Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye

Back Second peer learning and training of mentor schools for democratic culture took place in Serbia

Mona ALGHAITH

Modified 5 Months ago.

Second peer learning and training of mentor schools for democratic culture took place in Serbia

Mentors for Democratic Culture, an initiative established within the joint European Union and Council of Europe action Quality education for all Serbia, gathered from 30 May to 1 June to exchange knowledge, share best practices and create new, innovative concepts to mark the Day of Education for Democratic Culture with local communities, students, parents and other partners.

One of the key tasks mentors from 36 mentor schools in Serbia had, was to identify new schools in their school districts that, in co-operation with the Ministry of Education, they could approach, provide mentorship and train to successfully implement the Reference Framework of Competences for Democratic Culture.

The meeting served as a space for mentors to come together, share their experiences, and learn from each other. Through engaging discussions and collaborative activities, the mentors were able to enhance their knowledge and skills for disseminating the concept of democratic school culture to new 180 schools for the 2024/25 school year.

The trainers also made sure that gender equality was at the forefront – mentors were able to further enhance their knowledge about gender mainstreaming in the formal education sector, which was built into their action plans and will also be a backbone of the training concept for new schools.

The action “Quality education for all” is part of the joint European Union and Council of Europe programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye”.

PHOTOS

Srebrno jezero 30 May - 1 June 2024

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What is the Horizontal Facility?

The joint European Union/Council of Europe programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye” (Horizontal Facility III) is a co-operation initiative and one of the results of the Statement of Intent signed on 1 April 2014 by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe and the European Union Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy, in which both Organisations agreed to further strengthen their co-operation in key areas of joint interest.

The programme is ongoing since 2016 and the third phase begun in January 2023 for a period of 48 months. The third phase of the programme (worth €41 million (85% funded by the EU, 15% by the CoE) keeps building on the results of the previous phases and it combines Beneficiary-specific and regional actions.

It enables the Beneficiaries to meet their reform agendas in the fields of human rights, rule of law and democracy and to comply with European standards, which is also a priority for the EU enlargement process.

Themes covered by the Horizontal Facility include:

strengthening justice
fighting corruption, economic crime and money laundering
promoting anti-discrimination and protection of the rights of vulnerable groups (including LGBTI, minorities and Roma) and
promoting and protecting freedom of expression and media

The Expertise Co-ordination Mechanism that provides legislative expertise and policy advice within the Council of Europe system remains also an important part of the programme available to all Beneficiaries.

The Horizontal Facility relies on the Council of Europe’s unique working methods, whereby tailor-made technical co-operation activities are based on conclusions and recommendations of the Council of Europe’s monitoring bodies highlight areas where improvements are needed in legislation and policies of the Beneficiaries to comply with the Organisation’s treaties and other standards.