Europarådet regionalt ÖstP 2023-2027

COUNCIL OF EUROPE ACTION PLAN FOR ARMENIA 2023-2026 The Action Plan showed results in the following areas: Criminal policy and regulatory framework in line with the new Armenian Criminal Code and Code of Criminal Procedure as well as European Standards Armenia continued its ongoing criminal justice reform by further aligning the criminal policy and regulatory frameworks with European standards and its new Criminal Code (CC) and Code of Criminal Procedure (CCP), which entered into force in July 2022, after a long-standing process of close co-operation with the Council of Europe. The adoption and effective implementation of the new CC and CCP are important cornerstones towards better execution of the Europe Court of Human Rights (European Court) judgments against Armenia, which are related to torture/ill-treatment, pre-trial detention, and excessive length of proceedings. The national authorities were assisted by the Council of Europe with recommendations concerning draft amendments to the CC and the CCP, as well as to the Penitentiary Code, to shift from a punitive to a rehabilitative approach, notably by expanding the list of non-custodial sentences, improving procedures for enforcing existing sanctions such as community service and fines, and defining clearer provisions concerning criminal liability and punishment for minors. In line with the Government Programme of Activities for 2021-2026, the Police Reform Strategy, and the National Strategy for Human Rights Protection, the Council of Europe assisted the national authorities with legislative support and capacity building to prepare the concept paper and the new draft law on police guard, as well as to introduce relevant amendments in several associated legal acts. Legislative and policy frameworks for combating corruption through independent and efficient anti-corruption bodies are in place and related institutions are operational. Armenia continued in its efforts to fight corruption, notably by aligning its legislative, policy and institutional frameworks with Council of Europe and other international standards, as well as implementing various experts recommendations. At the policy and institutional capacity-development levels, the Corruption Prevention Commission (CPC) of Armenia improved its capacities in the areas of integrity checking of judicial nominees and verification of asset, income, interest and expenditure declarations. The CPC also made progress in the procedure of adoption of the Interpretative Manual on the Model Code of Conduct for Public Servants. This achievement contributed to the practical implementation of the Armenian Public Service Law, not only encouraging the systemic adoption of codes of conduct for public officials, but also providing guidance and confidential counselling on ethics and integrity aspects. In order to promote the systematic application of the rules of conduct among public servants, a group of integrity officers appointed within public authorities became national trainers in order to promote ethical practices at all levels of national public service. To back this effort, the Council of Europe organised several editions of Training of Trainers programmes, which were followed by three capacity development sessions delivered by the group of national trainers to their peers form public agencies. The Central Election Commission and the Ministry of Justice revised the legislation on political finance and its supervision tools, with the support of the Council of Europes expert advice and guidance in the form of technical papers, thus strengthening the transparency and accountability of political finance. A thorough review of existing mechanisms for public funding of political parties was conducted, while consultations to discuss this topic were held among representatives of relevant national authorities, including the Central Electoral Commission, the Ministry of Justice, political parties and civil society representatives. The Council of Europe presented concrete suggestions for improving the current mechanisms for public funding of political parties, with an emphasis on the current legislative initiatives in this field. The Ministry of Justice also launched an awareness-raising initiative on whistleblower protection with the assistance of the Council of Europe. Close co-operation with the Ministry of Justice has helped ensure the implementation of several actions aimed at improving the overall legislative framework and institutional capacities on protecting whistleblowing in Armenia. The Human Rights Defender Offices capacity to effectively handle the cases of discrimination and hate speech is enhanced In 2023 the staff of the Human Rights Defender Office (HRDO) improved their understanding and strengthened their capacities to effectively address and handle cases of discrimination and hate speech in line with the European standards, which the Council of Europe supported through training on European anti-discrimination standards and case-law of the European Court. Two representatives of the HRDO also participated in the regional conference on Equality bodies held in June in Vlorë, Albania, enhancing their capacities in addressing individual cases of discrimination and hate speech. However, even though the HRD institution remains widely trusted and respected, it does not have a full equality mandate and has hardly received any complaints about discrimination in areas of relevance to the European Commission against Racism and Intolerances (ECRI), mainly due to the absence of comprehensive anti-discrimination legal provisions. In order to strengthen the HRDOs anti-discrimination mandate in respect of minorities, the Public Council on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Persons belonging to National Minorities was inaugurated, thanks to the support by the Council of Europe, in November 2023, serving as a valuable platform to foster and facilitate co-operation between national minorities and the Armenian State authorities, particularly in the areas of preserving national identity and promoting minorities rights. The Minister of Justice also requested the Council of Europes expertise in providing an expert opinion on the draft law on National minorities. The ECRI 2022 country report, along with a 2019 Council of Europes baseline study that assessed the situation in the field of anti-discrimination, hate speech and hate crimes, were used as a basis to plan further activities to strengthen the above achievements,. Donor co-ordination In 2023, the Council of Europe held regular coordination meetings with the EU Delegation in Armenia as the Action Plan is implemented in the context of the European Union - Armenia Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA). Regular contacts are maintained with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the United Nations International Childrens Fund (UNICEF) and other international organisations present in Armenia. Gender mainstreaming, civil society participation, inclusiveness and environment A balanced participation of women and men was systematically promoted in activities, mainstreaming the concerns, experiences and needs of both women and men throughout all stages of implementation. For example, women constituted around 43% of the participants of the 1st Community Consultation Initiative meeting, while women made up 41% of 180 municipal staff members who strengthened their ability to deliver high quality local public services. In order to address gender discrimination in the armed forces, the capacity of key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Defence staff and acting military officers, was strengthened through seminars and roundtable discussions. As a result, the new legislative amendment on the six-month voluntary-mandatory service for women, which significantly took into account the relevant Council of Europe recommendations, was adopted in 2023, demonstrating a tangible policy change brought by the Council of Europes work with the authorities. The significance of womens mental health in the context of incarceration were put forth and supported by holding an awareness-raising session for both staff and inmates at the Abovyan female and juvenile penitentiary institution. In addition, a victim-centred approach in addressing cases of domestic violence was promoted through the HELP course Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence for Law Enforcement, as well as a specific course for tutors, deepening the knowledge of legal and law enforcement professionals. Based on the feedback of the participants an immediate result has been the application of gender-sensitive knowledge and approaches by the target groups into their