The Juvenile Reintegration Centre in Kavaja, constructed and equipped though a €2 million project of the EU, was officially inaugurated today. The Centre is the first of its kind in Albania, introducing in practice the concept of restorative justice and reintegration as opposed to the strictly punitive measures for young offenders. The EU has made available another €750,000 to enhance the professional skills of the staff running the Centre.

 

Albania's justice system overall is not, so far, appropriately adapted to the needs and particularities of young offenders. That is particularly evident in the pre-detention system that often has youth and adults detained in the same overcrowded space. Also, there are considerable gaps in professional skills needed to deal with young offenders.

 

The EU has responded early on to these needs, and the construction of the Juvenile Reintegration Centre in Kavaja is only one example. Apart from the detention facilities, the Centre has also classrooms, workshops, leisure and medical facilities ensuring the necessary infrastructure to work on the reintegration of minors into society. All 39 minors currently in the Centre receive compulsory education like their peers outside or vocational training; they participate in group work and engage in indoor and outdoor sports in order to pave the way for their safe return to society.

 

Alongside the construction and equipping of the Centre, the EU has also funded the preparation of the Centre's staff to deal with young offenders. Apart from trainings, the initial staff of the Centre benefited from a study trip to the Netherlands to learn from how similar centres operate in EU Member States.

 

During the inauguration ceremony in Kavaja, the Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Albania, Ambassador Helmuth Lohan emphasised that “we are happy that we could help Albania address the challenge of reintegrating juvenile offenders into society”. Ambassador Lohan went on to underline that after the end of the assistance, the stability of the staff trained to work with juveniles and the planning of future budgets for the operational costs of the Centre remain important conditions for giving young offenders a second and better chance.

 

The construction and equipment of the Centre was funded with €2 million by the EU.

 

The project "On the right track: Establishment of preventive and restorative juvenile justice system in Albania" was co-funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation (€1.5 million) and the EU (€0.75 million) and implemented by UNICEF. Source; EUropean Union Press