Further to the initial training provided in June 2024, Albanian psychosocial prison staff strengthened their competencies regarding the principles and methodology of the cognitive behaviour treatment (CBT) programme. To this end, an advanced training was held on 4-5 December 2024 in Tirana, bringing together 32 psychologists and social workers from all prisons in Albania, as well as representatives from the Directorate General of Prison Administration (DGPA).

The training revisited some aspects of the CBT; it integrated extensive group work, role play and practical exercises which reinforced both the knowledge and skills of the trainees in conducting functional analysis, offence mapping and therapy delivery based on different case studies taken from different prison systems. At the end of the event the DGPA expressed its intention to include CBT programme in its catalogue of rehabilitation services offered to all inmates in the country.

The training was conducted in the framework of the joint European Union and Council of Europe programme ”Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye – Phase III”, and in particular of the Action “Enhancing the protection of Human Rights of prisoners in Albania”.