daily practice. To ensure broad engagement of local actors, professionals have been integrated in the activities, with consultations of the private sector notably in the fight against economic crimes. The representatives of non-profit organisations (NPOs)[8] participated in project activities and increased their awareness on compliance with AML/CFT legislation. The CSOs were engaged within the consultations, conducted by the Council of Europes experts, on the concept paper developed by the Ministry of Justice, with an aim to enhance the efficiency of the Ethics and Disciplinary Commission of the General Assembly of Judges. To foster representation of vulnerable groups,[9] more than 20 participants, representing national minorities residing in Armenia, attended the inaugural meeting of the Public Council on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Persons belonging to National Minorities established under the HRDO. In terms of environmental considerations, the project teams limited the printing of publications, favouring online versions and e-courses. Only eco-friendly and reusable materials (recycled notebooks, bamboo-covered products, paper pens) were accepted for printing. E-signature of contracts was applied as a regular practice, limiting paper attachments as much as possible. Whenever possible, travel-related environmental savings were also made by combining regional events with back-to-back team and unit meetings, with a preference for alternating online and in-person meetings. Even though the implementation of the Action Plan has not yet brought a major change in upholding the human rights principles related to the environment at the national level in Armenia, the aforementioned efforts led improved the working methods and practices of the project teams as part of the Council of Europes efforts to ensure greater environmental sustainability of its co-operation dimension. Risks and mitigation measures A number of major events have had a potentially significant impact on the ability to achieve the objectives of the action plan for national and regional projects. Referring to external risks, the effects the Russian Federations war of aggression against Ukraine impacted Armenia severely, with multiple knock-on effects propelling the region towards further risk of instability and insecurity. Armenia also had to cope with regional tensions with Azerbaijan and the massive influx of refugees from the Karabakh region. These events required prompt revision and adjustment of the project budgets and work plans, resulting in human resources issues and higher implementation costs. The Council of Europe adapted the format of regional activities and working methods. Rapid mitigation measures were taken in agreement with the national authorities, resulting in a refugee response package, consisting of adaptations to some projects and the launch of additional projects to support Armenias efforts to respond to urgent needs and challenges. The flexibility of the Action Plan made it possible to adapt work plans and working methods to this crisis to ensure continuity and manage the higher implementation costs. Referring to internal risks, some projects (e.g. the project on Strengthening the Probation Service in Armenia) faced challenges during the inception phase. When tendering for national consultancy service (to establish the internal pools of experts), a limited number of national consultants with the required profiles risked delaying the technical cooperation with partners. The teams looked beyond the national context and included relevant international consultants in their processes. In exceptional situations where neither national nor international consultants matched the specific profiles, the teams utilised the direct award procedure. This approach ensured that the Council of Europe maintained the quality and expertise needed. Funding As of 31 December 2023, the Council of Europe Action Plan for Armenia 2023-2026 had a revised budget of €22.3 million. The secured funding was €12.5 million. COUNCIL OF EUROPE ACTION PLAN FOR GEORGIA 2020-2023 The Council of Europe Action Plan for Georgia 2020-2023 was adopted by the Committee of Ministers in November 2019. The aim of the Action Plan has been to assist the country in fulfilling its obligations as a Council of Europe member State by bringing legislation, institutions and practice further into line with Council of Europe standards. The European Commissions Opinion on Georgias EU membership application by Georgia from June 2022 provided new opportunities to intensify work in key areas outlined in the European Commission's 12 priorities. The European Commission identified three priorities as having been met: gender equality and fighting violence against women, the adoption of legislation that ensures Georgian courts proactively take into account European Court of Human Rights (European Court) judgments in their deliberations and institutional independence of the ombudsperson. The Council of Europe supported Georgia in fulfilling these priorities. Georgia obtained candidate status for EU membership in December 2023. With the new Action Plan 2024-2027, the Council of Europe will continue to provide support to Georgia. The Action Plan showed results in the following areas: Enhancing the effectiveness of the European Convention on Human Rights system at national level The Action Plans expected outcomes of strengthening the Parliament and Public Defenders Office to supervise the implementation of the Convention, reinforcing legal professionals and students skills on human rights standards, and bolster the capacities of the General Prosecutors Office in exercising its functions of oversight regarding human rights have been measured and displayed good progress in 2023. Though its first results were depicted as insufficient,[14] the National Strategy for the Protection of Human Rights 2022-2030, adopted in March 2023 is an important development and commits the authorities to improving the legislation regulating human rights and creating suitable conditions for its implementation.[15] The National Execution Strategy and its corresponding Action Plan was adopted within a working group to enhance the implementation of judgments from the European Court, in co-ordination with a number of actors.[16] The practical skills of future legal professionals were enhanced. HELP courses have been implemented in Georgia and were rendered mandatory for every prospective lawyer before starting their career. The number of HELP users in 2023 increased by 52% compared to 2022. Students were also trained regarding human rights and the Convention through HELP, and the Tbilisi State University updated its law programmes adding a compulsory course on human rights, focusing on the Convention and a revision of courses, ensuring a robust incorporation of the principles of the Convention and the case law of the European Court into the curriculum. The Tbilisi State University, Ilia University, Alte University, Caucasus University, the Free University of Georgia, and the European University incorporated the HELP general course on the introduction to the Convention and the European Court, as well as the course on CPT standards, into their curricula. The capacities of the national training institutions (Georgian Bar Association, High School of Justice and the training centre of the General Prosecutors Office) were strengthened by setting up a national pool of trainers of 44 legal professionals. Gender equality, combating violence against women and domestic violence Gender equality, combating violence against women and domestic violence is one of the priorities that the European Commission identified for Georgia, and the priority was considered met.