The project has launched its new cycle of activities with an inaugural workshop for members of the Bar Association in Gjilan/Gnjilane. The training focused on Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which guarantees the right to respect for private and family life.
More than 60 lawyers participated in interactive discussions on the key elements of Article 8, including private life, family life, home and correspondence. The workshop explored the general principles governing the interpretation of Article 8, its scope and limitations, and relevant case law of the European Court of Human Rights. Particular attention was given to the case law of the Constitutional Court of Kosovo*[1] under Article 36 of the Constitution in conjunction with Article 8 of the Convention.
Participants examined the meaning of private life as interpreted by the Court in Strasbourg, including physical, psychological and moral integrity, identity, privacy and personal autonomy. Discussions also addressed key concepts under the family life, the inviolability of the home, while the protection of correspondence covered both written and electronic communications.
The training included analysis of many landmark judgments of the Court in Strasbourg such as A, B and C v. Ireland, A.A.K. v. Türkiye, Bărbulescu v. Romania, Big Brother Watch and Others v. the United Kingdom and Verein KlimaSeniorinnen Schweiz v. Switzerland, among others. Through practical case studies, participants strengthened their understanding of how Article 8 standards apply in domestic proceedings.
The final session focused on practical tools for researching and properly referencing the Court’s case law in judicial reasoning. Lawyers were introduced to the knowledge sharing platform of the Court in Strasbourg ECHR-KS, caselaw database HUDOC and its search functions, along with resources such as specific Court’s Case Law Guides, Key Themes and Thematic Factsheets. All participants received relevant materials and case law resources to support the effective application of Article 8 standards in their professional practice.
Over the two-year implementation period, the project will organise 24 workshops with lawyers across all seven regional branches of the Bar Association. They will focus on specific standards of the Convention and the case law of the Court in Strasbourg that are directly relevant to the everyday practice of beneficiary legal professionals. The upcoming workshop with lawyers will be organized on 7 March in Pristina.