The project “Strengthening the capacities of the Albanian judiciary to better apply standards on the right to liberty and security” is designed to support national efforts to advance the protection of the right to liberty and security in Albania.

 What are the objectives of the project?

The main objective of the project is to strengthen the protection of the right to liberty and security, by promoting alternative measures to detention and reducing the use of pre-trial detention, in line with European and international standards.

Specific objectives:          

• Assist the authorities and the judiciary in improving the legal framework and judicial practice through, inter alia, analyses and targeted recommendations.
• Enhance the knowledge and capacities of judges, prosecutors and other legal professionals in the proper application of standards and legal reasoning related to the use of pre-trial detention.
• Promote alternatives to pre-trial detention to reduce overcrowding in detention centers.
• Raise the awareness of law students and future legal professionals on international and European standards related to the right to liberty and security.

 How does the project work?

The project will assess existing legislation and judicial practices to identify gaps and propose recommendations for improvement. Focus groups with judges, prosecutors, and other stakeholders will promote dialogue and support ongoing legal reforms.

Training materials on the right to liberty, security, and legal reasoning will be developed and translated. A training-of-trainers approach will prepare judges and prosecutors to better apply the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights (the Court) and consider alternatives to pre-trial detention.

Law students and future legal professionals will benefit from awareness-raising activities focused on European and international standards. Study visits, summer schools, and peer-to-peer exchanges will foster dialogue and the sharing of good practices.

 Who benefits from the project?

The project benefits a wide range of Albanian justice actors to ensure a coordinated and inclusive approach.

 What do we expect to achieve?

• Further aligned legislation and judicial practice with European and international standards.
• Enhanced training tools and methodologies on the use of pre-trial detention.
• Strengthened capacity of judges, prosecutors, and other legal professionals to apply the case-law of the Court in their decisions.
• Increased awareness of future legal professionals and law students on human rights standards and the importance of applying alternatives to detention.
• Support to the execution of key judgments of the Court related to the right to liberty and security, with a focus on pre-trial detention.

 What is the budget of the project?

The project is funded by the Human Rights Trust Fund (HRTF)^[1],  with a total budget of 600,000 Euros, and implemented by the Council of Europe over a 24-month period (from 1 June 2025 to 31 May 2027).

[1] The Human Rights Trust Fund (HRTF) brings together Finland, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.