[17] Actions in this area reached the expected outcomes of the Action Plan. The expected outcome of the Action Plan on adherence to European standards and the Istanbul Convention in investigations and judicial proceedings in relation to cases of violence against women and domestic violence was achieved. The Georgian authorities and civil society have increased their use of applicable European instruments, especially the Istanbul Convention and other gender equality standards. The National Strategy for the Protection of Human Rights 2022-2030 commits the authorities to further align the national frameworks and practices with the provisions of the Istanbul Convention. Following the Convention and GREVIO recommendations, national authorities, academia, and NGOs launched actions in 2023 to ensure gender equality measures that played a role in amending the electoral code regarding parity. The Council of Europe contributed to the strengthening of the policy and institutional frameworks and capacities of key stakeholders dealing with cases of violence against women and domestic violence, with a strong emphasis on combating sexual violence. After issuing a manual and bringing knowledge by training key actors and doing prevention, data showed that sexual violence was more reported and that cases were better treated resulting in the punishment of the perpetrators. Multistakeholder dialogues among members of national authorities, civil society, and academia raised awareness of combating violence against women, domestic violence, and sexism through various events. Independence and efficiency of justice In 2023, the Venice Commission has raised concerns that national reforms of the High Council of Justice and of the selection of the Supreme Court judges did not sufficiently address the Council of Europe recommendations provided. The Co-rapporteurs of the Monitoring Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) also addressed the fact that key recommendations have not been applied by Georgian authorities. In order to increase the alignment of criminal procedure legislation and practice with Council of Europe standards, increase accountability and efficiency of the judicial system as well as reduce judicial delays and backlog, the Council of Europe assisted Georgia in reviewing the Criminal Procedure Code with stakeholders, implementing coaching for court modernisation, promoting restorative justice legislation with the National Agency of Crime Prevention, and enhancing mediation services. With the support of the Council of Europe, the Supreme Court increased its transparency by publishing annual statistics and implementing an employee satisfaction survey methodology. Court coaching programme was introduced for the first time, targeting four selected courts based on needs assessments. Legal aid services were improved in smaller municipalities[20], the Legal Aid Council adopted quality control tools, and a gender-responsive legal framework has been set. Collaboration with regional projects and educational initiatives (e.g. the Winter School of Justice and the Summer School of the Constitutional Court), reinforced legal institutions and the knowledge dissemination. Legal professionals enhanced their knowledge on womens access to justice by participating in regional initiatives such as the third cycle of the mentoring programme, which contributed to gender-responsive justice. Obstacles to womens access to justice were identified through a national study which also aimed to strengthen the capacity of national authorities to ensure that the judicial chain is more gender responsive. Donor co-ordination The Council of Europe has co-ordinated closely with the EU Delegation in Georgia, and also ensured co-ordination with other international partners, including UN agencies such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UN Population Fund and UN Women. Close co-operation with Sida enhanced the complementarity of projects implemented by the Council of Europe and other international organisations in Georgia. A good example is the collaboration between the project Promoting an integrated approach to end violence against women and reinforcing gender equality in Georgia and the UN Joint Program for Gender Equality led by three UN agencies and supported by Sida. A concrete effect of close co-operation in this field, is the contribution to the prevention and fight against gender-based violence in a unified and co-ordinated way. Sida also helped the Council of Europe to promote its standards, for example, during a working meeting on investigation and prosecution of hate crimes with the representatives from Ministry of Interior Affairs in May 2023, the representative from Sida emphasised Swedens unwavering support to improve the protection and state response to hate crimes in Georgia, particularly those against LGBTQI persons and Sidas support to the steps taken by the assistance of the Council of Europe, contributing to a deeper understanding and commitment to these standards .The participation of both Sida representative and the Deputy Head of Mission at the Norwegian Embassy in Georgia and Armenia in this working meeting contributed to the awareness of the importance of the issue of hate crimes. Furthermore, the new Action Plan covering the period 2024 to 2027 was discussed with all member States including Sweden in the Rapporteur Group on Democracy (GR-DEM) of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe (CM) and adopted by the CM on 18 October 2023. Gender mainstreaming, civil society participation, inclusiveness The Council of Europe achieved the expected outcome of the Action Plan promoting gender equality and womens political participation through the study identifying barriers to womens political participation in Georgia and a series of workshops on womens political empowerment held for women political leaders from different political groups, working at all levels of the government, including municipalities. The workshops promoted womens active participation in decision-making by equipping them with practical skills, including the Council of Europe's legal and policy instruments and supported the establishment of a network of women leaders. Through the support of the Council of Europe on local democracy, 12 municipalities adopted or reviewed gender equality action plans. 19 strategies for strengthening women empowerment and participation were implemented by local authorities and National Association of Local Authorities of Georgia (NALAG), and 11 municipalities collected gender-disaggregated data at council and city hall levels. The Council of Europes support to strengthening the policy and institutional framework and capacities of key stakeholders dealing with cases of violence against women and domestic violence, in particular sexual violence, contributed to an increase in reporting and prosecution of sexual violence. Particular attention was paid to the treatment of women juveniles and gender-related specifics in interviewing techniques during the training sessions designed for partner organisations, including the MIA investigators and case managers, SIS investigators and the NPM staff. Representatives from different State institutions, the PDO and CSOs strengthened their skills on human rights narratives which included many examples to promote gender equality, sexual orientation and gender identity inclusion and gender expression. In addition to gender mainstreaming, specific actions were taken in order to promote gender equality. The project Democracy Starts in Schools Engaging School Children in Decision Making Processes in Schools and Communities includes a specific criterion on considering equal women representation in school leadership during the selection process. Practical tools and cases in the guidelines focused on gender issues. The effectiveness of a gender-sensitive and equality-oriented approach was demonstrated during the national conference which showcased a selection of inspiring student projects. Overall, students designed 32 projects that were self-organised and gender-balanced with slight predominance of girls (around 60%/40% ratio of girls/boys involved in project design and implementation). One of the projects presented was specifically about fighting gender stereotypes. The Council of Europe aims to make the fight against climate change and environmental degradation an integral and more explicit part of its co-operation activities. For instance, through the support to local democracy, the Rustavi municipality established a deliberative form of civil participation and citizens deliberated on flood-plain forest area development. Ensuring a civil society-inclusive approach included the participation of CSOs in programmes, project activities and project steering committee meetings, or their inclusion as the main target group in some projects. For example, the Council of Europe involved CSOs who represent groups often targeted by hate speech (LGBTI people, women, participants from minority groups) in actions to combat hate speech. The capacity of CSOs was increased to provide the Parliament with an alternative comprehensive analysis of the state of protection of human rights in Georgia. CSO representatives were also involved in a working group exercise to take stock of the existing challenges with regard to parliamentary oversight. Support from the Council of Europe resulted in the establishment of the Georgian anti-SLAPP platform by seven media advocacy CSOs. Notable achievements included institutional and organisational capacity development of the media self-regulatory body, the Charter of Journalistic Ethics. The Council of Europe also supported voter education initiatives promoting the active engagement