Newsroom
Designing a training strategy for the penitentiary staff in North Macedonia
A group of experienced staff coming from the Directorate for the Execution of Sanctions (DES) and various prisons met on 29-30 March 2023 in the DES Training Centre in Skopje, discussing the first draft of the Prison Staff Training Strategy and related curricula. The team of local staffers...
The Governors of the Prison System of the Republic of Moldova Enhanced their Skills in Leadership and Management
The governors of all prison institutions of the Republic of Moldova and representatives of the National Administration of Penitentiaries enhanced their knowledge and skills in Leadership and Management over a 3-day training session held in Chisinau, on 20-22 March 2023. The Minister of Justice of...
Call for International consultancy services in the areas of penitentiary, police, probation, psychiatric/social care institutions, radicalisation and related IT systems
The council of Europe is launching a call for the provision of International consultancy services in the area of penitentiary, police, probation, psychiatric/social care institutions, radicalisation and related IT systems. For more information, please follow the link Deadline for the...
Improved internal monitoring of mental healthcare in penitentiary institutions
On 18-19 March 2023, the Monitoring Department of the Special Penitentiary Service staff was trained on monitoring the identification process of prisoners with mental health problems, effective case management, and provision of relevant services in penitentiary institutions. The SPS Monitoring...
Starting two new continuation Projects ‘’Strengthening the Protection of the Rights of Persons in Detention” and “Strengthening the Probation Service in Armenia”
The first joint Steering Committee (SC) Meeting of the Projects “Strengthening the Protection of the Rights of Persons in Detention” and “Strengthening the Probation Service in Armenia” was held on 15 March 2023 to mark the beginning of these two Projects and agree on Plans of Action During the...
Advanced training on dealing with violent extremist prisoners (VEPs) in Bosnia and Herzegovina
A group of prison staff coming from the State Prison, Banja Luka, and Bihac prisons, as well as employees from four social welfare centers (SWCs) from Velika Kladusa, Jajce, Zenica, and Hadzici, were trained on preparing VEPs for release. The training was delivered by local trainers coming from...
The findings of the assessment mission on discipline and reward procedures for prisoners in Türkiye discussed with the stakeholders
The assessment report, following a mission to Türkiye from 30 January to 2 February 2023, aiming at identifying the needs for improvement in the discipline and reward procedures for prisoners, was presented to the main project’s beneficiary and stakeholders during a working group (WG) meeting...
Launch of the third phase of Horizontal Facility Action in Serbia
The first Steering Committee meeting of a 48-month joint Council of Europe/European Union Action on “Enhancing the human rights protection for detained and sentenced persons” took place on 09 March 2023. The meeting marked the launch of the third phase of the “Horizontal Facility for the Western...
Launch of the third phase of Horizontal Facility Action in Montenegro
The first Steering Committee meeting of a 48-month joint Council of Europe/European Union Action on “Enhancing Human Rights protection for detained and sentenced person” took place on 10 March 2023. The meeting also marked the launch of the third phase of the “Horizontal Facility for the Western...
Penitentiary system psychologists mastered the methods of preventing and managing professional burnout in Georgia
Twenty psychologists have now a better understaining of the nature of professional burnout and master the main strategies for its prevention. They were trained as trainers on prevention and management of professional burnout in the penitentiary system through two 2-day Training of Trainers...
Albanian authorities confirmed the partnership with the Council of Europe in further improving the situation in prisons and other closed institutions
On 9 March 2023, representatives from the General Directorate of Prison Administration, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Health, State Advocate Office, and non-governmental organisations, together with the representatives from the European Union and the Council of Europe, gathered in Tirana to...
Penitentiary staff improves knowledge and skills in working with self-injury and adaptation disorders of prisoners
Thirty psychologists from the Georgian penitentiary system improved their knowledge and enhanced skills in the practical use of the “Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI) Assessment Tool” and the “Adaptation Disorder Assessment Tool” (ADAT), through participating in 2-day training sessions organised by...
The Strategy and its Action Plan on attracting more medical personal in the penitentiary service in Romania
A draft Strategy and Action Plan on attracting more medical personal in the penitentiary system was presented and discussed on 28 February 2023 in close cooperation with the National Administration of Penitentiaries and with all involved stakeholders. It was followed by the last working group...
Romanian medical personnel enhanced knowledge on medical ethics arising within the Penitentiary System
During a 2-day training of trainers, 14 representatives of the medical personnel from 10 penitentiary facilities and the Medical Department of Penitentiary Service, learnt more on the Council of Europe and other international standards, as well as on the national legislation regulating medical...
Working Group session on information collection and analysis with regards to radicalisation and violent extremism in prisons in BiH
On 06-07 March 2023, the Council of Europe organised a 2-day working group (WG) session as part of ongoing efforts to support BiH institutions in addressing radicalisation and violent extremism in prisons. WG members include project partners coming from the Federal Ministry of Justice, Ministry...
Authorities in North Macedonia engage to further enhance pre-release preparation and post-penal support
North Macedonia’s stakeholders discussed the needs and specifics of developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) on pre-release preparation and post-penal support, which should be designed in the upcoming period. Representatives of the Directorate for the Execution of Sanctions, the Ministry of...
