For the first time, women prisoners in Albania are benefiting from a structured Trauma-Informed Therapy programme – a new approach that places their mental health, personal resilience, and dignity at the centre of prison rehabilitation.

With the support of the EU and Council of Europe and in close co-operation with the Directorate General of Prisons in Albania, Pojska prison – the only women’s prison in Albania has now begun piloting trauma-informed therapy sessions.

Between July- September 2025, following a preparatory cascade training for Pojska psycho-social staff, where they built confidence and delivered the therapy in a safe environment, the Directorate General of Prisons and the prison staff tested the  programme with 12 women (50% of the sentenced women in Pojska prison).

The first results from the on- site evaluation mission, which took place during 9-10 September 2025 in Pojska, are already promising offering both mental support and practical skills to women in prison. Women who took part in the therapy witnessed that they not only felt relief and supported but also gained new skills to recognise their trauma triggers and manage them in healthier ways. This will be fundamental upon they release and integration back in the society and local community they belong.

 Part of the methodology involved interviews with staff, focus groups with women who participated in the programme, and planning for the upcoming months when a full piloting is envisaged.

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