Prison staff and management from the Western Balkans Beneficiaries took a major step forward in strengthening mental health and security in prisons, in line with European standards. The regional workshop in Tirana, Albania, introduced the “Guidelines for Assessment of Mental Health of violent extremist prisoners (VEPs), marginalised prisoners and prisoners vulnerable to radicalisation” and the “Screening Tool for Early Recognition of Signs of Mental Issues”. Developed with support from the EU and Council of Europe, these tools are now available across the penitentiary systems of the Western Balkans Beneficiaries.

Participants from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia gained hands-on understanding of international standards and principles for promoting prisoners’ mental health, preventing and managing mental disorders.

The participants endorsed the guidelines and the Tool as a useful and reliable instrument helping non-medical prison staff detect and respond to signs of mental disorders of VEPs, marginalised prisoners and prisoners vulnerable to radicalisation.

This workshop was organised by the regional action Enhancing co-operation in the Western Balkans in managing violent extremism in prisons and preventing further radicalisation after release under auspices of the third phase of the joint EU and Council of Europe Horizontal Facility III programme.

*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.