On 2 and 3 July 2026, the Council of Europe Programme for Human Rights Education for Legal Professionals (HELP) convened its annual Network Conference in Strasbourg, under the auspices of the Monaco Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. Bringing together representatives of judicial training institutions (for judges, prosecutors and lawyers) and partners including the European Union, the European Judicial Training Network (EJTN), the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE), the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), the Conference served as a leading forum to exchange on human rights education for legal professionals across Europe and beyond.
The agenda can be consulted here. The event was also streamed online.
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The opening session was chaired by Lilja GRÉTARSDÓTTIR, Head of the Department for Human Rights and Justice Cooperation of the Council of Europe, who welcomed the participants and reaffirmed the growing importance of human rights education for judiciary. She emphasised the HELP Programme’s impact and relevance, mirrored in the participation of the HELP Network members and partners institutions joining the Conference in Strasbourg or following online.
The Conference was opened with a keynote address by Judge Mattias GUYOMAR, President of the European Court of Human Rights, who emphasised that, at a time of increasing attacks on the rules-based international legal order, democratic discourse required “a shared legal and ethical foundation” - the European Convention on Human Rights. He underlined that the Convention continues to serve as Europe's common frame of reference in today’s troubled world, safeguarding the European public order, promoting judicial truth, and ultimately contributing to the protection of peace through law. The Convention, interpreted by the Court, constitutes a “European common law of human rights”, shared by all those within the jurisdiction of the member states of the Council of Europe.
President GUYOMAR further highlighted the crucial role of the HELP Programme in strengthening the implementation of the Convention at national level. By developing courses on the Convention and the Court’s case-law, supporting national versions of HELP courses, enriching them with relevant domestic case-law and perspective, and disseminating reliable knowledge on human rights, the Programme equips judges, prosecutors, lawyers and other legal practitioners with the tools necessary to ensure the effective protection of human rights throughout Europe. Referring to the principle of shared responsibility, the HELP Network plays an indispensable role in spreading, explaining and embedding standards across member states, thereby strengthening the Convention's practical impact throughout Europe.
Speaking on behalf of the Monaco Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, Professor Yves STRICKLER, Professor of Private Law at Côte d'Azur University, member of the High Council of the Judiciary of Monaco and Scientific Director of the Monégasque Institute for Training in Judicial Professions, reaffirmed Monaco's commitment to the European system for the protection of human rights, founded on the European Convention on Human Rights and the European Court of Human Rights. He stressed that the effective execution of the Court's judgments and their integration into national legal systems remain fundamental to ensuring the Convention's practical impact. He commended the HELP Programme for its invaluable contribution to disseminating knowledge of the Convention and the Court's case-law among judges, prosecutors, lawyers and other legal professionals across member states.
Referring to the many challenges we are confronting today, including armed conflicts, disinformation, violence against women and violations of children's rights, Professor Strickler observed that these realities serve as a daily reminder that human rights can never be taken for granted. He particularly stressed the Council of Europe's support to Ukraine, and the HELP Programme's work with Ukrainian legal professionals, as a compelling example of how human rights education enhances resilience and the rule of law in times of crisis. He also noted that several HELP courses directly support the priorities of the Monaco Presidency, providing practical tools to reinforce the knowledge and skills of legal professionals throughout Europe.
In her welcoming address, Clare OVEY, Director of Human Rights of the Council of Europe, highlighted this year’s Conference theme “Conventions set the standards, training makes them work" encapsulating the very essence of the HELP Programme. She stressed that even the most beautifully drafted conventions or the most well-reasoned judgments can only achieve their purpose if they are effectively implemented at national level. This, she noted, requires legal professionals not only to understand the standards established by the Convention system, but also have the confidence to apply them in their daily work.
She also welcomed the Programme's continued expansion, reflected in the growing number of users and online courses, as well as the increasing number of national training institutions for judges, prosecutors and lawyers integrating HELP courses into their curricula, accrediting them for continuous training and embedding them into their own e-learning platforms. These developments, she underlined, demonstrate that HELP has evolved beyond a standalone training initiative to become an integral part of national legal training systems throughout Europe.
