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 Improving prisoners’ access to education and employment in Albania

A comparative study on education and employment in prisons has been finalised in Albania. The main aim of the study was to assist the development a sustainable national scheme that will further improve prisoners’ rehabilitation prospects, it also sets forth standards that need to be integrated both at legislative and operational level.

The study provides good practices from other European countries that have successfully regulated these aspects, allowing the Albanian authorities to assess their feasibility and apply the suitable proposals within the national prison context.

The Council of Europe is also working together with the General Directorate of Prison Administration and the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Albania on launching of a survey with a representative sample of the country’s prison population, to enquire about their life in prison, their individual rehabilitation perspectives and satisfaction with the available services.

The comparative study, together with the results of the survey, will feed the development of a national strategy that is intended to better regulate and institutionalise sustainable practices where education and employment serve as the main pillars of rehabilitation of Albanian prisoners and their reintegration back into the society.

These activities take place 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 within the second phase of the “Horizontal Facility for Western Balkans and Turkey” and implemented by the Council of Europe.

Tirana, Albania June 2020