With the support of a small grant scheme within the framework of the EU/CoE action “Further enhancing human rights protection for detained and sentenced persons in Montenegro”, a local civil society organisation in Montenegro “Youth Initiative for Human Rights, (YIHR”) finalized the development of occupational programmes for prisoners and equipped the prison in Spuz with new machines with advanced wood crafting possibilities, to support a better reintegration of prisoners into the society.

The same CSO, YIHR also developed the “Programme for improving the production capacities of the wood processing sector” that will serve as a business plan and enhance the commercial scope of the prison production and thus contributing to further rehabilitation of detainees.

To raise awareness among prisoners and to promote capabilities of the new machines, two workshops were organised in November 2022 for 20 prisoners who are expected to be more competitive in the labour market once released from prison.

Within the same framework, an “Open Day” was organised in the Institute for Execution of Criminal Sanctions (AECS) on 24 November to engage a larger number of prisoners in occupational therapy activities.

The Chamber of Commerce, the Employment Agency and private entrepreneurs were invited to the Open Day to discuss the perspective and terms of future co-operation with AECS. Such endeavours will open more working opportunities for prisoners, create positive working environment and improve their employment opportunities after leaving the institute, contributing to a safer society. 

This adds to the efforts to follow the recommendation defined in the latest report  of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, that “Montenegrin authorities should increase their efforts to offer constructive and purposeful activities to all sentenced prisoners in the closed section of the Institution for Sentenced Prisoners (KPD), and, in particular, to provide more work opportunities.”

Activities were implemented from April to November 2022 under the action “Further enhancing human rights protection for detained and sentenced persons in Montenegro”, as part of the joint European Union and Council of Europe programme "Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey 2019-2022", implemented by the Council of Europe.