Constitutional Courts of Kosovo* and Albania discuss guarantees of a fair trial, in line with case-law of the European Court of Human Rights

26-27 February 2024 Tirana

A large share of individual applications lodged before the Constitutional Court of Kosovo* (approximately 60%) pertain to alleged violations of the right to a fair trial. Within this broad field, 23 legal professionals of the Constitutional Court of Kosovo* and the Constitutional Court of Albania...

Read More

Statement by Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić ahead of International Women’s Day.

Artificial Intelligence - Bridging the Equality Gap

Council of Europe 7 march 2024 Strasbourg

“More and more, AI is giving shape to the world we live in - our job prospects, our health-care outcomes, our access to benefits and services. The list of areas affected by AI is long and is growing. Unless we learn how to harness the potential of AI to bridge inequalities - including gender...

Read More

State of the Press Freedom in Europe: Annual Report of the Safety of Journalists Platform

6 March 2024

“… the alerts published on the Safety of Journalists Platform show a growing diversity of threats, pressures and constraints under which journalists must carry out their mission.” 1 On 5 March 2024, the Platform to Promote the Protection of Journalism and Safety of Journalists launched its report...

Read More

Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) handed over to the Special Institution for Treatment and Rehabilitation of Persons with Mental and Physical Disabilities and to the Institute of Forensic Psychiatry

23 February 2024 Pristina

The Council of Europe continues to play a proactive role in promoting the Council of Europe values and standards and ensuring adherence to, and protection of, human rights of prisoners and persons in other closed institutions at the highest level. Today, the Deputy Head of the Council of Europe...

Read More

Addressing hate speech in the public space and public discourse, through the eyes of the equality body: Round-table discussion on findings of ex-officio report about the Language in Public Discourse

6 February 2024 Pristina

On the 6th of February 2024, the Ombudsperson Institution organized a roundtable in Pristina, to discuss the findings of the ex-officio report “Language in public discourse”, aiming at addressing hate speech in the public space and public discourse, through the eyes of the equality body. In his...

Read More

Call for tenders: “Support to the Constitutional Court in Applying and Disseminating European Human Rights Standards – Phase II”

13 February 2024 Pristina

Call for tenders for Pool of International Consultants Council of Europe’s project “Support to the Constitutional Court in Applying and Disseminating European Human Rights Standards – Phase II” invites qualified candidates to apply for the Pool of International Consultants for the provision of...

Read More

First Steering Committee meeting in Pristina approved a plan for the Freedom of Expression action

7 February 2024 Pristina

Free, independent, plural and diverse media constitutes one of the cornerstones of a democratic society. Key local institutions and stakeholders gathered in Pristina at the first meeting of the Steering Committee of the EU and Council of Europe joint action on “Protecting freedom of expression...

Read More

Young European Ambassadors sending a loud and clear message from Budapest: Say NO to hatred!

17-19 January 2024 Budapest, Hungary

More than 50 Young European Ambassadors (YEAs) got introduced to methods on how to effectively address hate speech and discrimination. This will enable the YEAs to make a difference in their communities through the promotion of equality and diversity, ultimately contributing to combating hate...

Read More

Municipal civil servants increased their capacities on data collection and reporting on discrimination cases

10 January 2024 Pristina

On 13-14 and 16-17 November 2023, in cooperation with the Office for Good Governance – Minister’s Office, the Council of Europe Office in Pristina continued with its capacity building training programme for civil servants at municipal level. The two day’s workshops took place in Pristina to...

Read More

The Istanbul Convention standards and their reference in European Court of Human Rights judgments

18-19 December 2023 Pristina

Two days intensive training organised with the Constitutional Court on “The Istanbul Convention standards and their reference in European Court of Human Rights judgments”. Fifteen members of the Constitutional Court Legal Unit benefited from the tailor-made and advanced workshop focusing...

Read More

CEPEJ workshop on the role of lawyers in managing judicial time

25 November 2023 PRISTINA

On 25 November 2023, the European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ) organised a workshop in Pristina for 25 lawyers to discuss their possible contribution to improving the management of judicial time. The workshop was an opportunity to identify with Slovenian and French experts...

Read More

Council of Europe assists Kosovo Correctional Service (KCS) in developing tools to identify suicide risks among prisoners

8 December 2023 Istog/ISTOK

On 4-6 December 2023, in collaboration with the EU Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX), a 3-day event on early detection of self-harm and identification of suicide risks in a prison setting was conducted in Istog/Istok. The main audience of the event comprised 50 KCS uniformed staff, who are...

Read More

Sustaining progress: European Union and Council of Europe extend their commitment in Pristina to strengthen justice, fight discrimination and improve freedom of expression

30 November 2023 Pristina

he European Union and the Council of Europe have been providing tailor-made support to Kosovo* towards the advancement of strategic reforms in the areas of human rights and the rule of law and further alignment with relevant European standards. Thanks to the co-operation under the joint programme...

Read More

Launch of the ground-breaking database for victims of trafficking

29 November 2023 Pristina

This database, supported by Council of Europe “Enhancing anti-trafficking actions” Project and established pursuant GRETA’s 2nd Report Recommendations, marks a significant step forward in our collective efforts to prevent and fight human trafficking. An intensive process for the development of...

Read More

Statement by Dominique Hasler, President of the Committee of Ministers and Marija Pejčinović Burić, Secretary General of the Council of Europe

How the Istanbul Convention is saving lives

24 November 2023 Strasbourg

Read More

European day against child sexual abuse: stronger engagement with victims and survivors needed to stop stigmatisation and prevent further crime, says Secretary General

Secretary General 17 November 2023 Strasbourg

Ahead of the European Day on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (18 November), Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has called on Council of Europe member states to step up their engagement with victims and survivors of childhood sexual violence to help...

Read More

Training of Tutors of HELP Courses

17 November 2023 Pristina

On 15-16 November, our project “Support to the Constitutional Court in Applying and Disseminating European Human Rights Standards”, in cooperation with Council of Europe Human Rights Education for Legal Professionals (HELP) Program, organized training of tutors on HELP e-learning methodology. In...

Read More

Study on the level of academic achievements of students with hearing impairment in “Mother Theresa” Resource centre in Prizren

17 November 2023 Pristina

The “Study on the level of academic achievements of students with hearing impairment in “Mother Theresa” Resource centre in Prizren” is now available in English, Albanian and Serbian languages. The Report provides an overview of the level of academic achievements of these students, challenges...

Read More

Training on Safety and the Protection of Journalists

15 NOVEMBER 2023 Pristina

The EU/CoE Horizontal Facility Action "Protecting Freedom of Expression and of the Media (PRO-FREX)" joined forces with the Academy of Justice, to organise a training event focusing on journalist safety and protection. This event brought together legal professionals and law enforcement agents...

Read More

Kosovo Correctional Service finalise Strategic Development Plan 2023-2027

15 November 2023 Istog/Istok

After a period of intensive and dedicated work of all relevant stakeholders, the Kosovo Correctional Services (KCS) finalised the Strategic Development Plan 2023-2027. The Council of Europe contributed to the process by conducting an in-depth expert analysis of the initial draft of the Plan,...

Read More