Two important HELP courses on “Violence against women and domestic violence” and “Fight against racism, homophobia and transphobia” have been launched for legal professionals in North Macedonia. Around 100 lawyers have registered to attend these online HELP courses, organised in co-operation with the North Macedonia Bar Association and supported in the framework of the EU and Council of Europe joint actions "Supporting enhanced access to higher quality Free Legal Aid services in North Macedonia", “Promotion of diversity and equality in North Macedonia” and “HELP in the Western Balkans”.

The in-person launch event was addressed by Lejla Dervisagic, Head of Operations of the Council of Europe Office in Skopje and Ljubomir Mihajlovski, President of the Bar Association in North Macedonia. Council of Europe officers presented and shared with the participants and provided an overview and so far achievements of the HELP in WB action and the HELP online platform. The specific courses on “Fight against racism, homophobia and transphobia” and “Violence against women and domestic violence” for lawyers in North Macedonia will be implemented in the coming weeks were conducted by certified HELP tutors from North Macedonia.

The implementation of the HELP online courses on “Violence against women and domestic violence” and “Fight against racism, homophobia and transphobia” is a joint initiative of the actions being implemented in North Macedonia in the framework of the European Union and Council of Europe joint programme "Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey 2019-2020", which enables the Beneficiaries to comply with the European standards, including where relevant within the framework of the EU enlargement process.