of citizens through micro-grants to domestic citizen organisations. The purpose of these micro-grants was to inform various segments of society such as persons with disabilities, internally displaced persons (IDPs) or young leaders from political groups about the latest changes to the legal framework and practices. Risks and mitigation measures According to the external final evaluation of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Georgia 2020-2023, the effectiveness of the Action Plan is impacted by both internal and external factors, in particular political stability and a willingness to reform. The Russian Federations war of aggression against Ukraine has led to a number of consequences for Georgia, including a growing feeling of insecurity. As a risk mitigation strategy, the Council of Europe has adapted to the changing priorities brought about by the war, in consultation with stakeholders, and supports Georgias EU accession process. In December 2023, Georgia was granted EU membership candidate status. This provides an opportunity to speed up the reform processes and potentially reinforce the impact of achievements of the Action Plan. However, should the progress of reforms stall, the results achieved would be undermined. The external final evaluation report also underlined that some interlocutors perceive uncertainty regarding the Government's commitment to the EU accession process at the time of evaluation (spring 2023). The Council of Europe continues to play an increasingly important role in assisting Georgia to achieve the reforms that are a precondition for the accession process. The Action Plan for Georgia 2024-2027 also reflects the recommendations set out in the European Commission's opinion on Georgias application for EU membership. The evaluation report also highlighted the polarisation of the political landscape, including increased tensions between political groups and between the State and civil society, towards the end of 2023. To mitigate these risks, the Council of Europe continued its constructive dialogue with stakeholders across various levels of government and the international community and adapted the activities to correspond to the changing context and needs. An internal challenge was the availability of funds which initially limited the duration and scope of projects. Risks have been mitigated through sequential funding, continued fundraising activities with donors, use of the Council of Europes ordinary budget and diligent strategic planning. The portfolio of projects has grown rapidly in recent years in Georgia and the Council of Europe administrative structure was not immediately adapted to reflect this. According to the external evaluation report, this had an impact on effectiveness, in particular with regard to maximising synergies between projects. The Council of Europe addressed this challenge by taking measures to maintain staff/activity ratios at acceptable levels, adapting the planning of human resources and better coordination mechanisms with headquarters. As of 31 December 2023, 46 staff members were working in the Council of Europe Office in Georgia. Funding As of 31 December 2023, the Council of Europe Action Plan for Georgia 2020-2023 had a revised budget of €24.6 million, representing 100 % of its total revised budget. COUNCIL OF EUROPE ACTION PLAN FOR THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA 2021-2024 The Republic of Moldova was granted the status of candidate for membership in June 2022 and the European Council decided to open accession negotiations in December 2023. The Action Plan has been adapted accordingly to provide support in relation to the country's application for EU membership. The Action Plan showed results in the following areas: Enhanced protection of women from violence and domestic violence In 2023, the Moldovan authorities demonstrated the significant commitment to combat violence against women and domestic violence (VAW/DV) and implement the Istanbul Convention. The National Programme for Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence for 2023-2027 was adopted in May 2023. It was developed with the expert support from the Council of Europe, and it provides a solid basis for a strategic approach to preventing and combating VAW/DV. The Council of Europe has also supported the strengthening of the institutional capacity of the newly established National Agency for Preventing and Combating Domestic Violence and is promoting international good practice through peer-to-peer exchange. A total of 67 000 people were reached on the issues related to the implementation of the Istanbul Convention using different means (training courses, grants, media, awareness-raising initiatives, etc.). Following a human rights-based and victim-centred approach, the capacities of a total of 455 first-line professionals working on VAW/DV cases were increased (police officers, judges, prosecutors, media professionals, probation police, educational psychologists, civil society professionals, social workers). The Feminicide Commission has developed a comprehensive data collection form to improve the process of collecting information on cases of death and serious injury resulting from domestic violence. This contributed to better data accuracy and analysis. These measures were taken following a peer exchange visit to Georgia organised by the Council of Europe. Also of great importance were the steps taken by the authorities to strengthen multi-agency cooperation mechanisms in cases of domestic violence to ensure productive cooperation between all relevant stakeholders. The recommendations of the GREVIO report on the need to increase funding for civil society organisations and to improve the criminal justice response to all forms of violence against women led to the establishment of a working group on aligning the legal framework with the Istanbul Convention. The proposed amendments will be included in Law No. 45 on Combating VAW/Domestic Violence. Enhanced human rights protection of refugees and migrants in line with European and international standards As a result of Russias war of aggression against Ukraine, a large number of refugees arrived in the Republic of Moldova from Ukraine. This situation created urgent needs in the country and the response of the Moldovan authorities remains commendable. In close consultation with the national authorities, the Council of Europe adapted both the content and the implementation modalities of the Action Plan to meet these needs. In 2023, extensive support has been provided by the Council of Europe for the development of sustainable and resilient migration, asylum and reception systems, drawing on the Council of Europe's legal expertise and the relevant case-law of the European Court. A study on international protection from violence against women for migrant, refugee and asylum-seeking women and girls was carried out in 2023. Its recommendations will be discussed with the governmental working group on amendments to the laws on violence against women and domestic violence. The Council of Europe enhanced the capacity of human rights institutions, notably the Peoples Advocate, to deal with refugee cases, monitor detention and reception centres and for the first time to implement the relevant human right standards on statelessness. Practical training for teachers and psychologists at the local level contributed to strengthening the protection of children and other vulnerable persons (refugees and migrants). Assistance and expertise have also been provided to the Ministry of Education and Research to support migrant and refugee children who have experienced traumatic events, as well as to prevent burnout among teaching staff and professionals in schools and educational institutions. This has required frequent adaptation and communication between the Council of Europe and the national authorities. Enhanced co-ordination mechanisms to improve the national response to childrens sexual exploitation and abuse The Council of Europe supported the protection of childrens rights to prevent all forms of violence and sexual exploitation. The Council of Europe raised awareness and increased the capacity of the private sector, in particular internet providers and hosting companies, to formulate internal policies and increase accountability in the fight against online child sexual abuse and exploitation. The knowledge and skills of criminal justice professionals to effectively investigate, prosecute and sentence perpetrators of crimes against children, including in the digital environment have been improved through the implementation of the Council of Europes training module on online child sexual exploitation and abuse investigation. The module was adapted to the countrys national context and delivered together with the National Institute of Justice (NIJ). 