in North Macedonia discuss key measures and challenges.
The recent amendments to North Macedonia's Criminal Code enhance journalist protection by allowing the Prosecutor's Office to initiate criminal cases on their behalf, alleviating the burden of private prosecutions. Additionally, since defamation and insult were decriminalised in North Macedonia,...
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...
Steering towards freedom of expression in line with European standards
Underscoring the commitment to safeguarding freedom of expression and media in North Macedonia, the second Steering Committee Meeting under the joint EU and Council of Europe action on "Protecting freedom of expression and of the media in North Macedonia" (PRO-FREX) that convened today in...
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...
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