HELP provides training on European human rights standards (covering both the Council of Europe and EU legal systems) by supporting Justice Training Institutions (JTIs) and Bar Associations (BAs), which is particularly relevant for the gradual integration/EU accession path in the Western Balkan region. This is done by developing courses and promoting them in initial and continuous training for legal professionals, sharing best practices and providing advice on curricula, training materials and methodology.

The main partners of the project HELP in the Western Balkans are the National Training Institutions/Judicial Academies and Bar Associations from six Beneficiaries in the Western Balkans and members of the HELP network: Albania, Bosnia and Hercegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia.

The main beneficiaries are legal professionals of the Western Balkans.

The main aim is to enhance capacities and skills (and attitudinal changes when relevant) of legal professionals for effective application of European standards* on human rights mainly through professional training and university education at national/regional level. The specific objectives are:

• Improved knowledge and skills of WB (current/future) legal professionals - primarily judges, prosecutors and lawyers - to apply domestically European human rights standards (CoE and EU) in their daily work
• Legal professionals/trainers from WB Justice Training Institutions and Bar associations -and universities- qualified to use HELP methodology and courses

*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence

* In line with the Recommendation of the CoE Committee of Ministers Recommendation (2019)5 on the system of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) in university education and professional training, based on the ECHR and the revised European Social Charter.