18 pre-school teachers, managers and education specialists from pre-school educational institutions increased their skills as trainers in the Council of Europe Kiko and the Hand programme during training of trainers sessions. 234 social assistants and child protection specialists from 37 districts strengthened their knowledge and role as part of a multidisciplinary team. Donor co-ordination The Council of Europe co-ordinates closely with the European Union Delegation in the Republic of Moldova, with the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). Co-operation is ongoing with the UN Population Fund, UN Women, the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Resident Representative of the International Monetary Fund and international NGOs, such as Transparency International and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems. The Office of the Council of Europe in the Republic of Moldova: -held briefings for Council of Europe member and observer States, including Sweden, on the implementation of the Council of Europe Action Plan for the Republic of Moldova 2021-2024 providing updated information about progress achieved so far, the challenges faced and future support in the priority areas of co-operation, focusing on potential links and synergies; -held regular exchanges with representatives of the Crisis Management Initiative Martti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation working on issues related to the Gagauz Administrative and Territorial Unit and the Transnistrian settlement process funded by the Swedish Embassy, which helped to identify priority lines for support to co-operation between communities on both banks of the Nistru River, as part of the new Council of Europe Action Plan for the Republic of Moldova; -intensified co-ordination between the Council of Europe project on Strengthening the prison and probation reforms and Swedish Prison and Probation Service (funded by Sida), which led to targeted support to the respective national authorities, in a co-ordinated action. -contributed to building broad and active donor engagement in the country by attending various events jointly organised by donors and national authorities on the protection of labour and social rights, judicial reform, the fight against economic crime, the continuation of prison reform and law enforcement reform, and by contributing to the exchange of information, the development of advice and advocacy to the Government and practical procedures for mapping and monitoring resources against emerging needs. Gender mainstreaming, civil society participation, inclusiveness Gender mainstreaming was integrated in the projects of the Action Plan, following the Council of Europe Gender Equality Strategy. Project teams rely on the expertise of the regional gender mainstreaming advisor, who was stationed in the Council of Europe Office in Chiinu. The main gender-specific evolutions to report are a better integration of a gender equality approach in the criminal justice system, the collection of gender-sensitive data while conducting activities on migration and asylum, a revision of the Code of Conduct for electoral actors for combating hate speech and sexism during the electoral campaign for general local elections in November 2023, a mainstreaming gender-sensitive approach in the project prison and police for better treatments towards vulnerable groups of detainees, and the promotion of gender equality in freedom of expression activities, as well as countering sexist speech. Actions have contributed to an increased awareness among beneficiaries and to strengthening the capacities of national partners. In 2023, the CSOs actively contributed to the Action Plan activities on combating discrimination, hate speech and hate crimes, protecting the childrens rights and combating violence against women. The CSOs expertise was integrated into the projects on migrants, on prisons and probations. A grant has been awarded to the CSO CN Viaa fr Violen to raise awareness and enhance capacities to tackle violence against women and domestic violence and apply the Istanbul Convention provisions.. Risks and mitigation measures The Russian Federations war of aggression against Ukraine was the main external risk. The huge influx of refugees into the Republic of Moldova had an impact on the capacity of national authorities to engage in the implementation of the Action Plan. The national authorities were challenged and sometimes overwhelmed with the refugee crisis management, in particular at local level. In some sectors, this led to the postponement or delay of reform processes already underway. To mitigate this risk, the Council of Europe continuously co-ordinated with partners in the country and closely monitored the situation. New areas of co-operation were launched, such as the protection of the rights of refugees and the war-affected population, including women and children. New components were added to the ongoing projects to support national and local authorities in managing migration and enhancing their resilience to crises. A significant external risk was the tendency of national authorities to promote critical legislation in a short period of time (due to the context), sometimes cutting short the necessary time allocated for public discussion and debate. Nevertheless, the Council of Europe has considerable experience in dealing with problems arising from such circumstances and has a well-established presence in the Republic of Moldova, based on strong partnerships with the government, international partners, and civil society. In 2023, a need arose to enhance co-ordination efforts with an increased number of international actors present in the country and making interventions in the same and/or closely related areas of co-operation under the Action Plan. This situation created opportunities for joint initiatives with UN agencies, international CSOs, i.e. IFES, and EU-funded projects in the Republic of Moldova. Special attention was paid to shifting part of the activities to the local level in order to increase outreach to local authorities, but also to involve and support local CSOs. Another external factor that had a negative impact on project implementation was the lack of human resources in the public sector. Salaries in the public sector are not competitive with the private sector. In addition, some institutions, such as prisons, have a very poor public image. Factors at play include a general brain drain from the country, a low level of remuneration, competition from other international organisations with larger budgets and inflation. The above led to an internal challenge for the Council of Europe. The Office in Chiinu faced a shortage and high turnover of staff, and implementation capacity for some reform-oriented projects has been limited. The Council of Europe has taken some measures to be an attractive employer, e.g. adjusted the salaries for the staff. However, this remains an issue that requires further attention. Funding As of 31 December 2023, the Council of Europe Action Plan for the Republic of Moldova 2021-2024 had a revised budget of €24.5 million. The secured funding was €22.9 million. COUNCIL OF EUROPE ACTION PLAN FOR UKRAINE RESILIENCE, RECOVERY AND RECONSTRUCTION 2023-2026 The Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine Resilience, Recovery and Reconstruction 2023-2026 (the Action Plan), was adopted by the Committee of Ministers in December 2022 and is part of the Organisations contribution to the reconstruction and recovery of the country in the face of brutal aggression by the Russian Federation and immense destruction. In addition to continued support for the country's efforts to meet its obligations as a Council of Europe member State, this Action Plan supports Ukraine's reform agenda with a European perspective, following the European Council's decision on 23 June 2022 to grant Ukraine EU candidate status. The EU opened accession negotiations on 14 December 2023. In line with the priorities set out in the Reykjavík 2023 Declaration, the Council of Europe supported the Ukrainian partners in ensuring effective investigation of war crimes and serious human rights violations related to the war, and in strengthening the system for the protection of the rights of children, displaced persons, returnees, veterans, victims of war, other vulnerable groups and war-affected populations. In accordance with the "Riga Principles", the Council of Europe provides its assistance to Ukrainian criminal justice stakeholders with a focus on the protection of human rights in criminal proceedings and a victim-centred approach on the path to justice and accountability for Ukraine, including through the focused and efficient functioning of the Register of Damage Caused by the Russian Federation's War of Aggression against Ukraine. 