HF III - Enhancing the protection of human rights of prisoners in Albania

Building upon the results achieved from the implementation of the first and the second phase of the “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye”, a joint programme of the European Union and the Council of Europe, the Action “Enhancing the protection of human rights of prisoners in Albania” assists the authorities to further enhance prison reform and the protection of the human rights of prisoners and the persons detained in special institutions. It is implemented in close cooperation and partnership with the Ministry of Justice (Directorate General for Prison Administration - DGPA), the Ministry of Health and other national stakeholders, including prominent civil society organisations active in the area of protection and promotion of human rights.
The Action will focus on achieving the following outcomes:

• The systematic application of newly gained knowledge and skills by prison staff improved healthcare provision to prisoners with mental health disorders and forensic patients;
• The process of rehabilitation and reintegration of prisoners is further strengthened through the application of individual sentence plans and reintegration programmes;
• DGPA further strengthened their human resources practices and enhanced capacities for sustainable in-house training provision.

The key Conventions for this Action are the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ECHR), as well as the findings and the recommendations of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) and the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR).

The duration of the project is set at 48 months, and it is expected to be completed by 31 December 2026, with an overall budget of 850,000 Euros.

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Back General Directorates of Prison and Probation Administration initiated work on programmes of preparation for release for violent extremist prisoners in Albania

Marina ACHA

Modified 7 Months ago.

@ Council of Europe

A Working Group (WG) composed of representatives of the Albanian General Directorates of Prison and Probation Administration, prison professionals from three prison establishments (Burrel, Peqin and Fier), and representatives of the Albanian Coordination Centre for Countering Violent Extremism (CVE Centre) discussed pressing issues standing in the way of successful disengagement, rehabilitation and reintegration of the violent extremist prisoners (VEPs). The WG members articulated the main challenges they face in managing the rehabilitation of VEPs and preparing their transition from the life in prison to the life in the community, at the 1^stproject WG meeting for Albania held in Tirana on 20-21 November 2023.

The participants discussed the challenges to and preconditions for a successful transition, analysing the current rehabilitation programmes for convicted terrorists and available methodologies. The relevant Council of Europe standards and recommendations related to working with VEPs and to protection of their human rights were regarded as a cornerstone for successful and effective rehabilitation and preparation for release of this category of prisoners. The WG members further agreed that effective and efficient multi-agency co-operation is a must in rehabilitation and reintegration, and have emphasised the essential preconditions for such co-operation, welcoming the initiative of the CVE Centre to establish an appropriate mechanism at the central and local community level that will boost cooperation between all relevant institutions.

Based on the discussions, an outline of the programme of preparation for release was proposed as a framework to be further developed by the Albanian beneficiary partners with the support of the Council of Europe.

The activity took place under the Beneficiary-specific component of the action “Enhancing co-operation in the Western Balkans in managing violent extremism in prisons and preventing further radicalisation after release”, implemented under auspices of the Horizontal Facility Programme and its third phase, co-funded by EU and CoE and implemented by the Council of Europe.

Tirana, Albania 20-21 November 2023