HF III - Enhancing co-operation in the Western Balkans in managing violent extremism in prisons and preventing further radicalisation after release

Based on the achievements from the implementation of the previous phase of the “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye”, a joint programme of the European Union and the Council of Europe, the action continues to strengthen safety and security in the Western Balkans region by improving management and rehabilitation of violent extremist prisoners (VEPs) and other marginalised and vulnerable prisoners at risk of radicalisation. It promotes and reinforces co-operation, professional networking and exchange of knowledge and best practices between prison, probation practitioners and other stakeholders active in prevention and countering radicalisation and violent extremism in the region. It further fosters multi-sectoral and inter-agency approach in addressing the phenomena of radicalisation and violent extremism and provides guidance to the Beneficiaries in tailoring their preventive and response mechanisms aligned to the needs, priorities and context specific for each Beneficiary.
The Action focuses on three priority areas:

Ensuring sustainable management of VEPs, marginalised and vulnerable prisoners at risk of radicalisation, effective use of VEP specific assessment tools and rehabilitation methodologies and preparing them for release;
Enhancing their post-penal support after release, by assisting their full reintegration and safe return to their communities, ensuring consistency on prison-exit continuum by including all relevant stakeholders in the process (families, mentors, local community, agencies, etc.)
Strengthening the role of the probation services in supervising community sanctions and measures and supporting VEPs on early or conditional release.

The action is implemented in close cooperation with the Ministries of Justice and the P/CVE coordination mechanisms of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Republic of Serbia, Montenegro and North Macedonia, and includes a wide spectrum of other domestic stakeholders and civil society organizations.
The duration of the action is set at 48 months, and it is expected to be completed by 31 December 2026, with an overall budget of 1,650,000 Euros.

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Back Fostering effective rehabilitation and reintegration support for violent extremist prisoners and prisoners at risk of radicalisation in the Western Balkans region

@ Council of Europe

Equipping violent extremist prisoners and prisoners at risk of radicalisation with practical skills and qualifications that enhance their employment prospects after release and providing them with multi-agency support upon release is crucial for their effective rehabilitation and reintegration. That, in turn, helps them to stay away from crime.

This was the key message delivered by some 50 professionals from the Western Balkans, representing penitentiary, social welfare and protection sectors, adult education, employment services, civil society organisations active in preventing and countering violent extremism and post-penal assistance to former detainees. They gathered at a regional conference on “Programmes and avenues ensuring reintegration of violent extremist prisoners (VEPs) and other vulnerable and marginalised prisoners at risk from radicalisation in the Western Balkans” held on 24-25 April 2024 in Tirana, Albania.

The participants were presented with the main findings of a research conducted with the support of the European Union and the Council of Europe in all 6 Beneficiaries. The research focused on the practical application of vocational and educational programmes in prisons and employment opportunities in local communities as well as on multi-institutional support offered after release. They also discussed good practices as well as examples of programmes implemented within and outside of prisons in the region and other parts of Europe.

Moreover, participants discussed different challenges in their efforts to support VEPs during incarceration and upon release and agreed that multi-institutional cooperation and support to VEPs should be strengthened, vocational and educational programmes should be aligned with labour market demands and awareness should be raised in local communities and among potential employers to reduce the stigma VEPs face in their life after prison. Recommendations on tackling the mentioned and other challenges were presented to the participants in a form of a policy guidelines with an aim to equip policymakers and senior officials in the Western Balkans with the knowledge and strategies to prevent and counter- terrorism within the region.

The conference was organised within the framework of the regional action “Enhancing co-operation in the Western Balkans in managing violent extremism in prisons and preventing further radicalisation after release” implemented under the joint European Union and Council of Europe programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye”.

Tirana, Albania 24-25 April 2024