The Council of Europe will assist the national authorities in overcoming the identified shortcomings and practical deficiencies related to the protection of the human rights in the country in line with the international standards and best practices. This project is implemented in close cooperation and partnership with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and a wider group of national partners and stakeholders, including the Ombudsman / National Preventive Mechanism, the Standing Inquiry Committee for Protection of Civil Rights and Freedoms , the Public Prosecutor’ s Office, judiciary and prominent civil society organisations active in the field of protection and promotion of human rights.

The project is co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe as part of the “Horizontal Facility for Western Balkans and Turkey” (Horizontal Facility) and implemented by the Council of Europe. It aims to introduce effective oversight over police work through establishing an external mechanism and to improve human rights compliance by the police through strengthening the safeguards against ill-treatment and enhancing the internal police investigative mechanism.

This project is expected to be completed by 23 May 2019, with an overall budget of EUR 550,000.