Law students from Albania and North Macedonia - winners of the Halimi Foundation Institute Regional Moot Court Competition - accompanied by their mentors, visited the Council of Europe and the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, to learn more about the work and scope of European institutions at the heart of human rights protection.

The two-day visit offered students a unique opportunity to deepen their understanding of the Council of Europe’s standards and work in the field of human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. At the European Court of Human Rights, the students met with Court lawyers gaining first-hand into its European Court key procedures, mandate and case-law. They had the opportunity to attend a dedicated session on the execution of judgments, enhancing their knowledge of how the effective implementation of Court decisions by member States contributes to the protection of human rights across Europe.

During their visit, students learned about different aspects of the Council of Europe’s work, by attending sessions on the Human Rights Education for Legal Professionals Programme, the National Preventive Mechanisms and the Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT). They also were introduced to the role of the Commissioner for Human Rights and the main initiatives of the Youth Department.

Reflecting on the visit, the students said it was a highly impactful experience as they prepare to start their legal careers. Their mentors emphasised the importance of first-hand engagement with European institutions, noting how such experience helps to educate and inspire the next generation of legal professionals.

The visit was organised by the Council of Europe project, Strengthening the capacities of the Albanian judiciary to better apply standards on the right to liberty and security, funded by the Human Rights Trust Fund (HRTF), which brings together eight Council of Europe member states: Finland, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, United Kingdom.