Back The European Union and Council of Europe support the re-integration of former offenders back into society

Serbia 8 February 2023
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The European Union and Council of Europe support the re-integration of former offenders back into society

The Fundamental rights of the European Union and the Council of Europe call for a more humane treatment of former offenders after their release. If former offenders are not fully supported in integrating into society after their release, there is a high risk that they will be left in the margins of society and will re-offend.

In view of the importance of this issue, the European Union and the Council of Europe have provided support through the Horizontal Facility II action entitled “Enhancing human rights protection for detained and sentenced persons in Serbia”.

The action has supported the network of civil society organisations (CSOs) in Serbia who mentor or provide support and advice to former offenders. For example, if a former offender does not have a job, the mentors can advise which skills he/she should learn and where to acquire them. Equally, if the former offender does not have anywhere to live, the mentors can provide advice. Through the EU and Council of Europe support, 65 individuals benefitted from the mentoring programme. 

The support also involved the promotion of the mentoring programme to the community to solicit their greater involvement in the reintegration of former offenders into society as well as to stimulate the participation of volunteers and potential employers.

The purpose of the four short videos linked below therefore, is to promote the mentoring programmes not only to potential CSOs, volunteers and possible employers, but also more widely to the public to understand the importance of mentoring programmes in the re-integration into society of former offenders.

 Mentoring programme for (former) convicts in Serbia: what is the mentoring programme?

 Mentoring programme for (former) convicts in Serbia: how is the programme implemented?

 Mentoring programme for (former) convicts in Serbia: testimonials of mentors - volunteers

 Mentoring programme for (former) convicts in Serbia: testimonials of programme beneficiaries