HF II Regional - Enhancing penitentiary capacities in addressing radicalisation in prisons

As part of the second phase of the European Union and the Council of Europe co-funded cooperation framework “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey” (Horizontal Facility II), the Council of Europe implemented a Regional Action on “Enhancing penitentiaries capacities in addressing radicalization in prisons in Western Balkans”. The Action was implemented in close cooperation with the Ministries of Justice and the P/CVE coordination bodies of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Republic of Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia…. The Action included a wide spectrum of other national stakeholders and civil society organizations active in the penitentiary field and countering violent extremism and radicalisation in prisons.

The main aim of the Action was to enhance regional security by improving the inter-institutional exchange of knowledge and good practices in the region in respect of radicalization in prisons, with a view on providing penitentiary system staff with necessary standards, tools and instruments needed to respond appropriately. Another important goal was to empower in-county multi-agency coordination to counter radicalization in prison and to provide adequate post-penal support to released violent extremist offenders.

The Action also assisted the national authorities to ensure that the application of the tools and mechanisms on national level with regards to addressing radicalisation in prisons further strengthens in light of the identified good practices in the region.

The Action’s duration was set at 36 months and it iwas completed by 31 December 2022, with an overall budget of 2,000,000.000 Euros.

* This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence.

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Back Equipment for occupational therapy and vocational training donated to 4 penitentiary systems in the Western Balkans

@ Council of Europe

Penitentiary systems in Kosovo*, North Macedonia, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina benefited from a donation of different equipment aimed at enhancing the provision of occupational therapy and strengthening the capacities of vocational workshops (September 2021). The main aim of the donation is to support the rehabilitation prospectus of violent extremist prisoners (VEPs), radicalised inmates or other marginalised groups in prisons who are at risk of radicalisation.

Strengthening the prison systems’ ability to offer and implement programmes that encourage participation and engagement of prisoners in meaningful activities, will enable them to learn new skills and prepare for life after imprisonment. The benefits of occupational vocational therapies are many, helping prisoners for their reintegration back into community, gives them the sense of achievement, provides them with insight into lifestyle choices and has overall positive impact on mental health.

The Action will extend its support throughout the autumn to Albania and Montenegro as well, in line with the identified specific needs of VEPs.

This small-scale procurement support has been enabled under the auspices of the Action „Enhancing penitentiary capacities in addressing radicalisation in prisons in the Western Balkans“, which is implemented within the joint programme of the European Union/Council of Europe Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey (2019 – 2022), with aim of enhancing regional security by improving inter-institutional exchange of knowledge and good practices in the region in respect of radicalisation in prisons.

* This designation is without prejudice to positions on status and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence

Western Balkans 30 September 2021