Netherlands Helsinki Committee

𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐫𝐚 𝐑𝐮𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐚𝐰 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 ⚖️

In 2025, we have proudly welcomed more than 200 participants as new members of our growing alumni network. 🎓

The participants took part in 7 different trainings, ranging from topics such as Administration of Justice, to Human Rights, and Integrity of Civil Servants. It has been truly inspiring to engage with so many reform-minded civil servants committed to strengthening the rule of law.

During the training, each participant has developed a Back Home Action Plan, and we are impressed by the meaningful impact they are already making.

Please find here two impactful examples:
🔗 https://shorturl.at/qrWRP
🔗 https://shorturl.at/XfnUY

In November, the consortium partners also visited Albania and Montenegro to raise awareness of the programme and meet with various government institutions 🤝
Embassy of the Netherlands in Albania
Embassy of the Netherlands in Serbia and in Montenegro

We would like to sincerely thank all experts, participants, and partners for their valuable contributions, with special gratitude to the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Netherlands Enterprise Agency for their ongoing support. 🌟

➡️ We look forward to continuing this important work together in the upcoming year.

💡 Learn more about the Matra Rule of Law Training Programme: https://www.nhc.nl/matrarolt/

The Matra Rule of Law Training Programme is designed and delivered by the Netherlands Helsinki Committee, Leiden Law School, and The Hague Academy for Local Governance. The programme is commissioned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, and implemented by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) on behalf of the Ministry.

📅On 01 and 02 October, the Netherlands Helsinki Committee, together with partners from the European Center for Not-for-Profit Law Stichting (ECNL) and media experts from Free Press for Eastern Europe (FPEE), had the opportunity to host a two-day knowledge sharing event in Sofia, Bulgaria. The event was part of the EU funded Catalyst of Change project, which aims to strengthen civil society in Croatia, Bulgaria, Romania, Portugal and Slovenia.

🤝Together with participants from Bulgarian and Romanian civil society organisations and grassroots NGOs, we spent two days discussing a variety of topics related to civic space, EU law, and media engagement, including reflections from experts and practitioners on Rule of Law reporting, campaigning for impact, and SLAPPs.

👏We would like to thank everyone who made this event possible and joined in engaging conversations and knowledge-sharing exercises – let’s keep connecting and building stronger alliances to defend rights in Europe.

🔎For more information on the EU Funded Catalyst of Change project: https://www.nhc.nl/catalyst-of-change/

💬 “For me, success is when women learn their rights and reclaim their choices. One woman I supported lived 42 years waiting to make decisions for herself. Not anymore.”
- Kristina Buniatyan, Human Rights Defender working on supporting survivors of gender-based violence in Armenia

🔍 True empowerment means that women not only escape violence but also regain the ability to make choices for themselves. For some, this comes after decades of living without control over their own lives. Through the important work of human rights defenders, women are supported to learn their rights, build confidence, and reclaim their agency. This changes the futures of individuals and communities alike.

👉 Support the work of Armenian human rights defenders that change the futures of women and their communities.

✨ Strength in Every Step: Women Human Rights Defenders from Armenia ✨
Across Armenia, women human rights defenders are leading the fight against domestic violence and gender-based violence. Their resilience inspires us all. This campaign honours their stories, amplifies their voices, and calls for international solidarity in the struggle for equality and justice.

📢 Stand in solidarity. Share their stories. Support their fight for a violence-free future.



“EQUAL - EU 4 Women Empowerment in Armenia” project is implemented by OxYGen Foundation, European Partnership for Democracy NGO, Netherlands Helsinki Committee NGO, Women’s Support Center NGO, WINNET Goris Development Foundation in cooperation with Winnet Sweden NGO. The project is funded by the European Union.