2023 was also marked by the accession of Ukraine, at no cost, to the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB). The CEB, which accompanies the implementation of the Action Plan, has provided loans and granted €100 million to support Ukraine's health needs. The Action Plan showed results in the following areas: Strengthened good governance, promoted civic participation and enhanced the resilience of democratic processes in times of war Thanks to the expert and methodological support of the Council of Europe, 18 selected municipalities prepared and/or started the implementation of their local development strategies, eight municipalities advanced the implementation of school participatory budgeting (SPB). More than 6000 students from 67 schools voted and submitted their projects for SPB. The Council of Europe started the process of implementing Citizens' Assemblies in two pilot municipalities - Zvyagel and Slavutych. With the support of a grant from the Council of Europe, the capacities of 35 regional and local CSOs were increased in various aspects of organisational and strategic development, civic participation mechanisms and methodologies, advocacy, monitoring and evaluation of decision-making processes and civic oversight of public authorities activities. This has led to active participation in the formulation of local and regional development strategies, in the recovery process of their communities and regions, and in monitoring the activities of public authorities. The Council of Europe was a leading strategic policy advisor on multi-level governance reforms in Ukraine, for instance on local public services. The law on local public services, adopted in May 2023, incorporates many of the recommendations made by the Council of Europe. The new law aims to improve the quality of governance and integrate the principles of the European Charter of Local Self-Government, primarily by improving the quality of recruitment based on merit and competence, creating conditions for professional development, as well as reformed remuneration and career prospects. The law represents an important step towards harmonising the status of civil service in local authorities with that that of corresponding positions in central government. Co-operation with the Association of Ukrainian Cities (AUC) was strengthened through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and a grant to the AUC to strengthen its prominent role in advocacy and lobbying, as well as its institutional capacity to assess the legislative processes under martial law and the transition to civilian administration, with a view to returning to full respect for the principles of the European Charter of Local Self-Government. The occupational standard for the profession of "youth specialist" (youth worker) by the National Qualifications Agency in Ukraine was approved in March 2023. This represents a major step forward in ensuring the participation of young people in democratic processes at national, regional and local levels (including youth councils), contributing to social cohesion and inclusion, civic participation and democratic citizenship. Strengthened support for the protection of childrens rights during the war A comprehensive assessment of the child-friendly justice system was carried out by the Council of Europe to assist the Ukrainian authorities in reviewing and improving the justice system, with a special focus on the procedural rights of the child in criminal, civil and administrative cases involving children, and the protection of their rights and best interests.[27] The recommendations of this assessment identified gaps in the legal framework and provided guidance to the Ministry of Justice on key issues for preparing the National Strategy for reforming the justice system and protecting the rights of the children 2024-2028. The Council of Europe provided expert assistance to the Ministry of Justice and the Interagency Co-ordination Council on Juvenile Justice for drafting amendments to the Code on Administrative Offences, the Criminal Code and the Criminal Procedure Code. This assistance also focused on preparing a new draft law on child-friendly justice, in line with European standards. In 2023, 740 law-enforcement officials, social workers, psychologists, lawyers and probation officers received the necessary tools for their work to reinforce childrens rights and protect children from violence and exploitation, particularly in times of war, as many children have been displaced and exposed to traumatic events. As a direct follow-up to the Reykjavík Summit, the Council of Europe Consultation Group on the Children of Ukraine (CGU) was established as a multilateral platform for operational co-operation. The first meeting of the CGU in December 2023 approved a draft Road Map as an evolving document and agreed to set up three Thematic Dialogue Groups on jurisdiction and applicable law, guardianship, and psychological support and trauma-informed care for children affected by and/or victims of war. These thematic groups will meet at regular intervals between CGU plenaries (CGU plenaries are held every three months) and a multilateral Strategy Group, composed of CGU Secretariat, a few strategic representatives from member States (including Ukraine), international organisations and civil society. Enhanced protection for freedom of expression and media freedom through harmonisation of legal and policy frameworks in line with European standards The capacities of the staff of the National Television and Radio Broadcasting Council (the media regulator) and the National Public Broadcasting Company (UA:PBC), known as Suspilne, have been enhanced to enable these institutions to fulfil their functions in times of war, following adoption of the new media legislation. As to the media regulator, the support focused on preparation and implementation of strategic action plans, sharing best practices and strengthening ethical and professional standards, applying tools for monitoring and response to information disorders, and capacity building to apply artificial intelligence (AI) tools for disinformation analysis. The management and staff members of Suspilne were equipped with an internal oversight policy and methodology to measure and analyse public perceptions. The new law "On Media", which entered into force in Ukraine on 31 March 2023, has been generally welcomed, although it has provoked debates among press freedom organisations and Ukrainian media. The law improves Ukrainian legislation with the introduction of co-regulatory mechanisms between the media regulator and the media, and greater transparency about media owners. However, concerns have been raised about the real independence of the media regulator. In the event of a breach of the law by the media, the media regulator can temporarily ban the operation of online mass media and require internet providers to block access to online publications without a court hearing, issue binding orders to media editors, regulate the operation of cable and online television operators and cancel the registration of print media. The 2023 Donbas Media Forum supported by the Council of Europe and other international organisations was attended by more than 683 representatives of the Ukrainian media community. It discussed the existing challenges in the field of journalism, with a specific emphasis on the safety and protection of journalists. According to the Council of Europes Platform to promote the protection of journalism and safety of journalists, the ongoing Russian Federations war of aggression against Ukraine continued to have significant effects on media freedom and the safety of journalists in Ukraine in 2023. Ukraine became one of the first European countries that to roll-out the Council of Europe Journalists Matter Campaign for the Safety of Journalists that was launched in October 2023 in Riga. The campaign promotes press freedom and the protection of journalists from violence, threats, and harassment while performing their duties. The Ministry of Culture and Information Policy, the Campaigns focal point in Ukraine, will establish a co-ordination committee for the Campaigns implementation in Ukraine, which will include a broad range of representatives of the state institutions, the media community, academia, and civil society. In 2023, the Council of Europe continued to strengthen national capacity to implement judgments of the European Court of Human Rights, in particular the measures required to implement the Gongadze