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 Enhancing the capacities of Shkodra prison police based on the training modules aligned with the Council of Europe standards

The Council of Europe is working together with the Directorate General of Prison Administration to raise the capacities of the Training Center for Prison Staff and build in-house knowledge and ensure training provision sustainability. Following the revision of 28 training modules to incorporate Council of Europe standards, the first content-based training was held on 25 and 26 October 2021 in Shkodra.

During the 2-day training a good balance was ensured between the methodological aspects, procedures, case studies and practical demonstration of techniques which are required from prison police in their daily job. The training gathered 22 prison police from Shkodra prison, who increased their knowledge and skills under three modules, namely “conducting searches”, “escorting and transportation of prisoners and pre-trial detainees” and “means of restraint”. It was delivered by a team of three local trainers and one international consultant.

This activity was organised within the scope of the Action “Enhancing the protection of human rights of prisoners in Albania”, co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe under the second phase of the “Horizontal Facility for Western Balkans and Turkey” and implemented by the Council of Europe.

Albania 28 October 2021