HF II Albania - Enhancing the protection of Human Rights for prisoners

Building upon the results achieved from the implementation of the first phase of European Union and Council of Europe programmatic framework “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey” (Horizontal Facility), the new Action “Enhancing the protection of human rights of prisoners in Albania” assisted the Albanian authorities to further enhance prison reform and the protection of the human rights of prisoners. It was implemented in close partnership with the Ministry of Justice, the Directorate General of the Prison Administration and with other relevant institutions and stakeholders, including civil society organisations active in the penitentiary field.

The Action covered four main areas:

Introduction of the effective human resources and sustainable training programme for prison management;
Strengthening the provision of health care to prisoners with a particular focus on detainees with mental disorders and the implementation of suicide prevention strategy;
Strengthening the process of rehabilitation and reintegration of prisoners with a particular focus on the implementation of a standard system of risk management;
Improvements in the treatment of vulnerable groups of prisoners, in particular high risk /violent prisoners, sex offenders and female prisoners.

The Action was completed on 31 December 2022, with an overall budget of 640,000 EUR.

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Back Albanian authorities confirm the partnership with the Council of Europe on advancing the penitentiary reforms in the country

@ Council of Europe

Representatives from the Prison Administration, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Health, National Preventive Mechanism, State Advocate Office and non-governmental organisations discussed the progress of the joint EU and Council of Europe Action “Enhancing the protection of human rights of prisoners in Albania” during a Steering Committee (SC) meeting that took place in Tirana on 09 December 2021 and agreed on the way forward.

The Action has aligned its objectives with the Penitentiary Action Plan 2019-2022, substantially contributing to three structural reforms. In support, it has provided technical instruments, methodologies, trainings and pertinent recommendations related to the improvement of care for prisoners with mental health disorders, the setting up of a new national system for the rehabilitation and reintegration of prisoners and academic support to enhance the in-house capacities of the Training Center for prison staff.

achievements and contribution of the action towards penitentiary reforms were recognized by all actors, reconfirming the pressing need for the continuation of the initiated reforms and underlining the need for an enhanced cooperation towards national priorities such as the improvement of care for forensic psychiatric patients. The participants discussed and agreed on future efforts and concrete interventions aiming to improve the provision of mental health in prisons, rehabilitation prospects for prisoners and increased professionalism for prison staff.

The 5th SC meeting was organised under the Action “Enhancing the protection of human rights of prisoners in Albania”, which is part of joint initiative of the European Union and Council of Europe “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey 2019-2022”.

Albania 13 December 2021