The EU/CoE Action “Freedom of Expression and Freedom of the Media in Kosovo*” (JUFREX2), in cooperation with the Bar Association, organised a two-day training seminar for lawyers and police officers on 29-30 September 2021.
28 lawyers and 11 police officers (18 men and 11 women) were trained and introduced to the concept of whistleblowing, the protection of whistleblowers and challenges legal professionals and police officers face in this regard.
Thematic areas such as the local legislation on whistleblowing and its implementation, types of whistleblowing, the protection of whistle-blowers, and the employers’ obligations, legal protection and mechanisms were discussed during the first day of the training. Moreover, the Council of Europe and EU instruments for protection of whistle-blowers were subjects of discussion and elaboration during the training.
The second day of the training focused on the Council of Europe and European Union instruments for the protection of whistleblowers. In addition, the case law of the European Court for Human Rights (ECtHR) and its criteria for the assessment of the whistleblowing cases were extensively discussed.
This Action is part of the “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey II”, a co-operation initiative co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe and implemented by the Council of Europe, which aims at assisting Beneficiaries in the Western Balkans region and Turkey to comply with the Council of Europe standards and European Union acquis in the framework of the enlargement process, where relevant.
Find more about JUFREX: https://bit.ly/2QtZrT6
* This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence.