A training on independent and efficient investigation upon complaints against the police and prison police was held in Skopje on 13-14 October 2021, gathering the key stakeholders involved with the External Oversight Mechanism (EOM). The training focused on the state obligations arising from Article 2 and 3 of the ECHR, along with ECtHR case law, other international standards, existing investigative systems and safeguards against ill-treatment.

Best practices and comparative experiences were also discussed, with the participants proposing specific solutions applicable within the national context that would address the challenges pertaining to the EOM. There was a consensus on the need for further legislative improvements regarding the selection of the participants of the civil society organizations and their integration within the EOM, as well as engaging more investigators in support to prosecutors’ work. The Council of Europe will continue to assist the stakeholders in achieving these objectives through the activities planned for the upcoming period.

A total of 15 participants took active part at the training, including the prosecutors of the Specialized Unit for prosecuting crimes perpetrated by persons with police authority and members of the prison Police, the members of the EOM Unit within the Ombudsman’s Office and the representatives of the civil society, as well as the Assistant to the Minister of Internal Affairs (MoIA) and other senior officials of the MoIA’s Department for Internal Control, Criminal Investigations and Professional Standard.

This activity was organised under the Action “Enhancing the capacities of the penitentiary system and the external oversight mechanism in North Macedonia”, co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe within the “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey 2019-2022” and implemented by the Council of Europe.