Strasbourg, 12 March 2026 – The People’s Advocate of Albania is participating in the second edition of the Council of Europe High-Level Forum with Ombudsmen and National Human Rights Institutions, known as the “CoE ON ​​Forum”.

This two-day event, which takes place at the premises of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, is organized in cooperation with the European Court of Human Rights.

This year’s meeting is part of the “New Democratic Pact for Europe” and addresses the critical role that Ombudsmen play in protecting democracy.

Some of the main topics to which the Albanian delegation is contributing include:

Protecting democratic processes: Addressing foreign interference and maintaining the balance of powers.

Fundamental freedoms: The inextricable link between human rights and democratic stability, with a focus on freedom of expression and assembly.

Strengthening Institutions: Sharing Best Practices to Ensure Independent Institutions Remain the Shield of the Rule of Law.

During these two days, the Ombudsman will hold high-level meetings at the Council of Europe and the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).

The Ombudsman’s participation in this Forum reconfirms Albania’s commitment to aligning national human rights protection standards with European ones, particularly at a time of global challenges to democracy.