Ambassador Vesna KOS, Head of the European Union Delegation to the Council of Europe, reaffirmed the European Union's strong commitment to its longstanding partnership with the Council of Europe, outlining the HELP Programme as one of the most successful examples of this cooperation. The Ambassador stressed that the HELP’s work is fully aligned with the objectives of the EU Judicial Training Strategy 2025-2030, which places particular emphasis on training related to the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights. She mentioned the strategic importance of judicial training in the context of the European Union's enlargement process, reaffirming the EU's continued commitment to the HELP Programme as one of its principal instruments for strengthening judicial capacity.
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Ana-Maria TELBIS, Head of the HELP Programme at the Council of Europe presented the main achievements of the Programme. She underlined that strengthening the rule of law through judicial training is a long-term investment, with results not always immediately visible. "Training is about planting seeds," she noticed, explaining that every HELP course developed, national adaptation completed and institution integrating HELP into its curriculum contributes to building stronger, more resilient justice systems over time. She honoured the commitment of the HELP Network and, in particular, of the national training institutions that work every day to equip legal professionals with the knowledge and practical skills needed to apply European human rights standards effectively. She also stressed that the active engagement of national partners continues to keep the HELP platform dynamic, relevant and responsive to emerging challenges.
Ana-Maria has outlined the main data of the Programme: at the end of June, the HELP e-learning platform has surpassed 186,000 registered users, with the largest user communities coming from Ukraine, Türkiye, Italy, Spain, France, Portugal, Romania, Greece, Georgia and the United Kingdom. The HELP catalogue has further expanded to 66 online courses. The Programme’s impact is further documented in the HELP Annual Report 2025, which presents the year's key milestones, achievements and statistical developments.
The work implemented by HELP in different regions was presented by the HELP team: HELP in the EU (presented by Oana GIRLESCU, EU-CoE HELP in the EU IV Project Coordinator), HELP in the Western Balkans (presented by Jasminka PERUNICIC ALLEN, HELP in WB Project Coordinator), HELP in Eastern Partnership (presented by Krystyna KHOKHLOVA, HELP Programme Manager) and HELP in South Mediterranean (presented by Ana-Maria TELBIS, Head of HELP).
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As in previous editions of the HELP Network Conference, a dedicated session focused on the Council of Europe's continued support for Ukraine, reaffirming that Ukraine remains at the heart of both the Organisation's priorities and the HELP Programme.
Moderating the discussion, Lilja GRÉTARSDÓTTIR, Head of the Department for Human Rights and Justice Cooperation, welcomed the Ukrainian delegation and expressed appreciation for their participation despite the exceptionally difficult circumstances in which they continue to live and work. She underlined the Council of Europe's unwavering support for Ukraine and highlighted the Organisation's broader efforts to ensure accountability and justice, including through the Register of Damage for Ukraine and the establishment of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine.
The session had a Q&A format, where Galyna SMIRNOVA, HELP in Ukraine Senior Project Office outlined the main achievements of the Project, mentioning the remarkable growth of the Programme in Ukraine, as the first country in terms of the number of users registered on the platform. Krystyna KHOKHLOVA, HELP Programme Manager, presented the strategic direction and the Project’s priorities for the next phrase of its implementation.
Representatives of HELP’s main national partners, including Iryna CHECHOTKA (Prosecutors Training Centre of Ukraine), Oleksandr BARANOV (Coordination Centre for Legal Aid Provision at the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine), Savva KUZMENKO (Ukrainian National Bar Association) and Tamara ZAKREVSKA (National School of Judges of Ukraine) reflected on the Project's evolution and close partnership developed with the national institutions. Speakers agreed that HELP has become an integral component of legal training in Ukraine, strengthening legal professionals' capacity to apply European human rights standards even in the context of war.
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A session dedicated to the newly published and updated HELP courses outlined the latest topics, including:
- The new HELP course on Assessing conditions-of-detention complaints (presented by Ana-Maria TELBIS, Head of HELP);
- The new HELP courses on Access to Justice in the Digital Environment and Children’s Rights in the Digital Environment (presented by Oana GIRLESCU, EU-CoE HELP in the EU Project Coordinator);
- The new HELP course on Technology facilitated violence against women and girls (presented by Elena JOVANOVSKA-BREZOSKA, Head of the Cooperation Unit, Gender Equality Division);
- The new HELP courses on Soft skills for legal professionals: Change Management in Justice and Effective Legal Communication and Negotiation (presented by Eva MASSA, International legal trainer, HELP tutor);
- The newly updated HELP module on Safeguarding Children in Sports (presented by Elena CASERO, Programme manager, Sport Division);
- The recently updated HELP course on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights (presented by Ana TOKHADZE, Policy Advisor, Digital Development Unit
- The updated course on Data Protection and Privacy Rights (presented by Oana GIRLESCU, EU-CoE HELP in the EU Project Coordinator), and
- The updated course on Cybercrime (presented by Giorgi JOKHADZE, Cybercrime Division)
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The session “Digital training for a digital justice” explored how the HELP Programme continues to strengthen cooperation between the Council of Europe, the European Union and leading European training partners in response to the rapid digital transformation of justice systems.