v. Ukraine case, which concerns various issues related to the protection of the safety of journalists and other media professionals, in particular the need to strengthen domestic capacity for specialised investigations into allegations of crimes committed against journalists; the Sedletska v. Ukraine case, which concerns an interference with the journalists right to protection of her sources; and the Centre for Democracy and the Rule of Law v. Ukraine group of cases, which concerns the disproportionate refusal by the authorities to provide information requested by an NGO and journalists. Donor co-ordination The Council of Europe co-ordinates closely with the European Union Delegation in Ukraine and holds regular consultations with international partners, including but not limited to the European Union Advisory Mission (EUAM), the UN Population Fund, UN Women, the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the Transparency International and the International Monetary Funds resident representative offices. The Council of Europe also co-ordinates with embassies and development agencies to ensure efficiency and avoid overlap of activities. The Council of Europe Office in Kyiv continued its co-operation with the Swedish Embassy and Sida in Kyiv in 2023. This has helped to facilitate a regular and open dialogue with national partners on the protection of media freedom and safety of journalists in times of war through joint events and messages, to improve co-ordination with other international partners in supporting the relevant authorities to start implementing the newly adopted law On Media and to advocate for allocation of the state funding for the National Public Broadcasting Company. Joint efforts were made to remind the authorities of the need to strengthen local self-government and to pursue decentralisation reform in line with the European Charter of Local Self-Government. Gender mainstreaming, civil society participation, inclusiveness The context of Ukraine made the involvement of CSOs crucial as they are very active in helping victims of the war and displaced persons, notably children. In 2023 the regional gender mainstreaming adviser provided practical training to the local staff in Kyiv and strengthened their capacities in integrating the gender dimension into project activities and ensuring its monitoring; applying gender analysis tools to ongoing projects; and planning for gender-responsive results. The reginal gender mainstreaming adviser helped raise awareness among national partners (e.g. the Government Envoy on Gender Equality, the Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers, the Ministry of Social Policy) on relevant Council of Europe standards and recommendations for further mainstreaming gender in national strategies and policies. The Council of Europe has developed a training course on gender equality for the staff of the National Preventive Mechanism and integrated it into the curricula of the Ombudspersons Office and established a network of gender focal points of the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), the National Police (NPU) and the Security Service of Ukraine. The knowledge of the gender focal points has been increased on gender equality and prohibition of discrimination (covering a wide range of topics, such as concepts, signs and forms of discrimination, as well as the algorithm for consideration of respective complaints by the European Court of Human Rights, implementation of the Istanbul Convention in the context of European integration, application of gender mainstreaming and non-discriminatory approaches within the NPU professional environment and during discharge of functions by police officers). Pre- and post-training assessments confirmed a 48% increase in participants' knowledge. In addition, similar training was given to the SBIs investigators and operative staff which increased their knowledge and improved skills on prohibition of discrimination through the prism of the European Courts standards. A study was conducted by the Council of Europe on gender balanced participation and representation of women and men in public, political and electoral processes in post-war Ukraine. The conclusions and recommendations of this study will serve as a basis for the national authorities to develop relevant support measures. The VII Ukrainian Womens Congress, which has been supported by the Council of Europe and other international organisations, is now present as one of the main public platforms in Ukraine, uniting socially and politically active women and men who support the idea of gender equality. A number of gender-sensitive materials were developed and widely used throughout the projects, i.e. the Council of Europes report Social rights in Ukraine in times of war. Risks and mitigation measures In the case of Ukraine, the main external risk remains the ongoing war of aggression by the Russian Federation, which has created geopolitical and very serious security risks. The war has affected the work of national partners and stakeholders. In practical terms, it led to all ministries and government agencies in Ukraine undergoing constant readjustments and reviewing priorities and needs in their strategic and operational plans. This was compounded by high staff turnover in the ministries and a lack of sufficient resources. Air raid alerts, power shortages and unreliable internet access slowed done project implementation and added costs, requiring rapid budget revisions for ongoing projects. It was essential for the Council of Europe to adapt its interventions and working methods to the situation of national partners and introduce some mitigation measures. In the first year of implementation, the degree of predictability for the Action Plan activities was rather limited and the need to adapt the Council of Europe's activities to the evolving situation was very high. The Council of Europe had to provide rapid, demand-driven, practical and high-quality expertise to respond to numerous requests from national partners. Flexibility and adaptability were key in 2023. Despite the challenges and a volatile environment, the Ukrainian authorities, media and civil society have shown strong commitment, engagement and flexibility in contributing to the Council of Europe activities in Ukraine. The increased demand from Ukrainian partners for the Council of Europe's services and support in Ukraine was encouraging. This was partly due to the unique expertise that the Council of Europe continues to provide and its well-established credible position, but also to Ukraines European aspirations and our much-needed support in this process. The Council of Europe launched projects in the most demanding areas of support and expanded its Office in Kyiv. The physical presence of Council of Europe staff on the ground was highly appreciated by the Ukrainians. The regular involvement of civil society in the activities of the Action Plan was crucial for its efficient and successful implementation. Targeted technical support (IT equipment and tools) to partners brought concrete and immediate results, particularly in the context of conducting investigations into gross human rights violations. Communicating the results of joint work to national stakeholders through social media, bilateral meetings, joint events has been important and needs to be further strengthened to ensure the ownership and visibility of the results achieved. The security situation in the country was the main internal challenge. It has affected the way in which the Council of Europe and its field office in Kyiv has had to operate, with the necessary security measures and flexible teleworking arrangements. It also made the physical presence of local staff in different regions of Ukraine more difficult. The management and the staff in the field office did as much as possible to be active outside Kyiv. The constant stress of working in a country at war has an impact on the well-being of the staff and remains a serious challenge which the Council of Europe is striving to alleviate through various support measures for the colleagues in the field, such as flexible working hours, psychological support. Funding As of 31 December 2023, the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine 2023-2026 had an estimated budget of €50 million. The secured funding was €27.4 million. LESSONS LEARNED Flexibility is notably needed in allocating funds where they are the most needed. In the case of inflation, war (in Ukraine, with effects on the Republic of Moldova and Georgia), refugee crisis (in Armenia), the adaptation of the Action Plans depended on the possibilities of reallocating funding and the capacity to prioritise certain projects. Long-term funding is