New Visiting Room for minors in detention

To promote and contribute to the delivery of child friendly services and better opportunities for the future of children and juveniles in conflict with the law, Save the Children in cooperation with General Directorate of Prisons supported the realization of a new visitation room for juveniles to meet with their parents and family members at the Institute for Minors in Kavaja. Realization of this new and friendly meeting environment aims to promote and encourage a sound relationship among parents and child and more effective rehabilitation and re-integration of minors in the family and society.

In Albania, there is a growing trend of children and juveniles getting into conflict with the law in Albania as well as the increasing number of recidivist cases. Two of the factors that contribute to such situation are the worsening or the stagnation of the socio-economic situation of the family and the absence of a comprehensive national referral system. Children in conflict with the law face the same problems even after being released from the Penitentiary Institutions.

Save the Children has been supporting children in contact with the law since 2010 to date within the framework of the project “Strengthening the Juvenile Justice System in Albania”. The programme aims to support the rehabilitation and the preparation for integration of children and juveniles within and outside of the penitentiary system.
This programme is being implemented on national levels for all children and juveniles waiting for trial and for those who have been sentenced within the respective Penitentiary Institutions of Tirana district, Korça, Vlora, Shën-Koll and Kavaja5, in cooperation with its partners, Meridia Office in Albania, Albanian Foundation for Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation of Disputes (AFCR) and Center for Integrated Legal Services and Practices (CILSP).

Some of the main program achievements are the support to children and juveniles with psycho-social counselling, and rehabilitation and re-integration programmes within the penitentiary system; Reintegration of children and juveniles after their release from the Penitentiary Institutions attending schools, vocational courses and employed by business companies; Educational process in the 5 Penitary Institutions (PI) is enhanced, as well as vocational courses in Kavaja PI through the establishment and consolidation of wood and metal workshops, and greenhouses; Implementation of activities relating to the management and mediation of conflicts within and outside the Institutions. Capacity building of the PIs staff through Training Courses and Study Visits in Italy, aiming to exchange experiences and positive models; Drafting and publication of a training manual for professionals dealing with children and juveniles in conflict with the law within the penitentiary system; Legal counselling and representation of juveniles during all stages of the judicial process; Establishment and empowerment of a regional referral system through regional workshops with representatives from the business community, Regional Employment Offices and other relevant insitituions; Mapping of Small and Medium Enterprises of public and private services in regional levels; Preparation of the personnel of the Institutions to offer services for the reintegration of children and juveniles in conflict with the law through the establishment of a database with contacts of Small and Medium Enterprises, as well as other local institutions.