A new Policy and Standard Operating Procedures on treatment of vulnerable groups of detainees to be implemented by the prison staff of the Republic of Moldova
23 prison specialists were guided on facilitating the implementation of a new Policy and Standard Operating Procedures on treatment of vulnerable groups of detainees in the daily routine of the prisons of the Republic of Moldova, during a training session held on 1-2 March 2023. The participants,...
Individual Sentence Planning Guidelines developed for the prison system of the Republic of Moldova
The National Administration of Penitentiaries (NAP) of the Republic of Moldova was provided with Guidelines and tools for devising individual sentence plans (ISP), aiming to ensure a better rehabilitation and reintegration into society of prisoners by means of tailored interventions and support....
Enhancing mental healthcare in Kosovo* prisons: Council of Europe facilitates the revision of mental health protocols and Standard Operating Procedures of the Prison Health Department
The first working group (WG) meeting on revising the protocols and guidelines of the Prison Health Department (PHD) of the Ministry of Health, and the relevant Standard Operating Procedures was conducted on 21-23 February 2023 in in Istog/Istok, Kosovo*. It followed the assessment mission...
Prison staff of the Republic of Moldova trained to implement a new Policy and Standard Operating Procedures on dynamic security
23 specialists from all 17 prisons and the representatives of the National Administration of Penitentiaries (NAP) were trained on transposing the set of principles and sequence of steps necessary to enable the implementation of a dynamic security approach to prison management, for ensuring a...
Mid-level managers of Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia enhanced knowledge of interviewing juvenile victims and offenders
Twenty managers of regional investigation units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) enhanced their skills and techniques for interviewing juvenile victims and offenders by taking part in a training session from 15 to 17 February 2023. The activity represents the first of a series of...
Execution of ECHR’s judgements and the functioning of the External Oversight Mechanism discussed at an roundtable in Skopje
The authorities in North Macedonia are committed to working closely with the Council of Europe and the EU in the process of execution of judgements the European Court for Human Rights (ECtHR) and to further consolidate the External Oversight Mechanism (EOM), which is protecting victims of human...
Community service re-enacted in the Greek penitentiary system
Council of Europe through its Cooperation in Police and Deprivation of Liberty Unit stands by member States to improve protection of human rights within their penitentiary systems, and supports strengthening the probation services, thus making steps towards moving from the punitive approach...
Needs to further improve and streamline discipline and reward procedures and measures for prisoners in Türkiye have been identified
An assessment mission to detect existing legislative and practical shortcomings and gaps and accordingly define the needs for improvement in the discipline and reward procedures and measures for prisoners took place from 30 January to 2 February 2023 in Türkiye. During the mission two...
Comprehensive assessment of mental health care provision in prisons and other closed institutions conducted
Comprehensive assessment of mental health care provision in prisons and other closed institutions conducted Two assessment missions, led by Council of Europe consultants, took place on 19-22 December 2022 and 17-20 January 2023 in Kosovo*. They allowed the consultants to gather relevant...
BiH authorities discussed methodology for prison staff training on managing violent extremism
The Working Group (WG) session on developing specific training programme for prison staff working with violent extremist prisoners (VEP), with focus on the legislative and institutional framework, took place from 26 to 27 January in Konjic. The meeting brought together representatives from the...
Special Investigation Service enhances cooperation with other law enforcement agencies with aim to improve prevention and investigation into human rights violations committed by public officials
The Special Investigation Service (SIS) and other key law enforcement agencies, namely the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Justice, Office of Prosecutor General and the State Security Service, have taken a step forwards in joining their efforts to fight against crimes committed by...
1st constituent meeting of the Network of National Correspondents of Police Authorities
On Thursday 26 January 2023, the Directorate General of Human Rights and Rule of Law and its Cooperation in Police and deprivation of Liberty Unit organised online, via zoom software, the first constituent meeting of the Network of National Correspondents of Police Authorities, also known as the...
Call for International consultancy services in the area of discipline and reward procedures for prisoners in Türkiye
The Council of Europe is launching a call for international consultancy services in the area of discipline and reward procedures for prisoners in Türkiye. Deadline for submissions of tenders : 6 February 2023 For more information, please follow this link
Salary increase of 30% for the prisons’ medical staff in North Macedonia
The medical staff working in North Macedonia’s prisons now receive 30% higher salaries, as a result of the recently introduced hazard duty pay, agreed by the Ministry of Health and respective trade union at the end of 2022. This major change follows the legislative analysis developed by the...
Penitentiary staff improves knowledge and skills on managing acute mental health crisis and first aid in case of suicide attempt and self-harm
41 members of the Georgian penitentiary staff (nurses, social workers, psychologists and mediators) improved their knowledge and practical skills on basic life support and first aid in case of suicide attempt and self-harm and how to manage mental health crisis in penitentiary settings, through...
Strengthening the role of Georgian psychologists and social workers in the processes of rehabilitation and resocialisation: a high-level conference held in Tbilisi
The Council of Europe continues to support Georgian authorities in strengthening the role of psychologists and social workers and improving inter-agency communication and co-ordination between all relevant stakeholders involved in rehabilitation and resocialisation in Georgia. On the initiative...
