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Senior prison police officers strengthen capacity to prevent ill-treatment in North Macedonia

Twenty-two senior prison police officers from all 12 penitentiary facilities have strengthened their capacity to prevent ill-treatment, and ensure proper reporting of incidents, contributing to greater accountability and protection of human rights in prisons.

The two-day capacity building session, held on 13-14 July 2026 in Skopje, focused on the prevention of ill-treatment, reporting procedures and the practical application of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which prohibits torture and inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. It builds on similar sessions previously delivered to senior police officers, prosecutors and judges.

Participants discussed domestic legislative framework, relevant Council of Europe standards, and the responsibilities of senior prison police officers in preventing ill-treatment. The workshop also addressed relevant cases that have been communicated from the Court to the state authorities. Specific challenges faced by the practitioners were discussed with the Head of the Specialised Unit for Investigating and Prosecuting Criminal Offences Committed by Persons with Police Authority and Members of the Prison Police (External Oversight Mechanism within the Public Prosecutor’s Office). Moreover, the event was attended by the Acting Head of the Directorate for the Execution of Sanctions.

This session is part of the mandatory training for prison police officers, as foreseen in the annual programme for continuous training; it focused on the use of force and means of coercion, the procedures for handling violent incidents, and reporting them to the public prosecutor.

This activity was conducted under the joint European Union and Council of Europe programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye”, and its action “Strengthening the capacities of the penitentiary system in North Macedonia”. 

Skopje, North Macedonia 13-14 July 2026
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Roma Integration – Phase III is a Joint Project of the European Union and the Council of Europe. It aims to strengthen the capacity of governments in the Western Balkans and Türkiye to effectively address the multifaceted challenges faced by the Roma community through the implementation of comprehensive public policies. These policies encompass critical areas such as housing, employment, civil registration, as well as the green and digital transition.

The project will also assist the progressive implementation in the Western Balkans beneficiaries of the “EU Roma Strategic Framework for Equality, Inclusion and Participation 2020 - 2030”; the 2019 Declaration of Western Balkans partners on Roma integration within the EU enlargement process (Poznan Declaration) and subsequent commitments made by the governments at the annual ministerial meetings and endorsed within the Berlin Process Summits; and progress on fulfilment of Roma inclusion commitments taken under the negotiations Chapter 23. The project will also ensure that the necessary capacity is built at central level for the proper implementation, budgeting, monitoring, and reporting, the reinforcement of the co-operation with local authorities and the progressive alignment with all elements of the EU Roma inclusion policy.

The project will primarily focus on three areas of support:

  1. Mainstreaming of Roma issues in relevant public policies and the fight against antigypsyism;
  2. Support to Roma socio-economic integration and Roma equality in the areas of housing, education, employment, health, civil registration, and in the green and digital transition;
  3. The reinforcement of the institutional capacities of the governments to tackle challenges faced by Roma.

The specific outcomes aimed to be achieved through this project are as follows:

(1) Mainstreaming of Roma issues in relevant public policies and the fight against antigypsyism:

  • Antigypsyism is recognised and addressed through legislation, communication tools and institutions.
  • Institutional capacities of public servants are built on encountering antigypsyism.

(2) Socio-economic inclusion:

  • Employment of Roma is encouraged both in public and private sector including by piloted promising practices and through concrete measures to promote the formalisation of employment.
  • Legalization of informal settlements progresses in the Western Balkans and Türkiye is encouraged to be included among the priorities of the central-level governments in close collaboration with the civil society.
  • Civil registration is resolved for Roma in need through partnership with the governments, relevant local authorities, and civil society organisations.
  • Actions are mainstreamed into the Green Agenda Action Plan for the Western Balkans and the digital transformation agenda.

(3) Institutional capacities:

  • Policies and institutional arrangements dealing with Roma issues exist in the region.
  • Relevant monitoring, including in the national statistical offices, and reporting mechanisms are developed and properly functioning.
  • Budget for Roma planning and reporting is improved in the Western Balkans and Türkiye.
  • Regular regional co-operation ensured, and policies mainstreamed in socio-economic spheres, including regional high-priority issues and actions addressing the specific challenges of Roma.

The project will be implemented in seven Beneficiaries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Türkiye and Kosovo[1], with the duration of 3 years (1 May 2023- 30 April 2026) and is co-financed by the European Union and Council of Europe and implemented by the Roma and Travellers Team, Council of Europe.

This initiative represents a continuation of the preceding two phases implemented by the Regional Cooperation Council, co-funded by the European Union and Open Society Foundations. The aim of the Phase III of the project is to further advance the integration and empowerment of the Roma community by addressing critical issues they face.

The project is based on the Council of Europe's Human Rights Approach principles, focusing on participation and inclusion, equality and non-discrimination, accountability, transparency, and access to information.

 

[1]This designation is without prejudice to positions on status and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence.

Contacts of the project team based in Strasbourg:

 Marina VASIC, Programme Supervisor

 Cristina MARIAN, Senior Project Officer

 Fanny Hoertz, Project Assistant

Contacts of the Project Officer for North Macedonia and for Montenegro:

 Mersiha USEIN, based in the Council of Europe Programme Office in Skopje

Contacts of the Project Officer for Serbia and for Bosnia and Herzegovina:

 Dragana JOVANOVIC ARIJAS,  based in the Council of Europe Office in Belgrade

Contacts of the Project Officer for Albania and for Kosovo [1]:

 Xhesika KORRA, based in the Council of Europe Office in Tirana

  Irena Ordev, Roma Integration Project Assistant, based in the Council of Europe Programme Office in Skopje