The European Institute of Tirana (IET) in cooperation with the Tirana Legal Aid Service (TLAS) and with the financial support of the Open Society Institute, is implementing a two-year project (January 2009-December 2010) on “Improving Pre-trial detention System in Albania. The main aim is to contribute to rule of law and human rights improvement in the country.

The specific objectives are:
1) Monitoring  the implementation of the measures contained in the Master Plan for the Albanian Pre-Trial Detention System as real steps towards improving the conditions in the pre-trial facilities,
2) Litigate on behalf of the abused and maltreated,
3) Build awareness on pre-trial conditions and advocate for improvements based on recommendations from the Monitoring Report.

Component 1, Monitoring focuses in four main directions: 1) legal issues; 2) institutional and organizational aspects; 3) infrastructure; 4) Staff regulations and policies.
All the pre-trial detention institutions will be inspected by September/October 2009 to verify compliance with minimum conditions.

Component 2: Litigate for human rights and law implementation. A free-call line has been established and free legal aid is provided in case of violation of detainees rights by a pool of competent lawyers.

Component 3: An awareness campaign is being carry out through TV and Radio spots on the detainees rights as well as through articles in the main newspapers. On top of that posters are distributed in the main pre-trial detention facilities and Police commissariats.

2010 Monitoring Report “On the Implementation of the Master Plan for the Albanian Pre-Trial Detention System (2005-2008), current situation and challenges” in PDF

December 27th, 2010: Ms. Marta Onorato, IET  Executive Director, gives an exclusive interview to the Ora News morning Programme. During this interview she presented the 2010 Monitoring Report and made an extensive presentation of the work of the Institute during the last two years of commitment in the Albanian Pre-trial Detention System.

December 23th, 2010: The Albanian mass media gives extensive coverage to the 2010 Monitoring Report “On the Implementation of the Master Plan for the Albanian Pre-Trial Detention System (2005-2008): current situation and challenges” prepared by IET and financed by the Open Society Institute. The event was shown throughout the day in all news editions on Alsat Television, News 24, Ora News, Top Channel, ABC Television Vision Plus, Koha Television, A1 Television, Planet Television, Klan.

December 23th, 2010: IET, TLAS and the Ombudsman organize together the National Conference for the presentation of the 2010 Monitoring Report “On the Implementation of the Master Plan for the Albanian Pre-Trial Detention System (2005-2008): current situation and challenges” prepared by IET.
Presentation of the Report by Ms. Marta Onorato
Power Point Presentation by Ms. Marta Onorato
2010 Monitoring Report in PDF

10-11 November 2010. Budapest (Hungary), The IET Executive Director participated in the two-day workshop on “Promoting independent prison complaint mechanisms in CEE-FSU Region and sharing Best Practices”, organized by the Hungarian Helsinki Committee, with the financial support of the Open Society Institute.
Click here for the agenda of the workshop

10 November 2010, IET participated in the meeting of the International Consortium Sub Committee on Prison Reform, as the main donor coordination body in the field of Rule of law and Law enforcement. IET was represented by the expert Ms. Corinna Marini.
Click here for the agenda of the meeting