Presenting the EU Judicial Training Strategy 2025-2030, Wojciech POSTULSKI (DG JUST, European Commission) emphasised that digitalisation is reshaping every aspect of justice and that this transformation extends far beyond the introduction of new technologies. He stressed that successful digital justice ultimately depends on people: judges, prosecutors, lawyers and other legal professionals who shall be equipped with knowledge, practical skills and critical awareness needed to operate confidently in an increasingly digital environment. In this context, he underlined that judicial training must itself evolve, becoming more practical, sustainable and digitally oriented, both in its content and in the methodologies through which learning is delivered. The HELP Programme is recognised as a key partner in supporting this transition by translating European legal standards into practical learning for legal professionals.
Representing the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), Alice HAMILTON highlighted the Agency's ongoing work on artificial intelligence and the digitalisation of justice, referencing the reports Digitalising Justice: A Fundamental Rights-Based Approach and Assessing High-Risk AI: Fundamental Rights Risks (2025). She emphasised that the deployment of digital technologies within justice systems must remain firmly anchored in fundamental rights, identifying four essential safeguards: embedding fundamental rights from design to deployment; assessing fundamental rights across digital tools; ensuring inclusive approach; and integrating a strong fundamental rights dimension into the training of legal professionals.
Ingrid DERVEAUX, Secretary General of the European Judicial Training Network (EJTN), highlighted the longstanding cooperation between the EJTN and the HELP Programme, describing it as a model of effective European cooperation in judicial training. Since the creation of the HELP Network, both have worked closely to develop a wide range of joint initiatives, including seminars, e-learning activities integrated in the AIAKOS exchange programme and the EJTN Digital Ambassadors Programme and the Judges@Europe Forum. She underlined that this collaboration not only enables the development of high-quality training resources in a cost-effective manner but also contributes to reaching an ever-growing community of justice professionals, with the EJTN alone training more than 13,000 participants in 2025. She highlighted the HELP-EJTN e-learning course on "Judges Upholding the Rule of Law", which addresses judicial accountability, ethics and the digital transformation of justice. She also noted that the close links between the HELP Programme and the EJTN continue to reinforce strategic cooperation and ensure that European judicial training remains coherent, complementary and responsive to emerging needs.
Representing the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE), Indra BULE, Senior Legal Adviser, noted that, as justice systems continue to evolve, digital competence has become an essential component of effective legal practice. Lawyers must not only be able to use digital tools confidently but also understand their ethical implications, confidentiality considerations, and the safeguarding of fundamental rights. Judicial training must extend beyond technical skills to address the ethical and legal challenges raised by emerging technologies. In this context, she highlighted the CCBE's ongoing work on policy guidance relating to the responsible use of AI by lawyers. She concluded by noting that these challenges can only be addressed through close cooperation and continuous dialogue between all actors in the justice sector, including lawyers, judges, prosecutors and judicial training institutions, making partnerships such as that between the CCBE and the HELP Programme more important than ever.
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The session on training on the ECHR system - Implementing the CM Recommendation 2019 (5): evaluation and the way forward confirmed that training remains one of the most effective tools for ensuring the practical implementation of the European Convention on Human Rights.
Nicola WENZEL, Vice-Chairperson of the Steering Committee for Human Rights (CDDH), recalled that the Recommendation provides an important framework for strengthening human rights education for both legal professionals and the university sector. She mentioned the work of the CDDH, tasked with the evaluation of the implementation of the Recommendation in the member states. She also praised the growing use of the Recommendation to support the accreditation and integration of HELP courses within national training systems.
