ASDO & IHR Pilot Training in 4 Municipalities Across Albania & North Macedonia on HRBA Local Governance

Under the auspices of the Balkan Human Rights Cities Initiative, ASDO and IHR during July-September 2025 have successfully conducted pilot training sessions in four municipalities spanning Albania and North Macedonia, focusing on integrating a Human Rights-Based Approach (HRBA) into local governance.

During these capacity-building workshops, municipal officials, planners, and civil society actors were trained on principles such as participation, non-discrimination, transparency, accountability, and inclusion. The trainings included case studies, participatory exercises, and framework development sessions tailored to local contexts. 43 representatives of local governments and their respective departments participated, demonstrating institutional commitment.

These sessions represent a crucial early step in embedding HRBA into municipal systems. Participating municipalities have committed to follow-up actions: integrating human rights indicators into planning, improving complaint systems, collecting dis-aggregated data, and establishing local monitoring mechanisms. The pilot phase gathers lessons, feedback, and local adaptation strategies before full rollout. The collaboration underscores the importance of local capacity in sustaining rights-based governance and provides momentum toward broader regional application of HRBA in municipal policy frameworks.