OSCE Presence in Albania promotes co-operation between probation service and local government

A conference on enhancing co-operation between the Probation Service of Albania and the local government took place in Tirana on 13 November 2012. The event was organized by the OSCE Presence in Albania and the Probation Service.

The Head of the OSCE Presence in Albania, Ambassador Eugen Wollfarth, Justice Minister Eduard Halimi, Interior Minister Flamur Noka and the Probation Service Director Arben Sefgjini, as well as mayors and chairs of regional councils from across the country took part in the event. The conference marked the conclusion of a series of probation-related training sessions for local officials that the Presence organized throughout the year. 

“The goal of these activities is to advance the rehabilitation of offenders and their reintegration into society, starting with their communities of residence,” Wollfarth said, addressing the conference participants. “Social inclusion of offenders through a set of community-level measures is a step towards guaranteeing the communities’ safety and preventing further crimes.”

The conference is part of a wider project of the OSCE Presence on strengthening the effectiveness of the probation system in Albania  through increasing the knowledge of probation officers and social workers and improving co-operation among all stakeholders.