Drawing on the Court's case-law, Ana MEDARSKA LAZOVA, Senior Lawyer at the Registry of the European Court of Human Rights, shared how judicial training has been recognised by the Court to constitute a concrete measure for the execution of its judgments, referring to cases such as Zorica Jovanović v. Serbia (and the subsequent decision in the case of Mik and Jovanović v. Serbia (dec.)) and Tunikova and Others v. Russia. She illustrated the importance of training initiatives in strengthening domestic remedies and enhancing the domestic courts’ capacities to apply in practice the Court's methodology when assessing specific complaints. In this connection, she highlighted the HELP course on Assessing conditions of detention complaints as a practical example of translating the Court's approach into accessible guidance for domestic judges.
Bojana NIKOLIN, Head of Unit at the Department for the Execution of Judgments of the European Court of Human Rights, has also underlined that HELP courses have become a recognised tool in the execution process, with states regularly referring to them in Action Plans and reports submitted to the Committee of Ministers. She illustrated this with several concrete examples, including the use of the HELP course on Human Rights in the Armed Forces as part of the execution of Muradyan v. Armenia, the Combating Hate Speech course in support of the execution of Fedorchenko and Lozenko v. Ukraine, and the Anti-discrimination course in the context of Memedova and Others v. North Macedonia. These examples show how HELP courses have become practical tools for supporting the implementation of individual and general measures required under the Convention system.
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The second day of the Conference began with workshops. Building on the Conference's main message that Conventions set the standards, training makes them work, participants engaged in three parallel workshops focusing on:
- the European Convention on Human Rights and the European Social Charter,
- the protection of victims under the Istanbul, Lanzarote and Anti-Trafficking Conventions, and
- the protection of rights in the digital environment, with particular attention to the AI Framework Convention, the Cybercrime Convention and Convention 108+.
Network members and partner institutions discussed practical challenges, shared good practices on implementation of the relevant Conventions in the member states. Key messages and practical insights will be reflected in video materials and shared with the wider HELP Network.
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The Conference also looked ahead to the Council of Europe's New Democratic Pact for Europe, presented as a collective response to the growing challenges posed by democratic backsliding, disinformation, impunity and authoritarianism. Cécile GREBOVAL, Policy advisor, New Democratic Pact for Europe Unit highlighted recent activities implemented under the Pact including the “No Hate Speech Week” initiative, in which universities that are members of HELP Network participated. These initiatives demonstrate how training and education play a vital role in fostering a culture of democracy and prepare future legal professionals to uphold key human rights principles.
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A dedicated session explored the role of universities as drivers of change in advancing human rights education. Krystyna KHOKHLOVA highlighted that having integrating Council of Europe standards into legal education from the outset helps embed human rights as a core element of academic curricula. She shared some key statistics on the work with universities and emphasised partnership between HELP and the Open Council of Europe Academic Networks (OCEAN). HELP provides high-quality educational content, learning and methodology, OCEAN offers a valuable network of universities and academia committed to conduct research and promotion of Council of Europe standards and conventions.
Eva MASSA presented the successful cooperation with CEU San Pablo University in Madrid, highlighting three tutored HELP courses that were implemented 2026, involving 106 students, with an 86% completion rate. Eva mentioned the cross-border cooperation within HELP in Universities network, namely the workshops organised in 2026 that brought together Spanish, Ukrainian and Irish law students to exchange experiences and work collaboratively on case studies.
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Ana-Maria TELBIS summarised strategic priorities for the future of the HELP Programme. She emphasised the need to intensify efforts by developing shorter, more targeted courses that respond directly to the evolving needs of legal professionals and the practical challenges faced by national training institutions. HELP will continue focusing on the continuous development and update of courses to reflect the latest case law, legislative developments and emerging themes, to ensure a holistic approach that also takes into account the interplay between the frameworks of the Council of Europe and the European Union. She stressed that effective judicial training is not only about knowing the standards but also about knowing the methodology for applying them in practice. She concluded by underlining that close cooperation between HELP and its network will remain key to meet the needs of legal professionals in Council of Europe member states.
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In the closing remarks, Clare OVEY thanked participants and partners for their active engagement throughout the Conference, recapping that while Council of Europe conventions set standards, effective training is what enables their implementation in practice. She welcomed the encouraging results and reach of the HELP Programme, describing it as a practical expression of the principle of subsidiarity. She concluded by expressing her sincere appreciation to the HELP team for their dedication and impressive work in making the Programme a success.
