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On March 2004 started the work in the framework of the project “Prison Reform and Civil Society in Albania”
March 18, 2004
The Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC) in collaboration with the Swedish Helsinki Committee (SHC), on March 2004 started the work in the framework of the project “Prison Reform and Civil Society in Albania”.
The main purpose of this project is to improve the human’s rights situation in pre-detentions sites and prisons and to support prison administration in its efforts for a good management of penitentiary institutions.
In order to give an effective support to the administration of the prisons AHC besides its expertise will invite two foreign experts that have a long experience in this field.
Objectives
This project intends to reach the following objectives:
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Observance of the rights of the pre-detainees
and prisoners and also the implementation of the international
standards related to the pre-detention sites and prisons conditions;
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Improvement of conditions in pre-detentions sites and prisons through recommendations that AHC will offer to the prison administration;
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Assessment of the measures undertaken by the
Albanian authorities in the framework of the prison reform.
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Facilitating and supporting the efforts of the
Albanian Prison Administration in improving prison management by
adequate training of senior prison staff of the two pilot prisons.
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Strengthening the role of the AHC as an important actor of civil society in the promotion of human rights and rule of law in Albania in general, and prison reform in particular.
Activities
The project started with a round of working meetings between members of AHC, SHC, foreign Swedish and Dutch experts, representatives of Ministry of Justice, representatives of the General Directorate of Prisons, and also two directors of the prisons selected as pilot prisons.
In the coming months AHC will organized a round of monitoring missions in prisons and pre-detention sites to observe how the prisoners and the pre-detainees are treating and how their rights are respected by the prison administration.
AHC will draft a final report on the findings of the monitoring rounds, which will serve the purpose of sensitizing the respective state structures to take immediate measures in line with the recommendations of this report.
In addition, AHC plans to organize a round table with experts in this field which will sensitize the respective state bodies on the problems, challenges, needs and means to solve these problems. In addition, this round table will serve as brainstorming for the continuation of the support that AHC plans to
give to the reform of the penitentiary system.
Regarding the assistance provided to the two pilot prisons the idea is to build a realistic plan of action, which can be in principle the same for the two prisons but at the same time will be particular accommodating the specificities of each prison. The aim of this action plan is to contribute in the good
management of these institutions and in changing the existing mentalities of prison administration. This support will be provided by AHC and Swedish and Dutch experts.
Two important factors in realizing with effectiveness the objectives of this project are Ministry of Justice and General Directorate of Prisons that have expressed their good will and commitment for collaboration. AHC take advantage of this opportunity to thank both these institutions for this attitude.
This project will be implemented in one-year term thanks to the financial support of the SHC.
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