Back Rehabilitation Program and Treatment Plan for Violent Extremist Prisoners (VEPs) in Serbia finalised

Rehabilitation Program and Treatment Plan for Violent Extremist Prisoners (VEPs) in Serbia finalised

Representatives from the Serbian Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Interior and prison staff, were unanimous at the 4th session of the Working Group in recognising the importance of proper identification and rehabilitation of VEPs and radicalised prisoners. Supported by an intentional Council of Europe consultant, they accepted the methodology for individualised treatment of VEPs, followed by fruitful discussion on challenges expected and necessary preconditions for piloting the programme in practice.

Participants acknowledged the need for further training on proper application of the above instruments and foster prison staff capacities to define and better structure concrete rehabilitation measures for VEPs. Motivational interviewing, building of a trustful professional relationship with VEPs and ways dynamic security can directly impact their rehabilitation progress, were highlighted among the training needs. As direct response to these needs, under the auspices of the project specific component for Serbia, Train-of-Trainers programme for prison staff in Serbia will be implemented in early 2021.

The activity was implemented on 24 November 2020 as a hybrid event, within the scope of the Regional action “Enhancing penitentiary capacities in addressing radicalisation in prisons in the Western Balkans” co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe within the “Horizontal Facility for Western Balkans and Turkey 2019-2022” and implemented by the Council of Europe.

Belgrade 24 November 2020
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Horizontal Facility III

The joint European Union and Council of Europe programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye” (Horizontal Facility III) is a co-operation initiative, running from 2023 until 2026.

The programme covers actions in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Türkiye. It enables the Beneficiaries to meet their reform agendas in the fields of human rights, rule of law and democracy and to comply with European standards, which is also a priority for the EU enlargement process.

The third phase of the programme is worth €41 million (85% funded by the European Union, 15% by the Council of Europe).

This website was produced with the financial support of the European Union and the Council of Europe. The views expressed herein can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of either party.

*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.