The Action “Combating Hatred and Intolerance in North Macedonia” is implemented within the joint programme of the European Union and the Council of Europe “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye” running from 2023 until 2026. 

This Action supports the fight against discrimination, hate speech and hate crime in the beneficiary. The technical support is provided as part of North Macedonia’s EU accession process, in line with European standards – notably those from the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance and EU Anti-racism Action Plan  2020-2025.

It builds on the results of the previous phase of the Horizontal Facility and the Actions Promotion of Diversity and Equality in North Macedonia and  Promotion of diversity and equality in the Western Balkans.
 

Back Promoting European democratic values and raising awareness about human rights

Promoting European democratic values and raising awareness about human rights

The Council of Europe Programme Office in Skopje actively aims to engage youth in its initiatives and thus, reflect their needs and perspectives in its daily work. The responsibility to continue protecting human rights and to preserve democratic heritage for the generations to come rests with today’s youth. In this framework, the Council of Europe Programme Office in Skopje, hosted 18 students from the American High School in Skopje, who were eager and curious to learn more about the Council of Europe’s legal instruments, in particular, the European Convention on Human Rights, and its enforcement mechanism – the European Court of Human Rights.

“Human rights belong to everyone: they are universal standards which allow us all to live our lives in dignity. Defending human rights is at the heart of the mission of the Council of Europe.”, said Oleg Soldatov, Head of the Council of Europe Programme Office in Skopje, welcoming the students. He presented the mission of the Council of Europe in the protection of human rights and focused his intervention on the impact of the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights, especially regarding online freedom of speech.

During discussions, the importance of equal access to justice and free legal aid was highlighted. The students were also informed about different activities and initiatives implemented in the field of anti-discrimination, including trainings with judiciary and law enforcement, and they heard more specifically about the youth related activities from the “Block the Hatred. Share the Love” campaign.

An important component of the discussion involved the importance of local democracy promoted by the Council of Europe, through its Congress of Local and Regional Authorities. Young girls and boys from North Macedonia learned about key competencies that the grass root level of government executes for the benefit of the people.

They were also acquainted with the anti-trafficking activities implemented under the European Union and Council of Europe joint action “Strengthening anti-trafficking action in North Macedonia”, targeting young people. This action supports and implements public awareness initiatives, in order to prevent human trafficking in children. Young people expressed a significant interest for the theatrical and radio play entitled Vicious circle - Radio Drama, as well as for the illustrated booklets, warning children about the perils of child trafficking in accessible way, adjusted to their age and their level of maturity. 

The actions “Strengthening anti - trafficking action in North MacedoniaStrengthening anti - trafficking action in North Macedonia”, “Towards a Consolidated and More Efficient Free Legal Aid (FLA) System in North Macedonia” and Combating Hatred and Intolerance in North Macedonia” are part of the of the European Union and Council of Europe joint initiative “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye”.

Skopje, North Macedonia 26 November 2025
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What is the goal of the action?

The ultimate goal of the action on is to increase the awareness of the institutions and citizens about hatred and intolerance and develop a harmonised institutional approach to tackle these issues.

Who benefits from the action?

The action ultimate beneficiary is the population in North Macedonia. By providing technical assistance and raising awareness of public institutions and related actors in the field, the action will contribute towards improving the anti-discrimination policies, and policies addressing hate speech and hate crime, as well as its redress mechanisms and advancing in the overall protection of human rights for the vulnerable communities. 

How will the action work?

The action will work with Government representatives in charge of combating discrimination and hate speech; with Commission for Prevention and Protection against Discrimination, law enforcement, judiciary and legal professionals, civil society organizations and youth activists. 

The action provides capacity building initiatives, adapting existing tools and methodologies of the Council of Europe. It also provides occasions for peer exchanges and multi-stakeholder dialogue activities to foster co-operation. 
Awareness raising on combatting discrimination and promoting diversity constitutes an important component of the action.
 

What do we expect to achieve?

Notably, the action will ensure that: 

  • Institutions have Improved record of reforms to combat discrimination, hatred and racism in line with European standards
  • Equality Bodies and Institutions in North Macedonia improve their capacity in combating discrimination in line with ECRI standards and recommendations and EU anti-racism action plan.
  • North Macedonia’s central and local level institutions improve the fight against hate speech and hate crime and strengthens victims’ protection
  • The general become more aware of the dangers of hate and racism to cohesion of societies and the way to address them.
     
What is the budget of the action?

The total budget of the action is 450.000 Euros.

The budget allocated to the overall Horizontal Facility programme amounts to ca. 41 Million EUR (85% funded by the European Union, 15% by the Council of Europe).
 

How to get more information?
About the Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye

The “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye” is a joint initiative of the European Union and the Council of Europe that enables the Western Balkans Beneficiaries and Türkiye to meet their reform agendas in the fields of human rights, rule of law and democracy and to comply with the European standards, which is also a priority for the EU enlargement process. 
 


 

ACTION AT A GLANCE

Duration: 48 months (January 2023 to December 2026)

Beneficiaries:

  • Citizens of North Macedonia
  • Public authorities, including the law enforcement agencies
  • Education professionals
  • Civil society organisations engaged in promoting and protecting human rights

Funding: The European Union and the Council of Europe

Budget: 450.000€