HF III Montenegro - Enhancing Human Rights protection for detained and sentenced persons

The Action “Enhancing the human rights protection for detained and sentenced persons in Montenegro” in its third phase will build upon results of the two preceding Actions of the “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye” in Montenegro through a joint programme of the European Union and the Council of Europe initially launched in 2016. Council of Europe will support Montenegrin authorities to improve the protection of human rights of all persons deprived of liberty in the areas of police, prisons, mental health care institutions, and monitoring mechanisms.
The Action will work in partnership with the Ministry of Interior/Police Administration, Administration for execution of criminal sanctions, Ministry of Justice, Ombudsman/National Preventive Mechanism, State Prosecutor’s Office, and Ministry of Health as well as other national stakeholders, including prominent civil society organisations active on the protection and promotion of human rights of detained persons.
The Action’s main areas of intervention will strive to enhance the rights of persons deprived of liberty and achieve the following outcomes:

Treatment of persons detained in police custody is improved in line with the Council of Europe standards against ill-treatment and impunity;
Authorities in Montenegro strengthen their capacity to better protect prisoners’ human rights;
Detained persons in prisons receive improved health care services;
Better monitoring of detention facilities through enhanced capacity of the NPM Office.

The Action addresses the findings and the recommendations of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT), as well as the case law of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) on the application of Conventions of 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).
The duration of the project is set at 48 months, and will be completed by 31 December 2026, with an overall budget of 800,000 Euros.

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Back Project beneficiaries in the Western Balkans reinforce commitment to preventing radicalisation and countering violent extremism in prisons

Marina ACHA

@ Council of Europe

Project beneficiaries in the Western Balkans reinforce commitment to preventing radicalisation and countering violent extremism in prisons

The first Steering Committee meeting of the Regional Action “Enhancing co-operation in the Western Balkans in managing violent extremism in prisons and preventing further radicalisation after release” and a Co-ordination meeting with international partners were held on 11 May 2023 in Podgorica, Montenegro.

Beneficiary representatives (from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia) expressed their satisfaction with the continued cooperation with the Council of Europe and determination to further improve regional security by addressing radicalisation in prisons and enhancing the post-penal support for violent extremist prisoners, among other, by helping their full and safe reintegration into local communities.

During the event representatives of the EU encouraged the practitioners of the region to make use of the opportunities provided by the Action. They also pointed out that it contributes to the implementation of the Joint Action Plan on Counter-Terrorism for the Western Balkans, which includes measures to address prison radicalisation.

The speakers also highlighted synergies with other international initiatives on preventing and countering violent extremism in the region, including the Western Balkans Radicalisation Awareness Network (RAN) Policy Support, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), the Holistic Radicalisation Prevention Initiative (HOPE) and the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF), that were also represented at the event.

The Regional Action “Enhancing co-operation in the Western Balkans in managing violent extremism in prisons and preventing further radicalisation after release” continues to strengthen safety and security in the region by helping improve management and rehabilitation of violent extremist prisoners and other marginalised and vulnerable prisoners at risk of radicalisation. It is part of the Horizontal Facility Phase III, co funded by the EU and the Council of Europe and implemented by the Council of Europe.