Therapeutic programme piloted in Abovyan penitentiary institution
With Council of Europe support and direct involvement of the NGO Armenian Scientific Association of Psychologists, the Abovyan penitentiary institution piloted a therapeutic programme from September to December 2022. The goal of the programme is to improve mental health care in the penitentiary...
Certificates on the HELP course on Alternative measures to Detention in Armenia were handed to the participants
On 15 December 2022, certificates were awarded to 16 representatives of the Probation Service of Armenia for successfully completing the HELP course on “Alternative measures to Detention”. The participants appreciated this e-learning course and the possibility to deepen their knowledge...
E-probation management system was introduced into the work of the Probation Service in Armenia
The Deputy Head of the Council of Europe Office in Yerevan together with the Deputy Minister of Justice took part in the launching of the E-probation management system. The system that was set up with the Council of Europe’s support will allow the probation officers to easily work with data and...
Training probation officers on post-penal support to released violent extremist prisoners (VEPs)
The Kosovo Probation Service (KPS) faced the first cases of released violent extremist prisoners (VEPs) in Kosovo* in 2019 and 2020. They have realised that the post-penal treatment and support to this category of persons requires in-depth understanding of the phenomena of radicalisation and...
Enhancing the capacities of prisons’ staff on dealing with violent inmates in Albania
The European Union and Council of Europe joint actions on the improvement of the Albanian prison system, continued to raise the skills of prison police and psycho-social staff in Albania concerning the management of high risk/violent prisoners and radicalised inmates. Both violent inmates and...
Council of Europe marking successful completion of the Armenian projects in the probation and penitentiary health care areas
The successful completion of two Council of Europe Projects “Enhancing health care and human rights protection in prisons in Armenia” and “Support the scaling-up of the probation service in Armenia” has been marked with a closing conference on 29 November 2022. The event brought together...
Closing conference of the project on Enhancing the effectiveness of civil monitoring boards in line with European standards in Türkiye
Substantial progress has been made in enhancing the capacities of the national prison monitoring mechanisms in Türkiye, significantly contributing to ensuring sustainable and continuous prevention of ill-treatment in places of deprivation of liberty, concluded the participants at the closing...
Council of Europe has officially launched the new project “Improvement of the treatment of persons deprived of liberty”
On 22 November 2022, a half-day conference held in Pristina marked the official launch of the Council of Europe’s project “Improvement of the treatment of persons deprived of liberty”. Over fifty representatives of the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Justice, Prison Health Department, Kosovo...
Call for International consultancy services in the area of healthcare for persons deprived of their liberty in Kosovo*
Call for International consultancy services in the area of healthcare for persons deprived of their liberty in Kosovo* Deadline: 19 December 2022 For more information, please follow this link * All references to Kosovo, whether to the territory, institutions, or population, in this text shall be...
Albanian Training Center for Prison staff receives technical equipment to deliver online trainings
Some 4500 prison staff are anticipated to benefit from the delivery of online initial and continuous trainings, following the donation of the technical equipment to the Training Center for Prison staff located at the Directorate General of Prison Administration of Albania. At the launching event...
The Council of Europe assessed Bosnia and Herzegovina’s prison staff training needs on addressing radicalisation and violent extremism
The presentation of the results from the training needs assessment visit under the project "Ensuring Sustainable Penitentiary Actions in managing rehabilitation of violent extremist prisoners in Bosnia and Herzegovina (ESPA-VEP)" was held on 18 November, 2022 in Sarajevo. It featured the main...
North Macedonia’s medical and other prison staff trained on mental healthcare provision
Eight doctors and medical personnel, alongside with ten prison officers working in six penitentiary institutions in North Macedonia enhanced their knowledge on mental healthcare management in prisons. This two-day session took place on 16-17 November 2022 in Skopje – the first ever such training...
HIGH JUDICIAL AND PROSECUTORIAL COUNCIL ENDORSES PLATFORM TO ENHANCE SECURITY OF JUDICIAL OFFICIALS IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina endorsed the Platform to enhance safety and security of judicial office holders at its session held on 10 November 2022 in Sarajevo. This comprehensive document, developed over the past 12 months, sets out the current safety and...
CANTONAL MINISTRIES OF INTERIOR IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA INTENSIFY EFFORTS TO PREVENT ILL-TREATMENT IN CUSTODY
4 November 2022, Mostar - Senior managing police officers from the Federal Police Administration and all 10 Cantonal Ministries of Interior met in Mostar to discuss the efforts to prevent ill-treatment in custody. Police commissioners and Heads of Sectors for Uniform Police agreed on the...
The first review of the implementation of North Macedonia’s Penitentiary Strategy shows greater focus is needed on improving material conditions and healthcare in prisons
Fifteen months after its adoption by the Government, the implementation of the National Strategy on the Development of the Penitentiary System in North Macedonia (2021-25) was reviewed by a dedicated working group, composed of senior representatives from the Directorate for the Execution of...
European Prison Rules
