Within the continous efforts to enhance the protection of human rights prisoners in Albania prison staff were capacitated to better respond to incidents of suicide and self-harm in prisons.

The training organised with the support of the joint EU and Council of Europe action “Enhancing the protection of human rights of prisoners in Albania  gathered in Tirana 25 professionals coming from the Tirana women prison “Ali Demi”, Durres prison (special facility for prisoners with mental health disorders) and Lezha prison (section responsible for psychiatric forensic patients) focused on early detection of suicidal tendencies amongst prisoners, reaction to incidents and development of individualised treatment plans to prevent prisoners from self-harming.

This capacity building intervention offered the necessary theoretical knowledge, complemented by Council of Europe Standards and relevant case law from the European Court of Human Rights. To respond to beneficiaries needs, the training largely focused on the discussion of the current practices in Albanian prisons especially concerning those prison facilities where prisoners with mental health disorders are accommodated; development of immediate reaction to incidents, and multidisciplinary treatment plans as preventive measures to suicide and self-harm in a prison environment.   

During the discussions a strong accent was placed on the co-operation between security staff and psycho-social staff, the role of case-managers, and the necessity of operational protocols from prison staff which would be projected as suicide coordinators in the future.

This activity was organised within the scope of the action “Enhancing the protection of human rights of prisoners in Albania”, as a part of joint initiative of the European Union and Council of Europe “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey 2019-2022”.