Support to human rights and democracy actions on torture and other forms of ill treatment

Partner: Albanian Rehabilitation Centre for Trauma and Torture Victims, ARCT

Contact: Vivianna Nyroos

Project description
RCT and ARCT cooperate on a three-year project supported by the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (the European Commission). The overall target of the project is to contribute to the eradication of torture and inhuman treatment in Albania. To reach this target the project supports the work carried out in the National Prevention Mechanism under the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT) through systematic monitoring of the prisons in Albania. A key constituent of the project is an epidemiological study of the prisons in Albania. This study will provide a unique snapshot of human rights infringements in the system, including those associated with excessive use for force.

The project also includes an educational component where young attorneys, prison staff, prosecutors and journalists obtain more knowledge about torture, the consequences of torture and conventions. In addition, lobbying the decision-makers and campaigns against torture targeted at the general population also form part of the project.

Partner presentation
ARCT primarily works with education of attorneys, prosecutors and prison staff, publications, lobbying and monitoring of Albania's penal system. For many years ARCT has been providing interdisciplinary rehabilitation of victims of torture and politically persecuted persons in Albania. The organisation is located in the capital of Tirana and is recognised by the ombudsman, the organisation being one of the three civil organisations in Albania which monitor prisons. Through the years, ARCT has gathered detailed knowledge about all aspects of the infringement of the human rights of persons deprived of their liberty, including the occurrence of inhuman and degrading treatment and torture.

Context
Enver Hoxha's communist rule of Albania collapsed in 1990. A very large share of the Albanian population was imprisoned or related to persons who were imprisoned. Today Albania struggles with the transition from the communist rule and the ensuing armed conflict. However, the transition has been facilitated by the hope of membership of the European Union and a very vital young population.