In a high level meeting, organised with the support of the EU and Council of Europe, senior officials in the field of penitentiary discussed the upcoming steps in addressing the key challenges of the penitentiary system stemming from the main findings of the European Committee against Torture, 2023 report on Albania.  The event was attended by the Deputy Minister of Justice, Klajd Karameta, the Deputy Minister of Health and Social Protection, Mira Rakacolli, seniorrepresentatives from the penitentiary, relevant line ministries, the Ombudsperson and civil society organisations. A delegation of the Council of Europe (CoE) Co-operation in Police and Deprivation of Liberty (CPDL) Division and the European Committee for Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT), the EU Delegation in Tirana and other international organisations working in the field.

They tackled key aspects and related interventions to take place, in support of the main findings of the recent CPT published report in 12 January 2024. Highlighting the longstanding structural deficiencies regarding forensic patients and prisoners with mental disorders, as well as overcrowding in most of the prisons in Albania, the report took note of certain positive measures, such as the sustainability of the Training Center of the General Directorate of Prison.

The roundtable was an opportunity to have an open discussion, looking into comparative experiences on dealing with forensic patients, as well as into the specific actions that shall be taken in relation to the execution of case Strazimiri vs Albania.

The round-table was conducted in the framework of the joint European Union and Council of Europe programme ”Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye – Phase III” and its action “Enhancing the protection of Human Rights of prisoners in Albania”.