The European Union and the Council of Europe continue to assist the penitentiary institutions in Kosovo* by strengthening their capacities related to management of violent and extremist prisoners (VEPs), and those vulnerable to radicalisation.

Practical application of the instruments used in screening of sings of radicalisation, risk and needs assessment of violent extremist prisoners (VEP specific tools), marginalised and vulnerable prisoners at risk from prison radicalisation, individual approach to their rehabilitation and their preparation for release, including providing of post release support , were in the foreground of the three - day training for prison practitioners from Kosovo Correction Service, which took place from 17 - 19 June 2024 in Istog.

Front-line prison staff from security and treatment sector in Dubrava Prison and High Security Prison and management along with representatives of Kosovo Probation Service, and representatives of the Prevention and Reintegration Division of the Ministry for Internal Affairs, attended the training session. They had the opportunity to refresh their knowledge on core principles in use of the VEP specific tools and application of the treatment and rehabilitation approach in working with this profile of prisoners.

They have increased their know-how in how to apply techniques to overcoming the most frequent challenges such as having unmotivated, resistant VEPs refusing to engage in any treatment or rehabilitation opportunities.

In addition, the participants exercised practical use of all steps of the Pre-release programme and post-release support framework, developed under the joint European Union/Council of Europe regional action “Enhancing co-operation in the Western Balkans in managing violent extremism in prisons and preventing further radicalisation after release”. Thus, they have increased their awareness on the main preconditions to piloting of the tools and programmes in Kosovo. Those preconditions include creating of institutional infrastructure for implementation of the pre-release and the post-release, reintegration support, effective co-ordination between agencies involved and first and fore most establishing of a working alliance with VEPs as the end beneficiaries of such programmes. Piloting of the tools and programmes in Kosovo is due to begin in July this year.

This event was organised under the auspices of the regional action “Enhancing co-operation in the Western Balkans in managing violent extremism in prisons and preventing further radicalisation after release”, part of the joint European Union and Council of Europe programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye”.

*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence.