Taking place on 6 November, this event is addressed to Focal Points (contact persons with National Training Institutions) and Info Points (contact persons with Bar Associations) in the 28 European Union member states. The general objective of the meeting is to examine the implementation of the HELP Programme in the EU countries and discuss perspectives for future cooperation with National Training Institutions and Bar Associations in the framework of the project.
“HELP in the 28” is built on the European Programme of Human Rights Education for Legal Professionals (HELP), which is the Council of Europe’s platform for legal education on human rights. It reinforces the "HELP" Network of National Training Institutions and Bar Associations in the 28 EU member states. The objective of the Programme is to help EU legal professionals to apply the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, the European Convention on Human Rights and the European Social Charter in their daily work. Legal professionals will become familiar with the case law of both the Court of Justice of the European Union and the European Court of Human Rights. “HELP in the 28” is mainly funded by the European Union and implemented by the Council of Europe. In 2014, it was the biggest project awarded by the EU-Directorate General Justice concerning training on fundamental rights in all EU Members States.
This year's meeting will focus on a number of topical matters, related notably to four new courses which are currently being developed, such as Fight against Racism, Xenophobia, Homophobia and Transphobia; Labour Rights; Data Protection and privacy rights; Right to the Integrity of a Person (bioethics). These courses will be adjusted to the national legal systems and languages before being piloted in 13 EU member states: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Estonia, France, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain. Afterwards, courses will be transferred to the self-learning part of the HELP e-platform.
Participants will also discuss the issue regarding human rights training methodology and the important role of Focal and Info Points. Representatives of various Council of Europe institutions, including the European Court of Human Rights, will make presentations on their respective fields of activity.