also a condition for successful projects. Sustainable and results-based assistance for comprehensive reform requires long-term funding and effective co-ordination mechanisms among national and international partners. In Ukraine, increasing requests for co-operation by partners have exceeded the originally defined project activities. Therefore, it is necessary to consider possible increases in project budgets. Insufficient funding has been observed in most projects, as the logistical and staff costs have increased due to inflation and related salary adjustments. The implementation of Action Plans in 2023 showed good practices to ensure results despite tensions at the regional level. Flexibility is key to ensure continuity in difficult contexts and to bring support to the stakeholders. Security evolutions and requirements in Ukraine called for rapid, needs-driven, practical and quality expertise of the Council of Europe. The implementation of the Action Plan in Georgia also required adaptation and the capacity to transform and launch new activities. In Armenia, ongoing actions need to be adapted quickly and as new projects were launched to address the needs stemming from the refugee crisis in Armenia. Online platforms, such as the Council of Europe Programme for Human Rights Education for Legal Professionals (HELP), have proven to be a very useful tool for reaching out to large groups of people. While short online meetings with small groups have environmental benefits, they are not always as effective as in-person sessions. In-person meetings should be prioritised, with a balanced approach to both formats. As in the case of Georgia, the national training institutions (High School of Justice, General Prosecutors Office, Georgian Bar Association) can create positive engagement and a broad outreach to participants. This effective and close co-operation with national partners was also integral in the rapid implementation of the large number of launches of HELP courses. Increased involvement of civil society organisations is one of the Council of Europes priorities. In Ukraine for example, consulting the CSOs and their involvement in activities was key to strengthen human rights protection of displaced persons, national minorities, other vulnerable groups, and the war-affected population, as well as to address violence against women and children. Given the large number of organisations involved, the focus was on the largest and most active. In Georgia, more awareness-raising is needed among civil society representatives and the public at large about the nature and value of technical co-operation work. In terms of communication, constant dialogue and platforms for co-operation are important instruments to provide good results. In Georgia, the PGG II evaluation report recommended further developing channels for regular exchanges between partners on the ground. These channels are key to success and could be embedded across the EU and Council of Europe joint programmes. Project staff should be provided with training on results-oriented monitoring and reporting, both in headquarters and in the field offices. In Armenia, the variety of stakeholders involved a permanent dialogue and regular feedback from project stakeholders and beneficiaries. It enables emerging needs to be identified and project activities to be adapted to ensure that the Action Plan delivers on expected outcomes. It was important to maintain open communication channels among the authorities and partners, especially on issues that involve multi-agency co-operation.

CoEs experts and influential standard-setting and monitoring bodies in Strasbourg will, by relying on co-operation via the External Offices in the respective country, accelerate the realisation of Human rights, Democracy and Rule of Law by the respective State for the benefit of the inhabitants, by using a wide range of technical means to influence a wide range of actors in the thematic fields of thematic Action Plans. The intervention departs from the respective Action Plans (APs) agreed upon between the respective States and the Council of Europe, during the agreement period. PLANNED IMPACT To accelerate, in Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries, the realisation of Human rights, Democracy and Rule of Law. Log-frame definition of Impact: Member States (duty-bearers) fulfil their obligations under Council of Europes standards. This leads to: persons (rights-holders) enjoy their rights. This leads to: Human rights, the Rule of Law and Democracy for all. The Action Plans are organized from 3 areas (democracy, rule of law and human rights); specified into 8-12 thematic sub-areas identified for the country (judiciary, minorities; IDPs, freedom of expression; corruption; law enforcement; et al); these are then translated into 3-4 Expected Outcomes per sub-area; and these are expected to be realized via numbers of included Planned Action. GENERAL PLANNED OUTCOMES 1: Performance of EaP countries institutions in terms of governance, quality of services and efficiency further consolidated in compliance with European standards. 2: Improved conditions and environment for the exercise of human rights by the rights-holders 3: The outcomes on which the Council of Europe will report (those of the Action Plans funded by the Framework Agreement). The specific outcomes are identified and defined per respective AP. KEY ACTORS The CoE External Offices (field offices) are focusing on the third pillar of the Council of Europe, often seen as a triangle: 1) the standard setting work, 2) the monitoring work (monitoring of States compliance of standards and judgements mainly in Strasbourg), and 3) technical co-operation/assistance (departing from the External Offices but relying on Strasbourg management and expertise) aiming at helping States to implement the standards. The External Offices mandate and resources are to a large extent but not entirely subordinated to the Strasbourg functions such as the thematic expert units, the country advisors, the Secretary General's office, and the Directorate for Programme Co-operation (DPC) which is responsible for the co-operation with Sida under the Framework Agreement. The External Offices' mandate to act means that they are: Representing the Secretary General vis-à-vis the national authorities of the host country; promoting and supporting the policies and activities of national authorities, as well as those of the Council of Europe bodies, related to membership of the Council of Europe; providing advice, support and overall in situ co-ordination with national authorities in planning, negotiation and timely implementation of targeted Council of Europe co-operation activities, including Joint Programmes with the European Union and other donors; facilitating the identification of needs for capacity-building, in co-operation with national authorities; conducting fundraising activities for specific projects; and conducting a proactive media policy, in order to raise the visibility of the Organisation, its values and activities among the general public; and co-ordinating activities in the country with other international organisations and institutions (EU, OSCE, UN), as well as other international and local partners active in the country. (Appendix to Resolution CM/Res(2010)5.) The technical means employed to enable the change, by the Council of Europe's experts and programme staff are the following: diplomacy, providing technical expertise, workshops, trainings and training development, conferences, seminars, round tables, working groups, publications, research, technical, assessment visits, study visits, needs assessments, peer to peer exchanges, campaign design and implementation, equipment (software/hardware), placement, (micro) grants and awareness-raising initiatives. Action Plans address a wide range of actors in the field. The projects, which are part of the Action Plan, cover many areas, including the judiciary, prison system, education and health care. The stakeholders include the State authorities of all levels of government, lawmakers and relevant professionals, in the field of the judiciary and law enforcement notably judges, prosecutors, law enforcement, the police, medical staff in prisons and probation services, social workers, psychologists, community police officers, teachers, school administrators; in the field of education children, parents, teachers, school administration; in the field of social affairs, e.g. drugs: healthcare workers, social workers, psychologists, healthcare, social workers, psychologists, community police officers, teachers, school administrators; freedom of expression: journalists, media regulatory authorities; ombudsman offices and local authorities.