With the aim to facilitate the social reintegration of prisoners, the Council of Europe supports the cooperation between the Institute for the Execution of Criminal Sanctions (ZIKS), the Employment Bureau of Montenegro, the Center for Vocational Education, the Social Welfare Centre of the Capital of Podgorica and municipalities of Golubovci and Tuzi and three non-governmental organizations, “Youth Initiative for Human Rights”, “4Life” and “Young Roma”.

To that effect, a Memorandum of Cooperation was signed on 28 April 2017 between the above mentioned institutions within the framework of the Action “Enhancing human rights protection for detained and sentenced persons in Montenegro” and marks the initiation of a five-month pilot project for the development of a reintegration program for prisoners in Montenegro, with focus on prisoners of Roma origin and prisoners with a history of drug use. The pilot program will provide pre- and post-release professional training and psychosocial support to selected prisoners approaching their release from prison and will strengthen their professional skills, as well as prisoners’ ability to reintegrate back to the society. In addition, the pilot program will enhance the cooperation between civil society and Montenegrin authorities.

The Action, that is co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe and implemented by the Council of Europe, started on 1 October 2016 and will finish on 30 September 2017, with overall budget of 300.000 €.