Back Law enforcement agencies and civil society activists from Kosovo* and Albania advance exchange on countering hate crime’s practices

Law enforcement agencies and civil society activists from Kosovo* and Albania advance exchange on countering hate crime’s practices

More than 20 representatives of law enforcement agencies and LGBTI activists from Kosovo and Albania during 21 and 22 of September gathered in Pristina for the second time, following the meeting organised on March in Tirana, to exchange on their respective practices in addressing hate crimes against LGBTI persons.

Opening remarks were shared by the Ombudsperson Mr. Naim Qelaj,  Mr. Habit Hajredini - Director of the Office for Good Governance - Office of the Prime Minister in Kosovo, Mr. Frank Power - Head of CoE Office in Pristina, and Mr. Jarmo Feliks Helppikangas - Head of Rule of Law & Legal, Human Rights, EU Special Representative.

The purpose of this exchange was to establish a common and shared practical knowledge in the field of combating and investigating hate crime and fighting discrimination, but most importantly building a trust relationship within the communities and contribute to overcome the underreporting on hate crimes against LGBTI persons. Furthermore, it aimed at promoting mobility and exchange of police officials focused on Council of Europe standards in countering hate crime and discrimination. Representatives of the Kosovo equality bodies, CSOs and state authorities shared with the participants their work’s experience in cooperation local and international stakeholders, which further enriched the discussions.

This event was organised as part of the regional component of the action “Promotion of diversity and equality in the Western Balkans”, within the “Horizontal Facility for Western Balkans and Turkey” a joint programme funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe, and implemented by the Council of Europe.

 

 

*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.

Pristina 21-22 September 2022
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Fifty practitioners to enhance skills in provision of occupational therapy

Following the adoption of the Guidelines for Occupational Therapy (OT), as well as the Training of Trainers (ToT) on OT that took place in January 2024, three 2-day cascade training sessions were organised in the course of February and March 2024.  Fifty professionals, mainly from the Prison Health Department, along with representatives from the Correctional Services, Institute for Forensic Psychiatry, and the Special Institute for Persons with Mental and Physical Disabilities, were trained on this important form of therapy.

To complement the theoretical aspects and provide the trainees with practical knowledge, some of the sessions were conducted in the Dubrava Prison, in a section which houses prisoners with both mental and somatic problems. This on-site training allowed the participants to observe and understand the application of OT principles in a real-life setting, thus enhancing their learning experience by connecting theory and practice.

These cascade training sessions allowed the participants to further improve their skills in applying the OT Guidelines and tools in prisons and other closed institutions, a concept which was thus far not utilised in a structured manner. Furthermore, training healthcare and correctional professionals together helps them further strengthen the inter-institutional cooperation in the treatment and rehabilitation of some of the most vulnerable members of the society.

Each of these sessions were facilitated by two trainers who had participated in the ToT in January and were supervised and mentored by a Council of Europe consultant who has been involved in the process since the very beginning, thus further strengthening institutional capacity to provide training.

The activity was conducted under the auspices of the Council of Europe project “Improvement of the treatment of persons deprived of liberty”.

 

 

*All references to Kosovo, whether to the territory, institutions, or population, in this text shall be understood in full compliance with United National Security Council Resolution 1244 and without prejudice to the status of Kosovo.

Istog/ Istok 26 March 2024
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