The joint European Union and Council of Europe action “Enhancing human rights protection for detained and sentenced person in Montenegro” organised a specialised training for 15 members of middle management staff of the Administration for Execution of Criminal Sanctions of Montenegro (AECS). It aimed at enhancing their operational management skills and it was held on 20-22 February in Becici.

The training was designed to improve participants' capacity to apply Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), developed with the support of the European Union and Council of Europe to align the AECS regulatory and operational framework with the latest international standards and practices.

Using case studies, CCTV recordings and tactical decision exercises, the course covered various topics, such as staff supervision, effective communication, feedback, teamwork, management by ‘walking about’, legal and regulatory compliance, ethical conduct, professional standards, confidentiality and maintaining boundaries in interactions with prisoners and colleagues, ensuring better understanding of the SOPs themselves and of benefits of their proper application.

The skills gained strengthened participants' managerial capabilities, enhancing their professionalism and thus safeguards for prisoners, and ultimately creating a safer and more secure environment for staff, prisoners, and visitors.

The action “Enhancing human rights protection for detained and sentenced person in Montenegro” is part of  the joint European Union and Council of Europe programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye”, implemented by the Council of Europe.