OSCE Presence in Albania presents achievements in preventing and countering violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism in prisons and probation services
The results of a project on preventing and countering violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism (VERLT) in prisons and probation services were presented by the OSCE Presence in Albania on 31 January 2020 in Tirana.
“Through continued co-operation, Albania’s prisons can become ground for moderation and de-radicalization,” said the Head of OSCE Presence Bernd Borchardt. “We stand ready to continue supporting the relevant authorities in preventing and countering violent extremism in prisons and probation through an integrated approach.”
The Presence has contributed to mitigating VERLT risks in Albania through a four-track approach: by conducting, together with the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI), a needs assessment on the situation in prisons and probation settings; by developing a training module on the phenomenon of VERLT and building capacities for prison and probation staff; by strengthening regional co-operation; and by raising awareness and knowledge about VERLT and human rights based interventions to tackle it.
Some 300 prison and probation staff were trained on countering and preventing violent extremism; 220 young offenders on probation participated in awareness raising forums on preventing and countering VERLT; and some 200 Master students took part in open lectures on this topic
The project was implemented in close partnership with the National Co-ordination Centre on CVE, the General Directorate of Prisons and the General Directorate of the Probation Service.
The implementation of the project – financially supported by the Austrian, Swedish, German and Italian governments – started in November 2017 with the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the Albanian Ministry of Justice and the National Co-ordinator on Countering Violent Extremism (CVE).